Dogs love to run; it’s a fact of life. You probably spend most of your time on your walks trying to call your dog back, chasing around after them, and probably even being dragged around by them in some cases. They just can’t get to the park/field fast enough! So why not try dog scootering?
Dog scootering is something that many people are fond of in the US, but is only just beginning in the UK. For running dogs, dog scootering can be the perfect sport to try! You shouldn’t just think that scootering is for sled dogs, as it’s a great sport for any dog who loves running to try. They can be trained pretty easily!
Dog scooters are best for one or two dogs, so you don’t have to panic if you don’t have a whole team of them waiting for your command. One of the best ways to get used to scootering is to get used to the scooter by yourself first! You might need a little practice going round corners and downhill, but it shouldn’t take long for you to get used to it.
Everything You Need to Get Started
- An off road scooter with 16 and 24 inch diameter wheels.
- A shockline which will reduce the impact of pulling.
- A single lead tug for one dog or double lead tug for two dogs.
- A neckline for 2 dogs.
- A scootering harness for each dog.
- Dog booties dependant on the terrain you’re scootering in.
- A cycle helmet for yourself.
- Elbow pads.
- Kneepads.
- Long sleeved tops and trousers.
- Goggles (optional).
The faster your dog, the more safety gear you’ll need. You can buy many things you’ll need from www.k9active.co.uk.
Teaching Your Dog to Scooter
You’ll need to hook your dog to the gangline attached to your scooter, but make sure you keep the break on firmly until you give the go ahead to your dog. Start with one foot on the footplate, release the breaks, and you and your dog will be away! Place your other foot on the footplate once you’re going.
You should make sure that the gangline stays tight throughout your outing, and use your breaks carefully if you want to tighten it. Make sure you pay attention to your dog, and if they stop for any reason make sure you apply your brakes gently and steer to the side of your dog so you don’t bash into them.
It’s important that you make sure your dog has fun too, especially if they’ve never done anything like this before. You could even ask one of your friends to ride a bike in front of your dog, encouraging him to chase them! You should both practice with short, quiet trails to begin with.
To communicate with your dog as your out scootering, use commands you feel comfortable with. You could say, ‘woah!’ when it’s time to stop, for example.
You and your dog are sure to make a great team once you both get used to scootering!