Hi all,

I have read the mushing posts, thanks for all the posts on this topic.

Can I just clarify how u work out what your husky can pull? I am only starting basic commands at the moment as we are not quite old enough to start but I am intending on getting a dog scooter at some point.

My husky is 10 months old and weighs 44lb.
I weigh 135lb.

would it be a problem expecting her to pull me on a scooter?

I'm sure once she's at least a year, you can start slow and small and build her up. I've gone on 15-mile bikejoring rides where Paw Paw pulls me most of the way as long as it's flat. If it's uphill or I see him struggling, I'll pedal (you would push on a scooter) to assist him. I know that a lot of young husky owners will put their dog in a harness and attach them to a tire (again, start small and work your way up), so the dog gets used to pulling the extra weight as well as having something dragging behind them.

Any questions you have, please feel free to ask. I'll do my best to help you out. Where I live, we have sled dog clubs where you can join or at least have the seasoned experts point you in the right direction. That's where I learned everything and bought all of my sledding/bikejoring/scootering gear. Not sure what you have available around you in the UK.

Good luck! It's loads of fun. I've been away from home for 6 weeks and can't wait to get home tonight (I'm actually at the Denver airport right now en route back home) so I can take my pups for a bikejoring ride bright and early in the morning. I know they've missed me.

Thankyou for the advice,

I am just beginning to get some equipment now to start with commands and had planned on the tire idea from what I read. A lot of advice on the net suggests finding a mushing mentor who has already trained a team / dog successfully. However in the UK these are few and far between.

I have. on a brighter note, found a farm some 100 miles away that provides mushing experiences with their team of dogs and also training and equipment if you take your own so I will be planning to do this in October time.

Additionally, I have a friends husky at my house quite often and he is a large powerful male, although very slender, so at some point I would like to get him involved so my dad (new husky enthusiast) can take part as he is heavier than me.

Looking forward to start training.

Luckily the resistance on a scooter or bike is relatively low and easy for the handler to assist either by pedaling or pushing off great for starting new dogs and learning the basics. I don't see any reason why your dog wouldn't be able to pull you, you probably won't be able to go out and do a long distance right away but it's something you can build up to. This isn't something for young dogs, I wouldn't suggest actively pulling and distance running until at least 15 months, or at least until the growth plates close and the joints stabilize from growing.

Thank you,

I can't wait to start. Would you suggest a rig for using the 2 dogs in the future or is a scooter still ok for two?

Any tips on command training to begin with? Should I do this somewhere where there is no distractions or my local park field ?

I take two out on my scooter. I'm actually not sure if they'd pull if it was just one, for some reason they like pulling the bike more then the scooter.

Scooters/Bikes are perfect for 2 dogs, there are some extreme light weight carts ($$) made for 2 dog teams. I personally feel teams of 3 or more are more suited for carts.

Thanks guys I'm going to start looking at equipment this week with an aim of having her attached to the scooter by around a year old (but not pulling any weight) and take kee down to the training farm in October when she will be 14 months.

Can't wait

Paw Paw is able to pull me by himself on a bike or scooter. He and I went that 15 miles together alone. This was before we had Beowulf. But I didn't start this sport until he was 2 years old. Honestly though, he has had the power and drive to pull since he was younger, so I know he would've been able to do it. I just don't know how healthy it would've been for him.