About Us. The International Association of Dog Drivers is a multinational group that promotes dog driving and drafting. Our dogs pull sulkies, wagons, scooters and bicycles. We drive our dogs in city, suburb, and the countryside. Our dogs love their work and are healthy and fit.
We offer titles in driving. For many of us, working for a title motivates us to excel. We enjoy learning with our canine companions, strengthening our bonds, all while enjoying new adventures together.
History of Dog Driving. Dogs have been working with humans since their domestication as early as 26000 BC. One of their jobs was to pull loads. Depictions of sleds with harnesses have been found dating back 8,000 years. Draft harnesses for carts with wheels date back 2000 years or more.
Dog carts in Europe were popular for carrying goods to market. Unfortunately, working dog carts were banned in Britain in the late 1800s to minimize the spread of rabies. Other forms of dog labor were taxed, which was indicated by docking the tail or cropping the ears.
Dogs in Holland and Belgium frequently pulled milk carts.
In World War I, dogs pulled carts carrying ammunition and the wounded.
Dogs and goats pulled children in wagons and carts. Then came automobiles for adults and battery powered toys for children.
The sports of dog driving and drafting were continued by breed clubs. These clubs hold drafting workshops and titling events. Bernese mountain dogs and Rottweilers are typical of the drafting breeds.
In 2000, James Walsh, in Australia, introduced the dorsal shaft dog sulky. His stainless steel sulky, the Regal Sulky, is considered the finest dog sulky.
James’ company built sulkies for harness racing with horses. James down-sized the horse sulky and redesigned it to create a sulky that works with dogs.
This photo shows James Walsh with Tom his famous giant schnauzer.
In 2009 Daphne Bettle Lewis founded Chalo Sulky in the United States to create sulky driving as a sport for dogs.
In 2018 the International Association of Dog Drivers was formed.