Why Pull?
What are the pulling sports?
There are a small handful of dog sports that
involve pulling: weight pull, carting, mushing, scootering, bikjoring, skijoring,
bladejoring, canine-x.
Weight pulling
is just what it sounds like: a large number of weights are placed on a sled or wagon and a single dog pulls it a few
feet. The weight involved here can be well over a thousand pounds,
sometimes over 2,000 pounds! The surface may be hard like asphalt, or may be snow/ice.
Carting involves
hooking up a dog to a cart or wagon. Frequently (usually)
there is more than one dog involved in a team. The thing they are
pulling can have 2, 3, or 4 wheels and must have shafts. At a
bare minimum
the shafts insure the cart stops when the dog(s) stop. The shafts also
assure that the thing being pulled follows the dog(s) - the dog(s) do
the steering. Pulls can last
multiple miles. The general rule of thumb is that the dogs should not
pull more than three times their combined weight over flat,
smooth
surfaces.
Mushing is
similar to carting, but there are no shafts involved. The dogs are
further away from the thing they are pulling, and it is the
responsibility of the driver to see to it the thing being pulled
does not overtake the dogs. The thing being pulled may rest on wheels
or runners. Typically there are multiple dogs involved, and they pull
over multiple miles. Runners are used if the surface is covered with
snow or ice, otherwise wheels are used. Races without snow or ice are
called dryland events.
Bikjoring, skijoring, bladejoring
all derive their names from skijoring. Skijoring involves harnessing
dogs directly to a person on cross-country skis. In bikjoring the dogs
are harnessed to a bicycle. In bladejoring they are harnessed to
someone on roller blades.
Canine-x
involes running cross country with a dog. Typically, a skijoring
harness is used on the person but the dog is not expected to actually
pull, just to keep up.
Is this sport safe for my dog?
People have been using dogs to pull loads (sometimes called
"drafting") for thousands of
years, and some breeds were designed specifically to pull. Just as with
human sports, dog sports should not be attempted with serious physical
defects (hip dysplasia, arthritis
...). But if your dog is not an out-of-shape senior citizen all these
sports should be safe. Please check with your vet!
Will my dog like it?
Probably but not certainly. Some dogs like some sports but not
others. If your dog's health is good
(check with your vet!) give it the chance to try this sport. You'll
know pretty quickly if the dog likes it!
What if my dog doesn't like it?
There are a lot of dog sports out there: mushing, carting, flyball,
obedience, agility, dancing ... if you try something and your dog
doesn't enjoy it, you don't have to do it again! You'll know pretty
quickly, and
there will be no harm done. We would never try and force a dog to pull
if they don't like it!
How much will it cost?
Getting started in the pulling sports with GVDD costs nothing. We have
harnesses, rigs, and experienced people willing to help you. If you
decided you want to continue you'll probably need to buy your dog a
harness (online, for about $20). If you really love it and want to
compete you'll need a rig, but if your interest is primarily casual the
harness will be all you need. For that matter, even if you do want to
compete, our competitive members are frequently looking for an
additional dog or two to round out their team. Rigs can be
home-made if you are handy, and many dryland competitions have a class
for bikejoring: if you already own a bike you already have your rig!
How do I get started?
Just contact us. If the weather is not too warm we
meet most Saturday mornings. PLEASE DRESS APPROPRIATELY FOR THE
WEATHER!!! If the weather is cool or cold, it will seem colder
when you are standing around outside dealing with your dog. Dress
warmer than you think necessary!
One final thing...
Most dogs really want a job to do. That job may be
flyball, obedience, or just chasing a frisbee. They want quality time
with their beloved human family, and if they don't get these things
they may decide to find their own job that will get them the attention
they crave. The job they choose (destroying a couch or a wall, or
digging through the rug) may not be one you'd like. While a few dogs
seem perfectly happy lounging around all day most dogs really want to
move. A lot of unpleasent behavoir stems from dogs having no acceptable
way to release their energy. Mushing is one way to give dogs an
acceptable outlet for their energy.