How big is the dog? I am going to assume amedium-large dog here.

Generally with bicycle touring, 2 wheels bad, 1 wheel good because that means you have to look out for three sets of wheels. With a one wheel trailer, the trailer wheel usually follows the track of the bicycle wheels so less problems with roughness, punctures, etc.

However, there is a big design problem in all the commercially available trailers as far as dogs go and that it that the weight of the dog is going to be above the line through the front (rear wheel of bicycle) and rear (trailer wheel), so the trailer will tend to topple to either side.

Other problem is that when you stop, dog has to get out and if you fall over, dog can be thrown out. Bad news,

Next thing to watch out for is that the trailer hitch is to the rear axles or chain stays. Do not get a trailer that hitches to the seat stay as the weight of dog and gear in the trailer is throwing your bicycle from side to side with a lot of leverage.

Personally, I'd invest in proper front and rear racks to carry my stuff, rather than put all that stuff and the dog in/on the trailer. The other problem about weight in a trailer is that it can chugg/shake the bicycle back and forth, which at the least is annoying. You would also need a very good braking system on the trailer, otherwise you might
"live in interesting times" occassionally.

My 2c; A lot of commercial trailers are great for urban streets and short trips, but lousy, useless and dangerous for touring.

Before you purchase any trailer, get a written weight recommendation, then do your practice trips and weigh everything., plus the dog. It almost certainly will be over the capacity if you try and put it all in.

You will probably also have to train your dog. At the least, I'd carry it in a cage of some form. Mainly for some basic protection if you come off your bike. Also, so you can give it a wind, rain or sun protection.

Your dog needs to be properly trained. If you can not take your dog without a leash for a walk around a suburban street, i.e it 100% stays with you and follows your commands, then you are also going to need to firmly tie it into the trailer and tie it up at every campsite and stopping place.

The last thing you want is to have to chase your dog over hill and dale because it ran off following some scent. In this country, that is an invitation for any landholder to shoot it and charge you with trespass.

You also do not want basic things like it trying to jump out of the trailer to chase other dogs, follow a scent.

By all means give it a go.

Thanks for your input. Thats really helpful. She weights ~27#, so I think I can get her and all my gear under 100# (hoping for way under as this is about how much I weigh). Also, she is pretty well behaved, as far as staying with me. She doesn't get too rowdy on car rides (in fact, she sleeps the whole way), so I'm thinking she'll be pretty good in the trailer as well. I'll try it out onsome short trips first to see how it goes. Thanks again!

Kristen,

You are SO in luck. My companion is among the top three ranked bicycling dogs in the world [ok, we just started the ratings last week], and she insisted that I post this.

Dogs and cycling are a great combination. I’ve done a considerable amount of cycling w different dogs, w and w/o trailers [1 wheel and 2 wheel], a limited amount of dog/trailer/touring, plus a great deal of bike touring sans dog.

Definitely go for a 2 wheel trailer. The single wheel trailers, like Bob, lean w the bike. The dog must move to maintain her balance. That means the load in your trlr is shifting as you lean thru a curve. It’s doable. I’ve done it w a dog twice as heavy as yours, but it’s a world better w the 2 wheel. The hitch on 2 wheelers pivots so the trlr doesn’t lean.

Secondly, the 1 wheeler leans w the bike when you stop and straddle it, and when you lean the bike against something. W the 2 wheeler, it’s quite stable to lean the bike against a wall or post. The trlr remains level.

There are now several dog/bike trlrs on the market. From the outside, they look like a kid trlr except that they’re square in front, instead of sloped. This accommodates the dog’s highest point, his head, at the front, thus losing the aerodynamic shape.

The other difference, aside from the absence of the kid seat/harness, is that the floor is reinforced. Kiddy trlrs [usually] have a thin, fabric floor b/c the frame and harness support the kid.

I’ll mention what I’ve done w my dog. You can decide if any of the info works for you.

I havent used any of the doggy trlrs, so I have no recommendations. I’ve converted a Burley Solo by removing the seat, removing the canopy, and reinforcing the floor. W/o the canopy, the front is open so the dog would be thrown fwd, and out, in a sudden stop. I have several bungees across the front to provide restraint.

On the floor, I’ve wrapped a camping pad around a large, stiff piece of plastic [actually, whatever that white, laminate shelving is]. Thin plywood would work. The foam, camping pad [not Thermarest] works well b/c it’s not slick. Avoid something that might slide around, such as a rug or blanket.

I have a friend who takes his terrier in a Burley Solo w the child seat, but I don’t think it would work for a dog the size of yours.

I previously used a Bob trailer w a laundry basket in it. When I started training Sassy Girl in the Bob—which is much more open and, hence, much easier for her to fall/jump out—I would double or triple leash her until she got the hang of it.

Most of the dog trailers have the width of a two-child trailer. I like having a narrower profile. A few cm on ea side can make a difference in traffic. If you get a dog-specific trlr, get the smallest that will work for your dog—weight savings, narrower profile, less wind resistance. If you have a wide doggy trlr w the square front, that’s a considerable increase in wind resistance.

Burleys are expensive, but they’ve been around for a while so you can find used ones. The Solos are harder to find than the 2 kid models. Chariot is the only other company, of which I’m aware, that makes a 1 kid model.

Since the top of the trailer is open, I’ve trained Sassy Girl to jump in and out on command. This is handy in all kinds of situations, not the least of which is when you’re going up a long 8% gradient, and you can magically and significantly lighten your burden by having your canine companion disembark and run alongside you.

My dog always stands in the trailer while we’re moving and will either sit or stand while we’re stopped. She would have to lie down if I used the canopy. I could train her to do that but she wouldn’t like it as much.

The other advantage of an open trailer is the cuteness factor. We elicit smiles, chuckles, applause, and bicycle handlebar bell rings.

I’ve always taken my dogs in urban areas so I’ve trained her to run on the sidewalk while I bike in the street. She has to stop and sit at each intersection and wait for verbal permission to cross. When there are no sidewalks, she will, on command, heel beside the bike. Most of our recreational rides are in the hills, so she runs the uphills and rides in the trailer on the downhill.

Sassy loves running along w the bike. She gives me the saddest look when I leave on the bicycle w/o her. Most dogs don’t get pushed near their limits, so we forget how fast and athletic they are. Of course, there are many factors—your critter’s size, age, breed, temperament, and how much energy you want to put into training your dog. Do remember that they don’t perspire the way we do, and running at bicycle speed while wearing a fur coat is taxing, so frequent water stops are very important.

100lb [or 73lb] is a heavy load for touring. I usually think of a 10kg load as light touring and 20kg as heavy touring. Many trlrs list a 100lb capacity, but in terms of convenience and bike handling, I would suggest putting some of the load on the bike.

I joined this list only to respond to your post, so you owe me big time, Kristen. As payment, you are required to offer extra belly rubs, head pats, and snuggle time.

And, remember, happy trails make happy tails.