I've ridden with my two dogs in a couple of different sidecar rigs - all these rides have been around town. I am having a Hannigan Dream sidecar installed on a 2023 Goldwing this winter. One of the reasons for building this rig is to ride with the dogs which brings up the question of tethering or not tethering. I realize this may be a topic with strong opinions both ways and I'm curious what this community thinks of the issue.
Thanks,
Mike
My only 2 dogs were smaller an small 5kg and 8 kg.
Both were pre sidecar day but rode on my motorcycle.
Both started in my jacket as tiny pups then graduated to the tank.
By the time the bigger one came along I had a tank bag she would sit in.
Neither were a problem at all.
So it depends upon the dog.
Avid squirrel chasers probably need restraint.
I walk along a dog beach daily here and the behavioural differences in canines is amazing.
So it depends.
To Tether...or not to Tether... That is the Question.
Yes ...all dogs should be tethered to the Sidecar.
Many Sidecar dog owners have been very good at using the chest harness, and enough slack in the tether that the dog can comfortably sit or stand, yet not jump out of the Sidecar.
Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort
i guess it would depend on if the dog was driving or riding shotgun. 😉
I'm a huge fan of "you do you". 😎 So whatever makes you feel comfortable is what's most important.
FWLIW: I use a quality padded harness with a bottom D-ring. Lead attached to the floor such that the dog can stand, but can't get it's legs outside the body of the sidecar. The only caveat being when on ATV/Jeep trails, where the dog can run ahead of the rig untethered. I've already shown great acts of stupidity in those situations. Better the dog is well ahead so it can laugh at my stupidities.
Years ago my German Shepherd was riding in the back seat of an old convertible Mustang. We were stopped at a light, and he saw something that needed up close personal inspection (probably a cat or squirrel). He was out of the car faster than I could yell "NO!" The next three minutes entailed screaming people, honking horns, much laughter, and a lot of good natured ribbing aimed towards my dumb arse. Thankfully only my feelings got bent (so much for being a "master of my dog"). lol
So now the motto is; "No good deed goes unpunished, and no good dog goes untethered." 🤣
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i guess it would depend on if the dog was driving or riding shotgun. 😉 🤣
Scott, if you ever get a ride in one of my sidecars, you will be required to wear a tethered harness...ya dawg. 
Two Million Mile Rider...All 7 Continents
Exploring the World in Comfort
Start tethered. If the dog shows signs of making a break for it that'll be your cue to keep using it. Maddie doesn't "do dog stuff" in the cage or in the sidecar. She lays down in both and can't be bothered to do much until we might be stopping.
Illegitemi non carborundum est!
As you may or not know, my dog Kirby and I were in the Sit Stay Ride movie and have known and ridden with a number of sidecar dog people over the years. Kirby, who is still alive at age 16 by the way, has about 50,000 sidecar miles which doesn't compare to those Golden Retrievers from Vermont or that Pitbull from Arizona but it's more than most.
When I was on dirt or gravel and traveling under 40 mph, I'd always untether Kirby. The reasoning being that since I often found myself in fairly steep terrain, I wanted Kirby to be able to leap to safety if I lost control of the rig. Only happened once (totaled the rig) but Kirby jumped free and was waiting there for me uninjured when I came to.
However, I don't envisage your Goldwing/Hannigan fighting its way across a steep and dirty off camber sidehill, so I think you can ignore that advice. On pavement, I always kept him tethered. Two reasons. (1) if I got into an accident I didn't want Kirby freaking out and getting into harm's way with traffic. (2) Kirby has a "thing" about bees and wasps and hornets. He got stung badly in the sidecar once when he was young and, after that, he would freak out anytime a biting or stinging insect came into the car. If he was not tethered, he would leap out whenever and wherever just to get away from that bug.
I ran my tether from the sidecar floor to the belly of his harness so that he was free to move around, sit, stand, sleep, whatever. But short enough so that, if he went for a jailbreak, he got stopped short mid-leap before his center of gravity got beyond the cockpit wall.
I've also done about a half dozen multi-day trips with two dogs on board. The key to trouble-free traveling with two dogs is to work out your tethering system so that both dogs can move around to stay comfortable but without getting entangled in each other's tethers. Again, I would suggest a tether attachment to the harness belly. I'm not aware of any dog harnesses that have a tether ring in that location. Normally, the ring is on top or on the chest. So I always cobbled up an attachment ring where I needed it. Doesn't have to be metal. A few inches of paracord can get the job done.
Last word. Never attach your tether to the dog's collar.
Thank you all for your responses!
As you may or not know, my dog Kirby and I were in the Sit Stay Ride movie and have known and ridden with a number of sidecar dog people over the years. Kirby, who is still alive at age 16 by the way, has about 50,000 sidecar miles which doesn't compare to those Golden Retrievers from Vermont or that Pitbull from Arizona but it's more than most.
When I was on dirt or gravel and traveling under 40 mph, I'd always untether Kirby. The reasoning being that since I often found myself in fairly steep terrain, I wanted Kirby to be able to leap to safety if I lost control of the rig. Only happened once (totaled the rig) but Kirby jumped free and was waiting there for me uninjured when I came to.
