I've been working with my puppy since he was about 8 months old learning the commands to pull a cart (hopefully one day with me on it) for a fun conditioning activity in the future. He's about a year or so old now and I'm wondering when I can actually starting working him with an actual cart (empty of course). For the last few months we've been working with a drag in a carting harness. He's currently 50-55lbs and the most he's pulled is a 2lb drag that doesn't do much other than show him that something dragging behind him is not going to eat his paws.

At this point he's learned the commands and is consistent with them, he's practiced in all sorts of situations (roads, trails, around other dogs, with human distraction, with other animal distraction, etc). He has never shown any fear of the drag and pulls it with ease. He's aware it's there and has learned to turn in shafts (which attach to the drag...the cart will have them so I figured he should learn).

Would it be okay to upgrade him to an empty cart? It's a modified bike trailer weighing approximately 20lbs though unlike the drag it's on wheels and takes less effort to move. Obviously I'd start slow like I did with the drag, just up the length of the street and back and work from there.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before deciding.

1) What breed of dog is he?

Some breeds, such as the larger ones, mature slower. For instance, my breed, the GSD don't have their growth plates close until 2 yrs of age.

2) You've said how much the cart weighs, but how is it balanced?

A bicycle cart usually has a low center of gravity so the dog would really be pulling the weight. Some carts designed for dogs, have the balance just right to make pulling the weight near effortless.

3) Is the street level?

If you decide he is ready, take it easy and definitely stop if he shows any signs of stress. Don't go by eagerness alone, as many dogs will still try even if they are doing too much.

He's majority cattle dog with most likely some shepherd and lab. We're pretty sure he's at his full size (then again we though that a month and a half ago too...)

The cart has been modified to have three wheels since I was having so much issue balancing it on two. It's now completely stable on the ground and turn well (front wheel is on a pivot borrowed from a baby jogger. The shaft angles have been fitted to my dog and his harness, the force of our cat batting at the straps at the end of the shafts moves it forward.

The roads I work him on are level, however the softer trails I prefer to work do have some slight upward inclines in parts (you don't notice till you throw a tennis ball from the top and it goes a hell of a lot farther than you though XD)

Then I don't see a problem as long as you don't ask him to do too much too fast.

Is he feeling better, Jamie? Did you find out why he had the fever?

 Quote: Meredith Hamilton

Is he feeling better, Jamie? Did you find out why he had the fever?

we did not find the source of the fever however with some antibiotics he's bounced back and has recovered well. We were thinking it may have just been a bug going around since no one in my complex picks up after their dogs and many of them are not healthy, even a walk ON the sidewalk to the car to exercise away from it all still has the risk of nasty looking doggy bombs. I'm usually very careful about it but perhaps I slipped up. The vet said to keep an eye on him but he's fallen back into the routine again and has been enjoying the thanksgiving spoilings my parents have given him...and dreading others (who EVER though it was a good idea to make a pink dog sweater with pictures of turkeys on it?).

 Quote: Jamie Craig

(who EVER though it was a good idea to make a pink dog sweater with pictures of turkeys on it?).

I think this needs pictures. JMO though.

I'll second that! A handknitted doggy sweater PINK with TURKEYS? You can't throw that out there and not follow up. Just cruel.

Really glad to hear that the pup is feeling better. Shame about your icky neighbors. :-)

I used to have a dog cart. I think that as long as the cart does not weigh much and you are not in it, you could start him on it. I am always leery of putting a lot of stress on the joints until I am sure they are closed up and I usually assume that is somewhere between 18 months to a year depending on the dog.

Here is my Christmas photo from 2001 with the dogs and the dog cart:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1234/1155243773_bb3052b422_o.jpg

Yeah, I know reindeer antlers are almost as bad as a pink sweater with turkeys on it :-p

 Quote: Ingrid Rosenquist

I used to have a dog cart. I think that as long as the cart does not weigh much and you are not in it, you could start him on it. I am always leery of putting a lot of stress on the joints until I am sure they are closed up and I usually assume that is somewhere between 18 months to a year depending on the dog.

Here is my Christmas photo from 2001 with the dogs and the dog cart:

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1234/1155243773_bb3052b422_o.jpg

Yeah, I know reindeer antlers are almost as bad as a pink sweater with turkeys on it :-p

For GSDs it is 2 years minimum. But Australian Cattle are smaller so I would assume earlier.