CARRIAGE DRIVING WITH LUSI

"Dande" with me driving at Kentucky 
National Drive October 2011

The raison d'etre for choosing a Dalmatian was to have a dog that would be suitable as a companion and carriage or coaching dog.


When we were looking for a Dalmatian breeder we wanted to be sure that the bloodline our puppy came from was one that was healthy, with a disposition and temperament that would be trainable and willing to work as a carriage dog and which had the physical characteristics necessary. We were delighted to find Carola Adams at Dutch Kennels, New Brunswick,(Canada), whose philosophy on breeding fit our requirements and who selected "Lusi" for this purpose.


Although Dalmatians have been working in their traditional role as a carriage or coaching dog for hundreds of years, it is surprising to find very little written information about training a carriage dog to work at axle.


First to take place in the UK, "Carriage Dog Trials" were developed to test the traditional ability of the Dalmatian as a companion to both ridden and driving horses. The British Carriage Dog Society has mentored many Dal owners in the training of their Dals and has recently helped with the organization of carriage dog trials in Ireland too.


In the US and in Canada, the Dalmatians' heritage as a working companion to horses under saddle or in harness has been kept alive through a similar test of endurance and obedience known as "Road Trials" organized by the Dalmatian Club of Canada and the Dalmatian Club of America under the AKC and CKC.


We have recently joined the BCDS and are in the process of putting in our applications for the DCC and the DCA.


We have also been fortunate in having being mentored by John Wilmot of Dalmatian Carriages, UK., who kindly helped us to get started on our preparatory training. John has owned, trained and worked Dalmatians for over thirty years.


In essence, the Dalmatian's training as a working carriage dog must include obedience, a high level of endurance and the ability to work closely with the horse.


Now that we have a few months of basic puppy training under our belt it is time to start seriously thinking about a training program for Lusi. I am encouraged by reading the section on "Training" on the BCDS website! While a great deal of dedication is needed to produce a carriage dog just as it is to produce a good carriage horse, it would seem that many Dals have a high level of natural ability and instinctively enjoy working at axle.