Bike joring is a fun sport for dogs and their owners. Where to start training?

We continue to talk about very interesting and unusual sports. Today it’s bike-joring – a sport that originated from dog sledding. Nowadays it is a cool way to spend time and walk your pet.

Electra & WOWB!kes expert.

“Bike-joring is a sport in which a dog or dogs tow a bicycle driven by a person using special equipment. Originally, bike-joring was used to train sled dogs. Now experts consider it as an independent kind of cynological sport”.

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The origin story of bike joring

This type of training was invented to keep sled dogs in shape during the summer season when there is no snow. Without practice, the dogs were losing shape, and people found an original way to solve the problem. A bicycle is a very convenient form of transportation that can quite easily replace a sled dog. In Russia, this sport gained popularity in the 90s.

Gradually, bike-joring grew into something more than just training. Many people liked the idea of such an unusual pastime with their pets, and it turned into a hobby. After all, it’s the perfect combination of exercise and fun – on the one hand, you get exercise by cycling long distances, and on the other hand, you walk your dog and enjoy nature.

Nowadays, bike-joring proudly occupies its place in the list of canine sports and competitions are held in different countries.

Where can I go bike-joring?

You need a route where you can ride your bike freely without disturbing others and without any distractions. Large parks are ideal, but that’s about it as far as urban environments are concerned. Of course, a more pleasant ride will be somewhere outside the city. Fresh air, nature, and you and your four-legged friend are exploring the neighborhood. What else is needed for happiness?

a cynologist with 10 years of experience

“If we talk about the ideal surface for bike-joring, a dirt road is much better than an asphalt road. Maybe asphalt will be more pleasant for bike riding, but we should not think only about ourselves. The fact is that dirt is much less dangerous for dogs’ feet, they will be more comfortable on this surface.”

Country and forest roads are more preferable in the case of bike-joring because, firstly, dogs are not allowed to run on asphalt for a long time, and secondly, in an urban environment there are too many factors that can frighten or distract a dog. And such a situation can lead to serious injury to both the rider and his pet.

Equipment and gear for bike-joring

As for the cyclist, then everything is simple: wear a protective helmet, clothes that allow the body to breathe during training. For the amateur level, any bike with a sturdy frame that can be equipped with harness and a sprunger – a special device to prevent pulling under the wheels is suitable.

In professional bike-joring mainly mountain bikes are used, as the competitions are held on rough terrain. So what do you need to take with you to make your dog as comfortable as possible?

You need a special bike-joring harness that will connect the bike and the dog, as well as a harness – a special mount that is put on the dog and for which the harness will be held. And, of course, don’t forget to bring water and a bowl for your pet so that he can always drink during the training.

How to prepare your dog?

During races, especially around town, you are responsible for your dog. The pet needs to be trained, to know how to behave. No matter how you look at it, there are so many distractions in the city that a dog can switch at a very inopportune moment.

Kristina Lukyanenko: First of all, it is important to train the dog’s stamina, so that it can be near in motion, oriented to the owner. It is necessary to teach the commands “stop”, “right”, “left”, so that you can tell the pet the vector of movement. When driving in the city, additional ammunition is not necessary. You can use an ordinary leash, the main thing is that the dog knows the commands.

Before you decide to take your dog out for a ride, make sure you’ve taught him everything he needs to know and that he will behave properly in a stressful situation.

Bike Joring Competitions

As we said, bike-joring is a relatively new sport, but there are already a lot of competitions taking place. As a rule, they are held on a dirt track, because it is a safe surface for the dog’s paws. And the essence is simple: whoever is first wins, but there is a nuance. The dog must run ahead of the cyclist during the whole race, except for the descent – then you can ride in parallel with the pet.

It is also important that the dog must be at least 18 months old. This is easily explained – puppies can be harmed by such loads. All four-legged participants of the races undergo a mandatory examination by a veterinarian – sick, pregnant, too aggressive dogs are not allowed to compete.

And the last, not less interesting rule. Participants of the race are not allowed to have direct contact with the dog, that’s why it is so important that the dog understands the owner 100% and listens to his commands.

Various breeds of dogs capable of running and pulling – draithaars, kurtshaars, malamutes, Siberian huskies and others – usually take part in bike-joring competitions. Participants can compete both individually and in teams. Competitions are held on various distances and in various conditions – from short speed courses to long endurance routes.

Obstacles are also sometimes placed on the courses to make them more difficult to pass. Winners are determined by the time taken to complete the course, as is common in many similar sports.

Useful tips for beginners

If you have recently got a dog and want to try bike-joring, we repeat – first you need to teach the animal all the necessary commands so that you can calmly control it during the ride.

Try to determine how ready your dog is for this pastime. Take into account the breed and health of your pet. If in doubt, consult a veterinarian. Don’t try to go at high speeds if you are just starting to familiarize yourself with bike-joring, start small and of course calculate your dog’s strength.

If you want to take part in competitions, you can’t do without professional help – contact a trainer who will tell you how to train your dog, how to teach him to listen to commands.

Kristina Lukyanenko: Bike-joring is not only physical exercise, it is an important training for the dog. The dog must run near the bike, control the pace, and ignore any distractions. In addition, bike-joring is a great joy for the pet, a walk in the fresh air and contact with the owner, so especially active and hunting breeds will definitely like this leisure time.