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Bio for Penny for Draft Article, March 17 2014
Bio for Penny for Draft Article
March 17 2014
I discovered Drafting/Carting totally by accident one day in early 2013 after putting Dino into his weight pull harness, attaching him to my crate dolly cart and having him bring several boxes to one of my neighbors nearby. He was so happy to be in his harness and pulling. I immediately went online, looking for groups that allowed all breeds in their Draft events. I found the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America, who state in their Rules and Regulations they allow all AKC registered breeds, including Mixed Breeds.
I contacted a local training friend who I knew had Berners and participated in their events. He confirmed that the Berner club does allow all breeds. He said that he would let me know about any upcoming Draft practices.
I continued to attend regular practices with people from a local Berner club in preparation for their upcoming Draft test in Scotts Valley, CA. In August 2013, we passed the Berner Novice Draft test, becoming the first Mixed Breed to earn a Draft title. In November 2013, we passed the St. Bernard Novice Draft Test and in February 2014, we passed two Rottweiler Carting tests.
Dino was adopted through Grateful Dog Rescue in December 2006, and since then he has earned 32 titles including being the first Mixed Breed to earn the AKC Rally Advanced Excellent (RAE) title, the second AKC Utility Dog (UD), and the first with a Draft title. In addition, he has worked full time since 2009 as a tracking dog to help find lost pets throughout California. He has completed over 510 cases, and many of those cases involved multiple days, weeks and months. He has also earned two Honorable Mentions in the AKC Humane Fund ACE Awards in 2012 and 2013, and was featured in the March issue of Dog Fancy Magazine.
Here is Dino’s personal blog:
AKC Drafting/Carting Article, December 17 2013
AKC Drafting/Carting Article
December 17 2013
These groups state in their rules that all breeds/mixed breeds are allowed, with preference given to their own breed:
American Bouvier des Flandres
http://www.bouvier.org/pdf/ABdFC_Carting_Regulations_Rev_January_2013.pdf
Bernese Mountain Dog
http://www.bmdca.org/breed_education/pdf/09_bernese_activities_draft.pdf
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
http://www.gsmdca.org/activities/drafting/
American Working Collie Association
Some clubs do allow “AKC registered dogs,” but state that, “other breeds” can enter at the option of the club giving the test and preference is given to their own breed.
Newfoundland
http://www.ncanewfs.org/working/draft/index.htm
(see section 22 in Chapter One: “Entries of Other Breeds”)
St. Bernard
http://www.saintbernardclub.org/2008Redesign/Performance/perf_draft.htm
Great Pyrenees
http://gpcaonline.org/competitions.htm
Rottweiler
http://www.amrottclub.org/sites/default/files/public/ARC%20Carting%20Rules.pdf
Mastiff
http://mastiff.org/DRAFTTESTPAGE.htm
Leonburger
http://www.leonbergerclubofamerica.info/publication/lca-drafting-regulations-2009/
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Equipment:
Collar:
Leashes:
Harness:
Siwash:
Has a “V” that crosses from the shoulders down to the front chest and then back down to underneath the dog. This provides a lot of freedom of movement and comfort for dogs pulling weight. This is also the common style of weight pull harnesses, however the Siwash harness will stop at the waist and then be connected to the cart by individual traces
Buckle:
This type of harness has a type of “band” that comes across the chest of the dog from side to side, instead of in a “v” from top to bottom.
Shafts:
All harnesses will connect to the cart through two ways: Once to the shafts on each side of the dog and then by the tracers that connect to the front of the cart. Shafts are the bars that run alongside the dog and connect to the cart. They can be metal or wooden and are sized to fit the dog exactly. The shafts are remove-able from the cart for easy packing.
On the shafts are “brakes.” Brakes are pieces on the shafts where the harness connects to and those can be individually adjusted on the shaft to the dog. They stop the harness from sliding up and down on the shaft, which is especially important when going up and down hills.
