Wanting to learn more about Pulling.

Hey folks.. my girl Cheyenne turned a year old today and I am interested in getting her into weight pulling. Problem is I'm still new to all this and I'm not sure how to get her or myself started. So I am wondering if there's anyone on here that might have some good advice or that can point me in the right direction for training and conditioning for pulling.. or even better if there's anyone close by to me that wouldn't mind me watching your dog or helping me get started?? I'm in a tiny spot in the woods called Hurdle Mills, NC. But its close to Durham/Roxboro/Raleigh but I'd be willing to take the drive to get some good training. So if anyone's willing to learn me.. or at least point me in the right direction let me know..shoot me an email or a PM.

 

Here's one: http://apbt.info/tiki-index.php?page=Weight+Pull+Training

 

well i don't know to much about pulling.but i would say just as with any other strenious excercise you need to not start her to young,use good equipment,moniter her closely,start her off very slow and work your way up gradually,giver her good rub downs and be sure she is on a good feed that gives her enough protiens and vitamins so she won't break down her body and make her self weak or sick.also before you do anything take her to your vet and get her a complete physical done.make sure she doesn't have any worms and she is in perfect health.these were all things i used to do when i had dogs in keeps and it always worked out for me pretty well.

 

I always heard about 1yr was a normal starting age for working out and starting to train. So thats why I was picking now. As for the food I am feeding Diamond Corn free lamb and rice. As for not over working her and rub downs and such.. thats why I was hoping to find someone to teach me a little in person so I can learn the ins and outs a bit better. ya know?

 

hi
if you dont mind i will put my question here in this post

i was reading about pulling rules etc and i came upon the 2 ways to start the pull, one was being behind the cart and leading the dog and the other was to put the dog in standing position and wait command and the handler goes to the finish line and dog can only start pulling after handler crosses the finish line.
well if i would want to obey commands like sit etc i would teach it but the point is that i dont want to go that way (orders, commands)

the question is the following
wich pull events need "obedience diploma" and wich ones we can be performed by being by the side of the dog?

thanks

 

IWPA and I think APA require you to be over that line before you call your dog. I've heard rumors that each organization was thinking about dropping their false start rule, meaning if the dog starts pulling before you're across that line, you wouldn't be penalized, as long as you didn't call him. (You might want to google their sites and check the most recent updates of the rules for yourself.) UKC and ADBA, you can start your dog pulling as soon as you step away from them, and you can be anywhere on the track in front of them. Or if you're driving the dog, you can be behind the cart. In ADBA, you can even have two handlers, and bait. (Not that I agree with those rules, but they are what they are.)

 

IWPA is about the only one left that requires you to get over the finish line before you start pulling. APA, UPF, ADBA you can be right next to the dog as long as you don't touch them.

 

thanks for the info

 

NCprisonguard there is a weight pull coming up in your state that will have a lot of competive dogs from my understanding i will be going this is my first season pulling and i love doing it...Here is the link to the place where it will be held
http://www.magnumforcekennel.com/KOR2008.html

 

I have a friends that live out that way that, and they weight pull. If you want maby i could hook you'all up.

 

I'm just starting out pulling too and the advice I'm getting is.......easyeasyeasy does it. Take it slow and make sure the dog has a good time and enjoys pulling. Make it fun for the dog.


Someone who's won a lot put it to me like this, although she was talking about showing it still applies. "No matter how serious it is to you, it has to be fun for them".

 

The biggest mistake that most people make is to go too fast. They will put too much weight on the dog too fast and kill the dogs confidence. take it slow and steady and your dog will be pulling a tall stack in no time.

 

I hope this can help you some

Ok I have a somewhat different approach. I NEVER BAIT a dog. I want the dog to pull because it wants to. Alot of baited dogs dont pull well. When it gets heavy they shut down. The NKC doesnt even allow baiting where the ADBA does but I dont like it. The dog should pull because of its drive not because of bait.

Key points
1. Make it fun!
2. Never get mad, frustrated yes just dont show it.
3. Have your dogs well being first, not winning.
4. Remeber it takes a long time to BUILD a good dog.
5. Pulling is 95% mental!. Dont break their spirit.
6. Start slow, know your dog!!!! Quit before it does!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7. Training is just that, dont try to set records at home!!!!
8. Dont try to pull more everytime.
9. Use different routines, the same ol thing get boring even to dogs.
10. At a show dont be afraid to foul your dog. Refer to #5
11. Dont let your dog (in the begining) jump off the track
12. Dont let your dog just stand there. If it starts to pull but doesnt foul it. When it goes to pull have the cart pushed and lead it through the pull.

I cant stress #5 too much. Alot of people start with good dogs but they break them and you never see them again. I always pull my dogs up to a certain weight and then I pull them down too. Alot of times when it gets real heavy and you hook the dog back up it doesnt even try because it remembers the last weight was heavy so I mix it up. Ill take weight off and when they hit the weight again its like.....hey this isnt heavy and it keeps them trying.

ALSO WEIGHT IS NOT WHAT YOUR DOG IS PULLING AGAINST. Just because Bailey pulled 7425lbs at 42lbs, 180x her body weight on the new NC track I dont expect her to do that on the old track.


She would be lucky to break 2300lbs. There track is hard and not level. Your dog is pulling against resistance in the track. The weight creates the resistance. The better the track is the more weight needed to create great resistance. The track I have at home is so hard Bailey cant pull more than 600lbs. So weight is just a number, it doenst mean much. Learn to feel the resistance in the cart created by the weight.

There is alot to learn and remember such as tracks, where they tighten up, when to bring a dog in, when to pass but this should get you started.

Best thing is to know your dog, know when it will shut down and do it before he does. I can tell every time when Rebel is going to quit even before I get on the track, I know what weight is going to do it and where he is going to need help. Rebel is still in training and not yet the dog he will be, I have to constantly remind myself of this. I want to beat all the good dogs he is pulling against but I seem to forget that alot of them are 2,3 and even 4 years old!

We just came back from the VSBA show and Rebel is almost 3 years old now and he is showing me now exactly what I want. He is leaving it all on the track, He tries and tries and never quits. If he can't pull the weight thats fine with me, I just want the try, thats all that matters to me. His head is right now but it took some time. Now I am getting the best this dog has to offer and thats all I ask!

 

APA has no line, IWPA is the only organization with a line.