Taking Your Dog for a Bike Ride

Thinking About Taking Your Dog for a Bike Ride? 

Let’s Talk Safety First.

Because fun and safety go paw in paw.

Thinking about taking your dog along on your next bike ride?
Amazing! A breeze in your hair, your pup trotting happily beside you—it sounds like a dream. 

But before you strap on your helmet and clip the leash, let’s pump the brakes and chat safety. Because biking with your dog can be a blast... if you do it right.

🐶 Not All Dogs Are Born to Bike

Your dog might be adventurous, but biking is a whole new world of sights, sounds, and fast-moving wheels. Start by asking: Does my dog enjoy movement near them? Are they confident on a leash around distractions? If the answer is “ehhh, not really,” then a bike ride might not be the best match—and that’s okay! There are plenty of other adventure options (and we’ll be covering those in future posts).

If your dog has experience working around other things with wheels such strollers, wheelbarrows, ATV's, mobility scooters they may take to walking next to a bike rather quickly. But if they do not, you will need to go at a much slower pace.

🚲 Training Before Touring

Introduce your dog to the bike slowly. Walk it beside them. Let them sniff it. Reward calm behavior around it. Then, practice short, slow walk-alongs with the bike to build comfort and communication. Trust is everything!

You'll also want to make sure that you have a heavily reinforced "heel" behavior around a wide variety of distractions. If your dog impulsively jerks towards people or another dog when your on a walk, it's going to be even worse when your moving at a good speed. On walks, I don't expect my dogs to stay in heel position long term. However on a bike, if we are moving they need to stay in heel while we are moving. We are also going to stop frequently to give them a chance to explore and sniff a bit. It won't take long and you will learn all of your dog's favorite places to stop and sniff!

🧰 Use the Right Gear

Put down that leash in your hand—seriously. It’s a recipe for tangled limbs and sudden wipeouts. 

A harness is a must! Do not do this on collar of any type as you could do some serious damage to your dog's neck. A solid y-front harness that allows your dog full range of motion is perfect! Always use the back clip as well. I'm a firm believer in a dual clip leash for walks, but the tangling risk on a bike is just too great. Stick to the back clip attachment.

Use a proper bike attachment for dogs with shock absorption and enough distance between bike and body. Or use a hands free waist belt or shoulder strap leash where you can maintain that safety connection while keeping both handle bars on the leash. 

Safety first, always! Do not allow your dog off leash to run beside your bike unless you are on a trail away from roads and traffic AND you have a solid recall. I will use a waist leash with Belle to ride to the trail, then let her off leash to explore a bit. Since she likes speed, Belle mostly chooses to heel even when she is off leash. Azul on the other hand, doesn't do well off leash in nature, only recalling when there are not other animals nearby. I take Azul on bike rides in town when we can more easily use a waistbelt leash.

☀️ Be Heat-Wise and Hydration-Smart

Check the pavement with your hand. If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot for paws. 

Bring water for both of you. Stop often. Your dog’s tongue shouldn’t be dragging along the trail like a flag of surrender. Panting helps a dog cool off, but if their tongue starts to swell, it's a sign of overheating.

⏱️ Keep It Short and Sweet

This isn’t a race. Start with short rides, especially if your dog is new to this. End on a good note—before your dog is exhausted or overwhelmed. Think quality over quantity.

❤️ Know When to Say “Not Today”

If your dog is fearful, reactive, recovering from an injury, or simply not interested, skip the ride. There’s no shame in choosing safety and comfort over Insta-worthy moments.

This has been especially important for Azul! If weather is too hot, he will overheat very rapidly. Yet if it's over-cast due to rain coming in, Azul is likely to have some joint stiffness. Neither make for a comfortable trip for him. We opt for a slow sniff-a-bout on those days and save the bike ride for cooler days, often later in the evening when Azul is most likely to have some energy and less chance of stiff joints. Azul's trips are also shorter and slower than Belle's trips, simply due to his age and health issues.

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Biking with your dog can be an awesome bonding experience—but only if it's built on preparation, patience, and play.

Stay tuned for more “Thinking About Taking Your Dog…” posts—coming soon, we’ll cover safe hiking tips, beach days with pups, and navigating dog parks like a pro.

Because your dog’s safety is part of the adventure.

Group Walk Lessons

What We Learn on Group Walks: Lessons From the Trail

Whether your dog is fearful, fizzy, or somewhere in between, one of the best ways to turn training into real-world success is to take it on the road and that’s exactly what we do on our Beginners Group Walks.

These walks are more than just a stroll around the block. They’re thoughtfully designed opportunities for both dogs and humans to practice, grow, and connect. Let’s take a look at some of the key skills and lessons we work on together during these powerful sessions.

1. 🛑 Staying at a Safe Distance

One of the first things we teach is that it’s okay to stay far away. In fact, it’s encouraged! Dogs learn best when they feel safe. We help each team find their “learning zone” — that sweet spot where your dog can observe, think, and participate without tipping into panic or overwhelm.

