This particular one I purchased on ebay for $150. It is built like a mountain bike. They are used in downhill ski areas during the summer. There are many types and varieties. This one is built to handle some speed.
It has good v-brakes that operate the same as bicycle brakes. I have a cheap cyclometer mounted on this one, to track speed, time, distance. Ignore the little bell thingy, it came with the scooter and is worthless:
The major advantage over a bicycle is the ability to hop off if the dogs stop suddenly. With a bike, you are going down. Here is the platform you stand on. :
Here is the entire line and harnesses for two dogs. The black section was purchased, the yellow tug lines to the dogs I made up, one harness is an old Hulan and I do not know what the other one is, it is old. Laying between the two harnesses is a neck line. It is attached to each dog at the collar, and prevents them from fanning out or boloing people on the trial:
This is a close up of the main line, which I purchased from a source on dogscooter.com. It has a ring and clip at one end so you can loop the line around the vertical front stem of the bike and clip the line to itself. It has a chunky looking section roughly a foot long that has bungee cord embedded in it to take up shocks. The end furthest from the scooter (not in the pic.) is just a loop. There are instructions available on the Internet to make this whole section yourself. I bought mine, it being my first try at this.
Here are the two tug lines attached to the loop on the end of the main line. It is important not to use hardware clips here, just a loop to loop connection. Hardware in the middle of the line will cause an annoying "jump rope" swinging effect.
Here are the harnesses and neck line. I have also used sled dog harnesses, and they work well, but don't have one sized to my dogs at the moment. Note that in this case, I have one dog slightly ahead of the other. I have one dog that is great in lead, and the other is just learning to run, so I have the learn a little behind the lead dog, to give her some incentive. In a week or so, I will equalize the length of the two lines.
(whoops, i edited to add cause this one did not post the first time)
And here is the whole deal, complete with batteries installed. You will note that one of the batteries is in heat, and wearing a diaper:
Here is a "just braggin" photo of the lead dog, my trial dog, on point on a chukar in WY:
A couple of notes. Given the speed we travel at, the total length of my line is about 12'. This gives me time to stop without overrunning the dogs, if they stop suddenly. At the speeds we hit (20 mph) you have to watch them like a hawk, and also watch the trail ahead for things that might cause them to stop or veer off, like squirrels. Also, in the second to last photo you can see that the main line is capable of wrapping around the bike wheel. I really have not found this to be a problem, once the dogs are going, the line is never slack. Lastly, I carry two water bottles on a belt. This is strenuous and you need to take care of the dogs. Do not run in excessive heat, never over 90 degrees, and careful even in the mid-70's if the dog is not already acclimated. Start with short runs, a mile or two. Wear glasses, the rocks come off the dogs feet. Watch their pads on roads with pebbles or rocks, and use boots if necessary.
Last but not least, you can make all the lines you want with polyester rope from the hardware store. I think the ones in these pics are 3/8" but I will probably go even lighter next time. You need a fid, which is cheap to purchase, and you can find instructions on the Internet on how to make a loop slice. You could just use a large diameter empty ball point pen for a fid. Will try find the URL for loop instructions, and post it.
And wear a dang helmet and bike gloves, will ya please? And long pants. Stuff happens.
