How to Teach a Dog to Pull a Cart

Cart pulling can be fun and entertaining for both you and your dog. But teaching your dog to pull a cart may take some patience depending on the age, size and disposition of your dog. Examine your reason for having your dog learn this task before beginning. This activity is best for the high-energy dog who needs something to do other than chew your furniture or misbehave.

Things You'll Need

  • Flexible measuring tape
  • Harness
  • Treats
  • Empty milk jugs
  • Sand
  • Dog cart
  • Weights

Instructions

    • 1

      Measure your dog's neck, breastbone to hind leg, shoulder to last rib, breastbone to last rib, shoulder to base of tail and finally width across hind legs. Make sure when measuring to press down against the dog's skin to avoid measuring fur.

    • 2

      Purchase an appropriate and well-fitting harness. The best harness will be well-padded, fit snugly, and have rings on the right and left sides if weight load is above the dog's tail. If the weight load is below the tail, the harness should have a spreader bar and a linkage below the tail and against the hind legs.

    • 3

      Place the harness on the dog, give him a treat and praise ("good boy") and allow him to wear the harness as long as he tolerates it. Be sure to remove the spreader bar if your harness has one. If your dog tolerates the harness. proceed to the next step. If he is having difficulty adjusting to the harness, repeat this step until he is comfortable wearing the harness. This may take several days for some dogs.

    • 4

      If your harness has a spreader bar, attach it now. Attach empty water jugs to the harness and place the harness on your dog. Treat and praise your dog. If your dog has trouble accepting the harness and jugs, repeat this step until the dog becomes comfortable.

    • 5

      Standing two to four feet in front of your dog while holding a treat, use the command "pull" and encourage the dog forward. Treat and praise him when he comes to you. Repeat this process, increasing the distance each time the dog is successful until you are confident your dog understands the command.

    • 6

      Add sand to the milk jugs to increase their weight. Use the "pull" command and repeat the treat and praise process from the previous step.

    • 7

      Detach the milk jugs and attach the cart. Repeat the treat and praise process, using the "pull" command until you are confident the dog understands the command. The cart may make more noise and may take more time for your dog to adjust to it.

    • 8

      Add weight to the cart. Use the command "pull" and repeat the treat and praise process.

    • 9

      Continue to add weight to the cart up to the weight you wish your dog to pull.