Spice is now almost 9months,she's a border collie,do you think she is still too young to follow me if I took my bike out to exercise her? I am having trouble with my arthritic knees lately and find cycling easier than walking,she is still getting lots of exercise with football,swimming and walking with my hubby,but when I walk her sometimes I feel she would love to keep on going when I have to stop because of the knee problem,so I wondered if it would be too young for her to start following me on the bike.
I am not talking miles of cycling here :D but I don't want to run her if it is likely to be too strenuous for her at this age.

Jacqueline :)

I would start training her to go nicely beside a bike (loose lead etc) but I wouldn't take her fast or far yet - no more than 5 minutes every other day.

Now this is quite interesting, and I apologise for hijacking the thread somewhat!

My niece has a BC puppy and it will be allowed out from next week. I was talking to them about taking care with levels of exercise to start with but when they went for the 2nd injection, the vet told them that limiting exercise only applied to large breed and that it didn't apply to BCs.....

Any comments? I don't have Collies, never have, but I admit I was a bit surprised by the vet's comments.

Hello Malakai,
We have always taken care in the amount of exercise we give our dogs,our previous one was a collie cross,that we had from the early age of 5weeks! All dogs irrespective of breed are developing as they grow,therefore I have always assumed that limiting the exercise and what they do,can only be a good thing.
We started off with short walks,building up to longer walks and then onto swimming with our dogs.
We did cycle a lot with our first dog,but that didn't start until she was around 5years,simply because we didn't have cycles until she was that age :)
Also we don't allow Spice to run up and down stairs as she is growing.If we do have to negotiate stairs or steps we make her do so in a lady like fashion,no bounding or taking them several at a time :D
Maybe it helps them in the long term,maybe not,but I always like to think if anything can avoid problems for them later on in life,then it's worth the time now to do the best we can for her.
I think it was unwise of your niece's vet to suggest that only large breeds need this limitation on exercise.
Jacqueline. :)

Thanks Jacqueline :)

As an owner of Mals, we have always been careful with the pups and as you say, built up excercise. Even all our care didn't stop one of ours having a high hip score :(

I thought it was a strange comment for a vet to make. I assumed that the fact they are scored as a breed, and agility etc. are only allowed after a year, that they would need the same amount of care. Thanks for confirming that :)

On your original topic (once again, sorry for using the thread), we use cycles for our Mals - as do Husky owners etc. It may be of help to know that cycle training and rig training starts very gently at around 9 months of age - just short distances and building up until they can race at 12 months. It's important to run them regularly as they then build the muscles, a run every couple of weeks when they do little in between is when problems can occur.
Joan

If you are going to cycle your dogs it is safer for you, everyone else and the dog to use a Springer

http://www.springer-uk.com/

I've just started cycling with my adult labradors for the last week or so and am absolutely hooked! Luckily I have plenty of off-road tracks locally which minimises the need to be on the public road. Certainly catches peoples attention having three dogs at "heel' alongside the bike.

One of the benefits of living on the edge of the Fens - no hills! ;-)

I've been amazed at just how they've been able to adapt to the increased exercise level. I have been doing approx. an hour alternating between fast trot, canter and occasional 'cool-down' slow trot. Also maybe a quick swim in the middle to cool down and allow a drink. I'm hoping this should increase their stamina and harden their pads for the partridge season in september.

It certainly helps that the dogs are used to long periods of off-lead heel work. Its also useful that they understand a left & right turn command, to give them a warning which way the bike is going to turn!

I wouldn't suggest such a tough introduction for a 9 month pup (mine are between nearly 3 and 7 and were quite fit to start with) but I'm sure with common sense you could make good use of a bike with a 9 month pup.

The 'springer' looks a great invention, particularly where the dogs obedience is a bit 'iffy'!

you are lucky that you can cycle "off road" and so this combined with your dog's level of training means that of course you can exercise your dogs off lead.  Unfortunately a lot of people must cycle on public roads and therefore are required to be "under control" and on a lead; notwithstanding when some dogs see a cat/another dog/bird etc they are then liable to go under your wheel and/or holding a lead in your hand/wrapped around a bicicyle handle is somewhat dangerous!

I used to exercise my dogs on a bike with the brakes on; I never pedalled and only took the brakes off when going up hill.

Couldn't agree more. I have to cycle approx 250 yards before I can get off-road, although I tend to use the pavement (no pedestrians a wide path & very busy traffic on the road!). Its a bit of an art having three dogs on three leads on a bike at the same time. I certainly wouldn't want to do it if anyone of them ever pulled on their leads!

As i said the 'springer' looks like a great invention, I can see me investing in one once my springer spaniel is old enough to come out with the bike!

had a springer for about 3 or 4 years,best thing i ever bought.i would change the plastic that attachs to the bike and the collar for good metal clips though as i have had dogs bust the plastic ones.i do about 6 miles per day with each dog 5 days a week,start at 1 mile and add 1/2 mile per week until upto a level you are happy with.with a dog of 9 months old however i would stick to a maximum of 2 miles per day until the dog is say 14 or 15 months old.

I have considerd a "springer" and taking Sal out on the bike but not sure I am fit enough. ;)

Karen

They the springers should come with a "warning" to the health of middle aged overweigh owners 

Hi,

I was under the impression it was against the law to cycle with a dog on a public road ?????
Thoughts anyone,

Briony

not 100% sure...been passed by police on may occasions and no problem, some even commented it was a great idea.always set the springer up so the dog is on your left hand side to keep it out of the traffic and you should be ok.plenty of cycle paths and country lanes around here anyway.