Different Ways to Haul

Which vehicle you chose will depend on your dog and what your carting goals are.

 Wagons 

Wagons have four wheels and are usually larger, to accommodate a larger load than a cart.  Four wheels makes the wagon more stable, so balance of the load is not critical. However, what you gain in stability, you lose in maneuverability. A wagon is more difficult than a cart to back-up with and turn.  A large wagon may need an auxiliary brake for going down hills when loaded. Wagons work best on level ground with even surfaces.  They are ideal on road surfaces. The shafts for a wagon bear no weight from the load, so the position of the shafts is not as critical in a wagon as it is in a cart. 

Carts 

Cart are two-wheeled.   Carts are very versatile and are highly maneuverable.  They are easy to turn with and easy to back-up. But, opposite to the wagon, what you gain in maneuverability, you lose in stability.  You must balance a load correctly in a cart to ensure stability and ease of pulling.   

Within the realm of two-wheeled vehicles there are many variations.   Carts have been designed differently depending on their primary use.  For example,some carts are design to hold passengers for parades and such, while others are designed to carry loads.

If your intention is a draft test, it is best to get a 2-wheeled, sturdy, flat-bed cart.  This type of cart is the most versatile for hauling different types of freight over different terrain.

Travois 

A travois is essentially two long shafts, attached to the sides of a dog, which drag on the ground. A load is strapped to the shafts behind the dog.  There are no wheels or platforms.

Because a travois drags directly on the ground, there is always significant friction between it and the ground. The dog must work constantly and pull harder than with a wheeled apparatus.

A travois is not suitable for general draft work because it is so inefficient. It could be used in open pastures and on uneven plains, or in areas where wheels might get mired down.  Carts and wagons are more comfortable for the dog and more efficient.

Sleds & Toboggans

Don't stop carting just because of the snow!  A sled is different from a toboggan as it has runners to elevate the bed of the apparatus, and works best on ice or hard packed snow; it does not work well in deep or fluffy snow.  A tobbogan has a curved front and a flat bed that rides directly on the snow.  If you are going through deep and fluffy snow a toboggan would work better, but a toboggan too works well on ice and hard-packed snow.   Sleds include classic dogsleds and conventional children's sleds. A trace connects the dog's harness to the bed of the sled or toboggan. Because neither has shafts, the dog is not able to stop the sled's forward motion.