Often confused with cani-VTT, discussed in an earlier article, bikejoring differs from it in one essential way: it is frequently practiced with a team of two or more dogs, following a pack logic that considerably changes the technical approach.
The difference with cani-VTT
Cani-VTT is generally practiced with a single dog, based on individual synergy between the dog and the cyclist. Bikejoring, inherited from sled disciplines, involves several dogs harnessed in line or side by side, with a hierarchical organization of the team (lead dog, wheel dogs) directly reminiscent of nordic techniques.
The decisive role of the lead dog
Within a team, the lead dog carries a particular responsibility: it is the one that responds directly to the driver's directional commands and pulls the rest of the team along. Its selection rests as much on its obedience to voice commands as on its natural authority within the group.
Specific commands
Unlike individual disciplines, bikejoring uses a command vocabulary inherited from mushers: directional orders (right, left), stop, and go, which the whole team must execute in a coordinated way without any physical intervention from the driver.
Which dogs for bikejoring
Northern breeds naturally dominate (Husky, Malamute, Greenland Dog — see our article on the Siberian Husky), but many athletic sport dogs also take part — the ability to work as a group without conflict matters more here than pure individual performance.
Heightened safety precautions
The safety principles discussed for cani-VTT apply, but with greater demands: the combined pulling power of several dogs makes controlling the bike considerably trickier, particularly in the event of an unexpected reaction from the team (chasing an animal, crossing paths with another dog). A quick-release system and prior experience with single-dog traction remain absolute prerequisites.
A demanding progression
Moving from individual work to team work requires a specific learning phase, with each dog having to learn to maintain its pace and position within the group without trying to overtake or slow down its teammates — a collective learning process that often takes several months.
Also available in English: the ideal first aid kit for the active dog, the Bernedoodle: the crossbreed winning over families and the basics of dog training: recall and socialization. More translations are added over time.