Seattle-King County Veterinary Medical Association / Dog Carting

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Dog Carting/Dog Drafting -by Tim Perciful

Intro:
Drafting with dogs is an activity that is growing in popularity even though it has been around for centuries. Although many dogs were bread to pull carts and wagons today there are events and practical work for all breeds of dogs. It just takes a little specialized training added to some basic obedience to get started with the sport.

Definition:
Drafting simply means to pull. A draft dog will pull a device such as a cart, wagon, travois, sulky, etc. in a controlled manner. Draft dogs have the same basic skills as a draft horse but in a smaller scale. There are several variations to drafting depending device being pulled, the activity that is involved, and work that is being done. These may include people riding in a sulky, competitive weight pulling, or hauling compost to the recycling bin.

This article will focus on dogs pulling carts and wagons through a variety of obstacles for work, sport, and parades. This is known as drafting or carting.

History:
Dogs have been used as draft animals for centuries. People used dogs to take their produce to the market, dogs would haul firewood to the home, bring fishing nets to the shore for the fishermen. Draft dogs have even been used in war to haul injured solders, weapons, and ammunition for various reasons.

Many people would use draft dogs because of their size, expense, and the ability to do several jobs. Some draft breeds were pound for pound stronger than a draft horse but the cost and upkeep of a dog was much less. A dog would be kept and used in a smaller area than its horse counterpart. Many farmers would also use the same dog for drafting, herding, and personal protection. Dogs such as the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog were the original Swiss multi-tool because of the variety of jobs they could do for a farmer.

The invention of the tractor almost wiped out the tradition of using draft dogs. People would find creative uses for their dog’s drafting skills to keep the activity alive. Today the sport is growing in popularity. Many breed clubs have competitions, people enter parades, and some people still work their dogs for practical use.

Drafting Breeds:
There are several breeds that were bread to do draft work, these include Rottweilers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Newfoundlands, St Bernards, Bouviers, etc. The jobs were not limited to draft work but their size, strength, and temperament made them ideal for the job.

Today many of these breeds provide titles for dogs that pass various levels in a drafting test. Each breed clubs test is a little different but they all have the dogs and handlers show the same basic skills. The test is a way to demonstrate that a team (dog(s) and handler) are capable to do draft work in a controlled setting. Some of the skills needed include basic obedience, turning, backing up, going through a narrow object such as a gate or foot bridge, and hauling a load. Most breed clubs provide various titles depending on the test taken: such as Novice Draft Dog, or Draft Dog. There are even titles given to dogs that work with another dog called brace.

Training Needed For Drafting:
The staple to any good draft dog when it comes to training is basic obedience. The core skills that a draft dog must master include: walking forward, left turns, right turns, stopping, backing up, staying on command, coming when called, and obeying the handler. As you may see, these are not much different than basic obedience.

Drafting is not a sport for the novice handler, or uncontrollable dog. The handler must be able to read the dog and understand when the dog is tired or injured. The dog should follow basic voice commands so it does not get hurt chasing a squirrel, cat, etc. There are several other reasons this sport is best for a more experienced team.

Although basic obedience is the staple to a good draft dog there are many other skills that need to be learned. These include: ignoring the sound of an object behind dog, pulling an object, having shafts on either side of the dog, ignoring animals and people while working, and listening to the handler no matter where he/she may be around the dog, just to name a few.

Dogs that work in brace provide another set of challenges. Dogs that work in brace usually work two dogs at a time pulling side by side. Probably the biggest challenge is having two dogs that will work well together and still follow commands by the handler.

There are clubs that put on clinics to teach the basics of drafting to people and their dogs. The clinics are fun atmosphere with a lot of practical training taught by people with experience in drafting. People will leave the clinic with a basic understanding of the sport and have an idea if their dog could continue training. The Seattle Bernese Mountain Dog Club and Seattle Draft Dogs, a Yahoo group, are probably the two most active groups when it comes to providing training and clinics. Both of these groups provide training to all breeds and mixed breed dogs depending on space available.

Equipment Needed:
The equipment needed for draft work is usually fairly specialized and specific for each dog. It is important that people use the proper type of equipment for the job, and it is probably more important that it fits their dog. The equipment needed includes a harness, and some sort of apparatus for the dog to pull.

The harness may vary depending on the apparatus that is used but it is important that the handler uses the correct harness for the job. Most harnesses are made of webbing or leather and have a strap or straps that go across the chest and back. The harness is used to disperse any weight being pulled on key locations on the dog.

The two most common rigs used in drafting are carts and wagons. Each have their advantages and disadvantages but the basic difference is that a cart has two wheels and a wagon has four wheels. A cart is usually easier to maneuver and a wagon is better for unstable loads, and children. Each device provides it’s own challenges and it is important to learn the difference before purchasing or using a cart or wagon.

People will also choose or design carts and wagons based on their dog. The size of the dog may determine the size and/or design of the cart or wagon. For example, a Leonberger will not pull the same size cart as a Chihuahua.

Closing:
Drafting is an activity that is fun, provides mental stimulation, physical exercise, and can be practical around the house. Although many dogs were bread to pull carts and wagons today there are many opportunities for mixed breeds of all sizes. The training is based on basic obedience but requires an experienced handler and well-trained dog.

You can find various resources on the Internet about drafting and carting or you can contact tim@learnpetfirstaid.com for information on local resources.