Motorcycling With Dogs: The Sacred Bond Between Man, Mutt & Machine

Article by Devin Kelly, Best Friend to Thunder the Wonder Dog & DOGPAK Founder 

Key Takeaways

• It's not for every dog: choose dogs with adventurous temperaments and calm demeanors for motorcycle travel

• Acquire a quality dog carrier designed specifically for motorcycles—either invest in one or learn the skills needed to make one yourself and be sure it’s bombproof

• Develop communication systems between you and your dog while riding

• Prepare for weather challenges with proper gear and planning

• Recognize the ethical responsibility of bringing your dog on motorcycle adventures

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Let’s begin with the most important aspect:

The Ethical Responsibility of Motorcycling with Dogs

Only once you've established that your dog is genuinely suited for motorcycle adventure should you begin the journey of proper training and equipment selection. As someone who has spent twelve years in professional dog and horse training in addition to parachute rigging and K9 avalanche search and rescue, I can attest that the right preparation makes all the difference between a stressful experience and a transformative adventure.

Thunder and I learned this firsthand across two transcontinental motorcycle journeys. Our first took us around the United States in 2013-'14, testing our mettle against every climate this country could throw at us—Thunder riding in a doggie-house motorcycle trailer that I welded myself in the workshop back on the farm I worked at.

The second found us threading through Central America on a humble 150cc dirt bike—Thunder perched like a king atop the fuel tank, paws draped over the handlebars, ears sailing through the wind like silken flags of surrender. 

These adventures taught us something crucial: we must acknowledge a fundamental truth—our dogs don't choose this lifestyle; we choose it for them.

Unlike human adrenaline junkies who consciously accept risk, our companions trust us with their safety, their comfort, their very lives. This is a heavy responsibility, one not to be shouldered lightly. The weight of this trust has shaped every piece of gear I've designed since.

Before subjecting your dog to the motorcycle lifestyle, observe them closely during gradual exposure. Some dogs take to it naturally, ears flapping in the wind, nose working overtime to process the buffet of scents rushing past. Others may never acclimate, their anxiety a clear signal that this particular adventure isn't for them.

Signs Your Dog Enjoys Motorcycle Travel:

• Eager behavior when motorcycle gear appears

• Relaxed body language during rides

• Quick adaptation to the carrier environment

• Visible excitement at arrival to riding destinations

• Healthy sleep patterns after rides

Listen to what your dog is telling you. Not every wolf is meant to run with wheels beneath them. Some are creatures of quieter pursuits, and to force them into your mold of adventure is a betrayal of the trust they've placed in you.

Why Ride Motorcycles With Your Dog?

I understand there will be some among you who are wholeheartedly against the very notion. This article is not for you. This article is for those who understand that with proper preparation, training, and equipment, the rewards far outweigh the calculated risks. It's for those for whom the open road beckons with its siren call of freedom—that untamed stretch of asphalt unfurling like a parched ribbon across the bleeding fringes of civilization.

And what of our four-legged companions, those loyal souls who've traded the comforts of the den for our nomadic wanderings? After twelve years of professional dog training and K9 search and rescue work, I can tell you with certainty: some of them too hear the call, feel the pull, their primal instincts syncing with our own rebellious hearts.

There is something transcendent about a man, his motorcycle, and his dog cutting through the atmosphere like a blade—three spirits intertwined in a dance that defies the sterile construct of domesticated existence. I've seen it in my mutt Thunder's eyes when the old XS1100 roars to life, that ancient glint of the wild wolf awakening from centuries of selective breeding and suburban captivity.

The Status Quo would have us believe that comfort is the ultimate goal—climate-controlled environments, cushioned seating, and the elimination of all uncertainty. But there is no growth in comfort, no stories worth telling, no moments that sear themselves into memory, and thus become the keystone cementing that incredible bond you develop with your pup.

