What is a good harness for carting?

[Tyler31]

I have been looking over Carting on the American Rottweiler Club website, I was just wondered what are the BEST harnesses for my Rottweiler if I were to get into this?

Tyler&Monster

[brunie's mom]

You should not be doing any pulling with your pup till he is at least 18 months. I have a sledding harness for my rott that I ordered from a Canadian company called Komatik. Getting them to pull a sled is fun too.

We have a few members that cart with their dogs, hopefully they can give you some suggestions for once your dog is older.

Gina

[AngelBunny]

Ours is a slow maturing breed and you have years of the pleasure of working with Monster ahead of you. Do not to anything too soon that may compromise his health, ruin his attitude by asking something of him too soon, or otherwise harm him.

Besides, a solid obed base helps in many sports--drafting including. I draft Mox and strongly encourage you to work on getting Monster's obed solid and echo brunie's mom's--let him grow up before starting drafting.

I like the Siwash drafting harness because its design permits free movement in the shoulder area and and ensures the dog uses his or her chest to pull.

Fitting Harness, a short article, has good pix and is a nice introduction to how drafting equipment should fit.

[Karla]

For carts and harnesses, take a look at this website: Wilczek Woodworks custom crafted fine wood products for home, sport & fun
This site has pulling harnesses:
Harnesses By Carol

[AngelBunny]

I bought a Wilczek rig and am very happy with it. Bill and Barbie are friendly and helpful.

[Carol Burke]

I like the siwash harness also and have bought two from Wilczek. Very helpful and friendly.

[Tyler31]

I know he is young, I wasn't planning on having him doing work. Just getting an idea for the Harness, Plus it would be impossible to get measurments cause he is growing so fast.

Thank you for the suggestions, I will take a look at Wilczek's Harnesses and Komatik (Cause it is Canadian :D )

[carting]

I also like the siwash harness, although I have several friends that like a breast plate harness because it is easier to use. Chosing a harness is kind of personal that way. As for having "obedience" under your belt. I don't believe that holds true. Our rottweiler carting is not like a drafting test. I have titled 3 dogs in Carting without obedience - however, they are obedient and do listen to commands.
Let your dog grow, let him learn to listen to you and as he matures you will be ready and will enjoy the carting experience. In the meantime keep investigating and if you get a chance try out both harnesses as well as look at carts. I found all my equipment at www.mydogworks.com
I finally bought my second cart, a sulky, through vanes n things not sure of their web address. Have fun!

[AngelBunny]

Originally Posted by carting

...As for having "obedience" under your belt. I don't believe that holds true. Our rottweiler carting is not like a drafting test. I have titled 3 dogs in Carting without obedience - however, they are obedient and do listen to commands...

To clarify what I meant about having solid obed in my previous post--I was referring to the dog minding and listening to his or her handler.

However, when Mox and I entered our first drafting trial, we'd been away from obed for some time. Team Moxie didn't perform well. Our teamwork and performance in subsequent trials has improved significantly since our return to competitive obed.

I don't know anything about Rottie carting--Mox and I have entered Berner and Bouv drafting trials.

[Carol Burke]

AngelBunny,

I bet Mox would love carting, it is really similar to rally with a set course and you can talk to Mox throughout the course. Since she already pulls a cart it would be a snap to put ARC carting titles on her.