The weather here in Austin finally cooperated. It was a chilly 77 degrees this morning (I know, all things are relative; but if you live in central Texas, you have to be part reptile, and anything between 65 and 90 degrees is “chilly”.) Perfect weather for EXTREME SPORTS—dog scootering.
Okay, I’ll admit, dog scootering doesn’t sound that extreme, more mediocre at best. And no, it’s not watching a dog scoot around on it’s butt. Dog scootering is akin to dog mushing, but instead of a sled, you use a scooter of some type while the dog/dogs pull you. Some people call it scooter-joring or dryland mushing, but those terms sound no better.
I use a measly Razor scooter because: I already had one handy (yes, I am 35 going on 12); I’m not dedicated enough to the sport to buy a $300 plus scooter; it’s small, light and easily portable; and I find the tiny four inch wheels and low carriage greatly increase the risk of a rock or crack in the asphalt causing a major crash and road rash. I know, extremely stupid, but that’s what makes it an EXTREME SPORT.
I apparently want to make it even more extreme. Only one of my dogs is even remotely trained in formal pulling. Grimm doesn’t know “Gee” from “Whiz” and to him “Whoa” means keep running as fast as you can. He also has a bad habit of looking around and not focusing on the job at hand. Zella has a fairly good grasp of “Gee”, “Haw”, “Go Steady” and “Yip Yip” (I use this as the command for speed up). Grimm does like to mimic his smaller, older “sister”, so he does fairly well for a beginner.
Two extremely fast and agile pit bulls pulling like crazy make for one exciting ride. Zooming along at 15-20 mph (I know, doesn’t seem that fast, but 4 inch wheels/looming death, remember?) can be quite exhilarating. I definitely get lots of comments and strange looks from people. Most people think a scooter powered by pit bulls definitely helps to keep Austin weird. Honestly, though, it’s a great workout for them and me, both mentally and physically. You wouldn’t believe how much you use your core muscles for stability. They sleep like babies the rest of the day.
You will probably never see dog scootering enter the EXTREME SPORTS arena, but trust me when I say it can be extreme–extremely stupid if you’re not careful. Do as I say, not as I do and all that. My dogs and I are just doing our part to reduce our use of fossil fuels. Pit bull power could be another source of green energy, if you’re up for the challenge!
Grimm's Furry Tail 