In my dream, S and I load the dogs into the doggy bike trailers, set out from Seattle for the east coast and spent a couple of months camping our way from beautiful place to beautiful place. This cross-country bike trip would involve meeting lots of people in small towns and learning there life story while sitting in the sun and sipping lemonade. We would also have a way to safely store our bikes and gear while we went on hikes every other day.
There are a lot of reasons that this will never be more than a dream- the first one being that S won’t ride with me and the dogs anymore.
We bought two little doggy trailers last spring (so S and I could each pull one) and the plan was to set them in the livingroom until they got used to being inside of them. As soon as I had them set up, Gretel made a nest in the blankets I placed inside. It didn’t take Chester long to figure out the trailer made a cool cave either. It was clear they didn’t have a problem being IN the trailers.
The problem is Chester and Gretel “scream” down the road when we pull them behind the bikes. They only barked a little during our first doggy trailer trip but after 3 days of barking down the Oregon Coast, S put on his grumpy pants and exclaimed “That WAS NOT fun!”. I am not going to convince S to go on a bike trip with the dogs and I again until I can figure out what is upsetting them and get them to be quiet….so I am on a mission.
Since Chester and Gretel didn’t mind being in the trailers, I knew it had to do with being in motion. My first thought was that they could have been freaked out by the cars zooming past the trailer only three feet away. A great theory but they continued to bark even when we were on back-roads with no cars in sight. That left “nervousness” because the little trailers bounced around every time they hit a small rock and/or run-of-the-mill motion sickness.
I mostly eliminated the bouncing around by buying the big, heavier doggy bike trailer and putting them both in it. One dog in a small trailer weighed about 35 lbs but two dogs in the larger trailer weight around 50 lbs. It sure is heavier to pull on a bike but it doesn’t bounce around near as much.
That left the possibility of motion sickness. I am hoping the lack of bouncing itself will take care a lot of that. I also thought that taking them on several short trips in the big trailer will get them used to “having a better experience” in the bike trailer. I have already taken them for two short rides this year. The first one was just around the block and for the second one we went about 2 miles. Both times I stopped every few hundred feed to praise them and give them lots of treats.
I am going to do that a few more times and then try taking them on a couple hour ride. If they start to freak out again I am going to try natural supplements that are supposed to help with motion sickness. If that doesn’t work I might just have to give up on my cross-country dream.
Amber DaWeenie says
Hmmmmm…..let me see here! I wonder if they’re upset because they aren’t doing the pedaling! 🙂
Jessica Rhae says
That very well could be. This cycling thing is fun but they sure don’t get any exercise. We sure do though! *woof*
Montecristo Travels (Sonja) says
Just wanted to share with you the shout out on our blog!
Thanks for the travel with small dog inspiration!
http://montecristotravels.com/my-top-5-travel-with-dog-blog-and-websites-and-top-5-plain-old-travel-blogs/
Jessica Rhae says
Thanks so much for the shout-out. I am honored.
Although we own Dachshunds (so therefore use them as examples) we are really about breaking the stereotype of all small dogs. We are a representation of the active, hiking, fit small dog 🙂
Jodi, Kolchak & Felix says
I couldn’t help but giggle at the thought of three days on the road with wailing dogs. That’s what I imagine travel with Kolchak to be like!
Ginger can help immensely with cookies. I make a modified version of our gingerbread treats to help Koly with his car sickness.
Jessica Rhae says
I’ll have to keep that in mind…not that I bake Chester and Gretel cookies. Maybe they will just eat ginger straight 🙂
Jodi says
Too bad you don’t know anyone that could make some 😉
Jessica Rhae says
Maybe we will have to work out some underground treat smuggling ring 🙂
Hawk aka BrownDog says
Hi Y’all!
You are wrong on all counts! When I get into my golf cart I bark and bark like the Budweiser Dalmatian…only I’m a Chessie…It’s excitement!!! EXCITEMENT!!! I tell you!!!
My Human Parents finally gave up trying to train me to shut up…because I wouldn’t, I won’t! There is nothing I LOVE more than a ride in my golf cart!