It's precisely these hardships that forge the bond between you. Anyone can love their dog in the comfort of a living room. But to love them—and be loved in return—while battling a Wyoming headwind or navigating a torrential Appalachian downpour? That is love tempered in adversity, strengthened in the crucible of shared struggle.

How to Choose the Right Dog for Motorcycle Travel

Not every dog is born for the saddle. Just as certain men were carved from different stone than those who shuffle obediently into fluorescent-lit offices, some dogs possess the temperament of adventurers while others are creatures of habit and hearth. Study your companion closely. Do they lean into the wind when it gusts, or shrink from its touch? The answers lie not in breed alone, but in the individual spirit housed within those fur-covered bones.

The ideal motorcycle dog is neither fearful nor foolhardy. They respect the machine without being terrorized by it. They understand, on some instinctual level, that this metal beast is their ticket to experiencing life's raw textures—the smells of distant places, the taste of the unbridled wind, the symphony of sounds that echo off canyon walls and refuse to be contained by walls or windows.

Best Dog Breeds for Motorcycle Riding:

• Medium-sized breeds with steady temperaments

• Dogs with short to medium coats that won't overheat

• Breeds known for adaptability and confidence

• Dogs with a natural curiosity about new environments

Essential Motorcycle Dog Carrier Features for Safe Travel

In BASE jumping, we trust our lives to carefully packed nylon. In motorcycle dog adventures, your companion's safety hangs upon equally crucial equipment, and it is your job to ensure your gear is in working order. A proper carrier isn't merely an accessory; it's a covenant between species, a promise that while you chase the horizon together, you've considered the physics, the fluid dynamics, the harsh realities that await should things go sideways.

A proper dog carrier must serve as both sanctuary and viewpoint. It must be sturdy enough to withstand the elemental assault of high-speed travel, yet comfortable enough that your dog doesn't merely endure the journey, but revels in it.

What to Look for in a Quality Motorcycle Dog Carrier:

• Structural integrity that can withstand minor accidents or a toppled bike

• Ventilation systems that prevent overheating and offer airflow for easy breathing

• Proper restraints that secure without constraining

• Weather protection against rain, wind, and road debris

• Padding that absorbs the violence of imperfect roads

• Visibility features allowing your dog to see the surroundings

Thunder's eyes have witnessed America through the clear viewport of the motorcycle trailer I built for him—from the rugged monumentalism of Utah's red deserts to the verdant tunnels of Appalachian forest roads. His carrier is not his prison; it's his portal to worlds he would otherwise never know.

How to Communicate with Your Dog While Riding

There exists a communication between rider and dog that transcends verbal commands. It's a dialect born of shared miles, of leaning together into curves, of reading the subtle shifts in each other's posture.

Teach your dog the rituals of the road. Let them understand that the clasp of their carrier means adventure awaits. That the revving engine is not a threat but a promise. That your hand signal to stay means safety, not abandonment, when you step away from the bike at gas stations and roadside diners.

Developing Your Motorcycle Dog Communication System:

1. Create consistent pre-ride routines

2. Establish touch-based signals your dog can feel while riding

3. Use visual hand signals for stops and breaks

4. Train specific commands for mounting and dismounting

5. Develop positive associations with motorcycle-specific gear

Over time, you'll develop a sacred language known only to the two of you—a tap that means "look left at that view," a gentle squeeze that says "we're almost home," a particular engine note that indicates "prepare for acceleration." This communion cannot be purchased nor installed; it must be earned through the pilgrimage of shared experience.

Weather Challenges: Protecting Your Dog During Motorcycle Travel

When you ride with your dog, you both face the unforgiving truth of the elements. The desert sun that bakes your shoulders will test your dog's cooling systems as well. The mountain rain that soaks through your gear will challenge your ability to keep your companion dry. The biting cold that numbs your fingers will demand additional layers for your less-insulated partner.

