Dino practicing with his new Drafting cart! New Videos and Test Summaries!

Here is Dino practicing with his new Drafting cart! 

We made it into the August tests! 

One and a half weeks until the tests. More practices!

The cart is fully collapsable made by Draft Carts For Dogs and custom made for Dino's size.

The custom made Siwash harness is made by Wilczekwoodworks

We have been practicing on Saturdays in Livermore with Sierra West Bernese Mountain Dog Club

We have entered drafting tests in August in Los Gatos with the same club. We are waiting to hear if we made it in since they take Berners first and all breeds second.

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Practices August 6 with Neighbor "BB"

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Practice, August 4, 2013, Cal State East Bay, Hayward

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July 27, 2013, Pleasanton, Shadow Cliffs Regional Park

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Dino is in blue cart, second from the right, the only non-Berner.

July 20, 2013, Shadow Cliff Regional Park, Pleasanton

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July 22, 2013, practice in San Leandro

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Here are some videos of other Bernese Mountain Dog Tests:

Nor Cal Berner Club 2012 - Recall, Harness and Hitch, Practical Draft Work, Control with Distractions, Loading and Unloading, Maneuvering

Freight Hall November 3, 2012

Practical Draft Work November 2012

Kuvasz November 22, 2012

Berner, Novice Exercises November 3, 2012

Freight Hall, Forest Hills, CA, November 3, 2012

Berner Full Novice Draft Test

JRT "Moose" in Novice Draft Test, November 4, 2012, Forest Hills, CA

Sunday, November 4, 2012, Freight Hall with "Moose."

2011 Bernese National Specialty Draft test

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Draft Test Exercises

Section One: Basic Control
Overview: Prior to hitching, the dog demonstrates willingness to work with and respond to the handler while in the vicinity of the draft equipment. The team is to demonstrate walking under control with changes in direction and speed and a recall to the vicinity of the draft rig.

A. Walking under Control: (on leash)

1. Are you ready? 
2. Forward
3. Slow
4. Fast
5. Normal
6. Right turn
7. Left turn
8. About turn
9. Halt
10. Exercise finished

B. Recall (off leash)

1. Are you ready?
2. Leave your dog
3. Call your dog
4. Exercise finished

Section Two: Harness and Hitch (off leash)
Overview: Dog demonstrates willingness to be harnessed and hitched to draft rig.

1. Are you ready?
2. Harness your dog
3. Hitch your dog 
4. Exercise finished

Section Three: Practical Draft Work (on leash)
Overview: Team demonstrates working ability. Team encounters situations and distractions such as might be met under everyday conditions. 

A. Basic Commands

1. Normal
2. Slow
3. Halt
4. Back

B. Control with Distractions

1. Two distractions: Auditory and visual

C. Loading and Unloading

1. Halt
2. Load your Draft Rig
3. Forward
4. Halt
5. Unload Your Draft Rig

D. Maneuvering

1. Circular patterns to the left and right
2. 90 degree turns to right and left
3. Movement through narrow area that is 12 inches wider than rig
4. Removable Obstacle: dog waits while handler opens a gate or removes obstacle.

1. Right turn
2. Left turn
3. Right U turn
4. Left U turn
5. Circle right
6. Circle left
7. Weave
8. Halt
9. Remove Obstacle
10. Forward

Section Four: Group Stay
Overview: The dog demonstrates their ability to remain on an off-leash, three minute stay while hitched to loaded rig. 

1. Are you ready?
2. Position your dogs for the stay
3. Leave your dogs
4. Return to your dogs
5. Exercises finished

Section Five: Distance Freight Haul

Overview: The teams traverse an outdoor course with the dogs hauling loaded draft rigs.