K-9 weight pull is a competitive sport available to any breed of dog in which determination is rewarded. The art of pulling with dogs is not a new one as man has asked canines to pull carts, sleds and wagons for centuries. In that time many breeders have began to use weight pull as one of their ways to help determine quality breeding stock. People have many misconceptions about weight pull and think it is harmful to the dog and we make the dogs pull massive weights they cannot handle. On the contrary, no respectable organization allows a dog to be leashed or tethered during a weight pull so the dog does not have to pull if it does not want to and when proper training is applied a dog will have much better physical fitness. Others may think that this will cause hip dysplasia but if done correctly a dog will have stronger hip, leg and shoulder muscles causing less stress on hips and other joints.

There are several different types of weight pulls. Each pull has its owned determined surface to pull on. Suitable surfaces are dirt or grass considered natural surfaces, carpet with concrete or asphalt underneath that is called a carpet pull or weight pulls on snow or ice shavings for a snow pull. Pulling directly on concrete or asphalt is harmful to the dogs pads and nails and should never be pulled on. The safest environment for the dog is always the most important thing.

Canine weight pulls are broken down into weight pull classes. lf weight pulls start at the lowest weight or empty cart if the handlers chooses and then proceed each round with a set weight increment depending on the size of the dogs in that class. Each dog proceeds to the next round unless they fail to pull the weight the full length of the track in a certain time frame, if the handler removes their dog knowing it has reached its successful limit or if the handler has been disqualified for breaking one of the rules.

As each round is finished, successful dogs will continue on through to the next round. The pulling will continue until only one dog is left making a successful pull.

Man has bred dogs for hundreds maybe even thousands of years to have certain traits to please it owners. Its love and eagerness to please its owner combined with strength and determination that make many different types of dogs suitable for weight pulling. It takes a good handler or trainer to make this a fun and exiting sport for the dogs and when a good handler is combined with a good dog it sure is something to see!

Taken from pulldoggies.com

For more information please contact Lincoln Hancock - 0409 135 800