Bring Your Dog Cycling With the Best Bicycle Dog Leash
Staying active and getting regularly exercise is the key to a healthy life. However, the issue with exercises like cycling in particular is that they can be incredibly repetitive and boring when done alone.
That's why you need to bring your dog with you on every cycling session. All you need is the finest bicycle dog leash of 2024, and you're ready to work out with your four-legged best friend. These items will do the hard work of keeping your dog safe and secure for you so you can enjoy your ride – your entire goal in the first place.
You get to work out, your dog gets to walk, and you both get to spend some quality time with each other, further strengthening your bond. This whole situation is a win-win for everyone involved. But these plans can only succeed if you choose the right bicycle leash, which can be a total game changer for both dogs and dog owners while bike riding.
We checked out a whole heap of available options and condensed our findings into this list of five choices. These are the best dog bike leash options to buy.
A Thorough Buyer's Guide to Bicycle Dog Leashes
Many people want to take their beloved pets along on a bike ride. Before the widespread usage of bicycle leashes, cyclers would tie a regular dog walking leash to the bike. It worked to some extent, but it was also hazardous for the dog and the person riding the bicycle. Luckily, modern bicycle dog leashes are here to help.
However, not all bicycle dog leashes are created equal. Some are a better fit for certain people than others. You can buy any dog leash from our top five, which should work just fine. However, you need to buy the one that fits your situation to get the best experience.
These are the questions that you need to consider before making a purchase.
What Is Your Dog’s Weight?
Your dog’s weight is one of the essential factors in choosing the best dog bike leash for you. Most bike leashes are rated to fit a specific weight class, and any dog above or below these parameters isn’t recommended to use these.
For example, let’s say a dog leash is ideal for dogs between 150 and 250 pounds. If you strap it to an 80-pound dog, then the suspension spring might feel too tight, and it will not provide any meaningful shock absorption. On the other hand, if you have an extremely large dog, the leash’s shock absorption will not work at best, and the leash could completely break at worst.
So, make sure you’re buying a dog leash rated for your dog’s correct weight class.
What Speed Will You Be Riding At?
If you’ll be riding fast, then a leash with a long, flexible section and intense shock absorption is your best dog bike leash option. It will give plenty of space for your dog to run off their high energy levels, while also protecting them from your sudden acceleration or deceleration.
On the other side of the coin, if you’ll be riding slowly, a dog leash with limited movement will work the best. It’ll keep your dog close at all times and discourage them from running too fast all of a sudden. As you get your canine companion used to running alongside you, begin with brief bike outings so that your dog’s paws are less likely to get injured from the sudden exertion.
Why Are You Bringing Your Dog Along?
The reason behind bringing your dog with you can also affect your leash choice. Unfortunately, there could be so many possibilities that we couldn’t possibly recommend each one of them. You’ll have to think about this logically and develop a solution independently.
An excellent example of this logical thinking would be the following scenario. Let’s say you want to train your dog to follow your bike closely, even without a dog leash. A bicycle leash that allows for limited dog mobility might be the ideal option in this case.
For some more quick tips that will help you ensure safety and success, check out this Animal Planet video:
The Top Bicycle Dog Leashes – A Brief Review
Neewa Tug-Line with Bungee
– Best Overall
First on our list is a bicycle dog leash by Neewa. As our top pick, this is the most basic form of what a quality bicycle leash should be. The polypropylene material is strong enough to hold together even after months of constant use, and the metal hooks on either end allow for quick and easy deployment.
However, the star of the show has to be the built-in bungee of this bike dog leash. You and your dog are not going to travel at the same speed all the time. Sometimes you’ll have to get faster or slow down suddenly. A static leash can cause whiplash to your dog when something like this happens. The bungee of this dog leash completely absorbs the sudden variations in relative speeds and ensures that the whole ride is smooth for both of you.
