Not sure which dog trailer to pick? Like the look of a few of them but wondering which one will be better? Here's a quick buying guide to dog trailers for you bike.
At the end of the day, dog wagons for bikes need to be durable and fit for the purpose. That's obvious. But there's plenty of non-obvious aspects of trailers for dogs you might not have thought about.
That’s why we’ve created this buying guide for dog bike trailers. So don’t just jump in, get confused by all the choices, and buy something that will break in a week. Take the time, do the research and ask yourself these 8 simple questions.
1. Where are you planning to use the dog bike trailer? The importance of suspension
We will start by saying that most dog bike trailers are meant to be used on roads.
Some will accommodate bumpy forest roads, others will be purpose built to have a little more give, others are made to be convenient to store away in a busy city. Very few will allow you to go off-road into the wild mountains of Alaska.
This is mostly a question of comfort – a dog in a trailer, even with the best wheels in the world, you will rarely find the suspension needed to be comfortable on a long journey off-road.
Still, dog bike trailers with suspension are great if you plan on going on gravel paths and dirt tracks, giving you greater freedom of movement with your puppy.
As a general rule, if you wouldn’t take your 5 year old with you on that bike trail, don’t use the bike cart for dogs. Let them run next to you instead, they will be more comfortable until you find yourself on a better road.
2. How big of a dog trailer do I really need to buy?
You might be tempted to buy the biggest trailer there is to give your puppy the most amount of space. But if you know anything by now, it’s that it’s much better to find a trailer that’s just right for the size of your dog.
A large dog needs a large dog trailer, but a cocker spaniel will need a medium dog trailer for safety and for comfort. They don’t want to be floating around a large space, they want to be comfortable and safe – think dog crate size.
Measure your dog from nose to tail, and head to toes. Then look at the interior dimensions of a good dog trailer to ensure they are comfortable.
3. How can I stay safe on the road? The importance of visibility and colours
It may be tempting to go for an all black or slick grey look, but practically speaking, there’s a reason so many of our best dog bike trailers are colourful.
You want to be seen on the road, and you want other people on the road to know you’ve got someone special at the back.
If you’d rather avoid the bright greens and red hues, consider adding a safety flag to the top of the carrier. This will add an extra element of visibility.
4. How do I keep the dog trailer in one piece? Choose the right materials
Now, it may be that your angel of a pooch has never chewed a slipper in his life. It may be that he could sit in a wagon under a mosquito net, and your well behaved pup wouldn’t dream of jumping out. Congrats. You are in dog heaven.
The rest of us with our little rough rascals who tend to get away with their emotions have to consider more carefully the materials of the dog buggy.
Most will have mesh panels for breathability, but mesh is easy to chew, scratch and destroy. So if your dog is a scratcher, make sure the mesh panels are out of their reach, or choose a dog trailer with more solid materials. Some dogs prefer the safety of a more confined space anyway.
Basically, pick a trailer for the dog you have, not the dog you wish you had.
5. How far do you intend on travelling? Pick the right frame
You tend to get bike dog trailers in three types of frame material: plastic, aluminium, and steel.
Plastic is the cheapest and lightest. It’s also rarely strong enough to hold any dog over 5 kilos, so unless you have a toy breed, avoid these. They rarely last long.
Aluminium is still light and strong enough to hold more weight, and is a great choice for quick city breaks or travels.
But, overall, it won’t be as durable as steel. It’s also easier to fix steel frames if they break and are the best choice is you have a larger dog.
That said, steel weighs the most. So if you have a 30 kilo dog and 10 kilos of steel frame, that’s 40 kilos you are dragging with you with just the power of your legs. Time to get fit or leave the puppy at home.
6. Can I buy a child bike trailer and use it for my dog?
You might be wondering why you couldn’t simply use a children’s bike trailer? Then tend to be cheaper right?
Cheaper doesn’t always mean comfortable. More importantly, dog trailers are designed to help accommodate small paws – from better airflow, to dog harnesses, to cushioned floors, to front and back entrances. For us, the safety of our furry companions is paramount.
That said, we know plenty of clever people who, with some modifications, have managed to turn a child bike trailer into a doggy one. But we are not going to be the ones to tell you how to break an expensive bit of kit to fit your dog, when there are so many great dog bicycle trailers all ready to use.
7. What do I really need it for? Strollers VS wagons VS baskets
If you have a small dog you have a lot more choice available. Basket, dog carriers, dog backpacks, strollers, wagons… think about what would make your dog more comfortable.
However, if you have a large dog and want to take your dog on long bike journeys, a dog bike trailer is your main option.
Still there are dog bike trailers that turn into strollers that fit dogs of up to 35kg – think a Pitbull or Labrador.
Why would you need that? Aren’t strollers only for tiny dachshunds who can’t walk very far? Well, even the most energetic dog gets old, or sick, or immobile, through no fault of their own.
A dog trailer that turns into a dog stroller is perfect for anyone looking to bring their dogs on an outdoor adventure that would usually not be able to keep up – whether it’s because they have short legs or aching ones.
8. Where on earth am I going to store this thing?
Good news. Most good dog bicycle trailer will collapse. Some will collapse easily, some will collapse a little less easily.
For the big adventure all-terrain dog carriers you want quick release wheels. This will ensure you can quickly get the carrier in an out of the car, or store away flat when not in use.
Some will even fold down to the size of carry-on luggage if you are looking for something really compact and to take with you abroad.
Either way, don’t just think about the appropriate size for your dog, but think about where and how you’ll carry and store this thing in between your adventures.
9. Do I need to buy accessories?
What extra might you need? What extras come included in the price?
Some of the things you might want to look for:
- Safety flag: for visibility
- Brakes: handy if you want to stop on a hill
- Rain covers: is it weather-proof or do you need to buy extras
- Pockets: Does it come with pockets to carry little extras for your pooch?
- Reflective strips: On the wheels, on the side, on the roof, it’s always good to have something that reflect car lights as the evening draws in.
- Lights: Is there somewhere you can hang flashing lights, again, if you are planning on travelling at dusk or night?
- Bedding: Rarely will any carrier come with blankets, bedding or soft furnishing. So bear that in mind
In short, try and get the most you can for your money. Because why not?
10. What is the best dog bike trailer?
What we will tell you is that there are lot of fit for purpose dog cycle trailers that you can find online.
We’ve made a list of some of the best bike dog trailer for dogs of all sizes, with all the features and mod cons you would need.
Now you know what you are looking for, take a look around our RuffRascals site. You’ll find the perfect trailer or simply teach your dog how to cycle with you or the perfect treats to keep them happy and healthy.