Weather Preparation for Motorcycle Dogs:

Weather Condition	Dog Protection Needed	Warning Signs to Watch
Hot Weather	Cooling vests, shade covers, frequent water breaks	Excessive panting, lethargy
Cold Weather	Insulated blankets, dog jackets, windbreaks	Shivering, seeking warmth
Rain	Waterproof carrier covers, quick-dry towels	Wetness, discomfort
Wind	Eye protection, secure carrier anchoring	Debris exposure, anxiety

Building Community: Finding Dog-Friendly Motorcycle Routes

There exists a scattered tribe of us—men and women who refuse the comfortable captivity of convention, who load our dogs into specialized carriers and seek the medicine of motion. We recognize each other at gas stations and roadside stops, nodding in acknowledgment of our shared understanding.

We trade stories of dog-friendly campgrounds where the hosts don't blink at the sight of a carrier-equipped motorcycle. We share routes with smooth pavement and spectacular views that our dogs particularly enjoyed. We warn each other about stretches hostile to our lifestyle—extreme temperatures, questionable terrain, areas where lodging options reject our four-legged partners.

Top 5 Dog-Friendly Motorcycle Destinations:

1. The Blue Ridge Parkway - Gentle curves, frequent overlooks for breaks

2. California Highway 1 - Coastal breezes and dog-friendly beaches

3. Utah's Monument Valley - Otherworldly landscapes with vast horizon views

4. The Great River Road - Following the Mississippi with numerous parks

5. Colorado's Million Dollar Highway - Mountain majesty with cool temperatures

This is not a club you join with membership dues. It's a fellowship recognized through the mutual gaze of those who have chosen a life less padded but more textured. We are the modern nomads, and our dogs are not pets but partners in the ancient practice of deliberate wandering.

Long-Term Benefits: How Motorcycle Travel Enriches Your Dog's Life

Even the most dedicated road warriors eventually turn toward home, if only to rest before their next departure. This too is part of the cycle, the necessary rhythm of adventure and reflection. Watch your dog closely upon your return—observe how they process the transition from movement to stillness.

Some dogs might sleep for days, recharging from the sensory intensity of the journey. Others might be restless, already eager for the next embarking. All of them, in my experience, carry themselves differently after substantial road time—more confident, more attuned to your signals, somehow more fully themselves.

Psychological Benefits for Motorcycle Dogs:

• Increased confidence through novel experiences

• Strengthened bond with their human companion

• Enhanced adaptability to changing environments

• Improved response to commands in varied situations

• Reduced separation anxiety through shared adventures

This is the gift we give them through these shared adventures: the opportunity to experience a wider world than the boundaries of a yard or the familiar loop of a neighborhood walk. We offer them a life of sensory richness that their domesticated existence would otherwise deny them.

The Road Will Change You Both

A thousand miles under your tires will peel back the layers — of both man and beast. The Road has a way of stripping you down, leaving behind only what’s true. Your dog will become your mirror. When the loneliness bites, they'll nudge their snout into your palm without a word. When your nerves fray, they'll feel it and steady you in ways no human companion ever could.

Out there — where the world still feels wild, where the night hums with the promise of something just out of reach — you'll learn each other. Not as owner and pet, but as two creatures bound by the same restless spirit.

Is Motorcycling with Your Dog Worth It?

This life is not comfortable. It's not practical. It’s dangerous, exhausting — the kind of gamble that could break your heart wide open.

But for those of us born with dirt under our nails and wanderlust in our blood, there's no other way to ride. The Edge is where the world still makes sense — where the wind sings low and the map unravels into something infinite.

So pack light. Ride hard. And trust your dog to carry the part of your soul you're not quite ready to carry yourself.

Conclusion: The Enduring Bond of Motorcycle Travel with Dogs

One day, whether by choice or circumstance, you and your dog will ride your final miles together. The motorcycle may still roar beneath you in the years that follow, but something essential will have departed. There will be a phantom pressure against your thighs where their weight once rested, a silence where their particular breathing pattern once provided counterpoint to the engine's rhythm.

