PULLING A WAGON OR SLED

[LisaMD]

I'm interested in finding out more about this too. I would like to bring back the Rottweiler backround to my dog and teach her preform the old rottweiler duties. I will keep up on this for sure.

[AngelBunny]

Jedi690:

At 8 mo old, your dog is too young to be pulling anything.

[Jedi690]

LOL....
True, he could not pull my daughter around just yet, but my 8 month old is more than capable of learning how to pull a small empty cart or wagon anywhere that he wants. I thought I would train him to do that first, before I stick my little girl in there for a roller coaster ride. I was thinking that six months of training with just the harness for the first month, then adding the empty cart or sled for another 4 or 5 months before expecting him to pull anything more....... Then slowly adding weight until I get my daughter in...she only weighs 23 pounds right now, and by that time I don't guess that she will be much over 35 pounds if that....Seems like this would be a great activity for the family and my dog.

What age would you recommend before starting this type of training?

[This message has been edited by Jedi690 (edited January 26, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Jedi690 (edited January 26, 2001).]

[LisaMD]

My girl is One. I am interested in starting training on this. I agree on the fact it may be a gradual thing to work them up on the weight. That would be my plan.

I guess no one here knows how to do this or even has a clue as to a good place to start. Is it because they don't agree with this idea? http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/confused.gif

LisaMD

[Jedi690]

I am not sure.....does not seem like anyone is out to encourage the whole thing though...maybe it just needs more time for some more people to read it....wonder if they do think of this as a bad thing...

hmmmmmm

[RottnKid1]

Training your Rottweilers to pull is a wonderful idea. You just have to make sure that they are not pulling any weight until at least 18 mos. of age. Start training them the commands and getting them used to the harness and traces. Walk along side of them or have someone walk behind them with noisy objects so they get used to different sounds. Then, take one of those very lightweight plastic saucers without any added weight on it and have them pull that. When they're old enough, they'll be ready for you to slowly start adding weight. That's how I taught mine (the same way I taught our draft horses). Unfortunately, I still haven't been able to afford a real cart, but we still have fun with the sleds http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif.

[AngelBunny]

I've seen pix of Rotties in books who were cart dogs, pulling little carts holding milk cans. Rotties are working dogs, so there's no reason you guys couldn't train your dogs to pull carts. Just be sure to start slowly and not place demands on the frames of young dogs.

[SarasMom]

Good advice, RottnKid.

Yes, only put the harness on the dog until he is at least 18 months. Until he's old enough to pull, buy or build a cart or wagon, and let him walk beside it while you pull it.

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Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow, Live Today.

[This message has been edited by SarasMom (edited January 26, 2001).]

[Jedi690]

I have an 8 month old Rottweiler. I want to teach him how to pull my daughter around in a wagon or sled while I lead him down the sidewalk on a leash. I have trained him in all the basic commands and he is a very well behaved dog. How would you go about teaching him to pull a wagon or sled like this? I assume that I can buy the proper harness and equipment at a specialized pet store in the nearest town here. I am more concerned about the method of training.... any suggestions ?

[RottnKid1]

Thank you, SarasMom, but there are a couple of things that I failed to mention which are very important. Before your dogs begin to pull any weight, please have them checked by your vet to make sure there are no orthopedic problems. I also train mine to ease into the traces - NOT jump into them - to prevent any injuries. And warm-up exercises are as important for animals as they are for people.

[sumo]

i too heard that 18 months or later is the minimum age to start pulling activities...Sumo is now 8 months old...In a year or so, I plan to start Scootering with Sumo... http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

[FredAl]

I started carting my dog at the age of 24 months when his skeletal and muscular system was fully developed. I got him to the point where I ride the cart and can control him using "horse commands or cues" (pull rein to the right - turn right, tsk-tsk to go faster, whoa to stop, etc.)

You must first condition your dog to get used to an object behind following him all the time. Do this by YOU pulling a Radio Flyer cart or child's trike behind you when you take him out for walks on lead. If he seems to mind the object, either increase the distance of the object from him, or let him investigate the object. If he's acting stressed or leery of the object, never assure him that it's okay because he might mistake your assurances with praise. Just ignore his leery behavior and do the adjustments. Pretty soon, you'll find a comfort level for him.

Once he's used to it, lessen the distance. Do this until the object is about the same distance of a cart he's pulling.

I bought a cart (larger size of a Radio Flyer cart) from an Amish village in PA. I just added a seat to it using the existing hardware. I took the show to Community Fairs and gave kiddie rides. Not only did I contribute to the community, my rott was also a goodwill ambassador of the breed. Whenever I gave bite-prevention seminars to the Elementary schools, the kids knew my dog and was well accepted by the schools.

You can get more ideas on carting at this site:
http://www.cartingwithyourdog.com/

Have fun, but keep it safe!

[Jedi690]

TO ALL WHO REPLIED:

I would like to sincerely thank you all for your input and training tips on this. An extremely helpful forum. I will probably become a regular here in order to attempt to soak up all of the knowledge and information that is available. If that is possible.

Thanks Everybody...

[laurlitt]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Jedi690:
TO ALL WHO REPLIED:

... to soak up all of the knowledge and information that is available. If that is possible.</font>

The more you learn, the more you realize there is to still learn!!! http://www.rottweiler.net/rottie/smile.gif

Here's a link to a site where carts (K-9 Sulky's) can be customed made to fit your dog. If the link doesn't show up (or isn't allowed) send me a private message.

http://www.rott-n-chatter.com/k-9sulkys/

Also if you go to this link you can find the Carting rules from the American Rottweiler Club. However, there's no info. on training for carting. I am of no help here b/c I've never trained a dog for carting.

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Laurie & Blaise
(Los Angeles)

[Judi W]

There are a couple of chapters in Muriel's book "The Complete Rottweiler". I use a two wheeled cart (Giphle). The two-wheeled carts manuver more easily than a wagon, but the wagon does not place any weight on the dog's back. A properly made two wheeler has the weight distributed over the axel. Many people take a nice wagon and have shafts made to replace the handle and it works just fine. It is also good to replace the wheels with bigger wheels. Do not try to pull without shafts as the wagon will run up on the back of the dog. Because of the type of cart I use, I wait until the dogs are about 18 mos to 2 years of age.

A lot of people have the dog wear the harness first, then drag the straps, then....... and so forth. I have to be honest, I do not do that. I harness the dog to the cart, pop the leash and say "let's go". Give them a cookie after they've done a few steps and we're off. By the time we've reached the end of the block they're doing fine. I've had many people bring me dogs saying they couldn't get them to be between the shafts. Turns our they we building aprehension in the dog by tiptoeing around the whole thing so much and making too big a deal out of it. These are dogs that would (if allowed) gladly drag their owners down the street by their necks for pete's sake, so pulling something wearing a harness should be no big deal. I put them in the cart and do it my way and it works. The dogs have to teach themselves to sidepass when turning due to the shafts. They learn this quickly. When you first start do not try to make sharp turns, but make them very wide until the dog gets the hang of it.

The American Rottweiler Club now offers carting dog certification tests. I'll check the web site for the rules. I believe they are posted there. The best thing about carting is you make friends with every child and parent in the neighborhood and it is wonderful PR. Parades, fund raisers, and errand running.