However, I don't envisage your Goldwing/Hannigan fighting its way across a steep and dirty off camber sidehill, so I think you can ignore that advice. On pavement, I always kept him tethered. Two reasons. (1) if I got into an accident I didn't want Kirby freaking out and getting into harm's way with traffic. (2) Kirby has a "thing" about bees and wasps and hornets. He got stung badly in the sidecar once when he was young and, after that, he would freak out anytime a biting or stinging insect came into the car. If he was not tethered, he would leap out whenever and wherever just to get away from that bug.
I ran my tether from the sidecar floor to the belly of his harness so that he was free to move around, sit, stand, sleep, whatever. But short enough so that, if he went for a jailbreak, he got stopped short mid-leap before his center of gravity got beyond the cockpit wall.
I've also done about a half dozen multi-day trips with two dogs on board. The key to trouble-free traveling with two dogs is to work out your tethering system so that both dogs can move around to stay comfortable but without getting entangled in each other's tethers. Again, I would suggest a tether attachment to the harness belly. I'm not aware of any dog harnesses that have a tether ring in that location. Normally, the ring is on top or on the chest. So I always cobbled up an attachment ring where I needed it. Doesn't have to be metal. A few inches of paracord can get the job done.
Last word. Never attach your tether to the dog's collar.
In my biased, opinionated, and subjective view, I really like this response! 😎
Side note; Reddy makes a padded harness that has a D ring top and bottom (Available at Petco). Just picked one up for the new sidcear dog.
I'm seeing more harnesses now with a D-ring on the bottom. Maybe mfgs are getting the clue that tethering at the top turns the dogs body into a projectile.
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There are short adjustable elastic dog leashes with seatbelt clip. Outside world scares my 60 lb mixed breed so all my diy to pad windshield edge and swap seat for dog bed was a wasted effort.
One thing I'm confused about is why tether to the underside (belly?) of the dog? Wouldn't this cause the dog to get legs tangled with the tether? I would think tethering on the top (back) of the harness would be best to prevent legs getting tangled in the tether/leash?
One thing I'm confused about is why tether to the underside (belly?) of the dog? Wouldn't this cause the dog to get legs tangled with the tether? I would think tethering on the top (back) of the harness would be best to prevent legs getting tangled in the tether/leash?
Pro's and cons to both. Hence my note about "you do you". 👍 😎 You may find it takes a bit of exploring what works best for your buddy. Be that top, side or bottom mounting.
If the lead is left too long, definitely the legs could get tangled. I keep the lead just long enough for the dog to stand. Like a 5th leg at the center of the belly where the rib cage meets the belly. Also the lead on my rig comes up from just in front of the seat cushion, so it is centered on where she is centered when moving around.
My personal preference for the low center position is to keep the dog from being thrown out of the rig if I'm hit. Here is a picture and you can see how short the lead is. Just long enough for her to stand and move around. The D ring hanging down slightly from the harness helps keep the lead short. For a dog that likes to sit sideways against the seat back this location may not be best.
Hth,
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Mr Sam is tethered and i use the front hinge of my Escort sidecar as an anchor point it seems to work pretty well. He can move within the sidecar and tuck himself well under and curl up if he wants to. It took some trial and error to get the length right. This is an old pic and the anchor point is not used. Yes he is a happy boy and he has just been out in the snow =)
Walk with Joy
Steve Ives
Sidecar Willie HAS to be tethered. He's a mini rat and it's in his nature to chase things.
On his very first sidecar test ride I had him tethered at the chest ring. I walked away to lock the house and heard a thud. Turned around and he was dangling OUTSIDE of the sidecar. Could have been bad if we were moving. I could have just shortened the tether but he rally likes getting up on the edge of the sidecar. And he was always getting his legs tangled up.
His harness has a loop on the top, at the rear. So I tried that allowing him just enough slack to get his front paws up on the edge. He really likes this way and instinctively sits down when we get moving. And he doesn't get tangled up. He can stand with his legs extended. But he does like to just kinda hang 8 over the edge,,,,lol.
I just have a cargo tie down out of my F-150 bolted to the floor just in front of the seat. He can get up into the nose of the sidecar if he wants.
So far this is working out well.
Don't forget the goggles.
I failed to clarify that the belly tether should then be anchored to the floor of the rig. It doesn't get tangled because because mostly it's slack -- the dog simply steps over it as he's circling around. If the tether was anchored up high the dog could jump in the direction of the anchor and end up getting run over or dragged.One thing I'm confused about is why tether to the underside (belly?) of the dog? Wouldn't this cause the dog to get legs tangled with the tether? I would think tethering on the top (back) of the harness would be best to prevent legs getting tangled in the tether/leash?
I've seen some guys who use two or even three tethers anchored up high to keep their dog firmly in place. I'd like to firmly tether those guys in my sidecar and take them for a long ride to see how much they like it. 🤨
