Bikes and Dogs

[TheSuperScoot]

I love my bike.
I love my dog.

I know some of you out there travel with dogs, I've seen you at the rallies. Can anyone share some info on traveling with a dog? I have a 22 pound cocker (sleeping in my lap as I type this) who would LOVE to travel with me if I could figure out a safe, sane, way to transport her, preferably NOT a trailer. Any suggestions?

Terry B
terry.boots@verizon.net

[jimkesterson]

Hi Terry,

We drag a dog around with us sometimes. But it is a little smaller than yours. Weighs all of 15lbs wet. (Miniature Skipperkey <not enough close to the proper spelling>)

We found a pouch at the local Petsmart that has a waistband and shoulder straps on it. Almost backpackish in nature. Pouch gets strapped to the unwitting passenger, dog goes in the pouch, securely attached via her (the dog's) harness and a clip provided in the pouch. It works well for us and the dog loves to ride.

On a poker run Sunday, we saw a couple who had fastened a dog crate to their trailer hitch. Unfortunately I did not get to ask the owners anything about it.

Before sinking a lot of money into a setup, I'd find out if the dog likes riding first. Before we bought the contraption, the dog would ride in the coat of my passenger for short trips, to make sure. You might want to just strap a small crate to the rear seat, stick your puppy in it, and go for a quick loop around the block.

-Jim K.

[Ole Yeller]

I've never traveled with a dog, but I hit one once while traveling. 80 lb.er. Took out my front "A" frame and one tube. Bill was $1500. And, the owner was so happy I didn't get killed, he quite answering the phone when I called wanting some money to fix my bike.

Thank God for insurance.

Good luck traveling wiht your dog. Sounds like fun, I do like dogs. I think a doggy side car or a tail mounted basket would work great.

[kbasa]

When I lived in Massachusetts, I used to see a guy that rode an old RD400 on a pretty regular basis. His dog just stood on the back seat.

Here's something that may interest you:

Biker Dog Motorcycle Club (http://www.dogsonbikes.com/docs/BikerDogRun/Run2003/Run2003.htm)

[TheSuperScoot]

lol, the bikerdog site was a hoot.

[scootrp125x]

Anyone out there travel with their dog? A friend of mine has a West Highland White Terrier that he would like to take with him when he rides. I have seen people with dogs in their tankbags but I dont remember how it worked. Does anyone make a tankbag specifically for dogs?

Mark

[Beemerchef]

Thanks Paul and Voni Glaves for turning me on to this thread....

We have been on the road for close to a year now, but Spirit has his own sidecar chair!

The story is on our website, it is however not pertinent to just Spirit, but also many other subjects. I am also going to write up a page in the website's magazine ("my first hundred years") about traveling with a dog... but... it will take a few days!

Let me know if besides the info there I can answer other questions...

You be well...

(We also have thread here in ride reports)

Ara & Spirit

http://beemerchef.smugmug.com/photos/190356512-L.jpg

[scootrp125x]

Thanks for the message. I have been following your journey on the Forum and sent your website address to my friend. He just bought his bike and is already talking about a possible sidecar but I think he needs to consider a less technical arrangement for now.

[Beemerchef]

Thanks for the message. I have been following your journey on the Forum and sent your website address to my friend. He just bought his bike and is already talking about a possible sidecar but I think he needs to consider a less technical arrangement for now.

I imagine it is the K75 that you ride on with your buddy?... IF you decided on a sidecar, there is much info on SCT and USCA Forums... you can find a lightweight Velorex (fiberglass) for fairly inexpensive. Just a thought...

Be well... Ara & Spirit

[scootrp125x]

Yes I ride my K75 and he is on a Yamaha 1100 cruiser. I'll look up the Velorex sidecar for him.

[32232]

Bagster used to make a tank bag for pets called the "Super Animaux". Don't know if it is still available, but it would be too small for a Cocker Spaniel.

[scootrp125x]

Great tip, I'll check it out. The Westie is a fairly small dog, it might work if it is still being made.

[scootrp125x]

Bagster used to make a tank bag for pets called the "Super Animaux". Don't know if it is still available, but it would be too small for a Cocker Spaniel.

I just checked the Bagster website and they do make an animal tank bag. The picture looks like it has a Westie sticking his head out of the bag. It doesnt get any better than that! Thanks for the great tip.

Mark

[naddy100]

I love my bike.
Any suggestions?

Terry B
terry.boots@verizon.net

I know the sidecar suggestion has already been made. Here's an example at about 0:30 of the video. Look quick and the red sidecar has a dog enclosure, but I believe it's for a smaller dog.

http://www.nsaddy.net/Vint_3/Vint_3.html

Noel

[FredRydr]

Dogs' hearing is much more sensitive than humans'. How do you protect dogs from inner ear damage caused by riding and wind?

Fred

[markgoodrich]

Haven't seen him in several years, but there used to be a guy in Austin who rode an ancient Honda, maybe a CB750, with THREE dogs, all the time. Medium-sized, all three. At stops, sometimes I'd see one jump off, then jump back up on the bike when it was time to go. Seems like it was two riding pillion, one on the very scratched-up tank.

Went to Yellowstone one winter to do the snowmobile thing (don't do it, there's cold white stuff everywhere!), met a couple on their own snowmobiles, had a poodle-looking dog rode with them everywhere, would curl up behind the windshield.

Maybe you could train your dog?

[FredRydr]

Dogs' hearing is much more sensitive than humans'. How do you protect dogs from inner ear damage caused by riding and wind?Damn! I thought there'd be a flood of information from dog lovers.

Fred

[crgrbrts]

My wife carries our little Schnoodle, Dieter" pretty much wherever we go on her F650CS using a very slick carrier built by a friend in Texas.

We've put up a website about our canine's adventures:

www.motomutt.net

Come visit!

Oh -- children's moldable earplugs work as ear protection for our little guy.

He took to "Doggles" protective eyewear right away and tolerates them well as long as he's on the bike. The earplugs proved to be an acquired taste, however. He's "on board" with them now, though.

"Dieter der Motomutt" loves to ride. Just the mention of the word "motorcycle" sets him into paroxysms of excitement. I took him on our local "Ride for Kids" last week and made the mistake of announcing the trip to him the night before. He got me up at 4 a.m. the morning of the ride and "begged' at the sight of the bike in the carport. I'm not kidding!

[dancogan]

Damn! I thought there'd be a flood of information from dog lovers.

Fred
Well, it's not MC related, but we bought a motorhome so our dogs can go wherever we go. It works as long as my wife is willing to drive the motorhome. But driving a bike so a motorhome can follow is not easy! :)

[Mrs2beers]

You might want to ask Beerteam in the MOA profile. he takes is dog Buddy along quite a bit.

[crgrbrts]

The dog carrier on my wife's F650CS not only allows us to travel pretty much anywhere with our little biker buddy, but introduces us to a wide variety of new friends. For instance....

[rkasal]

Before sinking a lot of money into a setup, I'd find out if the dog likes riding first. Before we bought the contraption, the dog would ride in the coat of my passenger for short trips, to make sure.

So, your passenger is the guinea pig for any vomit or assorted other creature fluids? :sick

Excellent thinking. A comfortable rider is a safe rider they told us in the MSF rider's course.

Like the guy with the "Der Motomutt" and especially the "no squirrels" sticker. Bet they get a lot of conversations with that.

Regards,


Randy Kasal