How do you train your dog to scooter?

What is Dog Scootering?
Dog Scootering is an
international sport
in which your dog
pulls you on a
scooter. There are
regional, national and international races. A scooter
trained dog can pull scooters, bicycles, skateboards,
roller blades and/or skiis. You can scooter on city sidewalks or mountain bike trails.
What equipment do you need?
Harness
Tugline
Scooter
$20 to $40
$25 to $35
$200 to $600
Alternatively
Sulky
$1500 to $2000
Harnesss
$200 to $300
Dogs love to run
Train your Dog
to Scooter
“Exercise first, then discipline and then love.”
Cesar Milan
What dogs can scooter?
Most dogs can scooter. A dog pulling against his leash
is pulling with more force than the same dog pulling a
scooter. Dogs weighing 30 pounds can pull a scooter.
Dogs weighing less than 30 pounds can pull. Assist
them with kicking or peddling or by hitching up two
or more of them. Senior dogs can scooter. Older dogs
benefit from exercise, just as older humans do.
How do you find
out more?
For further instructions on training
your dog to scooter, go to
www.dogscooter.com and
purchase Dog Scooter – the Sport
for Dogs who Love to Run and/or
the DVD, Dogs Love to Pull, both
by Daphne Lewis.
www.dogscooter.com
253.839.1502
Basic Commands
Ready: Get ready. We
are about to go.
Pull or Hike: Start
pulling.
Gee: Turn right.
Haw: Turn left.
Wait or Whooooa:
Stop.
Easy: Go slower.
Why scooter with your dog?
Advanced Commands
Go to the car: You will never be lost once your dog
learns this command.
This way: Go in the direction of the scooter.
Over gee: Move to the right. Use when making room
for oncoming trail users.
Haw come: Make a U turn left.
Line out: Hold the tugline tight while facing away
from the scooter.
On by: Go on by the distraction.
Dog Scootering is FUN ! Slip your dog into the scooter
harness, hitch him to the scooter, hop on and let him
run. You ride the scooter; he runs and pulls. When you
return home your hyper dog is calm, a different dog.
Once the dog understands that the scooter means freedom to run and explore, he will love scooter outings. His
enthusiasm will rub off on you. Scooterers say, “I am
addicted”.
Bonus of dogs that pull
How do you train your dog to scooter?
Ground training before the harness arrives
Create “drive” before the harness and scooter arrive. Pick a place that you and your dog love to go to. Make it special with
ball chasing, tug-of-war, chase or free running, sniffing, peeing and/or swimming. Build your dog’s excitement to go there.
Practice scooter commands as you leash walk. When you turn right, say “Gee!” When you slow down, say “Easy”.
Ground training after the harness arrives
Scooter harnesses are for working, not playing. When you snap the
tugline to the harness, the dog should work in front of you with no
sniffing, peeing or socializing. If you want your dog to relax and be off
duty or to walk politely beside you, snap the leash to the collar.
Dog Scootering is useful. Dogs have pulled loads
throughout domestication. Now with scooters and
sulkies, dogs are pulling for recreation and exercise, as
well as work. A woman in Florida gave up her car and
does her errands by dogs and scooter. Another woman
drives her sulky to work. When she needs to carry stuff,
she hooks a cart behind the sulky.
Attach a light “drag” such as a bicycle tire to the harness with a line
long enough for the drag to
Basic Steps
be comfortably behind the
1. Create “drive”
dog. With leash to collar and drag to harness, go for a walk. Drag on various surfaces.
2. Train commands before harness
The dog learns to pull, learns to be comfortable with something dragging behind him.
3. Drag train with harness
Gradually drop back until you walk behind the drag instead of next to the dog. Practice
4. Acclimate to scooter
the scooter commands. Teach “line out”.
5. Train with scooter
6. Make it fun for the dog
Scooter training
Equipment You’ll Need
Harness
Tugline
Scooter or Sulky
Let the dog become accustomed to the scooter by walking the dog while you push the
scooter. Next let the dog get used to pulling the empty scooter. When he is fine pulling
the empty scooter, take him very close to his Special Place and hop on the scooter and
command him to pull.
Play play play, reward reward reward.