This week we have Danielle Cyr on the podcast to discuss weighted pull and canine fitness. Daniel has a number of titles and certificates including Judges' Liaison and Treasurer for United Dog Sports of Northern New England, Founder/President of Dirigo Working Dogs, UKC Weight Pull Judge, APA Weight Pull Judge, Iron Dog Weight Pull Judge, W3PO Weight Pull Judge, CGC Evaluator, SPOT Evaluator, ATTS Tester and Certified Canine Athlete Specialist. Â
Danielle got involved in the sport of weight pull when she needed to provide her shy dog an outlet to build confidence. It ended up being such a success that she started providing a training outlet to other dogs who suffered from behavioral issues. Danielle gives us an overview of the sport including one rule of weight pull that stands out, which is that dogs are never allowed to fail. If a dog is failing the human behind the cart will help push the cart to ensure the dog succeeds in moving the cart. Additionally, a lot of care is put into avoiding injuries including a specialized harness that ensures the dogs comfort and safety. The movements are very controlled and deliberate, much like in human weightlifting. There should not be jumping or alligator rolling since those movements increase the dog's risk of injury. The sport is open to all breeds, and Danielle has even seen Chinese Crested compete in this sport. While the sport was actually created by the Malamute Club, there can be a stigma associated with pitbulls/dog fighting. However, the sport is a straight slow walk with weight, which is much more controlled than a lot of other sports or even everyday play that we do with our dogs. Additionally, the sport provides a great way for responsible owners to strength train with their dog. Danielle works in the veterinary field and sees a lot of injuries and is now a certified canine athlete specialist, which is comparable to a canine fitness instructor. Much like human athletes, dogs need to have cross training days as well as warm up and cool downs depending on the sports they participate in. Danielle gives us a great overview of how she keeps her dogs and other dogs safe and healthy in a variety of sports. If you've ever been curious about weight pull for dogs, we think you are going to love all the insights Danielle provides us.Â
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