 

2. 🌿 Using Visual Barriers

Sometimes just not seeing the stressor is the best support. We practice using parked cars, bushes, benches, or even our own bodies as visual barriers. This simple technique can lower arousal, reduce barking, and help fearful dogs settle.

 

3. 👀 The 3-Second Rule: Look Away

When our dogs see another dog or person, we practice the “3-second rule” — a short look, then a gentle redirection. This prevents intense staring or fixating, and teaches dogs that it’s okay to look away instead of escalate. One dog can intently watch another as long as the 2 dogs are not making direct eye contact. The moment they do, owners count out loud; "1-2-3-Look Away!" and immediately turn to build distance between the 2 dogs. Dogs can take turns looking at each other, gathering information

 

4. 🧠 Processing the Environment

Fearful dogs often need time to process the world around them. We honor their need to stop, scan, sniff, and think. This is called threat assessment, and when we allow it, our dogs build coping skills and confidence instead of panic.

 

 

5. 🤝 Making Friends Who “Get It”

One of the most beautiful parts of these walks is the community. Every dog here is learning, and every human is showing up with kindness, patience, and empathy. There's no pressure to “perform” — just encouragement, understanding, and shared wins.

 

6. 🛑 Exit Strategies & Gaining Distance

We always have exit strategies. Whether it’s a U-turn, a quick side path, or moving behind a barrier, we teach dogs (and humans!) how to leave before things get too hard. This builds trust, not just between dog and handler, but also in the environment itself.

 

7. 🎲 Playing Games to Stay Focused

We practice games like “Find It,” “Watch Me,” and “Let’s Go!” to keep focus flowing back to the human. These games aren’t just fun — they’re effective tools for calming arousal and building trust in real time.

 

8. 🦮 Leash Manners in Motion

With other dogs around, it’s the perfect time to reinforce polite walking. We practice soft leash handling, reward calm walking, and build your dog’s ability to check in even when there’s exciting stuff happening all around.

 

9. 🗣️ Clear Communication

These walks help humans learn what their dogs are saying and how to respond clearly. Whether it’s reading body language, responding with calm signals, or building cue fluency — communication is a two-way street.

 

10. 🌡️ Learning to Regulate Arousal

Perhaps the most important skill of all: dogs learn how to self-regulate. Whether they start too excited or too shut down, every walk gives them practice returning to a calm, thoughtful state. That’s the kind of emotional resilience that changes everything.

 

Come Walk With Us

Every week, we witness progress that goes far beyond obedience — we see dogs learning how to feel safe, stay calm, and enjoy the world again. We see humans growing in confidence and compassion.

And most importantly, we see teams becoming stronger together.

Whether your dog is fearful, fizzy, or just learning the ropes, our Beginners Group Walks are here to support you both with real-world practice, positive reinforcement, and a whole lot of heart. 💛  

All new clients start with a full Behavior Evaluation! 

Learn more here!

💬 Interested in joining our next Beginners Group Walk? 

Reach out and we’ll make sure you and your dog feel welcome, supported, and ready to take the next step. 💛🐾

📅 Beginner Group Walks held Tuesdays at 6 PM
📍Safe, supportive environment for learning
📨 Reserve your spot today by emailing: yooperpaws@gmail.com

Let’s turn your training into everyday confidence — one gentle step at a time. 🌟

Humans Struggle with Motivation Too

When the Treats Don’t Work on Us: Why Humans Struggle with Motivation

At Yooper Paws of Love, we talk a lot about what motivates our dogs—cheese, tug toys, praise, and yes, sniffing every single leaf on the sidewalk. But let’s get real for a moment… What motivates us?

Because if you’re a dog owner, trainer, or just trying your best to help your dog grow, you've probably hit a wall at some point. You meant to train, to play, to go for that walk. But instead, you sat on the couch, scrolled your phone, and sighed, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” Sound familiar?

You’re not alone. Humans struggle with motivation too. Here’s why—and how we can gently move forward with more grace and energy.

1. You Don’t Have a Clear Goal

Dogs need clarity (“Sit means put your butt on the ground”). So do we.

If your goal is “train more” or “be better with my dog,” that’s a great start—but it’s too vague to energize action. Try breaking it down:

“Teach my dog to settle on a mat by Friday”

“Play a 5-minute game of tug each morning”

Clear, doable goals are motivating because we can actually see progress.

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2. You’re Burnt Out or Overwhelmed

Life is a lot. Whether it’s work, parenting, health, or just being human, our brains get tired. Motivation isn’t always about laziness—it’s often about depletion.

When your energy is low, be kind to yourself. Maybe today’s training is just a cuddle session. That’s still connection, and that still counts.

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3. You’re Not Seeing the Results You Hoped For

Just like dogs lose interest if rewards dry up, we do too. If you’ve been training and not seeing progress—or worse, seeing setbacks—it’s natural to lose steam.

This is when support matters. Talk to a trusted trainer, celebrate tiny wins, and remember that progress in dog training is rarely linear. Some days feel like magic. Others feel like molasses. Both are part of the journey.

