So I got a new bike last week after not having one that was the right size for several years and I ordered the WalkyDog to use with it. Spent the last week getting Pippa used to the bike, the noise of the gear shifting, walking next to the bike, etc. and took her out today for the first time aside from riding on my street in the neighborhood.

We got up and left around 7:30. It was in the low 70s, but humidity was something near 85%. I've gotten to the point where we can jog about 4 miles and we hike much longer distances than that, so 3 or 4 miles was my goal for today. My brother was with my and we got 2 miles in before I realized it. Pippa and I stopped and my brother biked ahead, we waited, she drank a lot of water, and laid down next to me. I gave her as much as she would drink then, but was worried it might have been too much. When he got back, she seemed ready to go, so we biked back. There were a few times when she slowed down a little bit, but for the most part, she pulled the bike along by herself.

When we hike, we're obviously moving slow enough for her to wag her tail and stuff, so it's easier for me to tell that she's enjoying herself. I think if she hated it, she would just stop, but I'm not exactly sure how to tell if I'm over working her or not.

She seemed a little tired towards the end, but now we're back home and it just seems like I knocked the edge off, so to speak. She's a little calmer, but not by much.

TL;DR:
-What are clear signs of over-heating/over-exertion?
-How much water should she be drinking?
-How long can I run her on a daily basis?

I want her to like it, and enjoy herself, but I also want her to get a good amount of energy out.

Four miles right off the bat seems a bit much. She should really start at shorter distances and work up to longer distances. I started my sibe at one mile round trip when we first started biking and gradually increase distance over time.

I figured it was, especially since it's getting warmer. I'll give her a few days and then start again with a shorter distance.

How long do you go with Dakota now?

I really don't usually do more than 2 miles round trip these days. Bear in mind when I ride I am also towing a child in a two child bike trailer which creates a bit of drag and my sibe is almost 8 years old so he's not as energetic as he was in his younger years. He tends to slow down after a mile which is when we stop for a break and the remaining mile back he doesn't pull but rather runs alongside the bike with slack in the lead (I run him with a Springer bike attachment). I usually let him tell me when he's had enough, but he's old enough that he doesn't push himself like he would when he was younger.

Gotcha, Pippa's almost a year and a half and has enough energy for 6 dogs. And that's what I'm worried about. Because she definitely doesn't know to pace herself at all. Even when we were rolling up to the car, I was using the brakes to slow her down. There was only one or two times when she wasn't pulling.

I get that I need to be the one to set the pace and distance since she won't, but I guess it'll just take some time for me to be able to read her well and not push her too much.

When we get back from hiking she's always completely worn out and sleeps for several hours. But after this morning, she doesn't seem much more tired than when I run with her.

I guess it'll just take some guesswork until I figure it all out. Thanks for the response, Val!

I hope it's ok that I bump this?

I know today was probably too much, but what's a good goal to work towards? For those of you that bike with your dog, what do you average on a weekly basis?