BoundlessNewfs
New member
Our pup is really into tug of war, but that means she's pulling backward. How do you teach them to pull while going forward?
Question about pulling.....
- Thread starter BoundlessNewfs
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Jeannie
Super Moderator
Do you mean pull forward as in pulling a cart? When they play tug they will pull backward, pulling a cart forward is completely different, let her play.
When mine play tug they first learn to pull backwards, but as they play more and learn they will pull forwards as they play tug also. Sometimes Adam and Sam will be playing tug and one of the will start dragging the other one around the yard--pulling forward.
When mine play tug they first learn to pull backwards, but as they play more and learn they will pull forwards as they play tug also. Sometimes Adam and Sam will be playing tug and one of the will start dragging the other one around the yard--pulling forward.
BoundlessNewfs
New member
Yes...pulling forward, like pulling a boat line, or a cart. We have a rope from our boat, which she plays tug with. If we toss it, she will retrieve the rope and push one end into our hands (or bump us in the knees with it, until we take hold)...then she will pull backward on it.
Just wondering if there's anything special we're supposed to do, to train her to pull forward (like pulling a cart or swimming a boat to shore).
Just wondering if there's anything special we're supposed to do, to train her to pull forward (like pulling a cart or swimming a boat to shore).
Jeannie
Super Moderator
Pulling a boat to shore and pulling a cart is two different ways of pulling. Pulling a boat, they use their mouths and pulling a cart they use their shoulders.
To teach her to pull a boat have her learn to drag a light line around. As she learns to drag it around add a plastic gallon jug (empty) to it, then slowly add water until she is pulling it instead if dragging it.
Don't worry about pulling a cart, a newf should not pull any weight in a cart until they are 2.
How old is your newf? As a puppy any training should just be fun play, add the work as they get older. Don't expect too much from a puppy.
To teach her to pull a boat have her learn to drag a light line around. As she learns to drag it around add a plastic gallon jug (empty) to it, then slowly add water until she is pulling it instead if dragging it.
Don't worry about pulling a cart, a newf should not pull any weight in a cart until they are 2.
How old is your newf? As a puppy any training should just be fun play, add the work as they get older. Don't expect too much from a puppy.
BoundlessNewfs
New member
Thanks for the info. Maggie is still very young (16 weeks), and we wouldn't dream of having her pull any weight for a long time yet. We just wanted to know what kinds of play we should be doing with her, to prepare her for learning to pull carts or boats later on. We didn't want to teach her the wrong way now, and then have to retrain her later.
