pulling w/ stillwater harness

[davidlau_2002]

hello game-dog people,
i am having trouble with my mutt. i am trying to get him a solid workout with the stillwater harness. i hook up a rim/tire combo of about 35 lbs to the harness and use food to bait him forward. as he drags the weight, he gets the next piece of food. trouble is after about 60 feet, he starts barking and whining and leaping, getting hot in the process. someone walking his dog about 100 feet away watches and my dog Seven turns sideways and just turns hot on the little dog. it's almost like the harness resistance just turns him on. obviously, one way would be to isolate this workout from the eyes of the general public, but i am just wondering if this is the wrong way to start this dog on weight pulling. i thought this should be something that the dog enjoys rather than being frustrating. the only thing i can think of is using a lighter drag weight? any suggestions would be appreciated!!!

addicted to working my dog,
davidlauJR

[Attila]

Lighter would be better and working up. Keeping away from distractive outsiders is best too. We should never associate with outsiders and their dogs as they contaminate our fun. I am partially kidding there but not fully. But you need to work your dog and he stay focused. Distractions take away from the training. Other dogs are distractions as are any other furry thing. Starting with something that he can easily do will build his confidence. And when he gears into his drive he will accept and take on more weight on his own. But you and your dog need your own training zone with out outsiders. They shouldn't even be able to see you or your dog see them, whom we should not speak of. lol

[GAPITS]

Well there are alot of things that could being working against you. 1. How old is the dog? 2. Did you just start with a 35 pd. weight? 3. Have you conditioned the dog to the noise of a drag? You really need to start dog by conditioning him to feel something but not much behind him, we start ours with just a chain to drag, then add a bit of weight at intervals until we reach the working wieght we are looking for. We also don't start them extremely young, ours are usually close to 6 mths before they drag much of anything substantial, puppy bones are growing and do not need alot of over-exertion.

[game_test]

one thing i would try to stop doing is using bait. you cant use it in any real competition that i know. it also takes away from you being able to see what you really need for any level of comp which is a willingness(drive) to work for you because it wants to, not because it is baited. 35 pounds being dragged on the ground also equates to more resistance than just 35 pounds. over work can turn a dog off. you should start with lowering your weights to something more manageable, without bait, and really praise him when he works for you. work up from there. beside that the dog itself really has to have that inner drive to want to work.


it would also be in your best interest to make training "work" time, therefore outside distractions should be minimized so going elsewhere would be a good idea.

[kanediggity]

everything here that people have said are really good advice the no bait advice is real good and starting alot lighter weight is something you should do to. i start my dogs just pulling a milk jug with rocks in it to make noise and then after that is no problem i had it to a chain. i have several chains that are full of weight weights of different weight. 20-75 lbs and many in between a drag sled is also somethign i use its where i can add different weight to it and it has spikes in hte bottom to add more resistance on the take off. i also use a leash on my dog until it learns what to do and not to stop. the key is stay light until the confidence is there and teach it to work not bait it to work. and you should do just fine.

[davidlau_2002]

no bait
isolate the exercise as "work time"
start light and go heavier as confidence is built
use leash as aid or guide
key idea is for dog to NOT stop

thanks all!!!! it's back to work for me...

i'll try a 10 lb.er and go up 5 lbs a month. thanks again guys!!!!

[game_test]

dont forget MUCH PRAISE for the hard work.