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4. You’re Forgetting to Reinforce Yourself

Yes—you need your own treats! What makes you feel good after a task? A cup of coffee? A quiet moment? A high-five from a friend?

Find a way to reward yourself for the effort you're putting in, even when things aren’t perfect. Motivation grows when it’s nurtured with kindness and celebration, not guilt.

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5. You’re Comparing Your Journey to Someone Else’s

Scrolling social media can make us feel like everyone else has perfect dogs, endless energy, and time to train twice a day. Spoiler alert: they don’t.

Every dog and every human has their own story, pace, and rhythm. Your journey is yours—and it’s worth celebrating exactly where it is.

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6. You’re Not Tapping Into What You Love About This

You didn’t start training your dog just to get them to stop pulling on the leash. You started because you love them. Because you wanted a partnership. Because you saw the spark in their eyes when you connected.

Reconnect with your “why.” Motivation comes more easily when it’s driven by joy, not pressure.

Gentle Reminder: You’re Doing Better Than You Think

Motivation ebbs and flows. That’s normal. You’re allowed to have off days. You’re allowed to need support. What matters is that you keep coming back to your dog, to your intention, and to the love that brought you together in the first place.

At Yooper Paws of Love, we’re not just here to train dogs—we’re here to cheer you on, too.

You’ve got this. And we’ve got your back.

Want to explore your personal motivators and create a training plan that fits your lifestyle? Let’s talk! I’d love to help you find the spark again—on both ends of the leash.

#TrainWithHeart

#MotivationForHumans

#YooperPawsOfLove

Reactive vs Fearful

Reactive vs. Fizzy: What’s the Difference?

If you’ve ever seen a dog barking, lunging, or pulling on leash, it might be easy to label them as "reactive." But not all high-energy, noisy dogs are driven by fear. Some are just fizzy — those bubbly, over-the-top, overly social dogs who just can’t wait to get to the party. Interestingly, the games and training exercises we use can be very similar for both types. But how we approach the behavior, and what we expect from the dog (and human!), can be very different.

Here are some simple ways to tell the difference and tailor your training approach accordingly:

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1. The Motivation Behind the Behavior

History matters. For both types of dogs, understanding their learning history gives us valuable clues about why certain behaviors are happening.

A fearful dog has likely learned that barking, lunging, or pulling makes the scary thing go away. It's a survival tactic, not a social one. Their reactions are driven by a powerful emotional response: fear.

A fizzy dog has likely learned that if they pull, jump, or bark like a maniac, they get what they want — whether that's access to a person, another dog, or just the joy of forward motion.

So while both dogs are behaving to get a certain outcome, one is trying to avoid something, while the other is trying to reach it.

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2. How Emotions Affect Progress

Changing emotional responses often takes longer. Why? Because fear is sticky. Facing fears is hard work for both dogs and humans.

With fearful dogs, the margin for human error is small. A single mistake during a session can allow fear to sneak back in, which can stall or even reverse progress. This is why fearful dogs often need slower progress and very carefully controlled sessions.

With fizzy dogs, training is generally a little more forgiving. Mistakes might still slow progress, but they're less likely to cause emotional setbacks. These dogs aren't afraid; they're excited!

In both cases, training takes time, but the emotional stakes are higher for fearful dogs, and that influences your pace, your setup, and your goals.

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3. The Right Reinforcement Makes a Big Difference

Reinforcement strategies need to be customized for each dog.

Fearful dogs may refuse even the highest value treats at the beginning. When their sympathetic nervous system is activated, digestion slows down and food often becomes irrelevant. This can be frustrating, but it's a clear sign that we need to reduce the pressure.

Fizzy dogs, on the other hand, often love food. But if your treat is too high-value, it might add fuel to the excitement. Too low, and you won't be able to compete with the distractions. A balanced treat pouch with a mix of low, medium, and high-value options (think "puppy trail mix") gives you flexibility in the moment.

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4. Distractions & Setups Matter

Choosing the right distraction for your sessions is key.

With fearful dogs, consistency is comforting. You might need to work with the same calm demo dog or person over several sessions to help the fearful dog build trust and safety skills. Change too much, too soon, and you risk losing progress.

Fizzy dogs often benefit from variety. Once they learn the game, you can rotate your distractions — new dogs, new people — to help them generalize their skills without overwhelming them emotionally.

This is something we see often during our Group Walks:

Fizzy dogs tend to walk out front, often near unfamiliar teams. They’re practicing self-regulation and polite greetings with changing distractions.

Fearful dog teams usually stay right in front of or behind me and Belle, so they have the consistency of a known team they trust.

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In summary, while the same training tools may apply to both reactive and fizzy dogs, our understanding of their motivations and emotional states must guide how we use them. Tailoring the pace, reinforcement, and setup makes all the difference in helping these dogs (and their humans!) succeed.

If you're working with a reactive or fizzy dog, you're not alone. With the right support and smart training strategies, both types of dogs can learn new, more helpful behaviors that make walks and outings more enjoyable for everyone.

Check out the services we offer for fearful & fizzy dogs to see how Yooper Paws can help you!