/r/dogismycopilot

Photograph via snooOG

Dogs in motorcycle sidecars, car passenger seats, airplanes, etc., geared up and amped up for accompanying their humans on adventures.

Dogs in motorcycle sidecars, car passenger seats, airplanes, etc., geared up and amped up for accompanying their humans on adventures.

  1. Any pet species is welcome
  2. Any manner of vehicle is acceptable: cars, motorcycles, planes, helicopters, etc.
  3. Road gear is a plus!
  4. Don't be a dick ofc

Copilot-Friendly Subreddits:

/r/dogismycopilot

1,844 Subscribers

71

Training My Guy To Ride

2 Comments
2021/07/25
01:57 UTC

21

Angus wants a sidecar to co-pilot in! Soon buddy!!

0 Comments
2021/04/11
04:47 UTC

46

Pup enjoying the new to us Miata.

0 Comments
2021/04/10
19:42 UTC

45

Makes life feel like it's just a simulation

1 Comment
2020/12/27
01:17 UTC

44

Lola excited to go for a ride.

1 Comment
2020/12/22
05:32 UTC

40

My camping co-pilot, Zuko

3 Comments
2020/11/09
19:46 UTC

30

Winston is just a content pupper in the car

0 Comments
2020/09/25
18:22 UTC

70

Saw this car behind me and had to pull over for a photo

2 Comments
2020/09/17
19:17 UTC

49

Me and the Lil Boy

0 Comments
2020/08/22
18:42 UTC

37

Rosie enjoying the shade and the cooled seats

0 Comments
2020/07/26
10:59 UTC

15

Medium-Large Dog (~55lbs) Motorcycle Carrier and Training Tips (+help me understand physics)

Hi all,

I'm looking for advice on the best way to carry my medium/large size dog--about 55lbs, mixed, maybe a GSD or Australian cattle dog style mix--on my bike with me. I've bought goggles (not sure if they're the "best") and have read that helmets won't really help a dog.

I'd initially planned on buying the K9 Sport Sack Rover (30-80lbs) backpack, but they're sold out with month long delays. Is there an alternate one that's equally "good" you can recommend? Or would you recommend going without the carrier altogether?

A few other questions for my inexperienced mind: is a backpack the safest option? Do they have "gear" backpacks for dogs? I've seen large dogs riding in back and "holding" onto the driver's shoulders like a human. Is the backpack, therefore, necessary, or even preferable?

Other questions:

  • what does your dog do, and/or how did you train your dog to behave, in the event someone else walks their dog in front of your bike at a crosswalk? Or if a dog is barking wildly at yours from a car window during a long red light?
  • In the event of heavy rain, will the dog "slip" off? I imagine this would be exacerbated if the dog wasn't in a backpack (?).
  • In the event of heavy wind--the type you have to "lean" into the wind to stay straight for the entire drive--does your dog...well, struggle? Is the backpack just hanging off the bike?
  • Similarly, does the dog struggle more/less during sharp turns or more sudden stops with or without a backpack?
  • Finally, what no one wants to think about, what's better in the event of an accident? I imagine that the downside of a backpack is that the dog wouldn't be able to jump/roll off to protect itself, and would instead largely be rooted to you. Is no backpack actually safer?
  • I don't ride without gear, but I don't imagine there are enough dogs riding bikes for them to even consider gear for dogs. But would gear be ideal? What would it even look like?
  • Will my dog be able to "hold on" to me when I'm wearing my gear (leather jacket, shoulder/back armour)? I'm pretty small myself--had it custom ordered to make it smaller--but I guess I worry he wouldn't sufficiently be able to dig in. I don't think I've ever seen a video of a responsible motorcycle driver in gear with their dog.
  • If the dog is not in a backpack, does your bike need a special style of passenger seat? Mine is wide enough for a human, but a bit on the narrow side.
  • Is there anything else I need aside from dog goggles and (maybe) a backpack? Do I need to protect my dog's pointy ears? I imagine that a small pebble or leaf or speck of dirt at high speeds could hurt his. (Same reason that humans cover and gear up.)
  • I know all dogs are different, but how long did it take you to condition your dog to ride a bike? I don't have a car, and I'm hoping to schedule a (very non-urgent / proactively scheduled) appointment with a specialist. The nearest one is super far away (allegedly an hour's drive), and I'm trying to get a rough idea of how long it'll take (couple weeks, 2 months, or 6+ months).

Okay, thank you, and tell me if I'd have been better served posting in a different subreddit! It's still kind of unbelievable to me that dogs ride and stay on at all, even after watching videos and seeing a few in "real life". Very long-term, probably in a year, it'd be amazing to take him coworking with me a couple times a week, to take trips to a dog beach, etc.

2 Comments
2020/07/18
22:40 UTC

30

Under the "L"

0 Comments
2020/04/20
09:35 UTC

79

Me and my Corgi Copilot, Benson.

5 Comments
2020/01/10
22:14 UTC

38

Close enough - Trail-co-pilot!

0 Comments
2019/12/31
20:56 UTC

33

I’m actually my dog’s co-pilot (pic taken by backseat sitter)

0 Comments
2019/12/30
21:46 UTC

39

Just found this sub. Here is my copilot 😄

2 Comments
2019/12/23
23:55 UTC

34

We let our copilot take the wheel for her 16th birthday

1 Comment
2019/12/19
05:09 UTC

15

My copilot getting a little treat :)

0 Comments
2019/12/12
05:27 UTC

21

this sub is grossly underrated

ruff ruff (translation: this sub is grossly underrated)

0 Comments
2019/10/15
11:55 UTC

42

Too cool for obedience school

1 Comment
2019/09/17
22:51 UTC

45

Look at me! I am the captain now!

0 Comments
2019/08/17
23:02 UTC

28

This little guy is bad to the bone ❤️ (@charlieboyrides on IG)

1 Comment
2019/08/16
02:12 UTC

38

His name is Finny, and he’s. GREAT co-pilot

0 Comments
2019/08/09
23:36 UTC

60

Always Wear Your Seatbelt

5 Comments
2019/06/27
18:19 UTC

25

Car camping in Monument Valley

0 Comments
2019/03/23
05:51 UTC

29

Rosie the pointer

2 Comments
2019/01/21
02:01 UTC

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