Y’all come by now,
Hawk aka BrownDog
Jessica Rhae says
I would normally agree Hawk but this is not your regular barking. It’s more like a shriek or warble in some cases. I think is not in celebration of the moment 🙂
KateS says
Good luck, Jess, our neighbor had two dachshunds and used to put them in the rear basket on his 3-wheel bike and ride all over town. The barking was intense, and it was CONSTANT!! We all used to laugh at him :D. Of course, they were poorly socialized and horrible barkers anyway, which Chester and Gretel are not, so hopefully you will figure it out!
Jessica Rhae says
Well, that is no light at the end of the tunnel. Ha, ha. S and I had another talk last night about this issue. He seemed to think that the barking bothers me too but it doesn’t….just him…and all of the innocent bystanders making fun of us (or grumbling under their breath) 🙂 I must figure this out for everyone else so my dream can be realized!
Tootsie says
Oh, poor weenies! That does not sound like fun at all. Howling hot doggies. 🙁 I wonder if they just feel the vibrations ever-so-much because of the trailers. Hope the new one works out.
Keep on wagging,
Tootsie
Jessica Rhae says
So far so good but I am being really careful not to push them to the point of barking. I feel like if they hit that point there will be no going back. There is a thick, memory foam pad you can get for the inside to dampen the vibration. I am going to get one of those too.
Elizabeth says
I hope you figure out a solution that helps them enjoy the road more!
Tamara says
I hope you find something that works because our doggy bike trailer is sitting in storage right now. Besides our Snoop (the doxie) letting out barks and shrieks that sounded like he was being tortured in the back, he also managed to break through the front screen and attempt an escape. Poor thing, and one of our favourite things to do is long bike rides. We so wish we could take him with us! I am considering some sort of a back-pack carrier instead.
Jessica Rhae says
I will be looking for alternatives if the bike trailer thing becomes an issue again. There won’t be any cross-country-worthy alternatives though.
Do you think you will give the trailer a try again later or are you just going to sell it?
Tamara says
I havent given up on it, and won’t sell the trailer just yet. Took me long enough to find a dog trailer that didn’t cost an arm and a leg, so I will be holding on to it. My next try is to utterly exhaust Snoop with some fetch and then take him on a bike ride. Maybe he’ll enjoy the breezy nap! If not, the trailer will become my new picnic bike trailer. Can’t go wrong right?
Dina says
Those are some good trailers! Good luck pursuing your dreams!
Jen says
I can just hear them as your biking down the road:)
Hmmmm, I wonder if maybe one of calming sprays would help. Like maybe spraying the fabric of the trailer with it or the blankets? Just a thought.
Jessica Rhae says
I have tried those calming sprays in the house and they don’t work on Chester and Gretel. I do have some Happy Traveler chews that seem to make Gretel as bit more relaxed. I am going to give her a couple of those before every trip to hopefully stack the cards in my favor 🙂
SlimDoggy says
Ouch, that could be pretty annoying. Maybe it’s just joyful singing because they love it?
Jessica Rhae says
Wishful thinking 🙂
Hailey and Zaphod's Lady says
Our Lady laughed picturing the screaming biking dogs. She hopes you are able to learn to love it so you can travel together!
Lee and Phod
Jessica Rhae says
Long story but once I saw/heard a car being towed out of a National Park with a squealing Marmot inside. Skcreeeeeeeee! It was the funniest thing 🙂
Chris Knowles says
I have dreamed of a cross country trip, but Charlie is a little big. I think it would be a motorcycle and sidecar deal for me and Charlie!
Jessica Rhae says
He might be a little heavy to pull with full paniers on the bike 🙂 At least with him you could use a hands-free leash and he could run along the bike for a while when you are on backroads. Any new progress on your trip planning and partnership?
Coralee says
We’ve done cross country with a cat in a car, but dogs and bikes are another story! Best of luck!
emma says
That sounds like a fun idea except for the camping, mom likes a hotel,doesn’t have to be fancy but indoor plumbing, etc. Are they noisy in the car too? Maybe they don’t like looking out the back and would be happier facing forward. We ride in the car for days no problem but have never tried a bike trailer. Let us know if you make it to MN, we can meet up with you and offer a night of lodging if you like.
