I put this here because I don't see anything on this subject but I will be useing APBT.

Is any one familiar with the puppy selection process for weight pull prospects?
what do you look for?

thanks in advance.

Hello,
The pits really excell at weight pull. I suggest looking for a very confident, out going pup that wants to be with you. As far as structure goes, I would look for a dog with fair to good conformation (ADBA standard, more than the UKC). You do not want a thick muscular, stocky dog, for this sport. Try to stick with dogs closer to the standard in size. When you start looking at the weightpull pits, you will see a lot of "breeders" only breeding for that. Be very careful in your selection. I have competed in a lot of dog sports, and I would have to say that Weightpull is one of the most fun, but it is very competitive. There are a lot of good dogs out there doing it. Good luck!

why not muscular, stocky dogs? won't more muscle generate more power?

It's relative Shon.


You want a dog with good muscle and a powerful body, a correct APBT body style is that.

There are however different styles within the breed. There are breeders who are breeding for VERY muscular dogs, very short legs, huge heads, huge thick chests. . .etc.

There's a point where an overbuilt dog does not pull better than a well built dog and in fact has less stamina and power in the pull.


That's the argument, as I've seen it stated.

Daniel
The size and shape of dog depends on the weight class you aim to pull in. I go for peewee and pound-for-pound, so I want a dog that is mixed breed, 1/2 pit or bull, but with a thin body and long legs - no unecessary weight. The dog I pull now is pit/greyhound 30 lbs. Especially in the 50-60lb classes, you want a dog that is only as "built" as necessary.

You will want a dog with good focus. A dog with too much drive and brute strengh will tend to pull too fast, the handler increases the weight to quickly and the outcome is a dog that cannot start any weight much higher than the drag weight (the weight used for daily conditioning). A good handler can train a dog out of it, but some (few) dogs are so high in drive that they cannot be pulled competitively.

You will want a pup with excellent pack drive, I'd even go on the clingy side. Because baiting is no longer acceptable in nearly all pulling events, the only motivation is YOU.

Be careful in choosing a breeder. Most if not all of the best APBT breeders are not breeding at this time because of the overpopulation of APBT's. If I was choosing another pulling dog, I would either choose a hybrid bulldog (Valley, Colorado, Boston) or go to a shelter and get a good dog with a proven temperament that is ready to pull right away.