Riding a motorcycle with a big dog is possible!
Traveling with your dog is the best! By car, train, plane, boat… there are many modes of transport for going on vacation with your dog. What about the motorcycle? Can you take your dog on a motorbike? Is it possible to ride a motorcycle with your dog? Is the motorcycle suitable for all types of dog sizes? How to ride a motorcycle with your dog? How to transport your dog safely on your motorcycle? Dog backpack? Pet carrier? Sidecar? What equipment should you use to travel by motorcycle with your dog? How to travel with your dog and do a motorcycle roadtrip?
Crossing a dog on a motorcycle is not common and even less when it comes to a big dog but it is indeed possible! Catherine and Robin shared their motorcycle adventures with us and you will see that with patience and kindness, anything is possible!
In this article, Catherine shares with us her journey, her tips for traveling by motorcycle with her dog, her advice, her preparation, her way of traveling, how she got Robin used to her motorcycle…. So if you are a biker and want to go on a motorcycle road trip with your dog, read this article carefully! You will discover that it is quite possible to share your passion for motorcycling with your dog!
Catherine and Robin, it's up to you! Tell us everything!
Traveling by motorbike with a big dog
My name is Catherine, I live in Normandy and I am a biker! I love doing road trips on a motorcycle because for me, that's what travelling is all about. It allows me to enjoy my trip in complete freedom! If I used to travel solo before, I now share my motorcycle trips with my dog! His name is Robin, yes yes like Robin Hood, I got him from a farm called Sherwood and it was the year of the Rs so it was obvious! Robin is a 21 month old golden retriever. He is a dog full of life, a little cowardly, crazy and super cuddly!
It is unusual to see a dog on a motorbike even if I see more and more motorcyclists taking their little dog on a motorbike, in their jacket or in a suitable dog backpack.
Riding a motorcycle with a big dog is less common but it does exist! I see big dogs traveling in sidecars or trailers, there are more and more who dare this activity with their dogs! Personally, I do not travel with my dog in a sidecar or in a trailer. I don't really want to put a side on my motorcycle and I'm not for putting a trailer on the back of my motorcycle and my dog breathing in the fumes from the exhaust...
One day, through research, I discovered the accessory that would revolutionize our travels! The equipment I needed to transport my dog on my motorcycle.
A Dutch couple, traveling with their German Shepherd, have developed a cockpit system to attach to the rear of the motorcycle in the passenger area. Revolutionary ! The dog travels behind the driver like an ordinary passenger.
I started: I bought the plans for this cockpit and I made it with a friend. It is quite possible to order it ready-made and ready to be installed on your bike, but it is more expensive.
Motorcycling with a big dog – instructions
To teach your dog to ride a motorcycle, you have to be patient, it's almost the most important thing. Patience, reassurance, hugs and treats. It is very important to go at the pace of your dog. With Robin, I started with a few minutes a day. I showed him the motorcycle to get him used to it, to desensitize him to this object. I took sweets, I made him eat at the foot of the motorcycle. When he was comfortable with the object, I increased the learning by putting the treats on the bike. We went step by step, so that my dog adapts little by little, it's important not to rush him. He must be confident and find it cool, as much as me!
When I finished building the cockpit, the process was the same. I had put him inside the house, once again I was putting treats for him in the cockpit so that he would learn to climb on it, not to be afraid of it, to know the object. I put his bowl on it too so that he would eat on the cockpit and associate this object with something pleasant. Thanks to that, I can tell you that when he got back from a trip, when he was tired, he went straight to bed in the cockpit as if it were his basket! Robin has therefore associated the cockpit with a secure location! To get him used to the noise, I also took his blower which I turned on in the cockpit so that I prepared him for the noise of the motorbike and it didn't bother him since he fell asleep with the hairs in his wind !
Then, he really had to get used to the bike. So I showed him the bike, at first it was only visual. The motorcycle stopped, engine off so that my dog is not afraid of the object and the noise. Then when he was comfortable with the object, I started to move the bike but without putting the motor next to my dog. After, I started to put the engine, between 1 and 2 minutes to start. So that he becomes familiar with the roar of the engine and also that it becomes natural for my dog. Then, we start again with doggie on the motorcycle, motorcycle off then engine on. And always lots of hugs, treats and games to combine pleasure with the object.
It took me about 6 months to adapt it to all of this. But the time depends on your dog, his character, your way of desensitizing him. It is very variable, maybe yours will take more time or less time! At the end of these 6 months, my dog jumped on the motorcycle alone and that's when I said to myself “Ok it's from him, it's the right time!”. I took the plunge too and we left at 10 km/h for about 10 minutes. And still the same, we increased the speed and time gradually.
What motorcycle equipment for my dog?
My dog is equipped when we go on a motorcycle. He notably has goggles, in fact it looks like a big ski mask. But it's not natural for a dog to wear a mask. So, a work of desensitization and adaptation must be done. At first, I hadn't put the glasses on him, so that he would first get used to having something on his head. I only put it on for a few seconds then I gradually increased and then I added the glasses.
Regarding the perfect motorcycle to go on a road trip with your dog, I don't know which one is the most suitable. About me, I have a BMW 12 100 GSA.
