Weight Pulling

Here are some basic principles on how to teach your dog to pull and guidelines on what not to do.

Firstly you need to get your dog checked by the vets for heart function, hips, elbow, shoulders and knees.

As with any training you must be very dedicated, persistent and above all else, be patient. The most common mistake is expecting too much too soon. I must say now that young pups should not be pulling weights. Wait until the age of 18 months old and build them up slowly over the period of 6 months. Weight Pulling can alter the way their bones and joints mature in a negative way. It puts too much stress on their knee joints and tendons.

You have to make pulling fun for the dogs, even when the competition gets serious, to him it is still nothing but fun. Do not talk to him harshly, do not make it seem like work, give him lots of praise even if he's only pulled a few feet. They should be excited as soon as they see you getting the weight pulling harness out. If there not then the dog isn't having fun.

To start with introduce the harness to them and hand walk them for a few weeks so they get used to having it on. Then set up a course to drag weight on that is 1 mile in length and as flat as you can find. Always pull your dog on dirt or grass, do not pull a dog on pavement for this will injure their pads. Note: Always try to work your dog in the early morning hours or late at night so as to avoid the heat. You could use multiple weighted chains ranging from 10lbs-20lbs. Or you could improvise and use plastic bottles full of water or sand to start with. With this you can build the dog up slowly over the weeks always starting with the lightest weight and building him up slowly. Then you can introduce the weight pulling cart when you feel he is ready for it.

It's best not to use hides, toys or other dogs in order to get them to pull, many dogs end up nipping the owner in excitement to get the bait. Teaching the dog to pull using praise and reward however needs alot of time and patience. Try to use a pull command such as pull, and stick to that word all the time. Position yourself in front of the dog calling the dog using the pull command all the time. Do not use food to entice the dog forward also only words. If then the dog responds correctly give them a treat afterwards.

Excellent. I had started weight pulling with my Kye but we have had a set back as recently he has become very ill and diagnosed with Addisons Disease. Until we settle him on his dailey meds its been put to one side.

:)my girl kia wud be gud at it as shes a little sod to walk.tried everything to stop her pullin like a steam train but not havin much luck so far,shes as strong as a ox no lie.not gonna give up trying though:)

Ye i bought a pulling harness for mine but havent tried it out but sofie pull tyres all around the place. Here is the site i got it there real easy to set up and by off they take paypal and they have plenty of other stuff

http://www.fordogtrainers.com/

That video showed several ways that the dogs would work for, not all will work for treats, in fact I don't like treats as rewards unless it is the very start of something I am teaching, I like to get them off them as soon as possible. I have seen many owners who have forgotten the treats and the dogs then won't do what they are asked.

Deco#71 wrote:Ye i bought a pulling harness for mine but havent tried it out but sofie pull tyres all around the place. Here is the site i got it there real easy to set up and by off they take paypal and they have plenty of other stuff

[url=http://www.fordogtrainers.com/

http://www.fordogtrainers.com/ [/quote[/url]]

They sell Dog pinch collar and if there is anything i don`t like it`s a dog pinch collar there are better ways to handle your dog think it`s torture and the people who sell or buy them are cruel so i wont buy anything of them