How to Choose a Dog Bike Basket or Bike Trailer

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If your dog cannot run alongside you, or it is too far or too hot for them to run, a bike basket or a bike trailer lets them come along on the ride. A basket mounts on the handlebars or a rear rack and suits small dogs. A trailer hitches behind the bike and carries medium and large dogs. This guide covers which one fits your dog, what to look for, how to get your dog used to it, and how to ride safely.

How we wrote this: the safety advice comes from the American Kennel Club, the UK cycling charity Sustrans and a Rover article reviewed by a vet, plus the safety page of trailer maker Croozer. The notes on how baskets and trailers ride come from people who used them with their own dogs: DOWNTOWN magazine’s group test of nine dog trailers, Rover, the blog Tales of a Mountain Mama, staff tests by the bike shop bike-components and E-MOUNTAINBIKE magazine, and an older basket review by Campfire Cycling. All are linked where they are used and were checked on 1 November 2026. We found too few hands-on tests by named review sites to rank baskets or trailers, so this is a how-to and we do not link or rank any product. We did not test any basket or trailer ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings.

Basket or trailer?

Start with your dog’s weight, then check the limit of the exact model you are looking at.

• Basket: small dogs. Sustrans says: “Baskets offer a neat, semi-permanent option for transporting smaller dogs of around 12kg and under.” Croozer says most baskets are approved for carrying up to about 8 kg, and that they can be bulky and make the bike harder to steer.
• Trailer: medium and large dogs. The American Kennel Club says: “If you have a medium or large dog, you can try pulling them behind your bike in a trailer.” Sustrans says trailer weight limits vary by model, with upper limits between 20 kg and 50 kg.
• Trailers are usually the safer choice. A Rover article written with a veterinarian says that for overall safety, bike trailers are usually the best bet, because the dog is enclosed if they try to jump or the bike tips over.
• Flat-faced breeds. The same Rover article says flat-faced breeds are prone to breathing issues and heat stroke, so a well ventilated trailer that gives shade is the safest way for them to come along.

A dog bike basket or trailer is different from running your dog beside the bike. The AKC says running alongside a bike is demanding and suggests a vet visit first to confirm your dog is fit for it.

What to look for in a dog bike basket

• Made for dogs. The AKC says: “Make sure you only put your dog into baskets that are designed for them to ride in.”
• A safety strap that clips to a harness. The AKC says the basket must have safety straps to stop your dog falling or jumping out, and to follow the maker’s instructions for attaching your dog’s harness. Clip it to a harness, never the collar. If you need one, see how to measure a dog for a harness.
• A weight limit above your dog’s weight. For example, Snoozer says its Sporty basket is designed for dogs up to 15 pounds and has an internal harness clip.
• Front or rear. Sustrans says front mounted baskets let you keep an eye on your dog at all times. A rear basket keeps the weight off the handlebars, but you cannot see your dog. Either way, Sustrans says the added weight will change how the bike handles, so practise on a quiet path first.
• Secure mounting. Check that the basket fits your handlebars or rack and that the straps or bracket hold it without slipping.

What to look for in a dog bike trailer

• Weight limit and space. Your dog should be able to stand, turn and lie down. Makers state limits by model: Burley lists 75 lb and 100 lb versions of its Bark Ranger, and Croozer says its Dog Enna is for medium sized dogs up to 35 kg.
• Ventilation and shade. Look for mesh panels on several sides and a cover you can close against rain. DOWNTOWN magazine praised the mesh side panels on the Croozer trailers it tested for ventilation on hot rides.
• An internal tether. A short leash inside the trailer that clips to your dog’s harness stops a jumpy dog from leaping out. Rover and DOWNTOWN both noted that the Burley Tail Wagon has none, which Rover said may rule it out for dogs that are a flight risk.
• A low step-in and a parking brake. A low floor is easier for older or small dogs, and a parking brake keeps the trailer still while your dog gets in and out. DOWNTOWN found the Croozer trailers had the lowest step-up height in its test.
• Folding and storage. Most trailers fold flat with the wheels off. Check the folded size if you will carry it in a car.
• Visibility. Sustrans lists a flag, reflectors and lights as road safety features to look for.

