Weight Pull

Would you believe a 16 pound dog could pull a wheeled cart, and weights, that totaled over 2,000 pounds?
No, that's not a type-o. That is a Weight Pull Competition Dog. And this, may just be the sport you are searching for.


Weight Pull is literally the pulling of weight, either on a cart with wheels, or a sled with runners. The basic rundown, is that the dog must pull this weight a distance of 16 ft, without help. The dogs are organized by their weight class, and they have 1 minute in which to complete the pull. Sounds pretty simple right? Wellllll....Maybe not quite.

Back before cars, trucks and other heavy machines, dogs and horses did this work. Now, you might immediately think of Huskies and Malamutes when you think of dogs who pull, and you'd be right. Did you know the Bouvier Des Flandres was used to pull carts of milk for delivery? Or that the Newfoundland was also known as a freight dog?

And well before that, Native Americans and other peoples were using dogs to pull their things from place to place whenever the camp moved. The sport of Weight Pull is designed to highlight the Freighting heritage of our canine companions.
Since it's inception in 1984, the International Weight Pull Association (IWPA) has been allowing all kinds of dogs to participate. That 16 pounder I mentioned at the beginning of this article? A Jack Russell Terrier! Don't believe me, look it up ...amazing stuff.


As with any sport, there has to be some proper equipment and training involved to prevent injury to both yourself, and your dog. After all, he's the athlete. You wouldn't expect yourself to walk into a gym after months of sitting on the couch and suddenly bench press 350 lbs. Some conditioning is necessary. A visit to your vet to make sure your dog is fit to begin training for this is a must, as well as doing a ton of research. Check out some books on the subject, research some of the pull clubs in your area, and attend some events. Talk with the people involved in the events and meet the owners competing. You'll get a feel for who is consciously caring for their athletes, and who is probably more concerned about the Win, than their dogs. I suggest learning from someone who cares enough to drop out if they had to, in order to keep their dogs healthy.


With licensed veterinary clearance, and an investment in a custom fit harness, now is the time to work out a suitable training plan. And no, ground-swimming and yanking you down the street does not count. It may make you a good candidate to try Weight Pull, but a strong player with no rules cannot make the team. If you've decided you do want to try this, investing in a proper fitting freight-harness is an absolute must. Do not settle for 'cheap' or 'bargain' here. This piece of equipment is designed, and usually custom fit, to each individual dog to minimize the risk of injury. If you enroll in an IWPA competition, be prepared for the judges and affiliates to inspect you, your dog and what he's wearing prior to admittance in the pull. They do this to ensure safety. Can you believe the IWPA has never had an injury at a pull in all those years? That's right, since 1984 they haven't. And it's because of the rules.

 Once you've gotten the harness, start taking your dog for walks wearing it with nothing attached to it (keep your dog leashed for safety). You want this to be a comfortable transition, not something weird and scary. If you watch some of those pull videos (and please do look up the ones from official IWPA links) it is plain to see how much fun those dogs are having! Teaching your dog to be 'under control' is a must, as this is one of the stipulations for joining the IWPA pulls. Your dog cannot be just insane, he's got to have focus, drive, and he's gotta want to do this. Inhumane forcing or treatment to “make” him pull will not be tolerated.


There is some controversy as to the humane nature of this sport altogether. Some that are against it maintain that it is cruel or harmful to 'make' the dogs pull this weight. This point of view is understandable.

After all, a dog is all heart. Most of them don't know when their bodies can't take it anymore, and will continue to try and pull past what is safe for them. As a responsible person, it is your job to look out for the well-being of your dog at all times. Knowing what your dog is capable of within their safe limits, and knowing when to call it quits, before the judge has to, is the mark of a well-versed and educated handler. At some of the non-IWPA sanctioned events, there have been instances of pulled or torn tendons in knees, elbows, and other joints. Shoulder strain, and spinal injuries, due to poorly fit harnesses and heavy weights can happen too. And there are risks to the toenails, paw-pads, and bones in the feet and legs. There are physical risks you take involving your dog in any sport, but with Weight Pull, you are asking your dog to do something very physically demanding, so don't just jump in: Get Educated.


