Meet Rhowdhi the Easy Rider dog from Wirral who loves biking with his mum

All kitted out in his little helmet and goggles, border terrier cross Rhowdhi turns heads whenever he and his mum set out for a biking adventure.

The eight-year-old rescue dog goes everywhere with owner Nicky Kaye, whether that’s to work, to their local pub or on the recent Wirral Egg Run, raising money for local charities.

Wherever he is, he’s never short of attention from fans, featuring in hundreds of photos and videos shared online, often by strangers who stop to film him in his favourite pillion position.

Nicky says he loves the celebrity – far more than she does – and it gives them a chance to spend the maximum amount of time together:

“I’ve had him since he was 16 months old and you get a sense with dogs of what their worries and stresses are,” she explains. “I was very aware that when we went out for the first time it wouldn’t be a given that he’d like it so waited to see how he reacted – I wondered if he’d get bored or try to escape, but that wasn’t the case.

“In the time I’ve had him I’ve pretty much taken him everywhere, and living on Wirral we’re very lucky to have lots of dog friendly places here so he comes with me as much as possible.

“He’s been exposed to a lot of people, and a lot of children, and he just sits and wags his tail or tries and make eye contact then guilt them to coming over and giving him attention – he’s quite a flirt now!”

Nicky only started riding in October 2021, and she and Rhowdhi had their first ride together in July 2022.

“I watch YouTube and noticed a guy on a bike in America with a husky sitting on the back, riding locally,” she says. “I just started Googling dog rucksacks, found one from a company in Keswick called Podgy Paws, and then we did it in stages. 

“At first he was just in the rucksack, then in rucksack on the bike, then with the engine running, and I just kept seeing how he felt.

“It was about four or five months until I decided to go out with him. I got him kitted up, we went out for about five minutes and he was fine. Our second ride was a bit better and by the third I lifted the rucksack down and he started doing circles and pulling at the cables because he was excited to go.”

Before the pair set off on their first ride, Nicky went to her local police station to check what was allowed and contacted an animal welfare charity. She was recommended to get goggles and a helmet to protect him from anything flying around.

“If I’m going out with a helmet on and visor it’s only fair he should have something similar.”

Nicky and Rhowdhi went to their first Wirral Egg Run together in 2024, just as spectators to see how he reacted to the crowds, and then this year they took part, with him safely zipped into his bag and with earplugs as well as his goggles and helmet.

A week later they were on the road again, this time on another Egg Run for MICT in the Baltic Triangle where Nicky works.

The company provides IT services for the third sector including lots of charities and small businesses and did a drop of Easter eggs to some charity clients.

Not one to shy away from a costume opportunity, Rhowdhi stole the show dressed as a super-hero, wearing a cape with the company logo while they did 11 deliveries around the city.

Nicky says the response he gets everywhere they go has surprised her.

“I’ve been floored by the reaction, when his photos were shared on social media there were comments from as far as Australia!

“It isn’t something I planned but it means so much to the two of us. I love doing what we do and it means we can go off on adventures together and make memories. 

“I love to see how much he enjoys it, and the reaction of other people – I often get people saying, I’ve had such a terrible week and this has just made my day which is lovely.”

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