The Weight Pull

It finally came! The Mid Florida Conformation Show and Weight Pull was so much fun! There is nothing like meeting up with other pit bull lovers who don't look at you crazy for being obsessed with your dog. In fact, most people there have multitudes of dogs, and get plenty of exercise running from the weight pull area to the conformation ring. If I add another to my pack, that will be me. Not that I am getting another puppy, of course.

Normally I am a freakshow for bringing my pit bull to schutzhund training, so this time I got to be a freakshow for bringing my German Shepherd to a weight pull. Not that Saint competed, she just contented herself to locating and destroying the brake light wiring in the truck's bed. Clever girl.

Of course, as much as I loved competing with Sinn Fein, I have to say a huge unexpected bonus was meeting Joanie Winchester. And I didn't even know she loves horses too. That pretty much puts her on my "Coolest People in the Universe" list. Before I was trying to talk myself out of getting another puppy, now I am looking forward to her next litter. sigh. Not a good sign. But I immensely enjoyed listening to her past experiences with dogs and horses, it was tempting to take notes.

The actual competition part was great...Sinn pulled 970 lbs. Last year, same venue, I believe he pulled 800 and something, so big improvement. He squeaked in with a third place ribbon due to the dog ahead of him getting disqualified. I do think my handling can be improved, the first time he fouled out I should have told the cart guy to push much sooner than what I did. Poor Sinn was straining and reverted to jumping in the air to start it. I fouled next pull as soon as he showed signs of trouble, and let Sinn get a helping hand much sooner. His last try, he pulled it no problem. That was his last pull though. He did good:)