Walking is not the only way to exercise your dog. There are other means which are getting popular these days, such as scootering. Walking your dog is fine, however dogs will always be dogs and they can tire you a lot when they become playful during the walk and get loose from your hand. Many dog owners who now engage in dog scootering claim that training a dog to scooter is not at all difficult. It is no different from teaching a dog how to run and fetch things for you or how to play dead, roll over and spin around. If you are interested in dog scootering, here are tips that can help you:
- Purchase a scooter and dog harness. The scooter must be an adult type, one which you either push or kick. The harness, on the other hand, must be strong, sturdy and durable and most preferably made of leather. You can score these articles from any local supplier of dog accessories.
- Make sure to pick a harness that fits and adjusts well. There are different kinds of harnesses for dog scootering. There is one kind that has rigs on the front and sides. These rigs have special purposes such that the attachment in front can accommodate more than one dog. The fixtures on the side on the other hand, allow you to manage the dog to turn from left to right and back to front, which, in cars, is equivalent to the steering wheel. The harness is also pretty much like a car brake as it puts the dog to a halt when you tug or pull it towards you.
- Set up the harness, dog and scooter. Be careful in harnessing the dog as it might get hurt if you buckle it too tight. First, attach the harness to the dog according to the scootering method you want to use. If you want to control the dog from all sides, place the harness on the dog’s torso inside its front legs. Never attach the harness on the dog’s neck to avoid strangling. Hook the harness to the anchor provided in the scooter. Usually, there is a short cable or cord connected to the scooter to be joined to the harness. If you have two or more dogs in one scooter, be sure their harnesses do not intertwine. Secure all links by snapping them up.
- Get ready for the ride. Ride in the scooter. Stand firm on it and hold the grips tight. Make sure you are well balanced with your feet slightly apart and in parallel location. Take note of the location of the brake so that you can push it soon as you need to stop. Start the scooter with a gentle push while paying mind to your dogs’ reaction. Encourage the dogs to move along as you start to pick up your pace with the scooter. Do not force the dog to move if it refuses to budge as it might result to trauma. Move along leisurely like you are walking your dog casually and soon the dogs will start to increase their tempo. The goal here is to make the dogs pull the scooter to the road while you control the speed, brake and grip all at the same time.
Some dogs are sensitive and they do not like abrupt changes in their
environment. Thus in training your dog how to scooter, avoid doing it
bluntly as it might develop an aversion to scootering. Gradually
introduce the scooter to your dog by accustoming it first to the harness
and scooter before finally setting out on the road.