Need suggestions for getting Bella over her fear of carts

[stacy142]

We went to the GSMD draft clinic yesterday. Haven took to it really well but Bella absolutely refused to be hitched to a cart. She would go up to it, eat treats out of it etc but as soon as we tried pulling it up behind her she would freak out. It's not the pulling that bothers her because we did manage to attach a block with strings and she pulled it all over like nothing was there. If we got the shafts near her sides she would start jumping around like a bucking bronco. Does anyone have any suggestions or tricks to help her get past her fear/dislike of the cart or should we just wait and try again in a year or two when she's older/hopefully calmer?

 

[Angela]

What has worked for me with dogs like Bella is for me to have the dog on leash and someone walk alongside with the cart, so that sometimes the shafts gently touch the dog. I have found with "fearful of cart" dogs that you cannot hurry the introduction.

Another thing I have tried is for a reliable carting dog to be hitched up and come close to "fearful" dog so it can investigate the cart without being threatened.

You didn't say how old she is. Try to work with someone who is experienced at teaching carting as they should have ideas also how to introduce the cart in a non threatening way.

Not all Newfs, or other breeds for that matter, take to carting immediately, so don't despair!

 

[Bär]

I took the very slow approach to train Bär.
At first I got him used to wearing the harness with the traces, let him drag it around the house, then outside.
Once comfortable with that, I took two 1 liter milk jugs & filled them with about a cup of gravel. Hooked them onto to the traces.
After that, I took one of the shafts & carried it beside him while he was pulling the milk shafts. Next I hooked up one trace to his harness, then the second.
Can't remember how long it took, but I just took my time & worked with him up & down the street whenever I had the time to do it. Each new step was only introduced once he was very comfy with the last step.
He now loves pulling his cart & helps me deliver my papers.
Good luck, all it takes is a lot of patients.

 

[plafleursr]

We did about the same thing Angela suggested.

 

[stacy142]

Thanks guys. Bella just turned 2 this month. We did what Angela suggested when we were at the clinic. We walked her with someone pulling the cart beside her and gently touching her. We walked her with our other dog Haven pulling the cart and Bella walking beside us seeing Haven doing it and getting all the treats. Our cart should be here this week and I had planned on trying walking with just the shaft to try to get her used to it.

 

[Angela]

Let us know how she progresses, won't you. She will overcome her fears, I assure you!!

 

[Clifford the big dog]

She might do better with it at home instead of at a clinic. At Newfstock I was all excited to sign up for the clinic for Clifford. He had done a little bit of pulling with wagons and sleds at home, but never properly hooked up. We watched the other dogs and waited our turn. Clifford absolutley refused and was scared.
I have since hooked up a wagon with shafts on it at home. He loves it, never a problem hooking him up, he's eager to go. A little too eager, we still have a lot of work to do, and a lot to learn and will probably try a clinic again sometime.
Good Luck, hope it works out for Bella

 

[stacy142]

I was thinking/hoping she would be more comfortable at home with just us. I LOVE that pic! I'll keep you posted.

 

[janices]

Thanks guys. Bella just turned 2 this month. We did what Angela suggested when we were at the clinic. We walked her with someone pulling the cart beside her and gently touching her. We walked her with our other dog Haven pulling the cart and Bella walking beside us seeing Haven doing it and getting all the treats. Our cart should be here this week and I had planned on trying walking with just the shaft to try to get her used to it.

I've introduced more than one that had to start slow and they've enjoyed carting. Take the cart with you out walking for awhile. Bring it up behind, lower shafts, do some soft bumps to the shoulder area, then back up. Once stop getting reactions then you can try hookup. You need to stay at the head area, have some good treats, go forward a few steps, see your reactions and if needed unhook. Play session. Try again after a break. If you want to come down again contact me privately. We have draft training sessions back in the same area working with manuevering course. We'll be back out after the holidays. We'll get you hooked up and started working. I'll add you to my e-mail list.

 

[stacy142]

Thanks Janice. I pm'd you my email address. That would be great to have someone to practice with. We got her cart yesterday. I put it together and just left it sitting in the living room. I put her favorite toys in it and am just letting her get used to having it around. I'll start taking it out on little walks today. I was out on the deck putting it together and she could see me through the sliding glass door. When I came in, she was hiding behind the couch, lol. She's probably thinking, "dang, now we have one of those here too!"