What is dog pulling?

It is believed that the first organizer and founder of dog pulling – a tug-of-war competition among dogs – was the Russian United Commonwealth of Breeders and Fans of the American Pit Bull Terrier Breed. And the name comes from the English combination dog pulling, which literally means “pulling dog”.

How are the competitions going?

• Dog pulling competitions are usually held in three weight categories, and partners are always selected from the same group: 1 group – up to 25 kg, 2 group – from 25 to 35 kg, 3 group – from 35 to 45 kg;

• The length of the main projectile – a rope or sling for pulling – is about 3 meters. The judges calculate its middle and make a note;

• An opaque wall-fence is installed between the participants, thanks to which the dogs do not see each other;

• After the permission command, the animals must grab the rope and pull it towards themselves.

In dog pulling, a point system for evaluating winners is adopted. So, each participant during the round is awarded points at the rate of 10 seconds – 1 point. The dog that pulled the rope is also entitled to an additional 10 points. The judges keep the standings. The dog with the most points wins.

Particular attention is paid to the discipline of the participants in the competition. For a dog fight, provocation of an opponent and disobedience, penalty points are awarded. Handler’s attempt to help the ward is also punished. Moreover, the misbehavior of the owner can cause a fine, and for gross violations, participants are disqualified.

Who can participate?

As in many other sports, there are no restrictions on dog breeds in dog pulling. Both thoroughbred animals and mestizos can participate in competitions, the main thing is the passion of the pet and his desire to pull the rope. But the palm in this sport traditionally belongs to the group of terriers: the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Puppies younger than 10–12 months old cannot participate in such competitions: there is a chance of damaging the dog’s jaw that has not yet formed.

Training

You can train a dog for dog pulling both independently and with a cynologist. Very often, the process of preparing for competitions coincides with the time of passing the general course of training.

If you decide to train your pet alone, the main thing is not to rush. You can not immediately offer a rope to a puppy in the hope that it will interest the pet. First of all, it is worth introducing him to soft toys that you can gnaw and bite – this will develop a reflex and interest in such activities.

At about 6-7 months, you can play with the dog, imitating tugging. But this must be done very carefully. Carefully monitor the change of the pet’s teeth and the formation of the correct bite.

A little later, you can move on to more serious and lengthy workouts. It is also advisable to build a special home dog pulling simulator. To do this, you need a rope, mount and Swedish wall.

Particular attention in training is paid to the correct grip and setting of the jaw during tug of war.

When choosing sports activities for a dog, pay attention to the character and temperament of the pet. Active training is suitable for especially energetic animals, and strength training is suitable for large and muscular animals to keep them in great shape.