Tracers:
Tracers are the lines that run from the side of the harness to the front of the cart. These can be individually adjusted to the dog.
Carts:
There is so much variation in carts, even just for tests. There is an even wider assortment if somebody wanted to do more fancy events like parades. Many times four wheeled wagons are used more for parades and informal work around a ranch, since they are less maneuverable, heavier and sturdier than two-wheeled carts.
For tests, generally carts are used for tests since they are lighter and easier to move on less agreeable surfaces. Carts can be handmade or come from a professional cart creator. As long as they are able to perform in the test and adequately carry the necessary weight and manuver, they can be used. Since the cart’s weight will be in addition to the weight required to pull in the test, most people try to get a lighter weight cart so it does not add to the weight the dog must pull in the test. For example, Dino has to pull 20 or 25 pounds in a test, so I found a super lightweight plastic cart that only weights 18 pounds. Plus, the cart is full collapsable and can be easily moved in my car.
Weight:
A common type of weight used in tests are actual bar weights that have the hole in the middle and then the weights go over a stationary pole in the middle of the cart. I have been using bags of bird seed and ankle weights enclosed in a nylon sports bag. This prevents the weight from moving and shifting in the cart since they are tightly inside the bag.
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Basic Exercises
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Getting started:
- Previous training
- Conditioning
- Being familiar with rules and regs of each club. Each can be different.
- Working with an established group for practices
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Sample Titles:
NDD - Novice Draft Dog - Individual Dog On Leash
DD - Draft Dog Individual - Dog Off Leash
NBDD - Novice Brace Draft Dog - Brace of Dogs On Leash
BDD - Brace Draft Dog - Brace of Dogs Off Leash
TDD - Team Draft Dog - Team of Dogs (possibly more than 2 dogs) Off Leash
CS - Carting Started - Individual Dog On Leash
CI - Carting Intermediate - Individual Dog Off Leash
CX - Carting Excellent - Dog – Handler sits in cart
CST - Carting Started Team- Two or More Dogs On Leash
CIT-CartingIntermediateTeam-Twoor More Dogs Off Leash
CXT - Carting Excellent Team - Two or More Dogs – Handler sits in cart
New AKC Event Allows ALL Dogs to Discover Fun of Lure Coursing, January 2011
New AKC Event Allows ALL Dogs to Discover Fun of Lure Coursing
Pets and Their People Photography
January 2011
Dog sports photographer Jackie Phillips often brings her dogs with her on assignments for company – not for action.
But a suggestion at a lure coursing event changed that and turned Phillips on to a new hobby with her mixed-breed companions.
"After the event, they were having practices, and one of the people running the event suggested I bring out Dino and see if he would chase the lure. I had absolutely no idea what Dino would do so I brought him out and he chased the lure partially around the big field."
Phillips began seeking opportunities to let her dogs experience lure coursing and found they all loved the activity.
"Now each time Dino sees the lure, and knows he is going to run, he is absolutely bonkers. He is barking up a storm and jumping around and extremely excited."
Phillips discovered what many other dog owners have also uncovered: their dogs' natural prey drive gives them the love of chasing a lure – regardless of their breed or mix of breeds.
The American Kennel Club recently created a new event that allows all dogs to discover the excitement of lure coursing.
"The Coursing Ability Test can provide a wonderful community outreach opportunity, an enjoyable experience for dogs and owners and a way to expose a wider audience to the sport, " said AKC's AVP of Performance Events Doug Ljungren. "Most dogs will chase a lure and have fun in the process."
The Coursing Ability Test (CAT) is for any dog of any breed, including mixed-breeds, as long as it is at least 1 year old and individually registered or listed with AKC.
To pass the test, a dog running alone must pursue a lure, completing the course with enthusiasm and without interruption within a given time.
Dogs that pass the CAT three times will earn a Coursing Ability (CA) title. Ten passes and a dog earns a Coursing Ability Advanced (CAA) title, and 25 passes results in a Coursing Ability Excellent (CAX) title.
