Dog Scootering

[labmad]

Just wondering whether to buy a 'dog scooter' for our tribe......

Does anyone have one or use them, i am not looking to compete or anything, but just for taking over the trails on the moors etc etc......

I know these are geared more towards the 'sled dog' market, but we have labradors and a springer, so just seeing if anyone else uses them with their dogs that are not sled dogs and their experiences, as they aint cheap bits of equipment......

cheers

[lilworm]

i tried a scooter but never felt as safe as i do with a bike, you can get a bike attachment called a walkydog for jogging alongside but you can use similar equipment to use with a bike as you would a scooter... i use the mamat bikejoring/skijoring harnesses and lines for running the dogs with the bike...

for buying keep your eye on the husky club sales board as just after the season now until april they then usually sell their equipment inc scooters so you may be able to get one secondhand

[labmad]

point taken, might be worth looking around and poss getting to the halfords sale for a bike, didn't think of that .....only down side to the bike is only being able to run 1 at a time, with 7 dogs i could end up being the fittest biker in town

Originally Posted by lilworm

i tried a scooter but never felt as safe as i do with a bike, you can get a bike attachment called a walkydog for jogging alongside but you can use similar equipment to use with a bike as you would a scooter... i use the mamat bikejoring/skijoring harnesses and lines for running the dogs with the bike...

for buying keep your eye on the husky club sales board as just after the season now until april they then usually sell their equipment inc scooters so you may be able to get one secondhand

[Emmaj]

You may have to get permission to use a scooter in places too where as you can bike pretty much anywhere

[LoveForLizards]

Originally Posted by labmad

point taken, might be worth looking around and poss getting to the halfords sale for a bike, didn't think of that .....only down side to the bike is only being able to run 1 at a time, with 7 dogs i could end up being the fittest biker in town

You can take as many dogs as you like at a time if you bike'jor. Obviously this takes a lot of trust and bonding between you and your dogs and also they must be 18 months or older before starting training, it's very worth it though. How many dogs do you have that you would be running at the same time (ideally) ?

[labmad]

Originally Posted by LoveForLizards

You can take as many dogs as you like at a time if you bike'jor. Obviously this takes a lot of trust and bonding between you and your dogs and also they must be 18 months or older before starting training, it's very worth it though. How many dogs do you have that you would be running at the same time (ideally) ?

tbh i aint sure - from a safety point of view prob 2 (1 on each side) as i would be on the moors and not roads, they aint aggressive, but a bit crazy at times

[fenwoman]

[LoveForLizards]

Originally Posted by labmad

tbh i aint sure - from a safety point of view prob 2 (1 on each side) as i would be on the moors and not roads, they aint aggressive, but a bit crazy at times

Actually believe it or not 3 would be much safer then 2 1 lead and 2 lower, if one ignores you or gets confused and goes one way and the other listens to you or goes the other way, then you've got an issue, where as if there is 3 dogs you're more likely to be able to reign the 'slack dog' back into the pack and you're less likely to get pulled off of balance. Bruce's Bikejoring and Skijoring Main Page is an excellent website for bike'joring and also "Skijor Now, your source for skijoring, canicross and bikejoring equipment and information" will teach you about commands, getting the dogs pulling and equipment. Good luck.

[Kerriebaby]

if you train them/teach them correctly then I see no reason why not...Im paying for one for my two youngest atm ( installments are brill)

[lilworm]

how many you run will depend on thier individual abilities i can only run in pairs badger and cuda are matched in that sense of ability alaska and sniff are not natural pullers sniff is enthusiastic but slow and alaska enjoys a sedate jog not a run so to run them as a 3 or 4 would not be enjoyable for the dogs. the wqalky dog levels the field as they are designed for a sedate pace at the side of you,where as in harness they are in front pulling a weight whilst your all working as a team