Suspension matters less than you might think. DOWNTOWN fitted the trailers in its test with motion sensors and concluded: “with the right dog bed, there is no need for suspension!”

How to get your dog used to it

1. Let your dog explore it at home. The AKC suggests letting your dog get in and out of the trailer with treats first. Tales of a Mountain Mama put the trailer in the house for about a week, with the wheels off and the dog’s favourite bed inside.
2. Clip in the harness. Once your dog is relaxed inside, attach the tether to their harness while the trailer stands still.
3. Move it a little. The AKC says to gently move the trailer, starting with just a few inches at a time, then praise and treat.
4. Short rides first. Rover says to start with short rides and gradually work up to longer trips. DOWNTOWN says to keep a close eye on your dog on the first ride.
5. Be patient. Some dogs need a long time. Tales of a Mountain Mama needed six months of training before her rescue dog would ride. The Border Collie in bike-components’ test relaxed after five or six rides. If your dog stays stressed, stop and go back a step.

Riding safely with your dog

• Take the walking leash off. Croozer’s pre-ride checklist says to detach the walking leash from the collar so your dog cannot get tangled in it during the ride.
• Heat. Rover says it is best to leave your dog at home in hot weather if they would ride in a basket, carrier or backpack, because these give the least sun protection. In a trailer, Croozer says to take frequent drinking breaks and let your dog rest in the shade in the middle of the day. See how to keep a dog cool in summer.
• Cold. Croozer says your dog will feel colder lying still in the trailer than you feel when pedalling.
• Corners and bumps. The E-MOUNTAINBIKE tester of a Croozer trailer warned that on tight corners you have to ride slowly or the trailer can tip, and bike-components says to ride slower on bumpy ground because its trailer had no suspension apart from the tyres.
• Be seen. DOWNTOWN’s road safety check asks whether your reflectors are attached, whether you have a tail light for the ride home after sunset and whether the flag is on.

If your dog pants heavily, drools, seems distressed, or is stiff or limping after a ride, stop and see your vet.

Baskets and trailers named in reviews

In its 2023 group test, DOWNTOWN magazine rode nine trailers from five brands with five dogs over city streets, cobbles, curbs and gravel. It named the Hamax Pluto best in test and the only trailer in the field with a side exit, and also reviewed the Burley Bark Ranger, Burley Tail Wagon and Croozer Dog Tammo and Enna. The Burley Tail Wagon was also used by Rover staff with three office dogs in 2018, and by Tales of a Mountain Mama with a 45 lb rescue dog. bike-components tested the Croozer Dog Peppa with a Border Collie for four weeks. For baskets, the only hands-on review we found is Campfire Cycling‘s 2012 test of the Snoozer Sporty with a Chihuahua. Since we found too few tests by independent named sites, we do not link or rank any of them.

For other ways to bring your dog along, see our best pet stroller and best dog backpack for hiking guides, and the dog leash, harness and carrier buying guide.

FAQ

How heavy a dog can go in a bike basket?

Check the basket’s stated limit. Croozer says most baskets are approved for up to about 8 kg, and Sustrans says baskets suit dogs of around 12 kg and under. Heavier dogs should ride in a trailer.

Is a bike trailer safe for dogs?

A Rover article reviewed by a vet says trailers are usually the safest option, because the dog is enclosed. Clip your dog’s harness to the trailer’s tether, introduce it slowly, avoid hot weather and watch your dog closely on the first rides.

Can I clip my dog to the basket by the collar?

No. Clip the basket’s safety strap to a harness. The AKC says to follow the maker’s instructions for attaching your dog’s harness, and Croozer says to take the walking leash off the collar before you ride.

My dog will not get in the trailer. What can I do?

Go slower. Leave the trailer open at home with a familiar bed inside, reward your dog for getting in, and only move it a few inches at a time. Some dogs take weeks or months to get comfortable.