Bicycles can be built for two – just add on a dog bike basket and your pooch can tag along for the ride. We think these baskets offer your dog a safe and comfortable vantage point.
Remember Miss Gulch from The Wizard of Oz? If you don’t remember the name, who can ever forget the image of the nasty neighbor to tornado poster-child Dorothy, pedaling off into infamy with poor Toto tucked into a picnic hamper on the back of her bike. (Of course we’ll now have that maniacal song playing in the back of our head all day long).
You’ll also recall that the moment they were on the road, clever boy Toto was pretty quick to quietly exit that basket and make a bee-line back home to the farm.
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Fast forward 75 years and our fur-kids are still the same clever little monkeys they were in Toto’s time. However, today’s carrier does a much better job at securing these furry little travelers all the while ensuring our two-wheeled rides look a damn sight smarter than Miss Gulch ever did.
In fact, urban pet parents never had such a wide range of options when it comes to transporting their pooches for longer distances and in greater comfort.
New carriers on the market include chin rests (should your pooch become bored with the scenery), soft liners, reflectors for safety as well as sun/rain visors (hey, no need for you both to get wet).
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Take Solvit’s Tagalong wicker basket. This carrier includes a sheepskin liner that can be removed for washing and cradles your little guy as if he was still lying in his doggie bed back home. It securely holds pets up to 13 pounds and their unique bracket system means the basket can easily be put on/taken off in just seconds and with just one hand. Three-way adjustability on the bracket means it’s a good fit for any bicycle and won’t interfere with brake cables.
If your pup is a tad heftier than 13 pounds, Snoozer’s Dog Rider carrier is designed for the back of your bike and works well for pooches up to 24 pounds. The carrier affixes securely to a bike rack (purchased separately) and includes reflective tape on a black quilted material outer cover, with plush black “fur” inside. A three-point safety strap ensures your pooch ain’t pulling a Toto by jumping out and heading home.
Self-proclaimed pet adventure experts Kurgo have also been working on an ultra-lightweight handlebar model that can safely move small pooches of up to 10 pounds. Their Skybox bike basket weighs only 2.2 pounds, includes a one-handed quick-release mechanism so you can easily transport your little guy when at your destination, is fully collapsible when not in use, and includes pockets for storing valuables when on the road.
From a versatility standpoint, the “prize” would have to go to PetEgo’s Pod iLove basket. While not quite as pretty as the wicker versions offered by others, their carrier can not only house a pup up to 15 pounds but can also be transitioned into a hand-held carrier with the addition of a shoulder strap, or a car carrier that can prevent Rover from roaming around your back- or front-seats.
Of course key to any good carrier is the safe restraint of your little guy while he is travelling with you. Many require the purchase of additional harness pieces or straps, and a good pet parent is smart enough to know that a makeshift work-around to avoid spending a little more is never wise. Your pooch may be mere inches from traffic, so keep him safe, keep him comfortable, and enjoy the ride!
Mary Simpson is an animal-loving writer and communications professional. A soft touch for anything stray, she shares her century home with an eclectic collection of rescues that include orange tabby Chico, tuxedo Simon, and jet black Owen. She enjoys running, politics, exploring local wine regions and is an avid supporter of the “shop local” movement.
