Hi All,
I know many of you have bike attachments for your pups and I was wondering how did you train them to run alongside you attached to the bike?
I brought a cycleash for Orion and I and he will not budge! I've desensitized him to the bike that's fine, if I hook him up and walk the bike he trots along happy as a clam but as soon as I get on the bike its a different story. He lies down and plays total dead dog absolutely refusing to move, if I try encourage him from there he throws a hissy fit and starts screaming! I can't work it out, I've double checked his harness and I'm not hurting him, I'm not trying to force him or drag him or anything nasty, I'm offering lots of praise and treats... I'm stumped about what to do.
He adores running and I really want him to love this but I am fast losing hope any advice would be greatly appreciated!

sounds scared of the bike or being run over?

get him used to the sounds it makes, show how you have control over it.

I would start it off by using a real long leash so he's not so close to the bike. have him in-front.

He is fine walking beside it though when I am walking it and I can ride it round him in the backyard and he doesn't worry about it at all, I don't know if he would let me do these things if he was scared? It is only when he is connected to the side and I am on the bike that he doesn't move. He doesn't pull backwards or try and get away at all like he is afraid, he just stops.

I cannot have him in front unfortunately. Where I live it is illegal to ride a bike on the footpath so I have to ride on the road. The side attachment is for his safety so I am between him and any cars that might pass. I refuse to let him run ahead of me with cars whizzing past I would be terrified he would get hit. I also don't have any was of transporting myself, the bike and him into a rural setting where he could run ahead

Unsure of your council or where you reside exactly.
I assume Auckland.

there's parks everywhere. my advice is only until he no longer see's the bike as something that could injure him. and willingly will keep pace with you.

I wouldn't worry about cars too much,. whenever i mush and cross roads people swerve and come to a dead stop for no reason. I'm typically waiting for them to pass.
It's a little embarrassing as they assume the dog has control over me. people really don't want to hit a dog, obviously I never get this reaction just skating around.

honestly if he lays flat I'd pick him up so he has to stand. then slowly cycle I can't see why he wouldn't follow.


I get more hesitance walking over mushing. some roads in a business district he refuses to walk towards because of the cars.
same road whilst mushing he had no concern for all the cars and people.

Can you get on the bike and sort of "walk" it forward with one leg on the ground and see what he does?

Perhaps ride the bike as slow as possible next to him as someone else walks him on a lead and see what he does then?

You've got a very curious predicament. My boy was thrilled when I first took off on the bike with the Springer. I did walk him beside the bike to get him used to it beforehand like you. He was a little nervous about running alongside at first due to the speed of changes in direction being faster than when walking. It really made him value and listen to verbal directional commands a ton!

Well, here's what NOT to do:

Attach dog to the walky dog and bike for the first time. With back to dog and bike, walk 5 ft away, take off baseball hat, put on helmet and cycling gloves, open garage door...scramble like hell to disengage fallen bike from frantic dog...  

Believe it or not, after that fiasco, just walking him for about 200' and then climbing on the bike, he trotted beautifully. Though with a very, wary eye on this thing Mom pasted him to...

Well I solved my issue I feel kinda embarrassed that it didn't even occur to me to start with...
All I had to do was put him in his cross back harness and he was off.
I was using his chest plate harness which I usually use for fun things like beach outings etc just as a bit of extra safety over a collar but I still expect good leash manners in all of the scenario's he wears it so he was just refusing to associate that harness with pulling - hence the lying down. Poor boy was just trying to do what he thought was right. I guess I loose leash trained a little too thoroughly lol
As soon as I put his proper harness on he trotted next to the bike beautifully, tail wagging flat out I was so chuffed!

Oh and just in case anyone cares I'm in Canterbury - The middle of the South Island of NZ

Haha. That's great that you did such a good job training him though, Olivia!

Glad you guys can finally bike together!