Being irresponsible in “conditioning” the dog is where one could say this is a 'cruel' thing to do. Hanging weights off your dog, or making them drag heavy objects around all the time is NOT the way to build a sound athlete. Strapping weights to your dog, just to see How Much He Can Handle is wrong. You can, and will hurt your dog. There are those competitive Humans who just can't say 'enough.' These people have caused severe injuries to the dogs they claim to love, because they just don't know when to throw in the towel. As mentioned, a dog is all heart.....Allowing them to continue just because you want a win; piling on more weight than you have trained for.....Not ok.


The atmosphere of the handlers and what they are allowed to say or do to their dogs, is closely monitored to ensure fun and safety. If at any time the IWPA judges deem your handling rough, or you are screaming at your dog in a way that seems to use intimidation, rather than encouragement, and if it appears that your dog can't or doesn't want to try, they will send you away. It's that simple. This is a sport that celebrates the working dog. And it is a fantastic workout and energy outlet for some of the more 'hyper', or strong breeds out there. Not to mention the bonding and behavioral bonuses you get from giving your dog a healthy place to put some of his pent up energy. Rottweilers, Huskies, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Jack Russell Terriers, Standard Poodles, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, you'll see them all, and many more at these events.

Training these athletes takes time, and attention to detail. Diet and proper exercise is only part of exposing your dogs full potential. Your Weight Pull dog must also enjoy crowds, and be balanced in their personality, so this can remain a safe event. No dog aggressive dogs, or dogs who don't like people will be allowed to compete. Start your training by walking a mile a day. Talk to professionals in the canine training industry. Interview several if you want help teaching your dog to be a world-class pull dog. Too much too fast can cause serious and sometimes irreversible injury or damage to your pulling pal, so be sure you have done thorough research. Make sure the mentors you have chosen to assist you are on the up-and-up as well. If someone boasts that they have trained “100's of dogs” for this, ask them for references. And, as always, make sure that whatever training that has been presented as the plan, gets run by your vet to make certain the program won't be too much for your dog. It is always better to go slowly, and build that athlete in wholesome, natural ways.


A pull dog who is trained properly, and built slowly will relish the chance to give it all he's got to out show the competition. Remember, this isn't something you can do on the weekends. Just like getting yourself in shape, if you don't have the time to dedicate every day to the conditioning and training this athlete will require, this may not be for you. That's ok, there are so many different dog sports out there, you're bound to find one that suits both your personalities.


There are several different clubs and organizations that now offer Weight Pull as a positive outlet for a strong dogs energy and strength. The United Kennel Club (UKC), the American Pulling Alliance (APA), the International Weight Pull Association (IWPA) and the Global Pulling Alliance (GPA) are all available online for your informational resources. There are also some breed specific weight pull clubs out there as well. The St. Bernard Club of America, and the Alaskan Malamute Club of America host events in different states most of the year. Do some digging and see if your dog has a club near you.


If you are interested in getting your dog started, visit a competition without your dog. This will give you a chance to check it out as a spectator. You'll be able to ask questions, meet some people, and see it this is the sport for you.

The Unprepared Rescuer

Whew! January just flew by!  I have recently been through a bit of a roller coaster ride, but fear not Dear Readers, I am still here.  My rant of this day concerns Humans with the best of intentions, but absolutely no common sense.  Yes, yes, I fear there are a lot of them out there; we've all probably been guilty ourselves at one point or another.  I would specifically like to address the issue of The Unprepared Rescuer.

What is an Unprepared Rescuer?
Someone who sees an animal in need, and takes it.  No matter what kind of home situation they may have at their own place, they "rescue" this animal, and then bring it home.  They usually have a Love is Enough philosophy.  Anyone who has read any of my other posts most likely knows by now that is certainly is not enough, and that a lot can go in to helping a physically, or emotionally damaged animal.  Especially a Dog.

They don't bother with any kind of Decompression Stage for the dog, and they don't take any precautions to acclimate this rescue to their new home, or the other animals, or children in it.  The Unprepared Rescuer is usually short on crates, or doesn't believe in them, and places these new animals in potentially fatal situations with their other dogs.  Now, this may not apply if the Unprepared Rescuer does not have any other pets, or kids, and in that case it may become a learning experience that both Human and Dog can grow in together.  I am referring to these things I see on Facebook, or these kind-hearted Humans who have to invite me over to help, after the dog has done something they can't take back.

