Dogscooter....

I looked it up after your post.  Never did hear of it before.  Weeeeeeeeeeeeee it looks fun.  I have a rail trail close by with miles of trail.  Hmmmmm, might be something it think about.  Wonder if my Tank (lab) is the kind of dog that would like to do this.  He loves to carry a backpack.  Hope there are some dogscooters out there so I can hear more about it.  Thanks for posting it..learn something new every day...

I take my dog Tanker out for runs with my electric scooter using a springer bike attachement (I have asthma and can't run/jog with him).  He doesn't pull the scooter, but runs along side it.  I have some pictures, but I haven't learned how to upload using the new site.
 
I'll give it a try, but it might not work...
 
 

Hey luva,  your pic worked.  Looks like the dog and you are having fun.  I too have a dog named Tank.  Chocolate lab.  Live in upstate NY too. 

I am seriously contemplating doing this with Crusher this summer.  He pulls sled in the winter so it wouldn't take much to make the switch.  If you do try it I would suggest starting slow, and in an open area where there are little if any distractions.  Make sure to water your dogs well first.  You can add broth to the water if they don't want to drink much.  Stop often especially in warm weather, and give your dog a drink.  And let them slow down before you stop.  Or get off the scooter and walk them for a while afterwards.  Remember that a dog will usually go farther than they should so you have to guage how far is enough.

I was actually looking into it earlier, how weird is that? I'm thinking about it. I already bike with Max sometimes, and I need  to get him a better harness, which was where I came across the scootering info. I'd like to do it, and i'd feel a lot safer than on the bike I think. Anyone have a scooter recomendation.

I want one. Teenie pulls me on the bike. The only thing is, they're so bad. I dunno how it'd work, LOL. I hate to spend that much on a scooter and never use it.

I do want one of those cool carts and a big dog to drag me around in it

luv_my_3_labs,
I live in a suburb of Syracuse.  Looks like you're in the mountains- the Catskills or the Adirondacks?

Tanker came with his name.  The rescue tried to change it to Tucker, but he didn't answer to Tucker and I felt that the only thing the poor dog had for the first nine years of his sad life was his name, so I decided to let him keep it. 

Tank loves to scooter.  I need a better harness, too- Tank can Houdini out of the cheap one that came with the springer.

I run Crusher in an Xback harness.  They make ones especially for skijoring that would probably fit the bill since the anchor is higher on a scooter than on a sled I think.  I need to get a new harness for Crusher as his is getting snug.  I'd offer it up on DogCycle but I want to wait to see if one of the girls will grow into it.  I think they will be smaller than that though.  An Xback is only good for pulling though.  Walking with it is pure HE double hockeysticks, so bring a collar.

OMG, That's so neat.  My Tank came with the name Tinker as in Tinker Bell.  He is a pure breed w/papers just given to us by my sons teacher because she couldn't care for him any longer.  He needs more out door activities than she could give him. She loved how he always talked about our other two dogs and how much fun we have with them.  She even said she would graduate him.  lol,lol  He is on the honor roll but his twin may have to take her up on it if he keeps falling asleep in class.   Can't wait for spring to get out on the trails here in the Adirondacks.  The funny thing is, I wanted Tucker for his name but my son loved Tank better.  Really it's more fitting because he knocks everything over, including me once.  Nice to meet you... Cindy Lou

after looking at that website, I trained my big mutt to pull a skateboard. She's very enthusiastic, and sometimes pretends she can't hear your requests to slow down (I know she heard, she flicks her ears back and then pins them and runs faster). Haven't invested in a scooter (yet).

I have a dog scooter and it is a BLAST.  I have a Willy scooter and run my two border collies in the urban trails harnesses.  I live down in Florida and we don't often run during the summer, but during fall, winter and spring it's great.  I went with the Willy scooter because we mostly go on bike trails.  The right equipment makes all of the difference.

OMG!  I just have visuals of trying to do anything like that with Grady.  We'd be chasing every small furry critter that crossed our path.  Not to mention any leaf that blows by or a piece of trash. ~L~

Well, yes.  You need to have a REALLY solid leave it/on by command.  There is a yahoo group for dogscootering and you can read lots of stories about people starting out.  There are some amazing stories of broken bones, etc., and all of the injuries are people related...not dog related!  [] We were able to start dogscootering with few issues (as in  hook up the dogs and take off) because my borders already know left/right, leave it, and the all important "go!".  There is nothing that can compare to rolling along with them trotting/cantering, and then yelling "go" and watching them haul a**!  What a rush!  Just as important as "go" is the "whoa" command...needless to say!  I went scootering with another woman and her three dogs and she had quite a few tangles when we passed animals, bikers, etc.  It was really nice to tell my guys "that'll do, go on," and there we went!  I'm about to order a new harness for my one year old PON girl and a new 3 dog gang line.  She's still a baby so only short jaunts for her (will wait till about 18 mos. for any distance), but she loves short runs up the block. 
 
The Willy scooter is kinda $$, but is very easy for the dogs to ull.  It's also fun to use without the dogs.  I've been known to throw my set up in the car (the scooter just fits) and take the whole thing to dog shows.   

In the summer up here people run their sled dogs with a 4-wheeler. I would prefer that to a scooter simply because it would be much harder for the dogs to pull you over if they suddenly dash off to the left or right. Two wheels vs. four wheels. I'd take the 4 wheels. Of course in suburbia folks would probably not care for that.