If you decide to take your dog along on motorcycle rides, be sure it has the right gear first. Unless your dog can ride in a sidecar, and maybe even then, you’ll need a safe carrier. Though you’ll find YouTube videos of dogs riding without a carrier, that’s not safe, especially in traffic or at highway speeds. Small dogs might ride safely in a carrier you wear as a backpack or a front-loaded baby-carrier. Bigger dogs will need a strap-on carrier suitable for their size.
A helmet might save your dog’s life in case of a mishap. And besides, they look so cute and cool! Goggles (or doggles) are important, too. They protect your dog’s eyes against bugs and other stuff that might be in the air, and they keep the dog’s eyes from drying out in the wind. Dry eyes are painful and susceptible to infection.
You can also get a motorcycle jacket for your canine companion, but perhaps more for looks than for safety.
A quick look at various brands and types of carriers, helmets, and goggles shows that you can outfit your dog for less than a hundred bucks—an investment you’ll be glad you made.
Yet, there’s no denying it: Unless you plan to ride exclusively around the Southern United States, you’ll face some chilly winters. And even before it...