Licensed lure coursing clubs may hold CATs in conjunction with a licensed lure coursing trial or as a standalone event.
The first Coursing Ability Tests debuted with five days of action from Feb. 23 to 27 in Calhoun, Ga., in conjunction with lure coursing trials hosted by the Bluegrass Coursing Club and the Greyhound Association of North Georgia.
There were 158 CAT entries over the five days with a 75 percent qualification rate.
"Many of the participants had not been to a lure coursing event. They arrived early and enjoyed watching the sighthounds run. When it was their turn, they cheered for each other and basically had a wonderful time," said Les Pekarski, president of Greyhound Association of North Georgia.
"It was great fun watching such a variety of dogs try their hand at coursing - what a positive activity for the sport, the club and all the new participants."
Twenty-eight different breeds competed in the tests, and several earned CA titles.
Nine dogs became the first to earn the CA title on Feb. 25, including the first mixed-breed dog. He is Charlie, a Siberian Husky-Whippet mix, owned by Jan Curry of Columbia, Ky.
Kate Corum of Georgia brought her mixed-breed dog, Vito, to try coursing and admits she was surprised at how welcomed they were at the event. "I was amazed at how friendly and helpful the lure coursing people were," she said. "The only one worried about my mixed breed dog being here was me."
Another mixed-breed dog taking home a qualifying ribbon was Millie, who raced around the course and had no problems passing. Her owner, Bob Keller of Clearwater, Fla., is vice president of the Upper Suncoast Dog Training Club and said his club is always looking for additional activities, like the CAT, that will attract new members.
After first witnessing Dino chasing the lure, Phillips became so interested in coursing that she formed her own all-breed lure coursing club in northern California where she resides. She said she is thrilled AKC is allowing non-sighthounds to title in the sport. Not only is coursing fun, it offers many other benefits ranging from exercise to a remedy for boredom.
"So many times, people get a dog as a cute fluffy puppy, play with him or her and then, as the dog gets older and stronger and more demanding of their time, the dog spends more and more time in the backyard. As the dog gets older, it starts to go nuts," Phillips said. "Lure coursing gives these people and dogs an event where they can spend time together and have fun, and the dog can get the exercise it needs, all with very little training."
AKC Coursing Ability Tests do not require dogs to run as far as dogs in lure coursing trials.
They also do not have to execute extreme turns, with no turn being more acute than 90 degrees.
Dogs under 12-inches at the withers have a course of approximately 300 yards. Dogs more than 12 inches at the withers race approximately 600 yards. The 600-yard course must be completed within 2 minutes and the 300-yard course within 1½ minutes.
Lure coursing often requires no training. Many dogs see the lure move and immediately want to chase it, Phillips said.
"Some dogs need some practice and some coaxing, but eventually, with repetition they will get it," she said. "If your dog has already displayed a pretty strong prey drive by being attracted to squirrels or wild birds or other small animals, their chances of liking the lure are higher."
For those of you who plan to give the test a try with your dog, Phillips offers the following tips:
- Make sure that your dog is physically healthy and in good shape to run a course. If you are not sure, make an appointment with a veterinarian to get an opinion.
- Take your dog to a practice to introduce your dog to the lure or make your own lure for practice. "If you cannot get to a practice, you can try to play tug with your dog with a plastic bag or another type of lure pole. This is similar to what is used to play with a cat, but on a dog level. You can get a type of plastic lure and attach it to a springing pole and have your dog practice chasing it around your yard or a nearby park, on leash, or course."
- For the test, bring lots of fresh water, a strong, soft leash, and maybe a portable crate if the lure field is a long ways from the car.
- Handlers should wear comfortable shoes and be physically able to hold and release their dogs, as well as catch them.
- Teach your dog the command "come." "If you don't have control over the dog when it is just laying around the house and not fully aroused, you will have a heck of a time trying to catch them when they are super excited about the lure and running loose."
Thursday, May 16, 2024
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