There are no special regulations for transporting your dog on a motorcycle apart from one: attaching your dog. Whether by car or motorbike, the regulations in France are this.
The cockpit system protects the dog well with the guardrails around. One day the motorcycle fell, he was on it and he was not disturbed at all. He waited for me to untie him and went quietly for a walk to come back up on his own afterwards. So in terms of security, I'm delighted. The cockpit protrudes a little from the rear of the motorcycle but there is no risk of the motorcycle tipping backwards because ¾ of the dog's weight is on the passenger seat or on the top boxes.
On the cockpit Robin is still attached so I took him a harness from Ruffwear where i tie it at the back of the harness to prevent him from lifting his butt and i also tie it at chest level at the front of the cockpit, with elastic straps so he can move around a bit if he wishes or sit. My dog is wearing his face mask Rex Specs brand to protect his eyes and when it's very windy I wrap his ears around my neck so that it's not unpleasant for him.
A final word/advice for traveling by motorbike with a large dog
You must already have the desire to travel with your dog on a motorcycle, then you find solutions. Take your time and respect your dog.
When I travel with Robin, it doesn't change my behavior. I feel it less than a passenger. Of course, you have to be comfortable on a motorcycle and above all be daring! Learning requires patience. But above all observe your dog, go at his own pace, do not force him. We have to go in small steps, no need to do 30 minutes every day. The key is to put something fun behind the learning, it's positive association.
With Robin, there were days better than others, days when he was more stubborn, when he wanted to take off his mask, but with patience you get there. And now he feels much more comfortable on a motorcycle than in a car! All dogs can try it in my opinion. Afterwards, it depends on the time you want to take or not, you have to pay attention to your loulou's emotions. With a good complicity, we manage to do everything with our dog. This is the key, do not impose anything! If your dog is not a biker, too bad! You will have to find another common passion.
Musher and Sophie: “If you want to know more about organizing a motorcycle road trip with a dog, I advise you to take a look at this article: Traveling with your dog on a motorbike. In this article you will find other advice, travel preparation, equipment to take, itineraries and anecdotes!”
A typical motorcycle route with a big dog
With my dog, we have already traveled the Pyrenees on a motorcycle. I did 6000 kms in just over 1 month with my dog. For the itinerary, I couldn't tell you about it in detail, simply because I don't really prepare it. It's my way of traveling, if I spot a path on the road that makes me want to, I'm going! Of course, I look a little at the points of interest where I would like to go, but I almost never trace my route. Drawing a route and respecting it is much more restrictive for me because I give myself the opportunity to discover lots of cool things on my journey!
I always think about nice breaks so that my dog can benefit from nice walks but I never organized anything. I'm traveling alone with my motorbike and my dog, so I'm pretty free on my route choice. And if I need to run some errands, I find where to park the bike in the shade somewhere where Robin won't be bothered by anyone and leave him on the bike. I never take very long, about 30 minutes.
For sleeping, I taught my dog to sleep in a tent so I take my tent and look for a campsite that allows me to put it down and sleep there for the night with my dog.
For breaks, I take them about every 2 hours so that Robin can stretch his legs regularly. When I feel Robin more tired, I stay two or three days in a place without riding a motorcycle. And we go hiking, it allows us to take the time to travel.
Musher and Sophie: “Taking the time to hike with your dog is really great! Doggies love hiking, they can stretch their legs and we can enjoy nature! Moreover, there is equipment for doggies to hike with you, for example. my dog also has his hiking bag ! To find out more, I invite you to read or re-read this article! The packsack is very useful when you go hiking with doggie, I recommend it! 🙂
When I go on a motorcycle road trip with my dog, I often leave for 1 month. And organization level, it's something! Robin has food intolerances so for my next road trip to Ireland, I have to take his 12 kilos of kibble… Well, we're getting organized, I'm taking less clothes for me and more kibble for him! I put his kibble in different vacuum-packs, then I have two suitcases on the bike. I take the minimum of clothes, Robin's stuff, sleeping bags for him, for me and then the tent. You optimize every corner of the bike. You have to prioritize and organize. I prefer to sleep in campsites because there is a certain comfort with water and electricity. Then traveling alone being a girl is always safer.
Musher and Sophie: “If you are looking for 100% dog-friendly accommodation with the QUALIDOG label who accept your doggies with pleasure, I leave you here a list of accommodation that can help you organize your next vacation!”
Advice and stories
I had to find a solution to travel by motorbike with my dog and when I discovered the cockpit, I tried the trick too. You have to dare and save money haha. There is no guarantee that your dog will like the bike so I took a risk! And I don't regret it at all! I love going on a road trip with my dog because I share something with him. We are very close and I didn't take a dog to leave him alone so it was obvious for me to try the adventure and I love it! I can only advise you to try if you like motorcycling and you have a dog: GO FOR IT!!
Thank you Catherine for sharing this adventure with us with your dog Robin. I was a biker but without a license. I never passed it, thinking that a motorcycle and a big dog were incompatible! I couldn't see myself going alone and leaving Musher at home. I will be bored and so will she. So I sold my little motorcycle and opted for the car. I thought that was totally unachievable. But, Catherine's experience gives me food for thought… What if one day I went out and about with my dog on a motorbike? Case to follow! A big THANK YOU for sharing this experience!