The Trixie brand was founded more than 45 years ago, more precisely in 1974 by Bonnik Hansen in Flensburg. In the meantime, Trixie has become the European market leader for pet accessories with over 6,500 items for a wide variety of animal species.
The company stands for good quality with a perfect price-performance ratio. For us as customers, the customer-oriented service of the company and the careful handling of complaints should also be particularly emphasized.
This article is about the Trixie dog trailer. With a purchase price of 110 to 170 euros (depending on the size), this is one of the more affordable models, but it can still impress with the good quality of the material and its workmanship.
The Trixie bicycle trailer is available in sizes S, M and L and is therefore suitable for dogs of all sizes. A quick attachment system for the wheels and a folding function contribute to easy assembly and disassembly. The supplied wind and rain protection, the washable soft floor mat and the integrated leash are also practical. Of course, a trailer hitch is included in the scope of delivery. Two side pockets for the luggage of two- and four-legged friends round off the overall package.
Have you never had a dog trailer before and don’t know how to get your dog used to it? Then the enclosed instructions for getting your dog used to the trailer will definitely help you.
Purchase advice – you should think about this before you buy
how about you Is your dog part of the family? Should he be with you everywhere? Then you are like many dog owners. Wanting to take your four-legged friend with you on all activities is quite normal and yes, exactly the nice thing about owning a dog. When you go for a walk, most dogs can just run with you. This is also possible with jogging. But what happens on long bike rides? If you don’t want to keep stopping to let your loved one catch their breath and rest, you’ll have to think of another way to take them with you.
A bike trailer for dogs like the one from Trixie is just what you need. So your four-legged companion can also be with you on long bike tours. For puppies, old or sick dogs, a bicycle trailer is often unavoidable, even over short distances.
The purchase of a dog trailer gives you a lot of flexibility and still allows you to take your darling with you at any time.
- The dog tag should be the right size.
- In addition, the trailer must be approved for the weight of your dog.
- A low dead weight of the trailer reduces the effort required when cycling.
- The material must be stable so that your dog cannot escape.
- Good ventilation and protection against rain must be available.
Features of the Trixie dog trailer
construction and assembly
The assembly of the bicycle trailer is quick and easy to learn, even for non-professionals. The wheels are attached using a quick attachment system and can be removed again at any time.
I then asked myself: «Is the Trixie dog trailer foldable?».
This is practical if you want to take the trailer with you somewhere or store it in the basement. The answer is yes. The trailer can be folded up completely for storage. As a result, it hardly takes up any space.
Even when I’m going on vacation with my family and the entire trunk is packed, the folding bike trailer still has enough space.
The Blue Bird dog trailer is also foldable and can be stowed away to save space.
Security
Anyone who takes part in road traffic must pay attention to the safety of all road users. Especially with dog trailers, the four-legged passengers must also be well protected so that nothing happens to them even in the event of an emergency stop or an evasive manoeuvre.
A short leash is already integrated in the Trixie bicycle trailer. This keeps your dog in place and works in an emergency situation similar to a seat belt in a car. This prevents your dog from being thrown around in the trailer. For four-legged friends who like to escape, the leash is also an effective escape protection.
The wheels are a major weak point on some bike trailers. Not so with the Trixie dog trailer, where the wheels are very stable and firmly attached. This, in combination with the stable, shaping metal frame, prevents the dog trailer from tipping over.
A pennant and reflectors on various parts of the trailer ensure good visibility in every situation. So you and your team will not be overlooked so quickly. If you often drive in the dark, it is also advisable to attach a rear light to the dog trailer.
Comfort
You can get in and out of the Trixie dog trailer via a front and a back door. All sides are equipped with nets that allow optimal ventilation at all times. The polyester cover of the car repels splash water. So even driving through a puddle is no problem. In bad weather, you can use the wind and rain protection so that your four-legged friend doesn’t get wet and freeze.
