Weightpulling

AussieAPBT · Dec 20, 2010

Hi guys, I have a 1 year old bitch and was wondering if someone could give me some advice on when it would be safe for her to start weighpulling and also what sort of weight I should start with? Thanks guys!

Irish Pitbull · Dec 20, 2010

8 weeks is the best time to start, but you seem to have missed that by a bit....

They can start any age, just get a proper harness, and start very very very very very very small, build up very very very veeeerrrrryyyyy sllllloooooooooooooooowwwwwwwlllllyyyyyyyyyyy.

6sN7s · Dec 20, 2010

posted by Howardsperformancek9 omn gopitbull

Hi Everybody,

Lately I have been getting a lot of emails on starting dogs in weightpull. Here is what I do.

I first get the puppy used to pulling a lite object(empty 2 liter bottle/ very lite chain) with a harness, at this point it does not have to be a weightpull harness, any will do as long as it does not constrict the front legs. By puppy I am referring to a 6-7 month old pup. Once the pup is used to that. I then put rocks in the 2 liter bottle or ad empty pop cans to the chain. I am constantly saying "work" when ever the pup starts to pull, and I keep him on a leash or long-line. After 2 weeks of this then I add weight, but only like half of a window weight(3 lbs). Still saying work, and saying it a lot. I use lots of praise when pup pulls. I do not use food, as I think it will mess you up in the long run.

I start to add weight, once I get a real harness.(dog should be over 10 mos at this time) By this time, I want a padded harness with the spreader bar in the back. For the first one, I either buy a low cost freight harness, or custom harness, depending on how good i think the dog is. LOL! I like to drag weight a dog 3 days a week, and I do not put them on the cart until they have been dragging about 1/3 of what they weigh, about 1/2 to 1 mile. This may take some time, as I don't want to make the dog dread the drag work. I only pull on grass, dirt or soft gravel, no cement.

Once the dog is over 10 months, and has been drag training for 6-8 weeks, I start a pre-cart training. I get a friend to hold my dog, and I start calling the dog with the dragweight to me. About 16-20 feet. I may use heavier weight for this, such as 1/2 their weight on a sled or adding more window weights to chain. Once a dog really knows what i want, I will put a good fitting slip collar, and give a correction on a thin line, if they do not want to come. I do this if they try to sniff the ground, stand there or try to go in another direction.

I also believe in obed. training for weightpull dogs. Especially the "here/come" command. A dog that eagerly comes to you, will be a lot easier to train, in the long run.

I honestly do not like to put a dog on a cart until they are doing great with the pre-cart training, and really know all the commands. Then when you do cart work, you want a good spotter. The peraon behind the cart must be ready to help if the weight gets stuck/too heavy, or you can ruin a young dog. I also never try to "max" a dog out, until they are over 19 months old. For instance, I may go to pulls, and when I see the dog is thinking about quitting, before they actually do, I will have the cart handler push the cart, and the dog finish on a good note. Some of my best dogs were over 2 years before i reaaly knew how good they were. THE BIGGEST MISTAKE I SEE MANY PEOPLE MAKE, ESPECIALLY NEWBIES, IS PUTTING THEIR DOG ON THE CART BEFORE THE DOG UNDERSTAND THE PULL OR WORK COMMAND!! I would have to say i have seen dogs with great potential ruined, by people pulling them til they quit, or putting them on the cart without enough drag training.

A few traits that I look for in a weightpull prospect is confidence, energy, and a dog that really wants to be with the owner. As a rule an aloof dog does not make a good weightpull dog. However, there are exceptions to the rule.

Also, regarding baiting in weightpull. Don't do it! it takes the focus off the work for the dog and onto the toy/treat. The dog is no longer thinking about pulling just the bait. Also, bait training a pit bull can cause a bad pulling form(jumping/lunging/leaping), plus it looks bad to the public for the image of the pit bull. Don't get me wrong, I give treats to my dog when going into their crate after a pull, but that is more of a reward system, and I feel that is OK.
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AussieAPBT · Dec 20, 2010

Thanks Bas. That was very informative. Great info. I'm going 2 order her a harness and get started ASAP and i'll definately start off real slow. Thanks mate.

shadowwolf · Dec 20, 2010

AussieAPBT said: ↑

Thanks Bas. That was very informative. Great info. I'm going 2 order her a harness and get started ASAP and i'll definately start off real slow. Thanks mate.
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Get that harness from Missy V. (BrownDog Design Harnesses) - she's got the best gear out there.

ChDynomite · Dec 20, 2010

shadowwolf said: ↑

Get that harness from Missy V. (BrownDog Design Harnesses) - she's got the best gear out there.
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I get all mine from her. She just made us 3 more, she makes the best in the game

AGame · Dec 20, 2010

eastend said: ↑

has anyone seen or heard of john deer i think the dog is called that owned by a biker with a big arse breard, on the pitbull dvd the positive one on the breed, big red and white pit the dogs back legs are a fucking joke shot to pieces fucker cant even walk propley this weight pulling shit ruins the dog the amount of strain on the dogs kidneys is a joke the funny thing is how many weight pulling owners can pull there own weight in a form of a chin up not many
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What you want a working breed not to work you want a fucking couch potato , oh i get it you want people to go on and keep fighting dogs that's not illegal and they don't get hurt :rolleyes: i'm sure in some cases when people don't have a clue what they are doing and don't use the right equipment it is bad for a dog but as long as you use the right equipment and know how to keep your dog in shape there isn't much of a problem health wise at all

Irish Pitbull · Dec 20, 2010

The dog is Johhny Dee, he is owned by Steve Lewis, he's one of the best weight pull dogs in the world, and owned by one of the best weight pullers as far as i've heard.

ChDynomite · Dec 20, 2010

eastend said: ↑

has anyone seen or heard of john deer i think the dog is called that owned by a biker with a big arse breard, on the pitbull dvd the positive one on the breed, big red and white pit the dogs back legs are a fucking joke shot to pieces fucker cant even walk propley this weight pulling shit ruins the dog the amount of strain on the dogs kidneys is a joke the funny thing is how many weight pulling owners can pull there own weight in a form of a chin up not many
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why you on here then u clown? u got a problem with working dogs ? do u even own a pit? your a troll. crawl back in your office Ingrid!

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