How to Train a Pit Bull for Weight Pulling

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How to Train a Pit Bull for Weight Pulling

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1-6 Months

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Introduction

The Pit Bull is a powerful, muscular, low-built dog that looks like it was made to pull. In fact, Pit Bulls do love to pull. They are eager workers and love to please their people, and so pulling is an activity that they enjoy. Because pulling a cart or weight expends energy while still requiring a good deal of self-control, this is a great training tool for the energetic and sometimes impulsive Pit Bull. A Pit Bull in harness knows there is a job to do and will learn to focus on doing that job. This teaches self-control, which is one of the most important skills for a powerful breed dog like the Pit Bull to achieve.

A Pit Bull without a job to do may become destructive or act out against other dogs or people. Pit Bulls feel the drive to be helpful, and if they are not given something useful to do they may make up their own job, which is not likely a job you are going to like. The powerful jaws and muscular neck of a Pit Bull can make quick work of your couch or even your door. A Pit Bull who learns her job is to be strong and reliable for you when she is out pulling will be happy to nap on your sofa between work sessions.

Defining Tasks

While the Pit Bull is generally a sturdy, powerful breed, some Pit Bull are prone to back injury. Have your dog checked by your vet to make sure your best friend won't hurt herself in your new activity. Pit Bulls are so willing to please many will not hesitate to suffer pain and injury for their human, without even seeming it feel it. For this reason, it is especially important that your loyal friend is healthy enough to undertake training.

While Pit Bull compete in power pull events in which they dislodge and pull hundreds of pounds, this is a professional canine athletic activity that only very experienced trainers and dogs should undertake. Start slowly with light weights and short sessions until your dog builds strength. If your Pit Bull is under two years of age, don't build up weight until bones and muscles are fully developed. Even puppies can pull light weights and carts, but never cause young dogs to strain into pulling.

Getting Started

Most Pit Bull parents learn that their dog is more than willing to pull, pretty much any chance they get. The challenge with Pit Bulls more about reining in their love of pulling than in encouraging pulling. If your dog doesn't seem to get the idea, you can use a toy or food motivator to get her going. It is often best to start with your dog wearing the harness and you providing the resistance so that your dog learns the feel of the harness pulling without the sense of something being dragged behind and attached to her. Once she is very comfortable with the harness you can move towards pulling a light weight or cart.

Pit Bulls are prone to overheating due to their short nose, so be careful that your sessions are short and your dog can drink plenty of water, especially if your dog has an especially squat face.

The Start with Cart Method

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Step

Fearless pup

Many dogs are made nervous by being hooked up to a cart if they have not pulled anything before, but some Pits are pretty fearless and may not mind.

Step

Empty cart, good control

Start with an empty cart and make sure you have good control over your Pit so she will not be startled and take off.

Step

Gentle leading

Gently lead your Pit around pulling the cart until she is comfortable with having it behind her.

Step

Gradually increase weight

Gradually increase the weight in the cart, making sure your pit is completely comfortable with each stage.

Step

Begin to trust

As your pit builds confidence you can begin to trust her not to run off with the cart, and try riding in the cart yourself to guide her.

The Pull Me Method

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Step

Energetic Pit

This technique relies on a Pit Bull who is already energetic and ready to run. If your Pit Bull drags you down the road when you go for a walk, your dog is a good candidate for this method.

Step

Get wheels

Whether you are comfortable on a skateboard, roller blades, or a bike, choose the wheeled device that works best for you and that you feel confident controlling and able to stop.

Step

Let your Pit pull

Choose a location without any vehicles and not too much pedestrian traffic. Your dog is going to want to run and you want to let her get the energy out.

Step

Develop control

Once your Pit has run out her initial energy she should settle into a steady pulling pace. Practice turning, slowing, and stopping.

Step

Add weight

As your dog gains confidence and strength, you can add weight to what she is pulling, whether that means adding weight to you wheeled device or hooking your Pit to a cart.

The Increasing Weight Method

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Step

Drag lines

Start by hooking your Pit up in her harness to drag lines with no weight attached.

Step

Practice until comfortable

Have your Pit practice pulling the empty lines until she is comfortable with having something drag behind her.

Step

Add light weight

Attach something light, not wheeled, to the straps. A rolled up towel or piece of cardboard work well.

Step

Increase weight

Increase weight gradually until your pit is getting good exercise from pulling

Step

Add wheels

If desired, you can add a wheeled device now that your dog is very comfortable pulling.

Written by Coral Drake

Published: 04/20/2018, edited: 01/08/2021

Success Stories and Training Questions

Training Questions and Answers

Question

Lara

French Mastiff

2 Months

0 found helpful

Question

0 found helpful

Lara

French Mastiff

2 Months

What is the right age to pulled the weight

4 months, 3 weeks ago

Lara's Owner

Caitlin Crittenden

Dog Trainer

946 Dog owners recommended

Hello Ajay, You can train pup commands like left, right, stop, and go at any age. You can also get pup used to pulling something that's extremely lightweight as a puppy at any age going forward. I would ask your vet when they feel pup is ready for any weight training. I am not a vet. Generally, most dogs don't begin any exercise that's too strenuous until they are at least one year of age because their growth plates have not closed until then, and they could be more prone to injury. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

4 months, 2 weeks ago

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Pete

Pitt Mix

15 Months

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0 found helpful

Pete

Pitt Mix

15 Months

He pulls me all the time I take him out

6 months, 3 weeks ago

Pete's Owner

Caitlin Crittenden

Dog Trainer

946 Dog owners recommended

Hello Carlos, I also recommend working on teaching heeling. Check out the Turns method from the article linked below. The weights could be a great addition to wear pup out sooner. Always check with your vet about weight training and start with lighter weights first, allowing pup to work up to heavier like a person at a gym would do, gaining muscles to support weights safely through practice before getting heavy. Turns: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

6 months, 2 weeks ago

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Question

Sariel

American bully

14 Months

2 found helpful

Question

2 found helpful

Sariel

American bully

14 Months

Hello

We are train 9-10 months with light weights on longer trips, ca 3 km. Started with ca 3 kg, now we add ca 2 kg more. I am wonder how/when shall I add weights (can see so he is not so much tired after training). I am also wondering if method with shorter trip and bigger weights is perhaps better? I will be grateful for information.

2 years, 6 months ago

Sariel's Owner

Caitlin Crittenden

Dog Trainer

946 Dog owners recommended

Hello Piotra, When to add weights depends a lot on how often you are training and how he is responding If you are training at least 2-4 times per week, then you will be able to increase weights faster because he will be building muscle faster, but watch him. When the current weights are easy for him and he is not very tired after the training, then increase it again gradually I don't suggest training more than 4 times per week though because muscles need a chance to repair between weight training - typically 1-2 days between weight training let's the muscles rebuild. Less weighs and long distance vs. more weight and shorter distance are both good but can build slightly different things. It might be worth doing both. Practice with less for longer 1-2 days per week and practice with more weight for shorter distances 1-2 days per week. Watch him carefully to make sure you are not overexerting him though. When in doubt it's better to go slower and ease into it. Look into how people weight train and prevent injury during the process. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

2 years, 6 months ago