[Skip]

Originally Posted by Marylou Mader

Skip, if you think your dog is not capable of pulling weight, so be it, but Rottweilers are very capable and have been pulling weight for years.

Actually ALL dogs are capable of pulling weight, they can pull more weight than a horse, horses pull 10 times their body weight and dogs can pull up to 30 times. Now of course if a dog is not sound, it shouldn't be doing anything, but we are talking about dogs that have no medical problems and of course would have sound joints.
The novice class only allows dogs to pull up to 1,000 pounds.
and responding to Niki, yes I have pulled with them, they use the IWPA rules which are a bit different, you may want to compare them. I'm sure you will have fun and your dog will enjoy getting out and working, now training your dog and conditioning your dog will take work and the best way is to have him/her pull a tire, this causes drag and builds stamina.
Number one importance is a properly fitting harness, and the correct harness, this can be found at the pulls and the people there will be more than happy to help you get started...

Never said he wasn't capable, just said I wouldn't do it with him. And of COURSE all dogs are capable of pulling weight, but we're talking a LOT of weight here. I think your figures are a little skewed though. A dog can't pull more weight than a horse. A dog can pull more in relation to their individual weights than a horse, but not more than a horse. Do these trainers and trials require the rotts to be certified thru OFA before being allowed to trial? What are the requirements to make sure they "have no medical problems and of course would have sound joints"?