A. ELIGIBILITY
1. All NKC REGISTERED breeds are eligible.
2. All dogs must be at least one (1) year of age and not more than 12 years of age to compete in any NKCWPA event. The physical condition of the dog should always be taken into consideration and the Chief Judge may disqualify any dog they feel will be in danger of injury.
3. No bitch in season shall be allowed to compete or allowed to be on the premises.
4. No pregnant bitch shall be allowed to compete in a NKCWPA event.
5. For the safety and protection of the dog, all dogs shall be fitted properly with a weight pull type harness.
B. HANDLER CONDUCT AND CONTROL OF DOGS
All entrants shall be responsible for the conduct of their dogs and handler before, during and after the event. Vicious or unmanageable dogs shall be barred from competition. Unsportsman like conduct toward animals, officials, handlers or spectators will be cause for disciplinary action and/or disqualification. All dogs shall be under physical control, on a short lead, while in the pull area, except when hooked to the cart. All handlers shall be responsible for the cleaning up after their own dogs. Abusive or inhumane treatment of a dog shall be strictly prohibited and shall be cause for disqualification. Abusive or inhumane behavior to be determined by the presiding judge.
C. WEIGHT CLASSES
All dogs weighing 35 pounds or less
All dogs weighing more than 35 pounds up to and including 60 pounds.
All dogs weighing more than 60 pounds up to and including 80 pounds.
All dogs weighing more than 80 pounds up to and including 100 pounds.
All dogs weighing more than 100 pounds up to and including 120 pounds.
All dogs weighing more than 120 pounds.
All weights shall be rounded off to the lowest whole pound.
Ø EXAMPLE: A dog weighing 60 3/4 lbs. would be recorded as 60 lbs.
D. WEIGH-INS
All dogs shall be weighed prior to each NKCWPA sanctioned weight pull (multiple or consecutive day pulls by the same organization require only one weigh-in). All dogs must be weighed at the pull site by a NKCWPA approved scale and supervised by the presiding judge. All recorded dog weights shall be rounded to the lowest whole pound. Dogs shall wear only a standard collar during weigh-in.
SECTION 5 - The Contest
A. ORGANIZING CLUB OPTION
The organizing club has the option to run the weight pull event class by class or in conjunction with another class or to run the event concurrently (one class at a time).
B. COMPETING IN HEAVIER WEIGHT CLASS
The dog that wins its weight class shall not be allowed to compete in the next weight class. However the winning dog shall be allowed to pull as many times as it wants to establish a top percentage pull. These percentage pulls shall be at the established load increment or more.
C. PROCEDURE OF THE WEIGHT PULL EVENT
1. Each dog shall be required to pull a loaded cart a measured sixteen (16) feet within 60 seconds, the dog shall be allowed to complete the pull and the actual time required to make the pull shall be recorded.
2. During the pull the handler's feet may be no further forward than the front of the cart when driving the dog, or their feet shall be behind the designated line 16 feet from the starting line when calling the dog. The handler shall not touch the dog, equipment or pulling surface between the start and finish line until the cart crosses the 16-foot line.
3. Once the dog is in position in front of the cart and ready to pull, the handler must attempt to cross the finish before instructing the dog to pull. (No physical handling of the dog will be allowed. Handling consists of anyone touching the dog, its harness, the sled, or any other part of the equipment or load. The dog is considered to be in position when the handler moves more than an arms length away from the dog.) If the dog pulls before its instructed and as long as the handler hasn't touched the dog, and the dog has successfully pulled the intended weight a distance of 16 feet it's to be considered a "pull". In the case of a tangle or equipment failure the judge will direct the handler to physically reposition the dog. Two tangles during the same weight increment will result in a disqualification.
4. Only one handler is allowed to communicate with the dog, either with hand signals and or voice commands from the course area.
5. The handler shall be allowed to position his/her dog anywhere between the wheels in front of the starting line at the end of the extended tug line. The dog shall be positioned with enough slack in the tug line to prevent the dog from inadvertently moving the cart. There shall not be so much slack as to allow a "sling shot start."
