My Dog is Low Carbon
by Tao Oliveto
This transportation alternative will make even the dog-less smile (adopt a dog, you’ll smile more). Walkable communities are catching on, but many of us still find ourselves with a few regular miles to travel every day. Those same many of us may own dogs that need lots of exercise - every day. Here’s mine. 
Enter, the latest in dog- and planet-friendly trends - “eco-mushing” (thanks to Ideal Bite for cluing me in to this!). There are a few different ways to do this, some more complex than others. While actual mushing with harnesses sounds like a “for experts only” version of this activity, this Dog Powered Scooter, invented and produced in Bend, Oregon, looks super safe and user friendly to me - a fun way to get around town while Fido gets a workout. The price tag of $560 seems reasonable for regular use, but for the recreational musher, try arranging a “scooter-share” with other dog-loving friends. This scooter is irresistible and you can adapt it for up to 3 dogs!
Less pull-inclined dogs may prefer my bicycle version of “have dog, will travel”. I recently taught my younger dog, Ayla, to run along next to my bike (on leash). With no pulling required, it’s both less complicated and risky than the harness method, although it still requires training and patience to get started. Herding dogs catch on quickly, but I still started out carefully and gradually increased distance and speed. We now enjoy our commutes into town at few times each week and she gets lots of admiring attention.
See Ayla Run.
Traveling by dog is a blast, but be smart about it. Even a young, fit dog needs to build up endurance and strength slowly and keep in mind that you will never be asking your dog to sprint. Before you try this at home, read these official safety tips.
How green is this idea? Well, possibly a lighter shade, but for me it has made a difference in my weekly carbon emissions since I cut back on the car trips to the dog park.
Tags: animals, culture, recreation
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