In one recent posting, an Unprepared Rescuer had brought in an animal from a situation where bad things were happening; evidenced by scars all over this dog's head. Apparently this is an unaltered animal, and this dog had killed one of the other dogs in the house.  Resulting in this poor dog being chained in the backyard.  Not ok.  Read further down the post comments, and it is revealed that the dog was "doing fine" until she had puppies......really?!?  I do not know if the dog was pregnant when  "rescued" or if this was something that happened because this person who wanted to "save" this dog from the abuse she was suffering did not take her other dogs into account.  This is a sad story that could have been prevented.

The Unprepared Rescuer in this case most likely should have taken this dog to a shelter facility.  Yes, there is a high possibility that this dog would not make it out of the shelter alive (she is a pitbull), but now she is on a chain in someone's backyard.  Square one.  Or perhaps the dog would have been in a better way, had this Human had her spayed (again, I don't know enough to understand how this dog came to be pregnant), done a crate and rotate, and allowed this dog to properly decompress before allowing any free-time to be spent with the other animals in the home.

As a Professional, I know there were most likely other warning signs that this dog was headed into a problem, but they were either ignored, or just not noticed by the Human.  This is understandable, I do not expect everyone to be as obsessed with the subtleties of dog body language as I am, that's my job. But expecting a dog who came from a bad place to not have some kind of issue with some things....well.....

In other cases, I see Humans with big hearts taking on a dog who "would have been put down" if not for their big hearts.  That's fantastic, but if it's too much for you, it is not helping the dog at all.  And it certainly isn't helping you.  Or dogs invited into homes and turned loose with toddlers, only to bite them, and now it's the dog's fault.  Nope.  You, kind Human, did not take any time to see if that dog would be alright with the kids being so close to him.

Still others take in more animals then they can afford, and that animal who started out in a bad situation has now jumped to one where veterinary care, or even food is in short supply because someone's heart outweighed their common sense.

I am not saying you should ignore an animal who needs you.  Far from it.  Please do.  Make that choice and save that dog.  Bring that dog home.  But do some research on it as soon as possible! Place the rescue in a safe, peaceful place, away from your chaos.  Use a crate, and if you are violently opposed to the idea of a "cage" for this animal you know nothing about, then at least keep them in a room by themselves for a bit until they can decompress.  Remember that article from zenpetsupples.com about how to properly introduce a new dog to your existing dog?  No?  Here, copy and paste into your browser if you'd like to check it out:

 http://blog.zenpetsupplies.com/introducing-a-new-dog-to-the-house/

I know a woman who is a virtual magnet for stray dogs.  She is a Professional Dog Walker/Pet Sitter, and it seems every time she leaves the house (practically) she finds another dog who needs her.  She is what I like to call The Perfectly Prepared Rescuer.  For instance, she once found a dog at a public park who was too afraid to be caught.  She worked in conjunction with Animal Control, and other people to help her over a few weeks to finally catch this dog.

After catching him (FINALLY) she took him home; to her finished basement where she had set up a kennel, and had that inside a room with a closing door.  She then also had her husband (bless this man!) put a swinging door at the bottom of the stairs, so that in case someone forgot to shut the door at the top of the stairs, there was another stop between this dog and the rest of her house.

Over the next weeks, she rotated this dog with her other three dogs so that if he was in the backyard, the others were in the house.  Again, with more than one door to separate them.  As this progressed, she got helpers to start walking him around ONE of her dogs at a time....Can you see where this is going?  She took her time to ensure the rescued guy could integrate in a slow fashion, and now he is a loved member of the pack.

Your dogs see any new dog as an outsider.  Even though you may have a huge heart, (I know I have made myself late to work a time or two because I was catching a dog on the side of the road) and you just have to Rescue that dog....Think about all that will entail, and get some help.  You aren't alone in this.  As a community, dog people are usually pretty eager to help.

We can feel like a judgmental bunch sometimes, but just as The Unprepared Rescuer, our hearts are in the right place.  Ignoring that growl, or that snap, or that cowering in the corner because you think Love is Enough, and You Can Do It Yourself, is foolish.

It's not the Same Dog: Why comparing your new adoptee to your old Angel, just isn't fair.

You've adopted something different this go 'round. You've decided to 'try' a new breed, or something caught your eye at the shelter, and you weren't expecting it to, but you now have an entirely new dog, with an entirely different personality in your life, and you may be having second thoughts. Don't worry, this is natural. Especially if you are accustomed to a certain 'kind' of dog, and now this 'new gal' seems to be presenting all kinds of 'bad' behavior, or behavior that you just have never experienced before.

