When you sit in the sulky, your weight lifts the shaft tip. As you drive, notice the saddle of the harness. There should be a small gap between the saddle and the dog’s back. In other words, the saddle lifts slightly off the dog’s back. Adjust the seat backwards for more lift (more gap) and forwards for less lift. Once the lift is correct (5 -10 pounds), adjust the foot rest so that your knees are comfortably bent.
The saddle has three layers: cordura for the top layer, felt for the inner layer, and saddle blanket cloth for the bottom layer. The saddle has a hasp where the tip of the shaft attaches. The hasp is a bolt welded to a 3″ by 3″ steel plate. The plate is curved slightly to protect the dog’s spine. It forms a hollow above the backbone.
The saddle has three O-rings. Tug-lines snap to the O-rings for ground training with drags such as bicycle tires. O-rings also allow multiple dogs to hitch to the sulky.
The saddle is the same size for large and small dogs. The belly band, collar, tee strap and girth straps adjust to fit the dog. The chest strap does not adjust because the dog pulls with his chest. We want a smooth fleece lined strap against his chest. We don’t want dogs pulling against a buckle. Because the chest strap does not adjust, we need to know the length of your dog’s sternum. We must send your harness with the chest strap that fits his sternum length.
The most critical measurement is the length of the sternum. The sternum, also known as the breastbone, starts at the base of the throat at the point-of-chest. It ends where the ribs split away and the belly begins.
Fit the Harness
The collar of the harness rests where the neck joins the body. The pulling is done by the chest strap agains the dog’s sternum. When the harness fits correctly, the girth strap is vertical and tight. The belly band secures the saddle of the harness in position. It tucks snugly behind the ribs. If the sulky starts to roll faster than the dog is trotting, the belly band prevents the harness from slipping over the dog’s head. The tee strap that connects the saddle to the harness collar adjusts to help seat the saddle so that the girth is vertical to the ground.
Hitch dogs to Bamboo Sulky
Hitch Four Dogs
Hitch Two Dogs