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Weightpulling Question

Discussion in 'Dog Shows & Events' started by MOOT44, Jan 8, 2009.

  1. MOOT44

    MOOT44 Top Dog

    I have been involved in weightpulling for about 2 years and I am now finally really 'getting' it and understanding it. I have 3 dogs, 2 of them have GREAT form. 1 on the other hand, pulls about 90% or so w/ his back legs ONLY. He 'hits' it REAL hard, but his front 2 legs are either off the ground or are barely digging in.

    QUESTION:
    Are there techniques that I could do to get him to use those front legs? I have tried the leash, hooked to his collar. He is REALLY against that. He KNOWS he is supposed to come forward, but when it gets heavy, obviously he can't do it only using (for the most part) his back two legs.

    Special exercises he should do? Get a different harness, one that 'forces' him down more? Any ideas or suggestions would be appreciated:)

    Thanks,
    Andrew

    This is him below. You think his harness is 'riding' him high and kind of not letting him get lower? What do you all think?

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 8, 2009
  2. chinasmom

    chinasmom CH Dog

    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 8, 2009
  3. MOOT44

    MOOT44 Top Dog

    Yeah, I searched (before I opened a new thread) and found a lot of stuff, but nothing that could really help me out w/ this specific 'problem'. I want him LOW and digging w/ his front feet too. His back feet are like in cement, they don't slide at all. Hopefully someone can help:)

    Andrew
     
  4. chinasmom

    chinasmom CH Dog

    I edited my post.;)
     
  5. MOOT44

    MOOT44 Top Dog

    CHINA: Thanks........I am at work, so I can't see any of the pics from that post you just had. What else are you all thinking about how he pulls. Look at his harness, up too high? Is it toooooo long? You all like shorter harnesses, ones that don't go so far behind them? lets hear those opinions.........................
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jan 8, 2009
  6. Crystal621

    Crystal621 Big Dog

    Do you have a side shot of him in the harness?
     
  7. MOOT44

    MOOT44 Top Dog

    This is about the best I got, in terms of it being from the side.......

    [​IMG]
     
  8. chinasmom

    chinasmom CH Dog

    I am by no means qualified for advice here, but it looks to me like it's holding him up a little. Don't know. I'm sure more experienced people in this field can help you better. Good luck with him though. He looks good!!!
     
  9. Crystal621

    Crystal621 Big Dog

    The harness could be pulling him up, besides that it looks too big for him. The back straps are all in the air, not even touching him, and the front ones look too far back on his body.

    I like my harnesses to fit like a glove, not flappin' around. When I pulled Havoc last Nov, I didn't have a proper fitting harness, and I was told a harness that is too big can cost a dog 2-3 pulls.

    Other than that, he looks to have good form :)

    ETA: I have known some that will use a choke chain or a prong collar to train them to keep their heads down and keep pulling forward. I don't do it, or really like the idea of making the dog do it through corrections, but hey-different strokes for different folks lol.
     
  10. bahamutt99

    bahamutt99 CH Dog

    Just based on what I've seen, the nature of weight pull is such that dogs will do most of the work with their rears. That's why folks who think their dog would make a good pulldog because they've got a broad chest are missing the point. I don't know if I'd worry about making him use his front legs more. But I'm not a really competitive puller, so that's JMO. If you get a chance, you might want to ask Missy (MoPulldogs) to take a look at this. She trains up some nice pulling dogs and makes some good harnesses, too.
     
  11. MOOT44

    MOOT44 Top Dog

    Thanks for the responses.

    CRYSTAL: You think the harness is too big too? I would agree. Should the spreader bar be closer to the back legs?

    BAHA: I hear ya. However, I watch my other 2 dogs and their front legs are digging too. His front legs, are mostly just 'skimming' the ground and barely touching. I'll contact mo and see what she says.

    CHINA: Thanks for the response. I think he looks pretty good too, but, I think he's got a lot of potential if I could get him down and using the front legs more.

    Keep the responses a comin'......:)
     
  12. MOOT44

    MOOT44 Top Dog

    bump, bump, bumpity-bump, bump
     
  13. MoPulldogs

    MoPulldogs Big Dog

    Hey Andrew,

    I sent you a PM. I have used some of your photos to illustrate where the proper strap position should actually be on your dogs.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Proper harness balance and strap position is critical to your dogs performance on the weight pull track. No matter how hard your dog works or trys, if the harness is not right your dog will have a hard time. Imagine trying to move forward but the harder you try the more pressure is being put on your neck. Or that you are being pulled up the heavier the weight gets. This WILL put stress and strain on your dogs body and mind.

    Pulling style is very important when it comes to your dogs success in weight pull...and it is something that is inheritable just like structure.

    Proper harness fit from the very begining of training will encourage proper form. Pulling style can be fine tuned with the right training techniques. Unfortunately, if you have an older dog that has always pulled in a harness that made them tippy toe on their front end, a correct harness will help you but cannot fix what time has set in stone.

    A dog that tries and tries and never quits, but dosen't use it's front end..ie tippy toes or only pushes with it's rear end will have a very, very, very hard time beating a dog with the type of style the dog in the photo below has...
    [​IMG]

    The type of pulling style that is the most desireable is one where the dog take full extensions with both it's front and rear legs..not tiny frantic steps. A dog that keeps it's entire body parallel to the track and pushes with it's rear and pulls with is front will be very hard to beat. A dog with this type of style is very effective at moving the weight with the least amount of effort. And more than likely will be very fast at doing it, they will not get as tired round after round either.
     

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