Included among the many purebred dogs that enter the ring during a Conformation show are the intriguing and majestic breeds of the Working Group. These dogs range in size, though they are made up of mostly large breeds, and are heralded for their ability to perform a wide variety of heavy-duty tasks. Among the breeds that are well suited to participate in various dog sports and events, the breeds of the Working Group, like the Saint Bernard, Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Alaskan Malamute, and the Newfoundland, among others, draw a strong connection to Carting, or Draft Work.
So, what exactly is Carting, and what goes into the process of “building” the proper carting dog? Taylor Vinge, who serves as a Draft Judge for the Newfoundland Club of America, and is the Working Dog Co-Chair for the Newfoundland Club of Florida, is plenty familiar. “Basic commands and training are an integral part to developing a confident, well-rounded draft dog,” Taylor explains. “Starting a puppy from a young age to reliably sit, stand, stay, heel, recall, and back up are all very important, as all of these commands are needed throughout a test.”
For the sake of protecting their joints as the dog matures, Taylor says that Newfoundlands are not able to begin competing in Draft tests until they are 18 months old, but prep work can be done during that “waiting” period.
If an owner has high aspirations for competing in this sport, which culminates in achieving “Draft Dog Excellent” (DDE), Taylor says it is important to teach a young dog to “go” or walk confidently out in front of its handler at a very early age. This helps set the dog up for success in an exercise known as the “Driven Figure 8.”
“During the exercise, the handler must stand behind the cart that the dog is pulling, and direct the dog from that position through a figure eight,” Taylor describes. “Working on ‘one step’ with a dog is helpful during tight 90-degree turns that are required in a test. This is where the handler teaches the dog to take one small step to the right or left versus rushing through a turn, which aids in tight turns where the cart’s inner wheel only has a certain amount of space to turn without going out of bounds.”
There are also ways to work with young dogs so that they can begin to experience aspects of carting. This is done without the dog pulling any weight, but preparing it to do so with actions that mimic the activity.
“Just like with horse carriages, draft carts have shafts, which are stiff attachments that connect the dog’s harness to the cart,” Taylor explains. A good way to desensitize a dog to this apparatus is to use pool noodles. “Shafts can be intimidating. The noodles mimic shafts and can be hooked to the harness on both sides of the dog, but they are more pliable and won’t cause injury if a dog is wary of them at first,” Taylor notes. Then, the owner can move on to something more stiff. Vinge says she recommends PVC pipes.
“A young dog will grow confident having things touch their sides before ever having to be hooked to a cart,” she assures.
“To get used to pulling something behind them, an empty milk jug or anything that makes a bit of noise can be attached to the harness as well so that it follows them while they walk.”
After the dog gets acquainted with all of that, they’re ready for something that is almost like teaching a child to ride a bike. In fact, the two processes are quite similar. “There are very small, light-weight carts that are ‘training wheels’ essentially that a young dog can be hooked up to in order to build confidence with a cart,” says Taylor. “At 18 months old, weight can be added slowly.”
Each breed has its own testing requirements when it comes to the sport, but Taylor says the Newfoundland Club of America currently supports three different levels of draft tests. These tests include Beginner Draft Dog (BDD), Draft Dog (DD), and Draft Dog Excellent (DDX). “BDD is an optional level before DD and is done on a leash,” according to Taylor. “DD is done off-leash and is a mandatory level before DDX. BDD involves basic obedience and a recall (done without the cart attached), correctly harnessing/hitching the dog to the cart, a maneuvering course, a one-minute stay at the end of the leash, and a half-mile-long haul where the dog must remain under control, regardless of any distractions, and must pull 10 to 20 pounds.”
Handlers are prohibited from using treats or lures at any level. “The maneuvering course involves two 360-degree turns, a minimum of two broad curves, a halt, a backup, high narrows and low narrows at least six feet long, a removable obstacle, and right and left 90-degree turns,” Taylor details. “The inner wheel of the draft cart must stay within 32 inches on the 90-degree turns.”
In the next level, DD, all of the same exercises from BDD are used, but this time, it is all performed off-leash. “The 90-degree turns are tighter (28 inches), there is a three-minute stay where the handler must be out of sight, and the long haul is one mile with the dog pulling 25 to100 pounds,” explains Taylor. DDX, the next level, involves a maneuvering course off-leash, and there are more obstacles that have an increased level of difficulty.
The course involves adjustable low narrows that the dog must back through, a drag-away removable obstacle (the dog must be unhitched from the cart, hitched to an obstacle to remove it, and then re-hitched to the cart), the Driven Figure 8, a moving stand, a 24-inch wide 90-degree turn that the dog must back through, two separate 18-inch wide 90-degree turns (right and left), a pass through a removable obstacle that the handler must direct the dog through, a 12-inch U-turn, a serpentine weave made up of four objects that are eight feet apart, and a weight exchange where the weight on the cart must be exchanged and secured correctly with the weight that the test site provides.
The competing dog in question must pull between 30 and 100 pounds in the time in which the course is to be completed. Once a dog has accomplished a title as an individual, then you’re able to have double—or even triple—the fun. At this point, dogs can be hooked up alongside each other to compete as a team. Taylor notes some special and personal achievements there: “I have personally done multiple two-dog teams in DD, and both two-dog and three-dog teams in DDX. My most memorable moment in this dog sport is having a three-dog team (mother-daughter-son trio) that became the first three-dog DDX team to achieve the title.”
While it may come as a surprise, quite literally any breed of dog can be a draft dog. Of course, out in the field where dogs are used for the practical purpose of draft/carting, the traditional breeds are going to be the most ideal candidates to get the job done properly. These primarily include Newfoundlands, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, Rottweilers, and Saint Bernards. The Bouvier Des Flandres and Leonbergers have also been seen making inroads to the sport.
But when it comes to the sport itself, even the tiniest of dogs can participate and have success. Yes, even Chihuahuas.
“I have even seen small custom carts made for Bulldogs and a Chihuahua,” Taylor says. “As long as the training is done correctly, any dog can draft, which is why some Newfoundland clubs will host all-breed tests where any dog can participate.”
Regardless of experience level or breed type, Taylor calls upon dog owners of all breeds to give the sport a try. “I highly encourage everyone to try this fun dog sport with your pup. Reach out to your local breed club and find knowledgeable connections,” Taylor suggests. “Even if you don’t want to compete, training with your dog will help build a connection between the two of you that you didn’t even know was possible.”
