HOW ABOUT DRAFTING?? We are so lucky to be owned by such a versatile breed so willing to try new activities. So how about drafting? Drafting or carting is a CKC reccognised dog sport activity. It is open to all breeds of dogs physically able to complete the required exercises. Drafting is an activity typically done by working breeds such as Bernese Mountain Dogs or Newfoundlands. Other more typical drafting breeds include Mastiffs and Greater Swiss Mountaion Dogs. I have found that due to their agile build, Flat-Coats tend to draft at a much faster pace than do the more traditional breeds. So you would like to give it a try? The equipment needed to get started includes a sound willing dog, a patient and positive trainer, a cart and a harnesss. The variey of carts and harnesses are endless but a balanced lightweight cart and a well fitting harness are key to drafting success. A cart that is too heavy or not very manoeuvrable can discourage a beginner dog and make them hesitant. I have found the front tires from a child's bicycle work well and can often be bought at second hand stores. Carts and harnesses are often breed specific and different styles of both work better for some dogs than others and should be matched up according to their structure and ability. Drafting is a unique activity that incorporates obedience and teamwork. The CKC drafting titles include two levels, The "DD" or "Draft Dog" title and the advanced title of "DDX" or "Draft Dog Excellent". Drafting tests are an all day event and are broken down into three main sections, control exercises, carting exercises and field work exercises. Each dog is tested individually on the required exercises before moving on to the next. Each of these three main sections of exercises are designed to test the dog's ability in a different area of work. Dog are graded with either a pass or fail on each exercise. Once in harness a drafting dog must never sit as a sit results in an immediate fail! 1) Control Exercises - Exercises to show the dog is a obedient companion and worker. Three basic exercises are completed in a ring and include a heel off leash exercise, comprising of a basic healing pattern including fast, slow, left and right turns. The dog must heel at arms length on the handler's right side and is required to do a stand stay for 1 minute and a group down stay for three minutes. The group down exercise is the only time when all the dogs entered in the test are judged at once, (this down is similar to the competitive obedience group down exercise). 2) Carting Exercises - These exercises show the dog's drafting ability in manoeuvring loads safely and quietly. The exercises take place on smooth flat ground over a moderate distance. The handler may choose to use a cart or wagon for this exercise. This section of the test is broken into four seperate exersices which include, harness and hitching where the handler harnesses and hitches the dog in the ring. The judges will then check the harnessed dog and cart. The working team is judged on both the dog's confidence and willingness as well as the handler's skills. The cart manoeuvres test judges the dog's manoeuverability when hitched to the cart and the dog and handler's teamwork. The test consists of a heeling pattern which includes left and right turns a halt and a least one change of pace to a slow draft speed. The cart must not touch the handler' body when moving and the dog must not sit. A figure of 8 exercise is when the handler and dog manoeuver through a figure of 8 course. The last test of the carting section is the backup exercise. The handler directs the dog to back up the cart a distance of 4 feet. The handler stands in front of the dog and must move back with the dog. 3) Field Work Exercises - Now comes the part of the test that is the most fun! This part of the test shows the dog's ability to pull a suitable freight load over a moderate distance while taking directions from the handler. The test takes place in an area containing natural terrain, such as a nature park. There should be sloping land, with high grass, trees, rocks and other natural obstacles. The first test in this exercise is the hitching and loading. The dog is presented to the judges for inspection harnessed and hitched. As an alternative to a cart in this exercise, a hauling harness may be used and the dog attched directly to the load if preferred. The dog/handler team will proceed a minimum distance of 100 yards to a designated load weighing approximately 40 pounds. Two twenty pound bags of dog food are most often used as weight but the test rules suggest the weight could be a Christmas tree, some bush or firewood. The dog must halt on command and stand quietly while being loaded. The judges will check the load before allowing the dog and handler to continue onto the next exercise, the hauling of the load. The judge will then send the the dog/handler team at a good working pace through various terrain that includes both going up and down gentle hills and including left, right and 180 degree turns. The total distance covered should be about 650 feet ending up back back at the loading area. The dog will be halted, unloaded and unhitched completing the final exercise, DDX tests include more advanced forms of the required exercises in the DD test, including a short cross country hike over rough terrain where the dog is required to carry a weighted back pack to simulate the carrying of a typical two day supply of dog food as well as items which might be required for a two or three day trip. Packs are to be sized to allow for the dog to carry 1/6 of the its body weight to a maximum of 25 lbs. One of the more difficult exercises of the DDX test is an exersise requiring the handler and dog team to complete a carting pattern with the handler directing the dog from behind the cart. This exercise require the dog to make left and right turns as well as a halt. This is an interesting concept to train, as our dogs are so used to working at our sides. The dog must move forward on their own while still listening and watching for signals and directions from behind a challenge for both dog and owner. A recent addition to the CKC Drafting Tests is the Team Drafting Title where two dogs work in a tandem team. Drafting has been gaining popularity over the last seven years and there is more and more information available for those intersted in giving it a try. Below are some informative web sites: http://www.canadasguidetodogs.com/clubs/draftdog.htm - Great information, links to CKC Drafting rules as well as cart plans. http://hometown.aol.com/rkbetu/ - Creative Carting http://www.bmdcc.ca/fun_with_draft.htm - Bernse Mountain Dog Club of Canada web site. DD Test Rules and information on ordering "Fun with Draft" A canine training workbook by Phil Chagnon & Lea Doane (cost of $15.00 Cdn) http://www.sierrawest.org/draft.html The Sierra West Bernese Mountain Dog Club web site has great articles as well as names of equipment suppliers. http://users.erols.com/gr8rswis/IntroCarting.htm Intro to Carting lots of information. http://www.bmd.org/working/carting.html Brenese Mountain Dog Club site has contact information for books, videos, harnesses and cart plans. My experience has been that Flat-Coats LOVE to draft and once you have explained what you want them to do, drafting is a wonderful team activity. Many of them love giving rides to the neighbourhood children. Most love it best when their cargo included a happy smiling child! Challenging and fun to train, try something new....try DRAFTING!!!