Pit Bull Weight Pulling - Is Weight Pull Training Right for Your Pit Bull?
By Jason Mann
Weight pull is a sport for those who want to do something with their dog that doesn't involve tiny leashes, points for color, or special "paper's" and who love to work with their dog to achieve a goal. If that's you, then weight pull may be your thing.
While Pit Bull's are excellent at weight pull it's not for everyone or for every dog. Training a dog in weight pull takes time, dedication, money, and if you're like me and live in an area with very few, if any pulling events you'll have to travel out of town to events. Which again costs money and time.
I don't want to turn you off to the idea of getting involved though. I just thought it fair that you know before hand some of the sacrifices that will be made.
Weight pull is a fun and exciting way to meet other Pit Bull owner's as well. Your dog is also meeting new doggy friends and getting some great socialization to boot. Weight pull can also be a rewarding experience as it takes dedication to really excel at the sport.
What exactly is a weight pull?
Pulls are held on three different types of terrain. Snow, dirt and rail.
For dirt, a cart with four wheels, and a rail system is set up on rails with the cart on them.
Rails is where you see monster weights over 6,000 pounds being pulled. Record weights can reach 8,000 lbs.
Whether the dog is on snow, dirt, or rail the distance is usually 16 feet (the ADBA is 15 feet).
Dogs are required to pull the weight the distance in 60 seconds or without fail.
Once 60 seconds is up and the dog hasn't completed the distance the pull is over and the dog is allowed to complete the pull with help.
Different organizations have different rules as well. For example, the IWPA and the UKC do not allow "baiting" while the ADBA does.
Baiting is using something to lure the dog to you, like their favorite toy or treats. All three organizations state you can not touch your dog in any manner while pulling and physical corrections are also penalized.
So is weight pull right for you?
Only one way to find out, contact the International Weight Pull Association and see if you can find a pull in your area.
Go to the pull, experience it, and afterward you'll have a pretty good idea if it's for you and your dog or not. If your dog is registered with the UKC and/or the ADBA you can also contact them.
Most people that I know with Pit Bulls in weight pull prefer the IWPA because they are an exclusive pulling club and have high quality events.
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Fri 18 Jul 2008, 7:08 am