Who all here Weight Pulls?

[pitbulldogs]

I just bought a new pup and i want him in sports, i was thinking weight pull for at least one class or sport and maybe another. Question, can a weight pulling dog compete in other sports or should they mainly do pulling? Also, whats the best way to go about getting started? Age, methods, ect..

Thanks in advance

 

[ShanaRowan]

I start imprinting dogs for weight pull young. In a harness as early as possible and feeling resistance and hearing noise behind them early on. That doesn't mean having a puppy dragging tons of weight or maxing out young dogs before they are physically or mentally ready, but getting them used to it all as young as possible. It is a mental sport as much as a physical one because it is all about building confidence and encouraging them to try, try, try harder always and always letting them think they succeeded.

Not sure how young your puppy is, but I would see if you can find a club near you that has a harness you could borrow to get him used to the feel of it. Always encourage them to go slowly. Weight pull is not a high-impact sport on the joints, but letting a dog bounce around or run with a lot of weight can be damaging. I always train on-leash. Don't bait the dog to move forward, but rewarding for moving forward is great. I'm kind of rambling, I could go on and on.

I made so many mistakes with my first weight pull dog(s), having a mentor(s) is very helpful.

 

[pitbulldogs]

The pup is almost 9 weeks, but either way, i want to be prepared. Please, feel free to ramble, this is all good stuff to know! It's actually really cool knowing these are things you tried and done yourself, i can appreciate someone who tries and fails but learns! I'm here for the learning now hehe! Like i said, i want to be prepared.

Is there anything i should have him tested for specifically before hand? Like joints in particular or? I will ask around and see, as far as i know, there isn't many clubs that i know of.. I wouldn't mind getting started until i do though, maybe if it's just the basics and beginning stages?

What about 16oz soda bottles (plastic ones) tethered to the harness to start off with?

Sorry for asking so many questions, this is why i said feel free to ramble lol.. I can see how having a mentor or two could really really help with this..

 

[pitbulldogs]

It's looking like at around 4 months you want to get them used to the harness? I know that's to earl for any strain but it sounds logical that 4 months is perfectly fine with getting them used to the harness? Also, where the heck do i find a harness that small? I been searching the web.

 

[Leslie H]

Multi-sport person here. With Soleil, I had been competing in weight pull for a couple years before I started agility. I did do preliminary x-rays at 5 months on her hips/elbows and patellas. That's pretty young for x-rays, but she was being sedated for having puppy canines pulled, so I had them do it then.
With Scheme, while she was bred to be a weight pull dog, I knew I would be doing agility with her. So I started doing training with her for her agility foundation starting when she was very young. I don't think I bothered putting a pull harness on her until she was older, the 3 dogs I've pulled with have not cared about things like coats, leashes, harnesses etc, and were environmentally sound, so drag weights, carts and such didn't bother them. The first time on a rail system, many dogs will hesitate when they hear the sound.
I think Shana's experience w/messing up her first dog is very common. My first dog was quite a mediocre puller. I was lucky enough to have someone take pity on me, and help me out before I wrecked Soleil. Scheme's made out the best, she's profited from the mistakes I've made w/the other dogs, though I've certainly made my share w/her, too.

 

[pitbulldogs]

Thanks Leslie, i appreciate you sharing your endeavors. I been snooping around on the web this morning and man o man am i going to have a hard time finding a club or other people to share this with. Either way, i am willing to do it all on my own if i have to, it's nice knowing i can at the very leas have some onine help. I added Shana on facebook and she has been really helpful already. Anyways, i will keep poking around and see what i can find but just know i may be back here asking more questions lol..

 

[Leslie H]

I think the best thing you can do with a puppy is get it to enjoy training with you, and to help it learn to persevere, so that it develops a work ethic. While I think work ethic is at least, in part, an inherited trait, you can certainly help your pup learn to problem solve, and that pushing itself to accomplish something is rewarding.

 

[pitbulldogs]

Yes, I will start working with him tomorrow, I wanted to give him a few days to adjust. Thanks again for the help!

 

[Leslie H]

You might want to check out Puppy Culture on Facebook, if you haven't already. It's aimed at 12 weeks and under.

 

[pitbulldogs]

Thank you Leslie, checking it out now!