http://www.caninecarriages.com/

I would love to be able to do this if I get a large enough GSD (80ish lbs as opposed to my 45 lb Renjicakes). That looks SO fun! Even if not being pulled by a sulky, I'd love to get a nice cart rig that Renji could handle. We're supposed to get a grocery store within walking distance and I think training Renji to pull a cart would be so helpful; DF and I could walk to the store with Renji and the cart, one of us stays outside with the pooch while the other shops, then we load up the cart and walk back. We get exercise, Renji gets to work, win/win.

Does anyone here do carting with their dogs? I know GSDs are not the ideal breed for this but they are certainly versatile enough to dabble, especially those with more conservative structure.

Grimm's got the ideal structure, but I cannot imagine anyone I might hate enough to put into a cart behind him and let 'im GO!

Hoping someone with experience might answer your post.

You don't need a large dog!!! Especially for the Graham carriages, if you read about the design the dog is only feeling ounces when on a level surface. I've had carting in the plans for years but cannot afford a cart. One carting enthusiast that makes his own from modifying things like a radio flyer wagon said his wife would go carting with their 40 lb dog.

Here are some of my carting links:

http://lairds.org/Kyler/projects/dog_wagon/narration (guy that does the modifications)

http://www.k9carting.com/carts.html (more affordable cart, but not as nice as Graham!)

http://users.erols.com/gr8rswis/IntroCarting.htm

For a cart, Renji would be fine, but I would not put him in a sulky. He has one not-so-good hip so a cart with a few pounds of groceries isn't a big deal for about a mile but a sulky with a total weight of about 160-170 lbs for a couple miles at a trot would be more than what I'd like. But Lin, those are awesome links, thank you!

Patti, if anyone could control Grimm in a cart, it would be YOU.

I had some more links but they seem to be dead It is awfully hard to find good pages on dog carting!!! You can also keep an eye out for used carts locally, the link I posted is the most affordable new cart I've found. Very important to me is the cart having brakes!!! Especially for if you were going downhill, to apply the brake and make sure the cart doesn't start "catching up" on the dog.

I've been thinking about it for this summer. Otto is built like a draft horse and he's so impatient when he's walking with the kids. They like to take their time, being kids they want to play balance beam on the neighbors retaining walls. Otto just wants to go. Walking slow makes him act up. If I walk him at a good pace, he rarely pulls.

So I'm thinking cart for the kiddies and me walking Otto on leash while he pulls them. They'll get a fun ride, he'll get to work hard and Morgan can just float along. LOL I'm sure we'll be a spectacle...

I used to do carting with my Golden Retriever. Bianca also got introduced to a cart at Dog Camp and she did great with it so I am hoping to get her one, probably one of these:
http://draftcartsfordogs.com/
or these:
http://www.bernerpaw.com/drafting/Carts&Wagons.html

Here is a good list of carting sites (some are defunct):
http://www.cartingwithyourdog.com/csites.html

As far as drafting (having the dog pull you) they do not have to be large dogs. I've seen Boston Terriers and JRTs pulling sulkies.

A little morecarting info.

Before my knee blew out, I scootered with the huskies...they each weigh about 50 pounds and either one can haul my butt pretty fast But they do love to run!

Riding a scooter is a lot more exercise for the rider than you would expect. Protective gear is a MUST. In our learning phase, they did dump me on me a**, which seems to have it's own protective padding as all that was injured was my dignity.



Dog Scooter