How to Train Your Dog to Pull Carts

Everyone loves the "Little Rascals" dog Petey, who pulls a cart with the kids piled up and tumbling along behind him. But how did they get that dog to pull the cart? It's not too hard to teach a dog to pull, it depends on the personality of the dog. If you have a pretty laid-back, but athletic dog, you might want to try teaching him to pull a cart. Once he gets used to the noise and motion of the cart behind him, he might enjoy pulling around light loads. You can also train him to pull heavier weight, as in dog weight pulling competitions, but you'd need to outfit him with a weight pulling collar. Here are some ideas to get your dog adjusted to pulling a cart.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• harness
• cart
• leash
• milk jugs

How to Train Your Dog to Pull Carts

1. Fit your dog with a cart-pulling harness. This special harness has extra padding and comes low across the dog's back legs to distribute the weight for pulling. If it's a weight-pulling harness, there may be a special bar in the back to keep straps from squeezing the dog's legs as he pulls.

2. Attach the dog's harness to the empty cart, or to loose milk jugs. Get him used to coming to you with the jugs or cart rattling behind him. If he doesn't want to come with the cart behind him, start at his head with a treat and walk backwards, encouraging him to follow you to get the treat. When he starts pulling steadily, add the word "pull!" when encouraging him and giving him treats, so he'll associate the action with the word. If he still won't pull even with a treat offered, attach a rope to the cart and get it started yourself as you walk backwards, encouraging the dog with your treat.

3. Once he is pulling at your cue, start adding bits of weight to the cart. Toys or rocks work well.

4. Eventually the cart should be pulling weight as heavy as the kids or stuff you want him to pull around. He should follow your commands respectfully, especially "Stay," "Sit," and "Come."

5. Put him in the "stay" command, and load up the kids. Keep him on a leash, and when you say "come!" he should trot forward, giving the kids a ride. If the kids are big enough, you can attach ropes to the side of the harness and have the kid guide the dog around from the back of the cart. Make sure your dog is calm and easygoing enough to trust with the children's safety!