The lively herding dog Balu bounces happily along the trail and sniffs at the trees. His gaze keeps pointing in the direction of his master, enduro pro Oli Dorn. The two of them love going out on the trails together to ride their bikes. In this interview, Dorn reveals what you need to watch out for.
BIKE: Three walks a day, loads of dog food and hair everywhere in the flat. Why do you have a dog at all?
Oli Dorn: Of course, you can only ever see the "negative" aspects of a dog. I myself grew up with dogs. To this day, I am fascinated by the temperament of these animals. No matter what the day has been like, no matter how bad things are going or anything else, the dog is always happy to see you. Besides, there is no more loyal friend. The friar St Francis of Assisi (died 1226) once summed it up quite well:
That the dog is my favourite, O man, is sin? The dog remained faithful to me in the storm, the man not even in the wind. - St Francis of Assisi
How long have you been cycling with Balu?
I got Baloo as a puppy and got him used to the bike from day one. Even so, it took ages before he was able to shred along the trails with me. For the first six months, I just pushed the bike alongside me when we went for a walk to get him used to it. Later, I cycled alongside at walking pace. Only for a few minutes at a time. The worst thing would be to overtax the dog at the beginning. Above all, you have to get the joints used to the strain slowly so as not to damage the dog. Balu wasn't really allowed on trails until he was one year old. I started on very short home trails and then slowly increased the distances.
What should you pay particular attention to when you go biking with your dog?
The dog must be fully grown. Otherwise joints, tendons and ligaments can be damaged. Most dogs have finished growing by the time they are one year old. Nevertheless, it is extremely important to get the dog used to the sports equipment before then. You also need to introduce the dog to the strain slowly. It's no different to us humans. You can't expect a dog to go full throttle right from the start. An animal also needs to build up endurance and strength slowly.
Can you chase every dog over the trails like you do with your Balu?
No, extreme caution is required. Weight and breed play a major role. Herding dogs such as Australian Shepherds or Border Collies (both medium-sized and weighing around 25 kilos, editor's note) are particularly suitable. Jasper Jauch has a small Jack Russell terrier. It works great with him too. Biking is not advisable for dogs weighing more than 35 kilos. Their joints can't take it for long. Balu is an Australian Shepherd. He has been bred to be a working dog for generations and is used to travelling long distances. Furthermore, herding dogs do not hunt. Hunting dogs are also working animals, but as soon as they see a deer, they're gone.
If you take Baloo on tour, how long will he be travelling with you?
You can't generalise. In addition to altitude metres and kilometres, the weather plays a huge role. When it's hot, he gets tired early. On tours, I always make sure that he takes enough breaks and drinks a lot.
How many kilometres can you expect a dog to travel?
Honestly, I don't know. I think it depends on the breed and the training. So far, I've only ridden a maximum of 40 kilometres with Balu. But you certainly can't do that every day.
In the video Baloo is always running free, how do you do that when you have to put him on a lead in the city?
Balu almost always runs free and off the lead. He listens to me well and we are a well-rehearsed team. In the city, however, it's always critical because there are so many impressions and odours. That's when I put him on the lead. I always hold the lead lightly in my right hand. In an emergency, I can still let go of the lead and not get knocked over. I think special lead holders for bikes are rubbish.
Have you ever crashed your own dog on the trail because it suddenly marked a tree?
Haha, fortunately not. When we ride trails, there's nothing else for Baloo at that moment. That's his job and he does it. It's all a matter of training. With the video, I'm afraid that a lot of people think the whole thing is too easy.
I want everyone to know that a traildog is not only fun, but also a lot of work and a lot of responsibility! - Oli Dorn
Did you teach Balu certain commands for mountain biking?
Not really. The most important thing is really to get him used to it. He now knows what left and right mean. And the "run stop" command is really helpful once he's got going.
Sometimes, when you set off on a bike ride with dogs, it seems as if they want to bite your front wheel and bark loudly. Is this out of joy, or how should we understand this sign?
That's probably the classic. It's the anticipation. It can't start fast enough. It's no different with sled dogs, they bark like crazy when they're put on the lead. Baloo also had this fad for a while. It's important to fight it right away. In other words, it only starts when the dog has calmed down. Otherwise it gets worse and worse.
Do you have any insider tips for dog owners who want to try biking with their dog?
It is best to always ride alone with your dog. If there are several bikers with you, it usually ends in chaos. The dog is then overwhelmed.
Conclusion:
Dogs love to join us humans on outdoor adventures - the more variety, the better! Cycling with your dog is particularly exciting away from tarmac roads.
Biking with a dog is generally not a problem. Some breeds are better suited to the sport than others (and some not at all!), and an animal also needs to train its strength and endurance first. However, after a familiarisation phase, adult dogs can easily cover the same distances as an averagely fit person - even on a bike. However, the speed should not be too high.
Essential: The dog must be able to hear well for trail biking, as it should also follow without a lead. In addition, a trail dog must not be too heavy so that the load on the joints remains within limits. The upper limit is around 35 kilograms.
It is important to always have enough water with you for your dog or to regularly visit water sources so that your four-legged friend can drink enough. When dogs romp through deep snow in winter, they also tire much faster, so take good care of your trail buddy. Road salt is hard on paws. Otherwise, if you keep an eye on your dog and take regular breaks, your four-legged friend will be a loyal and pretty fit sports friend.
