Drafting

Draft work is one of my favorite activities with the boxers. It’s a very practical activity and the dogs really enjoy the physical nature of the work. Kira was the first boxer in Canada to hold the Draft Dog title and Tega is the first boxer in Canada to hold the Draft Dog Excellent title. I am an active CKC Draft Dog judge.

Typically, three judges judge the test and the team must pass under all 3 judges to get the title. Everything is “pass / fail” and you must pass all exercises to get the title.

The exercises for the Draft titles are as follows:

Draft Dog (DD):

  1. Basic Control: This is a basic obedience test. The dog works off leash and must do a short heeling pattern, 1 minute stand stay, and group down stay for 3 minutes.
  2. 1.Manoeuvres: The dog works with an empty cart and must demonstrate turns, halts, change of pace to/from slow, halts, perform a Figure 8 and back up 4 feet.
  3. Freight Haul: The dog must demonstrate the ability to haul a cart loaded with 40 pounds through natural terrain, ie. up and down gentle hills, turn, negotiate a 180 degree turn.

Draft Dog Excellent (DDX):

  1. Manoeuvres: The dog works with a cart loaded with 60 pounds. Half of the course is worked with the handler working beside the dog and half the course is worked with the handler working behind the cart “driving” the dog. The team must back up, perform turns, change of pace to/from slow, and halts.
  2. Freight Haul: The dog must demonstrate the ability to haul a cart loaded with 40-60 pounds through natural terrain including negotiating “narrows”, hauling up and down hills, wait while an obstacle is moved out of the path, and perform at least two 90 degree turns.
  3. Back Pack: The dog carries 1/6 of his/her weight in the backpack. The course is at least 800 m through rough terrain that may involve negotiating small streams, banks, brush, fallen logs, steep hills etc. At some point on the course, the dog must pass by a “distraction dog”. All the work is off-leash.

Both the DD and DDX work can also be performed by a Brace although the weight requirements are adjusted upwards for the brace team.