we're starting in carting!

[k&s]

I have a harness, wagon, and the shafts are on their way!

I bought straight shafts from Nordkyn, and plan to bend them myself so they are parallel to the ground in front of the wagon and along the dog. This will involve augmenting the length of the shafts to make up for the loss in length with the bending. If anyone has a design showing where to put the bends, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Jamie & Odin]

k&s that is great! we just started ourselves, now that the ground has dried out some. I can't help you with the shafts, I made my wagon from a radio flyer wagon and pvc pipe. I started out with that because I didn't know how the dog would react, and didn't want to spend a lot for something we wouldn't be able to do.

Have fun!

[AngelBunny]

Jamie & Odin:

What did you do about Odin's harness?? Did you get someone to give you pointers? I'm thinking of carting with Moxie.

[k&s]

Jamie&Odin and Angelbunny-

I bought a wagon from WalMart for $79.00. It is a green metal-mesh garden wagon. (Home Depot had same kind 2X as big for same price, but it was too heavy and unwieldy). I probably could have gotten a cheaper wagon that would do the trick, but I haven;t been able to find anything around here.

The harness is a "modified Siwash" harness I ordered from New England Draft Adventures, for about $50.00.

I was sorely tempted to make the shafts myself. It should not be too difficult. However, I figured it would take me forever to pull it all together, so I bought them from Nordkyn for about $50.00, with the idea of modifying them as I have seen described somewhat on the 'cartingwithyourdog' website.

My understanding is that the most important thing to have is a well-fitting harness. So far, my rottie who isn't going to pull loves wearing the harness, and the one who I want to train to pull runs upstairs when I take it out of the bag! This may take some time!

I'd love to hear more about your experiences with carting if you both venture forth in this!

[flyballmom]

Congratulations! You'll have lots of fun. Check out <www.dogworks.com> -their stuff is not cheap but lots of cool photos. They sell a book called
"Newfoundland Draft Work" that I'd recommend to anyone thinking about carting. It goes thru a nice slow progression of getting the dog comfortable with pulling.

[Jamie & Odin]

k&s, I am not very happy with my harness, got it at Petco, and it just is not doing the trick. I will be ordering another (better) one soon. Also, while I went with the radio flyer, I'm not sure if I would recommend it right off, unless you have a very laid back dog. It makes quite a noise, rattling along, and has caused some anxiety. Of course, I excpected that, but we are off to a slow start.

Making the shafts myself was quite a process. I saved a ton of money, but spent a ton of time! but I had that this winter and now that the sun is shinning, we are moving along!

Anyway, should be a lot of fun, I'm sure I'll have more to say as we progress, and look forward to hearing about your adventures as well! I will post pics soon:D

[AngelBunny]

Hmmmmm... All this has given me something to mull over. Rite now Mox & I are concentrating on her CD. Carting (and tracking and herding and further agility) are all things I've thought abt for Moo. I know I have to do research before I undertake any of these ventures, but she's energetic & willing to do stuff with me, so why not?!

[rottnkidd]

You may already have this info, but for those that may be interested, check out Jan Cooper's website
http://www.rott-n-chatter.com
There's great info about k-9 sulky's and a list to join for carting enthusiasts. Enjoy!
kathy

[k&s]

My wagon is also going to be a noisy one; it rattles quite a bit. From what I read, this is going to be a slow process and it will be quite some time before he is hooked to the wagon.

We have to start off with just the harness until he is used to that. Then harness and traces pulling a block of wood. Then walking with harness on and with the wagon pulled by someone else alongside the dog (so that one of the shafts is along the dog). At some point I'll try just the harness and shafts with no wagon. Finally, when he is completely comfortable, and responds well to comands while in the harness and shafts, we'll attach the wagon. I estimate this will take months!

So far, he is doing better with harness on a few minutes a day. He only wears it in the house so far where I can watch him. He is not allowed to play, roughouse with other rottie, or go out and eliminate with the harness on, because he will not be allowed to do these things when he is hooked to the wagon.

I've learned these things from Consie Powell's book 'Newfoundland Draft Work: a Guide to Training'. I would recommend this book if you are starting out, like me.

[Judi W]

Throw some weight in the wagon and it won't rattle. I always go straight to the cart. I've never had a dog that got all exercised about wearing a harness and the shafts certainly make more of a nuisance without being attached to the cart than attached. If the handler acts all tippy toe around the thing it simply builds anxiety in the dog. Pocket full of treats, hook the dog up, pop the lead, say "good dog" and take off. After the first quarter of a block on the straight away, they're fine. The first time they turn a corner they adjust to the shafts but just go.......... large turns at first, then they learn to side pass and make sharper turns.

Well, just my method, but based on lots of dogs and many years.

[SarasMom]

I agree 100% Judi. :)

No need to make a big production out of it and no way it should take months to do this. Just put the dog in the harness, hook them up and go. Unless the dog has an extreme nerve problem, they should take to the cart like a duck to water. ;)

[k&s]

This is very different from what the book recommends, but then again it's a rottie and not a newfie. My rottie is a bit goosey about new things, so I might take it a bit slower than you both are recommending, but I won't be quite so deliberate about it.

Judi W and Sarasmom -- did you bend the shafts or do you find the straight shafts work out fine?

[SarasMom]

One thing I might mention. If you decide to build your own 2 wheel cart, the most important thing is that it's balanced correctly. Even fully loaded, you should be able to lift the shafts with one finger. That is, the wheels must be in the right place and the load placed over them so that the weight does not press down on the dog's back. Of course with 4 wheel carts, this is not a problem. ;)

I have my own homebuilt 2 wheeler. Some of you might have seen pictures of Sara pulling it in parades. It's just made of some square tubing and scrap oak planks. Has 2 old bmx bicycle forks and bike wheels. The shafts are half inch EMT. I'll say, bending the shafts at the proper angles was the most difficult. This was very inexpensive to build. The new tires, tubes and harness was the most expensive. Helps if you can weld or know someone who can. :D

[Jamie & Odin]

We just jumped in! Odin's been wearing a harness forever, since that's how I secure him in the car, so no biggie there.

He was hooked up periodically as I was measuring and putting together the shafts.

He does have a bit of a nerve problem, but if I make something happy and fun, rather than a huge "uh oh, how's he going to do" ordeal, it all turns out fine. I'm thinking more like a week or two and he won't have any problem.

[Judi W]

There are numerous times when I have had someone tell me they've had their cart for a year, but haven't been able to get the dog hooked up or whatever. My response is "oh for Pete's sake, bring him/her over"......... I put the harness on first, stand them between the shafts hook up the shafts and take off. I haven't had one yet that didn't do perfectly fine because I don't stop, but just start out at a trott from the git go so they don't have time to worry. After about 1/2 block I stop and give them treats and praise and get going again.

Remember folks, these are dogs who would be perfectly happy to tow you or a 200 pounder down the road from their collar for goodness sakes. Telling me they are too delicate to pull something on wheels just defies my imagination. It is the people who build the anxiety, not the dogs. It's that easy.