Weight pull can be great just to get your dog into shape, build a stronger bond with your dog or it can be very competitive. No matter what your goal is, weight pulling can be a way to get there.

Weight pulling is performed by the dog wearing a harness (these can run $50 - $100) and pulling a wheeled cart, a rail cart or a sled with weight on it.

You begin with a determined start weight and weight increments. This is determined before the days' pull begins in a handler meeting. Dogs are broken up into weight classes based on how much they weight (15 lbs., 30 lbs., .80 lbs., etc.).

When the pull begins, you have the option of passing up to two weight increments, then you must pull. You can then pass up to two weight increments again. If you and your dog are new, you may wish to not pass any increments. It is completely up to you. You then pull until you choose to stop or your dog will no longer pull.

Dogs are awarded a 1st through 4th placement within each weight class. Then there is an award for Most Weight Pulled and Most Weight Pulled by Percentage of all dogs entered into the weight pull.

For a complete list of rules, please see the UKC site (linked with www.ukcdogs.com). For information regarding training for weight pull, please see our links page.