6. The handler may pass one or two turns but must pull on the third turn. Once the dog is hooked up to the cart the handler may not pass in that round except as stated in Section 5 #11. (Dogs are no longer required to pull the starting weight).
7. Starting weights to be pulled shall not exceed:
Class Max. Wt.
35 lb 200 lbs.
60 lb 400 lbs.
80 lb 500 lbs.
100 lb 600 lbs.
120 lb 700 lbs.
UNL 800 lbs.
These weights are maximum starting weights. If poor pulling conditions exist, the Chief Judge may adjust the starting weights lower to match the conditions.
8. The time will start once the handler is in the proper position and instructs the dog to pull, or the dog starts to pull.
9. The front wheels of the cart shall be positioned at the break line. The Chief Judge shall then direct the following sequence:
A. The cart to be positioned at the start line with the wheels perpendicular to the start line.
B. The pulling pad to be cleared (unless the handler requests assistance in hooking up the dog).
C. The handler to leave the on deck circle; hook up the dog and the pull to commence.
11. The handler has the option of having the cart placed anywhere on the starting line as long as the wheels are perpendicular to the start line. The handler has the option to reposition the cart one time. No test rolling of the cart shall be allowed.
12. In the event of a tangle, at the judges’ discretion the judge will stop the clock and the handler must realign the dog and harness before the pull is resumed. Two tangles on the same turn will constitute the dog's removal from the competition.
13. If the cart becomes stuck on a barrier of the pulling pad it shall be considered a tangle. The clock would be stopped and the cart would then be freed of the barrier at the point of which it was stuck. The dog would be allowed to continue the pull with the remaining time left on the clock. Two tangles on the barrier on the same turn shall constitute the dog's removal from the competition.
14. Tangles are called at the Chief Judge's discretion. The judge shall call a tangle only if the dog or any of the equipment in use becomes entangled.
15. If any part of the harness or other equipment breaks, the handler shall have 60 seconds to repeat the pull after repairs. He/she may choose to accept this interrupted pull as a pass.
16. Food, treats or any type of bait, may only be given to the dogs pulling, after they have pulled and have been removed from the pulling area. Handlers shall not have food or bait on their person during the competition. Anyone found having bait of any kind on his or her person will be swiftly removed from competition and will receive no refund. No whips, pinch collars, noisemakers or muzzles will be permitted at any time during competition.
17. No dogs, including those not entered in competition shall be allowed in the area ahead of the starting line, except the dog that is pulling. Spectators also will not be allowed in the area ahead of the starting line.
18. There shall be a marked "on deck" area behind, but near the starting end of the pull chute. This marked area shall house only the next dog to pull.
19. Load increments shall be determined by the Chief Judge and a simple majority of the handlers. The Chief Judge shall recommend the load increments to the handlers, considering the pulling conditions and the welfare of the dogs.
20. The dog pulling the most weight in its class is declared the winner. Each successive dog pulling a lower weight is placed second, third, etc. If two or more dogs pull the same weight the required distance and can pull no more weight the full distance, the winner is determined by the fastest time in the previous pull.
21. If the dog is competing for the best percentage pull, after all other dogs in the class have been eliminated from the competition; the dog may continue to pull heavier weights. The weight increments shall be at least the designated increment but can be more.
SECTION 6- Titles
A. THE BASIS ON WHICH TITLES WILL BE AWARDED
In order for a weight pull to be recognized and points recorded, it shall be the responsibility of the hosting organization to properly report the weight pull results to the NKC
All dogs pulling 12 times their body weight will be titled as Weight Pulling Dog I =WPT 1
All dogs pulling 18 times their body weight will be titled as Weight Pulling Dog II =WPT 2
All dogs pulling 23 times their body weight will be titled as Weight Pulling Dog III =WPT 3
SECTION 7 - Reporting Results
All forms must be completed with appropriate signatures and postmarked no later than 10 days following the event. All Weight Pulls must be video taped and included with the paperwork.
Weight Pull Event results will be forwarded to:
The National Kennel Club
P.O. Box 331
Blaine, Tennessee 37709
