When I try to drag my 100 pound dog with the tug in my hands like Bernard does I only succeed in lifting my dog for 90 degrees with all legs from the ground. My husband says the dog is too big for me (although I am quite strong and 5ft6inch) and that I should have gotten a chihuahua if i wanted to do that.
He once did succeed himself to do this in a complete circle, but after the lift he fell on his bottom . I have noticed in the DVD that the complete circle lift is done only with dogs smaller than GSDs (malinois etc). Can this be done with a large dog, and if so, how do I do it (whithout breaking my back)?

I meant circle, excuse me, english is not my native language

 Quote: Maria van den Ham

Can this be done with a large dog, and if so, how do I do it (whithout breaking my back)?

Not only would I be concerned with your back, but I would also be concerned about the dogs physical stature as well. If you cannot swing the dog in a circle correctly you could possibly hurt not only yourself but the dog as well.

What breed of dog? 100 lbs is a biggun. And what type of training are you doing with the dog?

You don't need to swing the dog in a circle, you can fight the dog side to side instead.

Thank you for the reply. My dog is a neutered 2 and 1/2 yr old GSD and I am building drive with Bernhard Flinks (for 4 weeks now). Neutered dogs tend to be heavy.

 Quote: Mike J Schoonbrood

You don't need to swing the dog in a circle, you can fight the dog side to side instead.

This is what I do. I can swing my dogs but I choose to do it just once in awhile.

Maria,

No need to swing the dog in a complete circle. If you can get his front feet off the ground, with you moving sideways one way to simulate an escape bite, and the other way waiving your one hand over his head to simulate an attack bite that is all you'll need. Also, unless your dog is HUGE he is fat. A fat dog has nothing to do with neutering, it has to do with too much food and not enough exercise. Unless you can feel ribs easily, he is heavy. Take 10 pounds off of him, and improve his health and energy while reducing the risks for all the joint problems our dogs have. It is possible to have a 100lb male GSD that is in shape, but not probable. Most 100lb GSD's really are 85lb dogs carrying an extra 15 pounds.

 Quote: John J. Miller

Maria,

Also, unless your dog is HUGE he is fat. A fat dog has nothing to do with neutering, it has to do with too much food and not enough exercise. Unless you can feel ribs easily, he is heavy.

John,
You pretty much said what I was thinking. I have two nuetered males myself and all others are intact and they are all able to keep their ideal weight with raw diet and exercise. Although my Bloodhound will pack on pounds when he is not working as much if I am not careful.



Maria,

Are you training with Berhnard or just with his methods?

John,

Thanks for your comment. Maybe I overestimated his current weight, he weighed about 40 kilos when he had anemia and did not eat, that was about 88 pounds if my calculations are correct. I have not weighed him lately but I think he is about 2 kilo's heavier, which equals 92,40 pounds. I will weigh him when I go to the vet again to be sure.
It is possible that my dog is a little heavier then most GSDs but my dog is in shape, he accompanies me on my 3.1 miles 3 or 4 times a week and could easily do twice the distance (but I work, so my time is limited) and still awaits eagerly to train afterwards. This dog is so fast in catching balls that you can kick a ball with your foot and he will catch it from a very short distance . You know much more about dogs than me, do you think an out of shape dog could do that? What I am trying to say is that it is a fact that muscle weighs more than fat (in dogs and humans alike). So maybe he has a little more muscle than those GSDs in your country. Don't you agree? I do not have a web site, because if I had I could post a picture of my dog.

Carol,

I would really love to have Berhnard as a trainer. But I live on an island (named Aruba) near the coast of Venezuela, far away from Germany so I doubt he will ever come here. There are very few people that train dogs here and there are no courses here or seminairs, so the DVD player is my teacher. People like me who spend so much time with their dog are considered a little strange, but I do not mind. We are children in learning. Of course that could change, if you or one of the others (Leerburg)trainers would plan their next vacation here and would be willing to offer their services. What say you?