when to start pulling?

i have a pitbull and she is 1 year and 3 months old. i have been researching weight pullin since she was 4 months old and i want to know at what age is the best age to start pulling.i have read about some dogs pulling at 9 months of age and others start till 3-5 years of age.

 

Now its probably safe to buy a nice harness and practice dragging very light weights.

 

I currently have a male that I got 6 months ago, and he had never pulled before. He is 3 now and everyone that I have talked to and myself can tell you most of the time it is alot harder to get the older pits to want to pull. He is doing okay, but it takes alot more determination and long hours to get them to pull. They have alot younger dogs with more stamina to compete against. I also am starting a 7 month old female. She is doing awesome, and by the time she is 9 months and able to compete in competition she will be ready. Long story short, from now on I would start your dogs at about 7 or 8 months. Just make sure that you; slowly start adding weight, nothing to heavy. I would start your dog on training right away.

 

she is used to her harness and she she pulls on command but i havent put anythin but 1 gallon of milk with a few rocks and i was wondering if i should start adding more and more weights every once in a while?

 

Yes, start using the flat cinder blocks. How many times do you have her pull at one time? How many times do you hook her up to a sled or cart a week, to work her?

 

NOTE You must be VERY carefull when pulling with a pup. Just because ADBA, AADR allows 9 month old pups to pull doesnt mean they should. Each bloodline tends to grow and develop faster than others. While its fine to have your pup get use to harness, pulling LIGHT weights, if your pup is not done growing you can seriously injure him or her. Especially if the bones /joints /ect are NOT done growing...there is someone on this site who's older pup was hurt pulling ..and now will not be able to compete anymore.
SO BE CAREFULL Let a pup be a pup. Like I said, there is nothing wrong with getting a younger pup use to equipment, some light weights..but I would hold off on serious competeing untill the pup is FINISHED growing both physically and mentally..

 

Good post rocksteady. General rule would be not to work a dog until they are atleast a year old. I prefer to wait even longer then that. You can get a nice harness and attach a rope and some noise makers (cans etc) so they get used to having the harness on and dealing with the noise.

B

 

man she is a pretty good puller.my brother was walking her yesterday and he had to tie her up real quick before they left so he tied her to our riding lawnmower and she puled it half way out of our our drive way.

 

its pretty heavy lawnmower 2.i hook my self up to it to warm up before i play soccer.