Draft Class I: Introducing the Cart

I had already been thinking about getting Katie started in drafting when Pat, our Rally teacher at the dog club, mentioned that she was wanting to work on carting with her Schipperkes. Katie and Louie's breeders, Bonnie and Bill, were also interested in working with one of their dogs so we all got together last Sunday. Pat was a fantastic teacher and gave Katie and me a great introduction to drafting.

Katie is in the foreground followed by Flash the Schipperke and Cowboy the Newf.


It was Cowboy's first time to pull a cart, but you never would have guessed it. He was so laid back and nonchalant about the whole business. He didn't seem to think it was much of a challenge.


See how relaxed he is while Bill and Pat are hooking him up to the cart...he's a natural for sure.


Flash practiced pulling with a tire. He is amazingly strong for such a little guy.


Katie says "Mom, I'm ready for MY turn now."


Here is a video of Katie pulling her wagon. A wagon is more challenging to maneuver than a cart because it's much harder to turn. Katie got a little spooked near the end of the video. She turned around, saw the wagon behind her and didn't know why on earth it just kept moving towards her. We got her straightened out, calmed down, and pulling again so that we could end the lesson on a very positive note.

This is another video that Bonnie took of all three dogs:


Katie resting up after her lesson.


By the time our daughter Natalie gets home, hopefully by the middle of next year, Katie will be able to pull her around the neighborhood in her wagon.

It's so much fun to see these Newfs doing the work they are meant to do. This spring we plan to start Katie and Louie in some water work. We want our Newfies to be well rounded, LOL.