These are
events that you can get involved in, with your dogs, any kind of
dogs. It helps build conditioning, stamina and focus. We have
some photos of the Minnesota Mixed Breed Club's UKC Weight Pull
Trials on April 14, 2007. Several other clubs hold these events,
so it is not limited to any kind of breed of dog.
Ann Porwoll,
a member of our Heart of Minnesota Great Dane Club has been
training with her brindle Great Dane, Akena, recently and Akena
loves to pull. Ann says Akena has really built up muscle mass
all over her body.
Ann, Akena and
Judge Danny Bessant
Ann has been
mentored by Robbie and Tim Hiltz of A-1 Dog Training. Robbie and
Tim have been trying to build up interest in these events around
the Twin Cities so that more dogs can participate and have fun
too. Ann can attest to the fact that not just Akena is working
and having fun, but she is also getting a workout while
anxiously coaxing Akena to pull as fast as she can. Sometimes
Ann has to hurry and get out of her way once she starts pulling.
Akena is fast!!!!
You can
start out teaching your dog that there is something behind them
with just a plastic milk bottle with a few rocks in it to add a
little weight make a little noise. After they are used to that
you can use an old tire with a rope attached to it and have them
pull that behind them. A Great Dane will graduate pretty fast
because of their size and strength. It is best not to start
pulling heavy things until they are at least a year old so that
most of their growing is done.
Ann and
Akena started pulling this past winter (2006-2007) outside in
the snow with a sled on skis. After experiencing several falls on her
back and posterior, Ann discovered the use of cleats on the bottom of her
boots from a spectator. A trip to Fleet
Farm clinched the deal and all was well for the next pull.
You aren't
allowed to touch your dog while they are pulling, unless your
time is up for a particular pull. Then it is encouraged to help
the dog follow through the rest of the pull with praise so they
learn it is a fun event. Hopefully they will do better the next
time, which could be shortly after the last pull.
An event
lasts until the last dog is left to pull the highest weight of
the day. Akena and Rikki, Robbie and Tim's St. Bernard, were
neck and neck pulling their weight class in April so they were
both getting real tired. After getting up to 1800 lbs. of cement
blocks placed on a cart to pull, the cart wheels start to
flatten out slightly, so it is harder to get started pulling at
that weight. Once they get the cart moving, usually the dog will
finish the pull.
The weekend
of April 14th and 15th, 2007 they had the experience of pulling
with a cart on wheels indoors at Tails Up Dog Training in
Lakeville, MN. They came in 2nd place for the day which is
pretty exciting! Robbie and Tim have great praise for Ann and
Akena. Robbie says they have come a long ways real fast.
Akena pulling a load of cement blocks as an assistant
and a brakeperson attend the pull.
You can see the skis on the inside by the tires under
the cart. The tires are taken off for use in the winter
time for outdoor pulls.
Another
pull with more cement blocks added to the load.
Go Akena!!!!
Akena
pulled 2060 lbs. of cement blocks on Saturday and 2174 lbs
on Sunday that weekend. She earned her 1st leg toward her
weight pulling title on Saturday and her 2nd one on Sunday,
when she came in 2nd place over all again that day too.
Mary Ann Land and
Lyn Peterson were part of her cheering section that
day. It was just amazing to them how much a dog can
really do, and she liked doing it too! Once she got
going, there was just about no stopping her. She was
really excited!!!
Here
is a link to an article that Mary Anne Zanetos wrote for
Dane World a few years ago when she was participating in
Weight Pulling with her dane
Carmen, CH Rojon's Loveletter.
See more photos
from that day's event.
Can-OTCH A/C CH Danehaven’s Rolling Thunder UDX, C-UDTDX, U-Cdx, HC, WDX
S.A.M.S & NWDC Event - April 28, 2007
March 14, 2009 Weight Pull Clinic
Weight Pulling Links