Looking after Moon- how to protect your dog on a Motorcycle road-trip
One of the biggest concerns for any dog-loving motorcyclist, is how to keep your buddy safe on the bike.
Let’s start by talking carriers. Every product on the market claims to protect your dog. Most carriers are designed for tiny dogs, but some will hold dogs as big as Moon. With very few exceptions, motorcycle pet carriers are canvas top boxes, with a hole in the top for your dog to stick his/her head out. There’s no real protection and it’s hard to see how any dog could survive even a mild crash in one of those carriers.
Two of the safer options are the Pillion Pooch Motorcycle Dog Carrier and the K9 Moto Cockpit. The Pillion Pooch is a roll cage covered by a dog tent. It would definitely protect a dog in a crash, but it’s also enormous. The tent is almost as high as a pillion passenger and your dog views the world through a window. So I went with the K9 Moto Cockpit. It’s an aerodynamic welded steel roll cage, with padded bars, that bolts onto the luggage rack.
The beauty of the K9 Moto Cockpit is that Moon’s weight rests on the pillion seat, where it belongs. Rok straps, attached to his 6-point ruffwear harness, secure him in the cockpit. In the K9 Moto Cockpit promo videos, you’ll see how Jess uses hard panniers to shield her dog in the event of a drop. Hard panniers are great in the places she’s riding, but they won’t work in the Australian desert, at least not on my small Suzuki — and soft saddlebags won’t protect Moon in a fall. So I’ve invented a couple of “crash rods”, 20cm rubber-capped steel bars protruding either side from the rear, where pillion pegs normally go. In a catastrophic road accident they’d bend, but they’ll stop the bike falling flat in a low speed drop.
In the event of a proper crash, the K9 Moto Cockpit roll cage will give him some protection. I’ve not yet found a dog motorcycle helmet that isn’t just a novelty item — except for the one this guy made for his dog Milly out of a moneybox! In the absence of a moneybox big enough for Moon’s blunt dingo head, we’re still looking for a solution.
How is Moon protected from heat?
The central Australian deserts are among the hottest places on earth. Moon’s Moto Cockpit seat is covered with a gel cooling pad. I’ve gone with a gel version because it lowers his body temperature slowly, without the shock of iced water. Also, water is a precious resource in the desert!
Speaking of hydration — in previous desert trips (not on a motorcycle) I learned the importance of electrolytes first hand. I’ve seen people arrive at medical clinics, their bellies bloated with water they can’t absorb. So I always dissolve sugar-free electrolyte powder in my water supply. On this trip I’ll carry Moon’s water separately so I can keep him hydrated with dog-specific electrolytes.
I haven’t yet found a way to make a sunshade for the K9 Motpo Cockpit without it becoming a giant sail. So Moon has to wear sunscreen on his nose (which he doesn’t like).
How is Moon protected from other elements?
A classy pair of Rex Specs protects Moon’s eyes from insects and small flying rocks. He has an acoustic headwrap to protect his hearing, but he hates it (look at his expression in the photo — he really hates it). Sometimes he’ll stick a claw into the fabric and pull the wrap down behind his ears, so it’s not a perfect solution.
A hooded raincoat keeps Moon warm and dry in a storm. It’s at least 3 sizes too big so it covers him completely. There’s a giant American flag on the back which, thankfully, is hidden by his harness. The hood and legs have draw-strings so it stays in place. He also has a Ruffwear waterproof Cloud Chaser coat to shield him from the wind.
What about protecting Moon from other dangers on this trip?
A major concern for anyone traveling with dogs in Australia right now is the deadly ehrlichiosis virus, transmitted by brown dog ticks. Ehrlichiosis started killing dogs last May and it’s spread over Western Australia and the Northern Territory. In addition to his normal parasite defense medication, Moon now sports a Seresto tick & flea collar.
Sometimes Moon just has a crap day — the ducks annoy him, or there’s a noise he doesn’t like, or not enough bacon (who doesn’t hate that?). So my first aid kit contains a stress-reducing ‘thunder shirt’. I also carry a snake bandage because we live in Australia, and keep the First Aid for Pets app installed on my devices.
But no matter how much I’d like to, I can’t shield Moon from every danger. The NT is rife with 1080 baits (who wasn’t shattered when Robyn’s dog died in ‘Tracks’?), and dingo packs will sometimes attack and kill domesticated dogs. So I’ll have to stay vigilant and keep Moon close when we’re out bush. In the event of a catastrophe, like running out of water or a serious crash, we’ll resort to activating our Garmin InReach Personal Emergency Beacon (don’t travel without one in the bush… seriously).
How does Moon deal with camping?
When Moon first rescued me, it was in the Northern Tanami Desert — several days from anywhere. We camped on our way to Alice Springs, where he had his first trip to the vet. Each night I’d wrap him in a sock and he’d worm down to the bottom of the swag and sleep with his nose against the insect mesh. Not much has changed, except he doesn’t fit in a sock anymore. Moon loves swags and tents. If he sees anything canvas, even in the cupboard at home, he has to sit on it.
We carry collapsible plastic dog bowls for food and water, as well as a dog water bottle for the road. I don’t pack more than a single day’s supply of dog food on the bike, and if we can’t find a shop we’ll share bacon and eggs or a steak in a roadhouse. OK I know a bacon and egg diet isn’t ideal for a dog, but it makes him happy — and life is too short for vegan dog food.
The first thing I unpack at a new campsite is our Ruffwear Knot-a-hitch campsite dog hitching system. With Moon tethered on a generous 15m line, I can set up the swag without him trying to sit on it, and I know he won’t chase a rabbit onto the highway while my back’s turned.
Is Moon anxious on the motorcycle?
It’s hard to be certain about this without a better understanding of dog language. What I do know, is Moon hates it when our motorcycle is stationary. Sometimes he’ll try to wriggle out of his Moto Cockpit, and the longer it takes me to get the motorcycle moving, the more unhappy he becomes. Once we’re on the road, things change. With one side mirror angled toward him, I can see Moon’s smiling face — his tongue hanging out like an idiot. He barks at trucks as we overtake them, looking back over one shoulder like an owl (dingoes can turn their heads to look right down their spines). Cars come by very slowly on the highways, phone cameras sticking out their windows. Since we began our motorcycle adventures, Moon’s become a proper video star.
I hope it’s clear that, although I don’t have all the answers, I’m taking Moon’s happiness and safety very seriously. I’d welcome any thoughts or suggestions about how I can do that better.
