Short answer
If you have a dog that loves to run and you are a keen mountain biker yourself, biking with your dog is a brilliant experience. Your dog gets nicely tired out while playing and can burn off all that energy. And you have a lot of fun!
You can see what that looks like if you watch the video on YouTube.
Here are a few tips for when you hit the trail with your dog!
Start by riding slowly to see whether your dog gets the game: does your dog follow the trail, or wander far off it? If they stay neatly on the path, there is little to correct. If your dog goes their own way, it is time to step in. Communicating with your dog is crucial then, because you do not want your dog running into your wheel or anyone else's.
Teach your dog commands like left, right, stop and here. Do not make it harder than that. If you want your dog to go faster, shout "Hup, hup!" like I do in the video.
A dog needs water just like you do, so make sure you bring enough. If your dog runs short of water during intensive training, they can become wobbly, feel sick and, in the worst case, overheat. If your dog starts to wobble, stop immediately and give them something to drink and something to eat. Also read our tips for keeping your dog cool.
So when should you ease off a bit? Well, you will notice soon enough. If you have to urge your dog on more to run faster, that is a sign you are going too fast. Ride a little more gently so that you and your dog can catch your breath. That way you can enjoy it for longer and your dog does not run themselves into the ground.
Not every dog learns equally fast. Keep your focus on your dog, make sure they enjoy it, and the rest more or less takes care of itself. Always keep a leash on you in case your dog does not listen or loses focus.
If you know your trail gets very busy at certain times, go at another time so you can practise in peace and your dog has as few distractions from other bikers as possible. Only go at busy times once you have biked with your dog more often and are confident your dog will listen when it matters.
If it is your first time biking with your dog, do not go flat out for half an hour straight away. Start with a few minutes, and if you notice you can go longer, build up the duration by a maximum of 5 minutes per session. That way you do not overtrain your dog, and they get the most enjoyment out of it.
If you can rely on your dog, and your dog relies on you, above all have fun. Make it a fun game and a bit of friendly competition between the two of you. That way you will enjoy biking with your dog for the longest time.
In autumn and winter it gets dark early. If you still want to hit the woods together, you need to see clearly where you are riding, and your dog needs to be clearly visible, to you and to other bikers and walkers.
On the trail you need a powerful light. According to the product data, the HX6 MTB LED delivers up to 3,000 lumens and is made specifically for your handlebars. If you also want light where you look, for example to see your dog in a corner, a light on your helmet helps. Read more in MTB LED on your handlebars or on your helmet?
An LED dog collar makes your dog visible from afar. According to Hilox, the PX1 LED dog collar with optical fibre strips can be seen from around 300 metres, is rechargeable and can handle a pulling force of 100 kg. If your dog loves running through puddles or streams, choose the 100% waterproof PX1+, whose battery is sealed in epoxy. You will find all models under LED dog collars.
Kapotte autolampen vallen onder slijtage en worden niet vergoed, diefstal en schade soms wel. Lees wat je autoverzekering dekt en hoe led- en xenonverlichting daarbij helpen.
In de dimlicht LED test van Truckstar Magazine kwam de Hilox XTR Black als beste uit de bus. Lees hoe de leds scoorden in reflector- en lenskoplampen, op koeling, CAN-bus en APK.
Op zoek naar een gaaf cadeau voor Vaderdag? Zes Hilox cadeautips, van XTR LED kits en MTB lampen tot LED halsbanden, riemen en elektrische peper- en zoutmolens.
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