Are you a dog owner looking for a new and exciting way to spend time with your dog? If this sounds like you, then after you read this, let us know if a dog powered scooter is right for you.
What’s the story behind a dog powered scooter?
We love innovation here at Dogsized, but we haven’t seen a dog powered scooter that makes much sense regarding the setup and how it will impact a dog.
And, yes, you would need a big-sized dog to even think about using this scooter type.
Similar to mushy and skijoring, the idea is nice to allow dogs to work alongside their owners, powering the scooter with their energy and enthusiasm.
Mushing, skijoring, scootering?
We all have heard about or seen mushing in a movie or tv show. It’s a proven method of transportation that goes back centuries.
Mushing is a sport or transportation method in which a sled or cart is pulled by one or more dogs over snow or other terrains.
Another activity similar to dog mushing is skijoring.
What is Skijoring?
Skijoring is a winter sport where one or more dogs pull a person on skis.
The person wears a harness attached to the dog’s harness, allowing the dog to pull them along trails or through snow-covered landscapes.
Like dog mushing, skijoring requires a strong bond and communication between humans and dogs, making it a great activity for those who want to spend quality time with their furry friends while enjoying the outdoors.
Prove our skepticism wrong
This dog scooter is not proven like mushing or skijoring. It is not something we could recommend. However, in the spirit of informing you about what is on the market for your dog and dogs of all sizes, we’ll share a bit.
A dog powered scooter is a nice idea in theory but there are a lot of concerns
I was recently emailed about the Dog Powered Scooter and the Dog Powered Recumbent Tadpole Trike.
From the photos on their website, these contraptions look a bit cooky to me.
But perhaps if you’ve got a big dog and you want him to push you along…this might be really cool for you, but don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Typically, dog mushing/pulling is done with the dog in front, similar to a horse pulling a cart. The human driver must work with the dog to control the vehicle’s direction.
The Dog Powered Scooter and the Dog Powered Recumbent Tadpole Trike were designed so that the human driver can still control the vehicle’s direction.
As the dogs are behind the vehicle, they provide the power but not the steering (think rear-wheel drive, like in a BMW).
Dog Powered Recumbent Tadpole Trike
Allegedly, the Dog Powered Scooter and the Dog Powered Recumbent Tadpole Trike are the first dog pulled vehicles which place the dog/dogs in the back, thus giving the human driver precision steering control of the dog with no commands necessary.
The manufacturers claim that virtually no dog training is required, thus making dog mushing accessible to most breeds, ages of drivers, locations, and seasons.
They also believe it’s easy to ride, safe, and appropriate for the urban environment.
So is this crazy or the new trend in environmentally dog friendly transportation?
I think my dog, Kobi, (a Havanese) is looking at these photos thinking: “No way am I going to be pulling mom in that!
Perhaps it’s for the big German Shepherd (our neighbor down the hall) to pull both of us around the neighborhood?”
