How to Train Your Dog to Pull a Wagon

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How to Train Your Dog to Pull a Wagon

Medium

3-4 Weeks

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Introduction

Want to give your dog a fun task that helps you out with chores, gives him an opportunity to earn rewards, and provides excellent physical activity and conditioning? Why not teach your dog to pull a cart? Dogs that were bred to be working dogs, especially, benefit from having a purpose and being able to perform work; it’s what they were designed to do! If you teach your dog to pull a cart, you can have him haul firewood, groceries, or other items, and help around your home or farm. Also, pulling a cart can provide entertainment if you have your dog haul small children in a cart, providing hours of fun for the kids and the dog. Most dogs actually enjoy the work and the attention they get for performing it. There are even competitions you can participate in, where your dog pulls carts with increased weight or around obstacles, or you can participate in local shows and parades to showcase your dog’s ability.

Defining Tasks

Many large athletic dog breeds excel at pulling carts, and providing these dogs with a job can be rewarding for the dog, as well as practical for their owners. Young dogs or puppies should not be trained to pull a cart, as their joints are not fully developed for work, and they do not have the fully formed muscle tissue required for the work. Dogs should be about 2 years of age before learning to pull a cart and perform cart work. Your dog will need to learn basic obedience commands before learning to pull a cart and commands specific to cart work. Cart work commands such as 'let's go' to initiate pulling and other commands like 'stop' or 'back' or even directional commands to turn right or left can be developed prior to your dog being introduced to the cart, with just the harness on, if your dog is too young to pull actual weight. Your goal will be for your dog to pull the cart in a calm, relaxed manner, without being nervous or frightened of the cart. Gradually, you will add more weight to the cart, being careful not to overload or stress out your dog, as they develop their cart pulling skills. Eventually, your dog will be able to pull appropriate loads for their size and physical ability, to help with chores or participate in competitions or fun activities.

Getting Started

It is important to use the right kind and correct fitting harness when teaching your dog to pull a cart. A harness that is appropriate for dogs to pull a cart is available commercially. The harness should evenly distribute weight and is padded for comfort and extends down the dog's torso with a quick release snap so you can free your dog in case of a problem. The harness should have rings on the side to connect to the shafts of the wagon. The shafts and rings allow the wagon to stop when your dog stops and prevents the wagon from hitting the back of your dog. The wagon you use should have attachments for shafts on either side to attach to the harness, and the wagon would be in good repair and pull easily. You can use a commercially available dog wagon, or convert a child's wagon for use by your dog. Your dog should know basic obedience commands before getting started pulling a wagon. Lots of treats and a leash to attach to your dog's harness will aid with training. Using a clicker can be a useful training aid, especially if your dog is previously familiar with clicker training.

The Prepare Off-Wagon Method

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Step

Introduce harness

Put the harness on your dog and let him wear it around the house and for walks in the weeks before you are ready to start. This is good for young dogs that are not ready to pull a wagon yet.

Step

Teach commands

Teach your dog obedience commands and cart commands, such as 'stand/stay', 'let's go', 'stop', or 'whoa', and 'back'. Teach your dog to move forward, stop, and back up wearing the harness. Guide your dog on a leash while teaching these commands, provide treats to positively reinforce.

Step

Introduce box

Prepare a cardboard box by punching holes in it and attaching a long cord so the cart drags 5 feet behind the dog. The box has negligible weight, and makes little noise when dragged, but gives your dog the experience of pulling something behind him. Put your dog on a leash and attach box cords to either side of your dog's harness.

Step

Pull box

Walk forward with your dog on a leash, pulling the cardboard box, until he gets used to the look and feel of something dragging behind him.

Step

Practice commands with box

Start practicing commands such as 'let's go', and 'stop'. Provide rewards.

Step

Introduce shafts

Introduce training shafts to your dog's harness, wooden poles he can drag behind him attached to his harness, so he gets used to the feel and restriction of the shafts. Walk with your dog on leash and provide cart commands.

Step

Practice dragging shafts

Gradually move the shafts further through the harness so they are protruding in front of the harness, as they will when your dog is pulling a cart. Practice turns and stops.

Step

Introduce cart

When your dog is old enough, you can attach a cart with wheels and shafts to the harness and your dog will be prepared to accept the cart and get to work.

The Acclimatize Method

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Step

Teach stand and stay

Teach your dog to 'stand/stay' by holding a treat in front of his nose so he stands rather than sits. Handle your dog in the stand/stay; position touch his sides.

Step

Add harness

Put a harness on your dog while he is in stand/stay let him wear the harness while moving around.

Step

Handler pulls wagon

Walk with your dog in a harness while you pull the wagon next to your dog and behind your dog to get your dog used to the sight and sound of the wagon. Praise him and give treats.

Step

Add commands

Practice cart commands such as 'let's go', 'stop', and 'back', while you pull the wagon. Reward with treats.

Step

Attach wagon

Hook your dog's harness to the wagon with the shafts, do not put weight in the wagon.

Step

Pull wagon

Walk your dog on a lead, with the wagon attached, if your dog seems nervous or frightened, stop and go back to walking your dog while you pull the wagon.

Step

Practice commands

As your dog gets used to pulling the wagon introduce cart commands again: 'go', 'stop', 'back'. Reward correct responses to commands.

Step

Make it harder

Add weight to the cart when your dog is comfortable. Practice in different locations.

The Reinforce Pull Method

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Step

Introduce harness

Put the harness on your dog .Let your dog wear the harness, go for walks, and get used to it.

Step

Attach crossbar

Attach the harness to a cross bar. Have an assistant hold the cross bar.

Step

Call forward

Call your dog to you. When your dog tightens up on the harness, click and treat.

Step

Reinforce pull assistant

Have your assistant walk behind the dog, putting some resistance on the harness to keep the lines tight, encourage your dog forward. As he pulls forward, click and treat.

Step

Attach cart

Attach an empty cart to your dog's harness. Have an assistant walk next to your dog while you stand in front of him and call him.

Step

Reinforce pull cart

When your dog pulls the cart forward just a few steps, click and treat.

Step

Increase steps

Continue clicking and treating every few steps. Increase how many steps your dog needs to take before being reinforced.

Step

Add weight

Add a little weight to the cart. Ask your dog to come forward, click and treat.

Step

Increase difficulty

Continue adding more weight, eventually decrease clicking and treating and replace with praise. Practice on different terrain and in different situations.

How to Train Your Dog to Pull a Wagon

Introduction

Defining Tasks

Getting Started

Success Stories and Training Questions