Urban Mushing


This guide was copied from www.dogscooter.com.

What Breed can pull?

Any dog who loves to run can pull. A dog pulling
your arm off on a leash is pulling with more force
than the same dog pulling you on a scooter.
Dogs weighing about 30 pounds and up can pull
a scooter. Dogs smaller than 30 pounds like Jack
Russell terriers can pull in pairs.

At what age do you Start Training?

‘Mushers’ recommend teaching the pup to wear
the harness and pull light “drags” at 4-6 months
- but KEEP IT FUN. Keep the pulling so easy that
 learns that running  the puppy wants more. He
and pulling is fun. Stop well before the pup is
that “running in  tired. Training the attitude
harness is great fun” is the most important
lesson. Let your 9 month puppy run and pull you
for a block. If you run a mile down the trail, stop
frequently for rest and play along the way.
Large breeds can start learning to pull at a young
age with this regime of light, “keep it fun”
training. Scootering helps build a puppy’s muscle
and endurance. Large breeds have completed
their bone growth by 2 years and so can work as
an adult at two years.
ouble lying down and  Older dogs may have tr
getting up, but trotting down the trail keeps their
joints lubricated. Aerobic exercise is good for old
dogs and old humans.

What equipment do you need?

Harness, custom made £20 - £40
Tugline £20 - £35
Scooter £125 to £600

Training

Teach scooter commands Gee, Haw, Wait, Easy,
the dog on leash.  Hup hup when walking
Exaggerate changes and say the command.
Teach the dog “Line out”. Attach one end of the
tug line to something that won’t move. Have him
hold the tug line out tight “Line out” until you
release him from the command. “Line out” is a
basic command to keep the dog from turning and
running back to you on the scooter and thereby
tangling the tugline around his legs.
When a dog is pulling a scooter, his job is to “go
on by” distractions such as dogs and smells.
Teach the two opposite commands, “Go say hi”
and “On by”, while on your daily walks.
Order the harness and tug line. When you snap
the tugline to the harness, it signals to the dog
that he is working. He should work in front of you
with no sniffing and no peeing. Attach a drag to
the harness so that it drags on the ground about
7 feet behind him - piece of wood will work. Let
the dog get used to pulling his drag. Now with
leash on collar and tugline attached to harness, go
for a walk with him pulling the drag. When he is
comfortable pulling the drag with you beside him,
gradually drop further back until you can walk
behind the drag. The dog is used to heeling beside
you, so having you walk behind can he confusing
for him.
For the first run with a scooter, choose a defined
trail where running is comfortable. Usually the
dog desires to run down the trail. A person riding
a bicycle ahead of you (the rabbit), often gets the
dog chasing and running. If you can go with other
scooterers, the dog probably will chase after
them.
For reluctant dogs, walk and push the scooter
until your dog and you are an easy distance
from the car. Turn in the direction of the car
and tell the dog to run to the car. Chances
are he will run happily back to the car to get
his treats while you ride the scooter.
ds that the scooter  Once the dog understan
means freedom to run and explore, he will
love scooter outings and his enthusiasm will
be infectious.

Commands

 Stand up and line out.  Ready ?:

 Start pulling.  Pull:

 Turn right.  Gee:

 Turn left.  Haw:

 Move to the right and keep  Over gee:
going. Use when passing oncoming trail users.
 Turn left and come back past me  Haw come:
- ‘U’ turn.

 Stop.  Whooooa:
 Go slower.  Easy:
 Go fast.  Hike:
 Go faster.  Hup! hup!:
 Hold the tugline tight while  Line out:
facing away from the scooter.
 Go on by the distraction.  On By:
 Don’t.  Leave It:
 Useful when dogs are too hot or  Walk:
are on crowded sidewalks or
when the human can’t run
anymore.
 You will never be lost once your  Go to Car:
dog learns this command.
 Go the direction the scooter is  This way:
pointing.
 Go up those stairs or that slope.