Due to increasing mobility problems (I have COPD, a chronic respiratory illness) I am now finding it difficult to exercise my dogs (Cavs & Charlies) They are beginning to put on extra weight. While they have a very big outside area to play in the two older Cavs don't romp around too much. Now, I have a'Mobility'scooter. Has anyone ever exercised dogs on anything like this ;maybe a bicycle)? If so, are there any special attachments I could buy? Maybe I could get someone to walk them but I live in a small village in North Wales so I am not sure how viable that is, I would really appreciate any suggestions or advice anyone could offer. Thanks

Hello,

There is a gentleman in my village who walks his scotty dog in the park driving his mobility vehicle..he pops william in the basket on the roads and then lets him off in the park..i'm not sure if you can get any attachments but am sure if you searched on the internet you maybe able to find something.

If they are good on leads and would walk calmly by the side of the scooter i can't see you'll have too many problems if any at all.

Good luck

I don't know about attachments to a scooter, but you can buy an attachment for a bicycle that you could probably adapt to fit your scooter. It is a metal bar incorporating a spring and then a short lead onto a harness for the dog (not a  collar as it might jolt the neck). It is called walkydog.

Several people show dogs from mobility scooters and only need to train them to walk nicely by them - no attachment needed.
On these bright, dry cold days, I would think that you and your dogs will love being out together. 

Dont think their are any special attachments, you may have to get creative with a way of tying them to the scooter.  But most people I have seen just hold the lead, the dogs dont seem phased by them at all.

Emma

My husband has COPD too and uses a mobility scooter.  My two Cairns got used to being walked while my husband was on the scooter very easily and very quickly.  I think the "training" required took all of five minutes.

With the scooter my two dogs used to automatically break into a run when they got close to home - they figured out that the scooter could keep up with them and apparently they enjoyed a final sprint back home.  Something to do with the dog treats they get after a walk, I expect.  :-)  Rudi is a wimp and if something frightened him - like a noisy, big truck passing on the same road - he would jump on the foot rest of the scooter and ride the rest of the way.  :-)  

Another lady where I live also walked her Yorkie and her daughter's dog (lhaso, I think) while she was on the scooter.  Both of them were also inclined to sit on the footrest when they were feeling a bit lazy too!  

I saw an eldery man walking his Yorkie while the man was using the scooter.   The man had actually positioned a dog bed on the scooter's foot rest.  Talk about plush and pampered.

BTW ... I think the message here is that dogs like to be chauffered around, so probably not a good idea to introduce them to the foot rest.

Husband's COPD is getting worse (he still smokes, arghhhh) and with the cold weather I'm doing walkie duties now, but I am not capable of sprinting and I expect they miss their "scooter walks."

Oh ... you obviously cannot use a short lead because the dogs will need to be a bit farther away from you than they would be if you were walking without the scooter.  My husband and everyone else I've seen has used extendable leads, but I'm not sure if they are absolutely necessary... just a lead with a little bit more length.

Hi sorry to hear about your illness.

I found some brilliant and really strong leads last year that have 2 'D' rings and clips both ends of the lead and are at least twice the length of usual leads, so you can adapt them in many different ways.  They also have really comfortable padding. I can honestly say i have searched for years for such a useful dog lead and would never buy any other kind now.  They are called Ferplast (make) Daytona 200 and i found them on the internet.  I think these would be ideal for you.

Hi,

There is also a young man who walks his dog over our local country park who also uses a scooter, I think he also has 'other disabilities' as well (sorry, trying to be as PC as possible!) as his speech is also impaired. He manages fine, up and down the dales with dog in tow! He also uses a ball launcher to help exercise his dog who is execeptionally well behaved and never strays far. (puts mine to shame!)
I hope you find what works best for you and your four legged friends so you can continue to enjoy your walks without feeling too poorly.
Wrap up warm though, I can imagine the scooters can be a bit draughty!

Just to encourage you there is a lady near us who uses an electric wheelchair . She owns 3 gsd herself and walks them or is it trots them lol all the time both on the road and in the woods. She also walks other peoples dogs in the same way, I belieive as a small business to raise money for charity. She is well known in our area and from what I observe the dogs seem to adapt very well and quickly , I would say that if you wish there is noreason to have to give up walking your dogs yourselfl   

sorry to hear your unwell.

just to add another, there was a guy who walked a staffy this way near me and another in my old village to. by no means a strange idea. i also remember watching cesar milan one day (i was bored alright! lol) getting a man to walk his dog that way.

if your illness has been going on a while i presume they've been getting shorter walks for a bit- but you won't be getting nearly as tired in the scooter so hopefully will be able to outstrip the dogs now :)

Thank you all for your suggestions to Annee,Tooolz,Malibu,Cairnmania,Wendy Starmutley,Furriefriends and Astarte. I feel more positive and I will lookinto all the suggestions made. I will come back and report! Thanks again.

Thanks a lot I will certainly look into this