Kowai

Yeah its kind of a crap time of year to start! :rolleyes: For the Victorian club theres only one more weight pull date left until next year! I can understand though - it'll be way too hot for the dogs to work over Summer You can order harnesses online at http://www.windchill.com.au/ I actually got to meet the lady who made Zach's harness from that site! The harness I got is really nice quality - I love it Though as your club says to start off you can borrow a harness. Just make sure not to use a sled harness - they're not meant for weightpulling! If you wanted to do something now though you could buy a harness offline, then attach it to a small tyre to get some practice in

Nothing like a good off-leash run at the park ;) I love just walking around and letting my dogs tear around - they can move so much faster than I can!

Thanks for the advice guys! Don't worry, Zach's all registered with the VCA and ready to go

Hey guys! Okay my club is having a double obedience trial at the end of October and I'm really considering entering It'll be my first trial too so it's pretty exciting! Does anyone have any advice on getting ready for it? How often do you train before a trial yourselves? Any common mistakes I should watch out for? Zach has gotten pretty good lately with most of the exercises - however his heeling work has gotten a bit sloppy. He's a bit slow to heel, lags a bit, goes a little wide, and sits a bit slow. Usually he's great in training when I have food - however when I'm in a mock trial without food, thats when he's slow to work! Any advice to speed him up a bit?

I'm just really getting into all the dog sports with Zach, and he just turned 6! I hope I'll recognise when its time.. But for now if he's willing, I'm going to continue on trying new things

I have a video here on This is his -first- pull of the day and so his technique isn't the best. He keeps jumping forward into the harness and its not working so well I was a bit concerned about that however for his next turns he would sit and bark at me for a few seconds until he finally put his head down and did some really nice pulls Less jumping around, and just some straight out nice and slow pulls I wish I had some videos of them but our camera was running out of batteries so we only got photos.--Edit-- Oh yes, if anyones interested in going to see the weight pulling - the next one is in October on the 21st of October, from 10am, at KCC Park

I don't think you can Of course you can only do as well as the effort you put into a sport - but who says you can't do that with more than one? I'm currently in Weight pulling, Agility and Obedience And I may go int Flyball down the track. Even if we don't do that well I think it keeps life a bit more interesting for Zach!

Omg he LOVES you for those!

Thank you guys! ;) I think it was mostly his "Don't leave me mummy, you're so far away!" Staffy mentality ;) He always had a little trouble getting started, but once he got that cart moving he just powered right into my arms ;) The bloody sook! I'm lucky Zach is quite a big staffy and he has such a big strong chest We're hoping to start weight pull with Kapo down the track too when shes old enough. It was cool to see other breeds participating - there was a Ridgeback, an American Bull Dog and a Blue Heeler competiting as well!

Thanks so much guys!! :rolleyes: Today was really fun, I can't wait til next time! Hopefully Zach will be able to pull even more!

Yay! Zach and I had our first weight pulling competition today at KCC Park with the Alaskan Malamute Club of Victoria I was so nervous that Zach wouldn't be able to pull the empty cart - but he managed to pull up to 370kg which is 15.81 times his body weight! We came second in our weight class (under 36kg) and we won "Best Pull of the Day" My boyfriend took some photos for me: Zach in his new weight pull harness! Go Zachy! Ribbons Uhh should we trust them to drive? Zach and Kapo in the car after a hard days work!

Just to show you guys why I called Zach "Thisis Sparta" I'll link you to a clip from the 300 movie. (The clips about 2 mins and what I want to show you is near the end ) "THIS IS SPARTA!!!" *KICK!* Aww Zachy's my little Spartan warrior

Georgie Porgie pudding and Pie? Oh wait - that is too long :rofl: :rofl: Umm.... Good luck Kowai! Dont ask what my ambitions are for my guys!!!! LOL -Ness and I have 'set the bar' high for our dogs ;)..... Have you got his CCD yet? Not yet I'm thinking of going to my first trial in October because my club is running a double trial then. It'll be good to start on familiar grounds I think and gives me time to practice! We need a bit! Zach is heeling a little wide lately and has taken to sitting when he's supposed to stand but he's gotten really good with pretty much everything else Especially his drops which he's ALWAYS hated doing for me! -- How about Pudding NPie for Georgie?

I posted this here for all the people involved in dog sports who compete You need to register a name to compete in trials etc - and I can't even show my dog as he's an associate! This weekend I'm going in my first Weight Pulling competition - wish us luck! My goal for Zach's name is: Thisis Sparta CCD WWPD (and whatever the first level of agility title is called!) WWPD = Working Weight Pull Dog I'll be so proud when we get our first title! Seeing everyone elses here is so impressive! Good work guys!

What are your dogs called? Zach's registered name is "Thisis Sparta" Inspired by the movie 300 where King Leonidus kicks a messenger into a well!

;) The first day I was at training I got yelled at for having a suposedly 'illegal' flat collar on my dog! Umm if it was illegal why was I able to buy it from a pet store? It had blunt studs on it, not spikes! Needless to say, I felt very intimidated my first day!

Your trainers an idiot All dogs can learn to focus and can become great at obedience! Some need longer than others, and they all have areas they have trouble with! Don't lose heart ;) Just stick with it and you guys will do well!

I'd just like to brag that Kapo has become really affectionate lately! It seemed a few months ago she was so aloof.. She wasn't licky or cuddly, and would sleep outside! Now she may go outside for a bit - but then she comes inside and sleeps on the bed! She's also starting to lick now and be really affectionate and cuddly! It's so cute

Augh I always mess it up and say "Come! Zach!" Ooooops! Listening to all this has made me realised I look down at him too much.. Need to keep my head up.. Hmm we need to work on his heeling too :D This wasn't at a trial, but yesterday I was training with Zach at a new park. I had him sit and I walked away for the recall. I turn around and he's looking at me. I call him...... He just sits there! Then sloowwwlllyy he gets up and sloowwwlllyy he walks towards me.. Oh, he stops for a sniff.. Okay lets keep walking.... He slowly sits. I tell him to return - sloowwwlllyy he walks around me, stops for a sniff... then slowly finishes! ;) Imagine if he did that at a trial!

It's surprising how addicted you get! I didn't start training with Zach properly until he was 4. (Almost 5) Now we're doing Obedience, Agility and Weight pulling! ;) It seems like every weekend I'm out there with him now!

Nope hes not too old at all! I'm starting agility too and my Zachy is 6

Zach and I tried weight pulling for the first time today! I finally got his harness in the mail, and the Alaskan Malamute Club had an introductory day today for the activities the club is involved in. I hooked Zach up to a small tyre and away we went! He did so well! I was worried he wouldn't like pulling but after a few tries he was really good at it and enthusiastic!! Next week we're going in a competition day!

How about you operate around Melbourne? It's beautiful and... cold.. and miserable here - great frisbee weather!

LOL - it looks impressive doesn't it!!!! In all honesty - I wouldn't say it's *harder*..... it's a different 'style' For me, the hardest would be keeping in time to music, thinking of moves..... oh and getting the dog to do distance. If you break it down.... they are a series of tricks that have been excellently proofed ;) Looks like fun though Zach would just look at me and be like "what." I guess the moves are just a series of commands for the dog - but man does that lady have great control! I can hardly coordinate my limbs when it comes to dancing, let alone dancing in time to music and controlling my dog too!

THAT'S FREAKING AMAZING!! :rolleyes: :rofl: That looks like it'd be WAY harder than obedience!