[pyrnet] Carting Training

[lesrvg@aol.com]

Hello,
I love carting with pyrs.  I have been doing it for about 3 years and 
learned a great deal from a video available through dog works.  It was 
made with newfie's but everything is really the same on the training 
etc.  We have two carts (both homemade), one "parade cart" that was 
made so my little boy could ride in it while being pulled and another 
"competition cart" that is made light and thin for draft dog trials and 
tests.

It is a fun and the dogs seem to get into it...they are doing something 
for real.

One thing to remember is not to start your dog pulling anyting unti 
they are at least 18 months old.  This is a good rule of thumb to allow 
them to grow up (bones and muscles) first.  Our Julie is 16 months old 
now and maybe in one month she will start wearing just the harness.  
Once she hits 18 months or more we begin by having the dog drag the 
traces behind them (really no weight yet), then a sack attached to the 
traces, then a weighted sack...you get the idea.

I hope this helps.

Keith, Soo, Dustin, and Julie