I did mention in my message that we had done all of that - the weights attached to the end, wearing the harness around the house, tying things to it and having him pull them around the yard, loose tracers - we followed the book and did all the prep work as it is recommended " it was a disaster and this is after doing the weights on the end, the loose tracers, etc! " For some reason the noise associated with the plastic cart is what set us back to ground zero. So we had taken the small steps although my note may have made it sound as though we jumped from the frying pan into the fire.
Now to get dad to make brakes for the shafts and we can get him working. Molly and the gang + 3 squirts Charlottesville, VA
Hi Molly, Congrads on winning the cart..The first rule, NEVER NEVER NEVER put a dog that doesn't know how to cart and see what happens..Once the dog gets spooked it will take much longer to get past that stage..Plus he or she could easily get hurt.. Start by just having your dog wear the harness. Than if no problems put the traces on and have her just drag the traces....Than add a drag, such as a small log or detergent bottle filled half way with water...Stay at this step.. Make big wide turns and go over different surfaces..grass to gravel to blacktop..
Take very small steps, make the lessons short,but make them fun.. I don't have the room here to give you a full lesson, but Potomac which is your local club does have carting workshops.. Just as Watchung on April 6 and Nashoba starting on March 29th. Some dogs you could get away with hooking up and see what happens, but why take the chance.. I had trained many dogs to cart from Berners to Goldens to Chessie's They all can be taught some just take a little longer time Good luck Bill Wilczek Wilczek Woodworks www.geocities.com/wilczekwoodworks
