Weight Pull training
There is many different ways to train your dogs to pull. The best way to do it is to start young. Get your puppy used to its harness, just as you would a collar and leash, but don’t let your pup to pull until they are at least 6 months old and then only very light objects. As your dog gets older you can gradually increase the load. Start off with the dog dragging a small bike tyre or something similar around behind it on harness for a while. The emphasis is not on weight, but to get used to pulling a light object behind it.
It is important to realize that you can injure a puppy's bones, structure, and spirit by doing too much. As they get used to it try to increase the weight by adding a second tyre or changing for a larger tyre and gradually increasing the weight over time.
To train adult dogs, or continue the puppy training as an adult, is relatively simple. Some dogs are natural pullers, others are not. Some dogs take right to the harness the first time, and other dogs, even ones from reputable breeders, may take extensive training. You just never know. It is vital to get the dog to lean out and keep the line between it and you taut. Some dogs have a real problem with this, others do not.
For problem dogs the cause is usually is due to the dog not liking you running behind him/her, if you do have any problems, there are a variety of methods you can use. As long as you make training a fun game, and you make the dog understand what you want it to do, training will progress quickly, even for stubborn dogs, like Siberians huskies. Some mushers feel that it is best to train dogs to pull lots of weight, and then speed comes naturally in a race without the weight. Others feel that speed and endurance training is best. Still others feel that a combination works best, similar to the combination training for the musher. Training for speed and endurance by mushing shorter distances at top speed and up hills is beneficial. Loping along at 3 or 4 miles an hour for 15 or 20 miles is also beneficial. Both of these build strength and endurance. Pulling heavy weight for short distances is also quite good, particularly for wheel dogs (the ones hitched closest to the sled).
Whichever method you use, just remember to take it easy with your dogs and not to over do it. “Practice makes perfect!”. You can't expect that everything will go the way you wanted it to so don't lose your temper because it's supposed to be fun for both you and your dogs. Its good exercise for all dogs but for the Northern Breeds for example Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes they are born to do this and they love it!
There is many different ways to train your dogs to pull. The best way to do it is to start young. Get your puppy used to its harness, just as you would a collar and leash, but don’t let your pup to pull until they are at least 6 months old and then only very light objects. As your dog gets older you can gradually increase the load. Start off with the dog dragging a small bike tyre or something similar around behind it on harness for a while. The emphasis is not on weight, but to get used to pulling a light object behind it.
It is important to realize that you can injure a puppy's bones, structure, and spirit by doing too much. As they get used to it try to increase the weight by adding a second tyre or changing for a larger tyre and gradually increasing the weight over time.
To train adult dogs, or continue the puppy training as an adult, is relatively simple. Some dogs are natural pullers, others are not. Some dogs take right to the harness the first time, and other dogs, even ones from reputable breeders, may take extensive training. You just never know. It is vital to get the dog to lean out and keep the line between it and you taut. Some dogs have a real problem with this, others do not.
For problem dogs the cause is usually is due to the dog not liking you running behind him/her, if you do have any problems, there are a variety of methods you can use. As long as you make training a fun game, and you make the dog understand what you want it to do, training will progress quickly, even for stubborn dogs, like Siberians huskies. Some mushers feel that it is best to train dogs to pull lots of weight, and then speed comes naturally in a race without the weight. Others feel that speed and endurance training is best. Still others feel that a combination works best, similar to the combination training for the musher. Training for speed and endurance by mushing shorter distances at top speed and up hills is beneficial. Loping along at 3 or 4 miles an hour for 15 or 20 miles is also beneficial. Both of these build strength and endurance. Pulling heavy weight for short distances is also quite good, particularly for wheel dogs (the ones hitched closest to the sled).
Whichever method you use, just remember to take it easy with your dogs and not to over do it. “Practice makes perfect!”. You can't expect that everything will go the way you wanted it to so don't lose your temper because it's supposed to be fun for both you and your dogs. Its good exercise for all dogs but for the Northern Breeds for example Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes they are born to do this and they love it!