Jessica Rhae says
I would live in a tent for weeks on end if I could. As a matter of fact I did when I was a wildland firefighter. My cousin is like you though – must have a bed, toilet and shower – so when we travel together there is no camping involved…except that one time after the Greatful Dead concert when all of the hotels were full and we has to sleep on the ground overnight. She has never let me forget it and it was almost 20 years ago! 🙂
Camp Cookstown says
Those are two gorgeous dogs!
Jodi says
That is challenging. Pamela at Something Wagging worked with Honey on this and I think Honey rides quite nicely now. It was a lot of conditioning and patience (which I’m sure you have.) 🙂
I live on the east coast, in a beautiful area and I have a nice deck for sipping lemonade too. 🙂 Is it strange how much I miss everyone?
2 brown dawgs says
Dogs traveling in dog trailers often bark. It is not unusual. I think it is just the motion. Not sick so much as the feeling. Some grow desensitized to it so “practicing” may help. The thing about crazy barking dogs in a trailer is that they can tend to over heat, so you have to be watchful for that. I hope you can work it out. 🙂
Cody Dorsch says
Such cute darlings! But dogs are really scared of motion, they’d rather trot along.
Jessica Rhae says
I know motion is not Chester’s favorite for sure. It is too dangerous to let Dachshunds trot along. They are too low to the ground to be seen easily by the person on the bike or passerbys (walking, riding or skating). We are also taking them in trailers on the side of highways and major roads where trotting along with a bike is unsafe. Also, all it would take is one accident to injure their fragile backs and possibly paralyze them 🙁 It’s really the trailer or nothing for us so that is why I have hope 🙂
GizmoGeodog says
First off that is one stunningly ambitious trip you’re dreaming of…Make sure to add Florida to your itinerary 🙂 I’d looked into a trailer for Giz cause I hardly ever bike anymore since I’m not comfortable having him run alongside…But I realized he’d be unhappy if he wasn’t able to run, so I scratched that idea…I still think about trying to have him on a leash alongside, but haven’t been brave enough to try it yet…But maybe Chester and Gretel just want to get out and run? Since they are comfy in the trailer I can’t think of anything else
Tylersat99 says
I have never had a dachshund nor any experience with them so this may be a dumb question. Do Gretel and Chester need for things to be under control. Either that they feel like they are in control or that what they are doing feels like it is under control. Because bouncing in a trailer attached to a bike may feel totally out of control to them making them very uncomfortable or frightened?
Jessica Rhae says
It’s not a stupid question. It’s not a Dachshund thing or a “need for control” but I have no doubt that they are not very comfortable in there because it is always moving. If I start slow and take them for longer and longer trips I may be able to get them used to it though. I am also going to try incorporating calming sprays and suppliments.
Heather St.Mars says
my gsd does the exact same thing.wails like his arms are being ripped out!i figured, seperation anxiety, he wants desperately to be up front with me.solution, home made sidecare.all you need is an old futon frame, a jigsaw with metal cutting blades, drill, or screwgun with metal drillbit, nuts, bolts, one wheel, and check out bicycle sidecar frames on google images.make sure it can pivot up and down so when leaning in or out of a turn it can pivot, a fixed bracket attachement to sidecar and frame will end up with sidecar wheel coming off the ground for left turns,(sidecars on right so you, not passengers are exposed to traffic), and also can be much more difficult to handle.as a matter of fact, you can do what i did and convert your trailer into a sidecare.you may not even need a drill, mine was built to attach to a scooter styled e bike.(no im not a cheater, i suffered spinal cord injury i never recovered from,)if yours is for a human powered bike, you can do it so easily.your dogs will LOOOOVE , being up front with you, i ALMOST promise.each dogs different, but i really do think its seperation anxst.keep up your great blog.you have a great sense of humour, anxst included, and i can relate.i share many of your activities and, “dream” activities.take care.
Jessica Rhae says
Thanks for the tips. The dogs can see me (from behind) and can see me when I am riding beside them (when the trailer is attached to my hubby’s bike), so I am not sure that separation anxiety is there issue. However, I will certainly keep this in mind if using a less bouncy trailer doesn’t work.
Arlene says
Have you given up on the bike trailer?
Jessica Rhae says
Not exactly “given up”. We just have plenty of other outdoor stuff we love doing that doesn’t involve a bike trailer. It’s still downstairs and we talk about taking a bike adventure with the dogs every now and then. If we decided to do that, I would renew my efforts of training them to bark less in it.