As we've talked about before, the good news is, your proper handling and training can usually trump anything that is cropping up. The “bad” news, you have to throw the idea that this dog will be anything like your old dog out the window. Throw it far, and throw it hard, because this is a new beast. It's kind of like dating someone new...You know your new partner is a Human (or at least, you hope they are) but they are so different than your last. You can't help but compare them somewhat, but the future of your relationship is bound to go up in flames if you do not let go of the prior experience. Not to mention, your new partner is sick and tired of hearing about your ex.....


You chose a different dog because something caught your eye. Something in that dog touched your soul, for a reason. Someone told me once “You always wind up with the dog you need,” and I feel like this is so very true. You may not feel the all encompassing love you harbor for your ol' friend, but one day, that new dog is going to do something that will make your heart swell (if they haven't already) and you will know you did the right thing. For now, realizing she is a completely strange animal to you, and being ok with that, will greatly help your chances.


I hated one of my dogs when we first brought him home. Sure, my daughter picked him out, but ultimately, I (being the responsible parent-figure) made the decision to pull him from the city pound. Something about him made me smile.  So after spending an hour and a half with him at the shelter, I went home and picked up the rest of the family to return and adopt him.

He was horrid!  He wasn't housebroken at 2.5 years old; he was extremely dog aggressive; he ran away any chance he could slip out the door; he destroyed the house and got into the trash; he ate lego pieces; he chased our cat; worst of all, he bit my kid hard enough to break skin.  I resented him not only for his personality, but also because I was grieving so deeply for my old dog.  I wasn't ready for another dog. 

This poor guy was just being himself, and here I was hating him because he was so very different from my perfect pitbull.  He was just wrong all the way around.....He wasn't responding to me the way I expected him to (I'd been working many clients' dogs, but have personally only owned pitbulls for years) I even tried to convince my family that we may need to return him, or home him, or something, after the biting incident.  He had awakened the Momma Bear in me, and I was concerned he'd hurt someone.  My frustrations only made him worse.  My family wasn't helping adhere to the rules he needed to be better, and I was feeling like a failure as a Dog Teacher because of this little 35 pound monster. 

When I talked to my family about him, and told them we should find a different situation for him, they told me the best piece of advise I've ever heard in my life:


"We don't give up on family."


wow......................what a jerk I was.  I realized the very piece of advise I am sharing with you, dear Reader and Dog Lover.  He was not the same dog as my angel, and I was putting too much pressure on a rescue animal with a past I knew nothing about, to shape up in My Time.  I was demanding he change and do things My Way, as my previous dog had so easily done.  I was blinded by my grief.  Not fair.

After this painful realization, I took a deep breath and a few steps back.  Instead of seeing him as this huge problem, I tried to see him as just another client.  This helped me to see what was really going on....I was the problem.  Not him.  He forced me to become a better, more objective Dog Teacher.  He taught me (and is STILL teaching) to be creative and patient in my methods.

I love pitbulls because they will do what you ask.  Once you teach them something, it is usually there for life, and they have this gigantic heart full of love; this heart makes them want to be with you and to please you.  This dog was, and still is, extremely self-serving.  But because I was finally seeing him for Who he is, instead of Who I Wanted Him to Be, and accepting him for that, we were finally getting somewhere.

He used to snarl and jump away if you tried to pet him while he slept....these days, he's one of the most loving, cuddly guys I've ever met. 

His intelligence blows my mind.   He learns anything I decide to teach him.  He still makes me nuts some days (these are usually times I tell him that his Jack Russell is showing).  He talks to me, a lot.  He watches out for his "brother," who eats things that aren't edible...Most recently, out of what I thought to be a deep sleep, he hopped off the couch, disappeared for a moment and returned with 3/4's of a soaking wet tennis ball that his brother was devouring.  This he deposited in my lap and immediately curled up to sleep again. 

The point is, I had to let go of my preconceptions of what he should be, so he could be what he was for Real.  He is amazing.  And after three and a half years, I love him fiercely.  He is still not anything like my other dog, but he is amazing in ways so different from her.  He taught me to be a better person. 

So take a good look at that dog you've chosen, and take a step back.  Realize they are coming from a place you will never know.  Get to know this animal as an individual.  Contact a Teacher and figure out a better way to communicate with that Dog.  I promise, you'll figure out why your inner Self chose that one.  I promise you won't be disappointed.

Special Thanks to my dear friend, Kathrine, for telling me he was the dog I needed, 

when I was at my most frustrated with this guy.