A soft floor mat, on which your dog will be happy to sit, ensures a pleasant ride. For us dog owners it is practical that the mat can be washed by hand at up to 30 degrees. If your dog pees in the trailer – for example because he is scared at first or because he could not stop it, you can clean the mat so quickly.
I also often have the problem that my dog likes to take every muddy puddle with him and then sit down in his dog trailer with his dirty paws. If the mat is not removable and washable, then there are problems that do not occur with the Trixie bicycle trailer for dogs.
The polyester cover is also easy to care for. A simple wipe is all it takes to make the fabric look like new again.
suspension
A suspension compensates for bumps in the road better. As a result, the riding experience on the bike is smoother and more even. Your dog will also notice that a trailer with suspension drives much softer and more gently than one without this feature.
The Trixie bike trailer has no suspension. It is therefore not suitable for driving on uneven country lanes and roads with potholes. If there are major bumps, your dog will otherwise be shaken up in the trailer.
Some four-legged friends have to vomit because of this, others have problems with their joints. For dogs with joint problems, bicycle trailers without suspension are taboo anyway. Cycling tours on level, slippery bike paths or roads are no problem with the Trixie dog trailer.
So think carefully beforehand about the nature of most of the routes you will be driving on. Maybe you don’t really need suspension.
brake
A brake is also not included in the Trixie dog trailer. Basically, this is not a big problem, since the bike slows down the trailer. However, it is important to note that the braking distance increases as the trailer weight increases. An unbraked trailer is therefore not ideal, especially when driving in the city or on busy roads. Try out beforehand on an empty road how long it takes you to brake with your dog in the trailer and how the trailer reacts.
But don’t worry, most dog owners will probably not use their dog trailer in heavy traffic, but rather on quiet bike paths and streets. If you know the braking behavior of your trailer, a missing brake is not a problem.
possible uses
The Trixie bicycle trailer comes with a trailer hitch for the bicycle. This clutch is compatible with most popular models. If you need a special hitch for your bike, you can simply order this as well as other Trixie dog trailer spare parts.
The trailer in sizes M and L can also be converted into a dog buggy for jogging. A front wheel and a push handle are mounted for this purpose, which allows you to push the trailer in front of you like a stroller when walking. So you are flexible at all times and can take your dog with you to every sporting activity. The jogger set can optionally be purchased from Amazon.
Low own weight
With a weight of just over 10 kilograms, the Trixie dog trailer is one of the lightweights. And logically, the lighter the trailer, the easier it is to move forward and the less force you need to pedal.
Incidentally, the weight of the trailer is also important for e-bike riding, contrary to what many people mistakenly assume. Because the lower the weight, the less energy is required and the longer the battery of your e-bike lasts. This is particularly important for longer distances.
So, as an added bonus, we note that the Trixie dog trailer is e-bike compatible.
customer opinions
Most of the previous customers were satisfied with the Trixie dog trailer. In addition to the good price-performance ratio, the quick and easy assembly as well as the jogger function received a lot of praise.
The users also found the possibility of folding the trailer practical, especially for use on vacation. The two different entrances are also very good for anxious dogs, especially during the familiarization phase.
There was criticism for the lack of suspension, which could significantly increase driving comfort. In addition, some customers complained that the trailer is not very stable on the road. The wheels in particular often wobble and threaten to fall off completely on uneven paths. This means that the risk of the dog tipping over with the trailer is not excluded. Also, in active, playful dogs, the material only lasted a short time before being scratched or bitten through.
Conclusion
The Trixie dog trailer is a good entry-level model for dog owners who want to take their dogs on level bike paths or roads. The trailer is not suitable for bumpy, uneven paths due to the lack of suspension.
In very active dogs, the fabric breaks down very quickly. However, if your dog lies quietly in the trailer without chewing on anything or moving around in the trailer, the stability of the material is perfectly adequate.
Overall, it has to be said that Trixie has a good trailer for cycling with a dog for this price…