Carting

Carting is a large part of the Rottweiler’s history. Many ARC members are involved in carting for fun and for competition.

The American Rottweiler Club (ARC) recognizes six levels of carting – Carting Started (on leash), Carting Intermediate (off leash) and Carting Excellent (driving), as well as teams at these same levels. The carting rules and scoresheet may be downloaded using the sidebar.

What’s required of a good carting dog? A great attitude, enthusiasm and good obedience! What’s required of a good carting handler? Patience, patience, patience! Some dogs will take to the cart immediately, without a twinkle of concern in their eye. Other dogs may require a very slow approach, taking several training sessions before being ready to hook up to a cart. It’s a great idea to have a basic foundation of Obedience and/or Rally training before beginning your carting journey as it does make navigating the courses much easier!

One of the most active Rottweiler carting groups in the country is the Mile High Rottweiler Club of Greater Denver, CO who graciously provided much of the information on this page. Once you start carting you will enjoy carting your Rottweilers for fun around your own neighborhood or in parades and other demonstrations. Don’t be surprised at the amazed looks you’ll receive and the requests from children asking for a “ride”.

If you attend a Rottweiler carting test, you will see Rottweilers pulling everything from homemade wooden or PVC carts to professionally made carts and sulkies. The important thing is that the cart is well made, sturdy, and the right size for the dog. The same can be said for harness. There are several types of harness, each with pros and cons, but the important thing is that the harness fits your dog and that it is properly adjusted to the dog and to the cart. Check out our helpful links for more resources on harnesses and where you can purchase a cart.

Your dog should be full grown before you consider carting, sound, and able to perform the work. While the difficulty of carting depends on the load and terrain, carting and drafting are work. Your dog also needs to walk well on a leash and know basic commands. A dog with experience at the type of moves required by Rally competition is ahead of the game for carting training.

When it comes to actually teaching the dog to pull a cart, experienced carting handlers advise that this is not something you should try alone. The best way to begin is to connect with a local carting group in your area, if no Rottweiler teams are available the Bernese Mountain Dog Clubs can be a good resource for help. It’s important to begin slowly, ensure your dog remains confident, and that the equipment and harness is fitted properly to avoid injuries. BMDC has their own version of draft dog tests which Rottweilers can also participate in as sadly Rottweiler tests in certain geographic areas can be few and far between.

The American Rottweiler Club developed a carting competition to showcase the natural and historically-documented cart-pulling abilities of the purebred Rottweiler.

The carting exercises described in the carting rules are designed to demonstrate the dog’s inherent ability aided by trained skills that exhibit a team effort by both dog and handler. If you have a chance to watch a carting competition, take it! And if you have a Rottweiler and want to try it yourself, the first step is to read the rules. Contact the ARC Carting Coordinator with questions.