how to begin weight pulling
I've got a 75 lb male out of some of a Rodney Guidrey female. Never been to a pull, have no idea where to begin, seeking all the help I can get. thanks Greg
You see, that's why the first weightpull message board did not work. A guy asks how to get started (a common question) and the people that are currently pulling there dogs (i.e. people who could really help and answer the guys question) say nothing.
I did not respond because I have just started and am not the best person to give out advice. Ken, do you have something to add? I do IWPA pulls so I cannot help you out with ADBA or AB pulls but here are some links that I have that discuss weight pulling....
Thanks
Great job, Ingrid. Thanks for replying. I cannot add anything to it, I think those links said it all. I think they would definately answer his question on how to get started. I found them useful as well. Good luck with your future pulls!
Shows
The only advice I would give, Greg, is go to an AB show sometime. Usually on the Friday before the show starts they do demonstrations. The ones I have seen are usually pretty good. Then on the next day you can go to the show and watch the pull. Some pulls even have a novice class for first timers. So bring your dog, ask questions and have fun!!
Try doing a search on weight pulling...
The first site to come up will most likely be the IWPA... the group that started it all. All the other groups... the ABA, NKC, ABNA... etc. follow the IWPA guidelines. In fact all the groups other than the IWPA are more relaxed with the rules.
To start training... first off get a harness you aren't going to do ANYTHING without it. The harness MUST be either a "freight" harness or a racing harness... most pullers use the freight harness.
Walk you dog in the harness to get him/her used to the harness. You may have to pick up the trace and singletree behind the dog so it doesn't freak... it won't scare them after awhile and then again some dogs it doesn't bother in the first place.
After the dog is used to the harness add 10 or 15 pounds for your first few days of pulling. Go for short and long walks together. After a couple of weeks you should be pulling some substantial weight... say 40 or 50 pounds. Stay there for a week or so even if the dog is pulling it easily. Begin adding more weights until you finally are pulling at least the dogs weight.
What distance... everybody has their preference. I gage the distance on how my dog is doing and how hot the weather is. If it is 60 degrees F out then we go long, maybe one and a half to two miles... if it is 75 to 80 degrees F, we may only go a mile and if it is hotter than 80 degrees out... we don't go... I won't cause my dog to heat stroke just because somebody else says their dog does pull in that weather.
Types of weights to use for training: LOGGING CHAIN. 3/8ths weighs approximately 1.3 pounds per linear foot. It doesn't keep rolling when the dog stops so it won't hit them in the back of their legs. 80 feet of chain has more frictional resistance than a 4 foot drag sled with the same weight. You don't have to build the chain, and you can use it for other things... like pulling your brother inlaws car or truck out of the ditch after that party last night. You can buy several different lengths of chain and use them seperately or link them together with a large snap hook. AND you can add other weights such as window weights to a logging chain easily... or take them off... depends on how YOU work your dog.
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