Anyone carting with their rott?

[Solomon]

Hello,

Is anyone carting with their dog? I've got a tiny male (he only weighs 60lbs at 1 year!) that I would like to cart with. Is that too small for pulling 30-40 pound loads? Anyone have resources, advice, cart plans, etc?

Thanks!

[Roscoe's dad]

We have at least 1 who is into carting, she made her own carts and was carting children at Mariannes Rottstock. If you go to the RottStock 2002 and look thru the Wisconsin pics you will see some pictures.
I would guess that Odin is around 60 to 70 lbs

[TrinityRun]

:D

Love carting!

I'd have no problem with your boy carting at this age if you had his prelims done and I don't think I'd add any weight to it.

What kind of cart do you have?

[DNeff]

There's some links on my web page to some good carting info sites. Just look for the carting or carting/ scootering equipment headers. I have links to general sites, vendors and some free carting plans.

http://members.aol.com/rottweilerwor..._competing.htm
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld/equipment.htm

At one year of age I would not add any weight, and I would go easy at first. By two you can look to start adding weight and prolonged endurance. Rotties are still developing and any driving or pulling should be held off until they are a bit older.

Sharyl Mayhew's site has a good description of introducing your dog to carting.
http://users.erols.com/gr8rswis/IntroCarting.htm

Warrik Wilson's site is also outstanding since it covers just about everything.
http://www.cartingwithyourdog.com/

Good luck!!
Dawn
U-CD Cammcastle's Mystic Riven CD NA NAJ NAC NGC NJC TT CGC
http://members.aol.com/dplantier
http://members.aol.com/rottweilerworld

[flyballmom]

Hi Solomon,
We do a little carting (using a 4-wheeled wagon vs. a true "cart") casually, not in competition. My female is only about 75 lbs, she's easily able (after training, of course) to pull her wagon with 3 kids in it (ages 2, 3, and 6.) It's lots of fun, the neighborhood kids love it, and it's GREAT breed PR!

Beth

[Ramon]

Don't let size hold you back. I saw a 49 pound female pull a 1410 pound cart in a weight pull competition.

[Jamie & Odin]

Yep, carting is great fun!

RD, you're right, Odin weighs in at 70 lbs. and has NO trouble pulling a wagon with the kids. And they all love it. I haven't had his hips etc. x-rayed yet, so I keep it very light and for short distances. More just a training stage than anything.

It is fairly easy to train, if your dog already has a decent foundation in obed.

Here's some more links that I like:

http://www.hannibalkennels.on.ca/index.htm

http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/rottwei...er/DogCarting/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Carting-L/

http://www.cartingwithyourdog.com

Have fun! There are some people on the board much more knowledgeable than me. I've just done this with one dog, kind of by the seat of my pants:D

[Judi W]

A balanced cart puts no weight on the dog's back and an empty one practically no drag if you are on a smooth surface so I see no reason why a young dog even if smaller cannot start carting going the distances that you would normall walk it. I wouldn't add much in the way of weight until the dog is older other than, depending upon the style of cart, enough weight to keep the cart from bouncing around too much. If your style of cart bounces around you might want to put a couple of gallon jugs of water in it.

After the dog has matured and is comfortable enough you will simply need to judge the weight it takes in the cart. Driving up hill on grass with a 150 pound person requires a more substantial dog. Taking a small child down the street doesn't. Just use common sense.

[Solomon]

Thanks, everyone, for the great info. Especially the links! What type of carts are you using? The commercial models look a little spendy to start with...Does anyone have a plan for a homemade jobbie?