An introduction to weight pulling - ElPresa.com

The sport filled a void, when breeders and owners discovered their dogs had a natural ability and great drive to compete in weight pulling. It also proved addictive. While all dogsports are fun and exciting, there is something uniquely stirring about weight pull. It is a test of raw power, of the heart and the drive to compete, and the teamwork of dog and owner. No other sport tests these qualities in quite the same way that weight pull does. It is a powerful test of greatness, and the bull breeds were natural competitors.
I have always felt that the Presa has much in common with the other bull breeds, and I believe that a well bred, athletic Presa should be competitive with the best dogs in the world. So I set out to see if this was true. I knew very little about the sport, and began my training cautiously. I did not buy a harness or begin my training until my dog was almost two years old. I made many mistakes.
Our first year was difficult and the first few competitions we attended were disappointing, but soon I could see that we were doing much better than it seemed. We were competing against some of the greatest bloodlines in the sport, and very nearly matching their performance. Sometimes we managed to come within a single pull of top ranked dogs, and at the same time I realized what was holding us back was simply mistakes I was making in training and in my handling during the competitions. I was competing against seasoned veterans after all, and I still had a lot to learn.


Bessie during a pull training sessions. Owner: Joe Brown	Brick during a pull training session. Owner: Joe Brown


Brick while pulls on the snow, the hardest pull	Brick pulling on the snow during a competition

By our third year of competition, my dogs had many impressive achievements. My female had qualified for the highest title at the International Weight Pull Association. She had pulled 3,000 lbs (1,364 kg) on wheels, 4,400 lbs (2,000 kg) on rails, and 1,150 lbs (523 kg) on snow. When we were at that snow pull, a world record was set, and my Presa had come within 160 lbs (73 kg) of the new world record, and beaten every other dog at the event, save one.
These achievements were not bad, but considering our circumstances, I felt that they were an important testament to the health, the strength, the athleticism, the drive and the heart of the Presa Canario. For we were competing against established breeders who bred, selected, trained their dogs for weight pull above all else, yet my dog was just an average Presa, whose ancestors had never been trained or selected for the sport. I was competing against some of the greatest competitors in the sport, people who dedicated themselves fully to weight pull, yet for me it was just a hobby. And despite these limitations, my dogs were giving the best dogs in the world some good competition.
I think I was able to show that any good Presa who has a big heart, a sound body, and a strong spirit, can be competitive in weight pull competition. I think that this ability is an important test of the quality of a Presa, and I believe that a Presa cannot be a good Presa, unless it can compete successfully in weight pulling.
Weight Pull is a fun and exciting sport. Like other sports there are terrific highs and lows you will experience as you compete. The thrill of competing successfully in a difficult field is an experience that you will carry with you always. And once you begin to succeed, there is no turning back, weight pull is in your blood.
To get started in weight pull, you don't need much more than a simple harness, something to pull like an old tire, and a flat surface to pull on. You can begin your training very early. Pups as young as 16 weeks can start wearing a harness and learn to pull when they're wearing it. I take my pups out for runs around that age, and always have them in harness, so they feel free to pull, not encumbered by a collar around the neck. It is good to run them with an older dog, who will teach them to "line out", which means to take up the slack in the line and run ahead of you. This is much the same training as with the mushing sports of sledding, skijouring, bikejouring, and scootering.


A cart specifically designed for the discipline of weight pulling	An older dog can be a great example for joung puppies


Brick pulling hard during a competition	Bessie seriously training in her own yard

While your Presa is growing you do not want to put them under too much stress, you should not place undue pressure on their growing bones or developing mind. At these early ages you are simply imprinting the puppy for the work that lies ahead later in life.
If you begin this early, you will likely go through two or three harnesses. You can fit a small harness at four months of age and get at least two months use from it, before the puppy grows too large and needs a new one. For the next few months you can use a simple walking harness, these are inexpensive and adjustable. Once your puppy has reached 10 months of age, it is time to fit a professional, tailor-made harness.
Take the measurements of your dog, and send them to a professional harness maker. There are several excellent sources of weight pulling harnesses in the references below. Make sure the harness maker knows the age of your dog, and how much growing is left to do. They will make the harness a bit loose to allow for growing room. You can tighten up the harness at the shoulders with some electrical tape, and let it out as the dog grows.
At this age, you want to begin to introduce the technical side of weight pulling, and start training with drag weights. These will be the two sides of your training from here on out. As the puppy grows into a mature dog, you will increase the level of exercise, and demand more effort.
For drag training, you attach an old tire or similar heavy article to the harness and train the dog to drag it behind them. You will start out with lighter weights and gradually increase the weight and the distance. This will develop both strength and style. Do not over burden the dog or put too much stress on them at a young age. Develop their strength slowly, have patience, and help the dog to have fun while training.
Once you have your professional harness, you can introduce your puppy to the weight pull cart and sled. You can buy or build your own cart and sled. This is where your real training begins. It is good to have a helper who will handle the cart for you. You will want to have good equipment, and a good surface to pull on. Take care to approach this part of your training carefully, to do things right and always keeping the experience positive for your dogs.
If all has gone well in the training and your dog is good, you will be ready for competition after your dog is a year old.


Brick pulling during a competition	A professional, tailor made, weight pulling harness


Brick pulling during a competition	Brick pulling during a competition

Here you can see a video clip of my Presa male Brick attending a IWPA competition in Yakima, Washington State (U.S.A.) and pulling 3.040 lbs (1.382 kg).

Size: 7.377 Kb

References:
There are several excellent professional harness makers in the United States, here are a few that I can recommend:
Harnesses By Carol - http://www.harnessesbycarol.com
PullDoggies - http://www.pulldoggies.com
Bulldog Construction - http://1bulldogconstruction.com
Nordkyn Outfitters - http://www.nordkyn.com

In the US there are three major venues for weight pull competition open to Presas:
United Kennel Club - http://www.ukcdogs.com/dogevents
International Weight Pull Association - http://www.iwpa.net
American Pulling Alliance - http://www.weightpull.com

Here are some miscellaneous articles and resources:
Dogscooter.com - http://www.dogscooter.com
Weight pull article - http://www.apbtconformation.com/weight_pulling.htm
Weight pull article - http://alaskansaint.com/Training.htm

Joe Brown
Joe Brown is a breed enthusiast who lives in the Nort West of USA. He is the owner of Brick (Ladrio de Hierro) and Bessie (Pride Rock's Elizabeth II) with whom he reached the highest titles in weight pull competitions.
If you want to contact Joe, you can write him an email at josebrwn@speakeasy.net