- Long enough for most dogs
- Durable, long-lasting construction
- Works with almost every collar or harness
- Flexible leash can cause control issues with dogs
1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leash
– Most Unique Design
Next up, we have a dog bicycle leash with a semi-rigid design. The majority of this leash is a soft solid with a curved design. The tip of this rigid, rod-like structure is a leash hook attached to a flexible length of cable that retracts back into the rigid part. Both of these design elements combine to make a bicycle leash that keeps your dog in the same relative position while also giving them enough freedom of movement to walk around obstacles.
This design might seem perfect for all users, but unfortunately, it is not good for a significant amount of people and dogs. This bike dog leash is only suitable for people who ride at certain low speeds, and it works great for dogs who can keep pace with these low speeds.
- Robust structure that will last a long time
- Ideal for people who ride slowly
- Allows for very restricted movement from the dog
Walky Dog Bicycle Dog Leash
– Best Pulling Force
Suppose you’re looking for something similar to the 1-Running-Dog Bike Tow Leash, but better in almost every way – this one is for you. The Walky Dog bicycle leash has the same fundamental design with a rigid rod and a flexible, retractable cord at the end. However, this one comprises metal and the other is made of more substantial materials, giving this leash an average pulling force of over 550 pounds.
The metallic rod is mounted securely to the bike’s seat, while the dog is attached with a flexible yet strong cord. This dog leash might look more rigid and restrictive than the previous option, but it is quite the opposite, thanks to the patented internal shock-absorbing system that Walky Dog offers.
- Quick and easy installation on any bike
- Stainless steel construction
- Used adjustable leash length
- Requires a specific tool for installation and removal
NEWURBAN Dog Bike Leash
– Most Versatile
Now we’re entering the realm of bicycle leash designs that are polished to perfection. The NEWURBAN bicycle dog leash takes the rod and rope design and removes all significant issues. For example, the stainless steel rod is robust in design, but not the star of the show. The bungee strap also offers strength and support.
There are no complex mechanisms inside this bike dog leash option that can break over time. It is just a metal rod with a bike attachment mount and hook on one end, and it comes with an Allen wrench to aid in installation. The hook is then attached to a fixed strap, connecting to a flexible bungee that will help as your dog pulls. You can even skip connecting to the bungee if you want to.
- Allows the dog high mobility
- Allows for faster movement than other designs
- It does not support extra large dogs
Videosystem Dog Hands Free Leashes
– Sturdiest Installation
The final entry on our list is also suitable for most users. It has an ingenious stainless steel design similar to the NEWURBAN bike leash, while also retaining the quality and robustness of the Walky Dog leash. This leash is of top quality, and more than 400 five-star reviews of the product speak for themselves.
Even if you ignore every other dog leash for bikes on the market and look at this one objectively, it is still a great option. It even resolves any mounting and dismounting issues by having the bike attachment rod screw into the seat mount, which you can unscrew easily without needing any tools.
- Quality construction with sturdy materials
- Attention to minor details
- Only one size and color option
People Also Asked
A: Yes, if you're using a super low-tech leash. Other than that, most advanced bicycle leashes are very unlikely to tangle, even if they're attached to the most active dog in the world.
A: No, under normal circumstances, it is not. In fact, it is the opposite, as many dogs love to run around and chase moving vehicles like a bicycle. However, it can become cruel if the owner starts disregarding their dog's exhaustion. Remember that you do not want to be dragging your dog around. If they get tired, the best practice is to let them rest for a few minutes before continuing slowly. Carrying a dog with you while you're riding a bike can also be dangerous, so avoid that as well.
A: The trick to taking your dog on bike rides is to start slowly. You might even have to walk with your bike in your first couple of sessions. Then you can steadily pick up the pace and build your dog's confidence along the way.
A: Using a regular dog leash or a retractable leash can end up in an injury to your dog and/or yourself if things go wrong. You and your dog could get tangled up if your dog's leash gets caught on something, which could lead to you crashing. With a bicycle dog leash, you can avoid this issue.
A: It's best to go biking with more athletic and large dogs who are able to stick close and keep up with you as you go along. Energetic dogs and certain breeds, like the border collie, can definitely benefit from it. Small dogs may not be able to stay at a steady pace since they have little legs. Flat-faced, or brachycephalic, dogs may have trouble breathing through this type of exercise, so you may want to leave them at home.