If you love traveling by motorcycle, it may be difficult to imagine making it better. Sure, you might hope for gear that weighs less or gloves with better touchscreen material. But, when it comes to the actual experience of adventure motorcycle travel—exploring new roads, discovering different places, and pitching a tent beside an idyllic stream—I also couldn’t imagine how the experience could be improved… that is, until I started riding with my German Shepherd.

I ride a BMW G650GS and my 75-pound German Shepherd, Moxie, rides pillion in her RUFFLY K9 Moto Cockpit, a motorcycle dog carrier we designed. Over the last several years we’ve traversed thousands of miles through Mexico and Central America together. And now, as I’m set to embark on a RTW journey, with Moxie on the back, and my partner Greg at my side, I’d like to share a little about what makes traveling with our dog so amazing and how we get the most out of it.

Jess Stone and her 75-pound German Shepherd, Moxie, ride to the shore of spectacular Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. No road is off limits to a girl and her big dog!

It’s Incredibly Empowering

My experience becoming a rider is probably not all that different from many others. It’s not an activity that I was exposed to as a young girl, but since I was introduced to riding in my 20s, it has delivered immense joy and satisfaction, some fear and bruises, and a whole lot of personal growth.

I find there is something similarly empowering about having a big dog at my side. Moxie looks to me for guidance and pack leadership when we venture off to discover new places together. So, it’s no wonder that, when I discovered a way to bring her on my travels, it was a life-changing, and now life-defining event.

The growth in personal agency and empowerment I’ve experienced riding with Moxie inspired me to partner with the global leadership initiative Girl Up (GirlUp.org) to raise $100k for their empowerment programs around the world. I hope our upcoming RTW will inspire girls to dream big and persist in achieving their own goals. I also hope it will speak to new women riders, veteran bikers, and others to bring their furry copilot along on their adventures.

Moxie rides in the laying down position in her K9 Moto Cockpit for improved safety, comfort and performance. This means Jess can ride off-road and aggressively through the mountain twisties.

Set the Right Expectations for Riding Together

It turns out that the world is much more dog-friendly than you might expect, but you still need to adjust your expectations and plans accordingly. For example, if you watch our On 2 Wheels + 4 Paws motorcycle travel episodes on YouTube, you might find us visiting a coffee plantation, a crocodile farm, or a monkey sanctuary… but not visiting a national archaeology museum, five-star restaurant, or an art exhibit.

When traveling with a dog, finding suitable pet-friendly accommodations is a concern for many. It takes a bit more effort, but the time I spend scouring BringFido.com, Airbnb, and other sites is always done off-camera. You might be surprised by the number of nice hotels and Airbnb offerings that welcome dogs, and how many inexpensive hostels and flea-bag flophouses don’t.

As an alternative, try coaxing management with assurances of good behavior or offer to pay an additional fee. What has worked best for us is to show the hotel owner Moxie’s travel bed. The implication is that your dog will sleep on their own bed and not on the furniture, and conveys the reassuring notion that you are a conscientious pet owner who will not let their dog run wild.

Camping Together is Camping Better

Even though there are plenty of pet-friendly accommodations, camping is going to be the source of your best times and most memorable moments. Your dog will discover an ecstasy of sights, sounds, and smells that will keep them engaged and energetic.

Bringing your dog along puts the “wild” in wild camping. Just make sure you dry them off before coming into the tent after a swim in the lake.

While in Mexico and Central America, we share most of our wild campsites with cows, horses, or donkeys. It provides an endless source of entertainment for Moxie, her version of scratch-and-sniff television. Still, at some point, even our rambunctious German Shepherd needs time-outs to catch some shuteye. Many dogs have a hard time standing down from alert in new environments. To help your dog let their guard down, I suggest:

• Bringing a travel bed or blanket they’re used at home before the trip. They will find comfort and safety in the scent and familiarity of the bed.
• Pitching your tent early. The tent will signal to your dog that the high-stimuli “travel” part of the day is over and now it is time to settle in and relax.

Your dog will probably be knackered by the end of the day. Even though they’ve been laying comfortably in their Cockpit throughout the ride, they’ll be highly alert and stimulated by the rush of non-stop sights and smells. If there’s still a little petrol left in their tank, then here’s the perfect solution. After we finish setting up, you’ll often see Greg take out Moxie’s Mother Hucker fetch toy. A few minutes of intense “hucking” burns off Moxie’s last reserves and gifts us an hour or two of calm before dinner.

Carrying Gear for Your Other Half

Dogs don’t need much to thrive on the road, but that still may mean taking your perfect luggage setup back to the drawing board.

In addition to Moxie’s travel bed and fetch toy, we bring along two collapsible bowls, a small drybag to protect her kibble from ants, a harness, dog goggles, a cooling vest, a cold-weather jacket, and a rainfly for her Cockpit. I also recommend a stake in case there’s nowhere to secure the leash at the campsite, an LED collar for nighttime wanderings, and a first aid kit.

Riding with your dog means spending more time in nature. Like riding to the trailhead and backpacking to the top of Tajumulco Volcano, the highest mountain in Central America.

And here’s how I store Moxie’s gear. The bedroll straps to the front of her Cockpit, providing me with the bonus of a lower backrest. The rest is stowed in a pair of tank panniers. Alternatively, you might strap a dry bag to either side of your dog’s Cockpit.

Take Your Time to Go Further

Every experienced rider develops their own pre- and post-ride routines. Usually, this involves tricks like deciding which pocket to stash riding gloves in, where to perch the helmet, and which side of the panniers the tools are stowed for easier access. You will naturally develop a routine for your dog as well. But, while you’re figuring things out, take your time to perform each step methodically. If you don’t, things can get really crazy, really fast.

Here’s an example: You pull up somewhere covered in road grime and splattered bugs, desperate for a coffee. Noticing your dog in their carrier, onlookers begin to gather, and your dog quickly becomes an Instagram sensation. In the excitement, you let your dog dismount before securing your helmet, whereupon your dog leaps down and bolts after a Shih Tzu, tugging your leash arm from its socket and sending your $500 helmet crashing to the tarmac.

After many such learning experiences, I now always remove my gear and sort myself before removing Moxie’s goggles and disconnecting the harness. It’s akin to securing my own oxygen mask before helping my neighbor if there’s an in-flight emergency. While Moxie is secured in her Cockpit, she is restrained and easily controlled. However, as soon as I let her down, my German Shepherd becomes a bundle of bestial torque, dead-set on chasing some squirrel into the bushes.

AT(D-dog)GAT T—Moxie wears goggles to protect her eyes from the wind and debris and a harness to keep her securely in her Cockpit.

A Whole New Way to Motorcycle for Dog Lovers

There are many good reasons to love adventure motorcycle travel just the way it is. But, if you’re a dog lover, and don’t want to compromise your riding, there’s a whole new, amazing experience waiting out there to discover. In this article I’ve laid out how we do it, but as you begin to explore pet-friendly motorcycling, don’t hesitate reaching out with questions about safety, mounting, training, or anything dog-related.

As for Moxie, we will be setting off on our RTW adventure this coming March. I hope you’ll follow along, meet us on the road somewhere, and consider donating to our Girl Up worthy fundraiser.

Jessica Stone is the founder of RUFFLY ethical outdoor dog gear, based in Los Angeles and Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. She and partner Greg designed the RUFFLY K9 Moto Cockpit, a motorcycle dog carrier for medium to large dogs. Jessica, Moxie and Greg will begin their 18-month RTW in March 2022. The trip will be documented in their ongoing YouTube series On 2 Wheels + 4 Paws. GoRuffly.com