When that day comes, you will understand the true value of every mile shared, every storm weathered, every sunset witnessed together from some overlooked roadside pullout. You will know that while the Status Quo offers cozy lives padded with comfort and certainty, you gave your companion something different but equally precious: a life fully lived, senses engaged, primal spirit honored.

We are all just temporary notes in this grand symphony, destined to fade. But oh, what a privilege to have our brief melodies intertwine on the open road—man, machine, and the extraordinary creatures who choose to accompany us on this strange, beautiful journey into the wind.

Those vagabond days with Thunder were like a condensed and sensationalized rendition of life itself, like a microcosmic tragicomedy packing enough highs and lows to last a lifetime into a few short seasons. 

So we take the good with the bad, the ugly with the beautiful, the ying with the yang—a blue sky above, a black death below, we are a moment in existence like a note sung on the vocal chords of an opera singer before ceasing, echoing, and eventually disappearing, to be followed by another note, another song, another act, another play.

There is poetry in the Road, and there is meaning in poetry. I don’t know if there is meaning in life, but if there is, sometimes I think it exists somewhere between exit signs amidst the hum of an engine to ameliorate your aching thoughts, staring at the ground as it rushes past you, an unapologetic reminder of your fragility, your mortality, your ephemeral dance in time and place.

From Road Warriors to Revolution: The Birth of DOGPAK

Those endless miles with Thunder across thirty-two countries weren't just adventures—they were research and development in its purest form. Every storm we weathered, every piece of gear that failed, every makeshift solution cobbled together in some distant parking lot was teaching us something essential about what was missing in the world of outdoor dog gear.

I'd spent more than a decade testing dog gear in the most demanding environments imaginable—from parachute rigging to search and rescue operations. But it was those long motorcycle journeys with Thunder, watching him adapt to every challenge the road threw at us, that finally crystallized the vision for DOGPAK. 

We needed gear that wasn't just tough enough for the road, but thoughtfully designed for the unique needs of dogs who refuse to be left behind. Gear that understood the sacred trust between human and dog when you're both a thousand miles from home.

The same attention to detail that kept Thunder safe on a motorcycle around the United States then down through Honduras, El Salvador, and Nicaragua now goes into every piece of gear we create. Because whether you're carving through Alpine passes on two wheels or scaling peaks on foot, your dog deserves equipment that's been tested by those who truly understand what it means to push boundaries together. That's not just marketing talk—it's the promise I made to Thunder somewhere between Utah and the Swiss Alps, and it's the promise DOGPAK makes to every dog who yearns for the horizon.

 

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FAQ: Motorcycling With Your Dog

Is it safe to ride a motorcycle with a dog?

When done properly with appropriate carriers, training, and precautions, motorcycling with your dog can be relatively safe. Always use carriers specifically designed for motorcycle use, start with short rides, and monitor your dog's comfort level throughout.

How long can a dog ride on a motorcycle?

Most dogs do well with rides of 1-2 hours initially, with breaks every 30-45 minutes. As they become accustomed to riding, many can handle longer journeys of 3-4 hours with proper breaks, hydration, and rest periods. By the time you’re motorcycling with your dog, you should know him/her better than anyone, and you should be able to read his/her body language to determine that yourself.

What's the best motorcycle dog carrier?

The best motorcycle dog carriers feature crash-resistant construction, proper ventilation, weather protection, secure mounting systems, and comfort features that allow your dog to sit or lie down comfortably.

How do I train my dog to ride on a motorcycle?

Begin with stationary exposure to the motorcycle and carrier, then progress to short rides around the neighborhood. Gradually increase duration as your dog shows comfort. Use positive reinforcement, familiar items in the carrier, and consistent communication techniques.

What dog breeds are best for motorcycle riding?

It is less a question about breed and more about the individual dog and their temperament. That said, small to medium-sized dogs with calm, confident temperaments tend to adapt best to motorcycle riding.