Dog in Training?

[pmjblue]

I saw a staffordshire bull terrier this morning, that was carrying a 5ft log, around 4 inches thick. The owner told me the 'dog was in training', and he was deadly serious, not joking - what would it be in training for - fighting? any ideas?

[Ethel]

Possibly - there are still a lot of dog fights in the UK.

Carry such a log would strengthen its jaws and neck, as well as exercise the heart and lungs.

[pmjblue]

dog fighting is the first thing that occured to me, I was hoping for a pleasant alternative. Wish I had asked him now - I would have reported him.

[DavidDownes]

I own a Staffordshire Bull that plays in the garden with a car tyre and a rope that is tied to a tree that he hangs from. All this is, is to build muscle and use up the boundless energy they have. It's the breed. Throughout my family own Staffordshire Bull Terriers. My uncle shows his dogs and trains them up for them. One time I walked the dogs with him and one of them picked up a traffic cone and walked with it! I proper sight! They're really good dogs. It's sad that they seem to always be remembered for fighting. My Staffy is so affectionate, loving, soppy, silly and a joy to own.

[wolf63]

They actually look like happy little dogs. They are solid muscle though, but I have yet to meet a bad tempered one.

[pmjblue]

wolf63 - as i have said on previous threads, i know a few aggressive ones, but also some friendly ones, like all breeds, good and bad. This one didnt look very friendly though in good condition, and no signs of being in fights, but I am little perplexed as to what this bloke means by it being in training and carrying such a heavy weight for a small dog.

[lankeela]

Calm down pmjblue! Owners of Bull breeds train them to take part in weight pulling contests. I don't really think owners of fighting dogs would be training them in the local park or anywhere in public!

They get them to carry logs to strengthen them and they put harnesses on them so they can pull heavy weights and pit them against other dogs. Not my idea of fun, but I am sure the dogs enjoy it. Also a point to remember when you are planning on buying a harness to STOP your dog pulling!

The trouble is these bull type breeds need so much exercise and ordinary 'pet' owners find it difficult to provide them with enough exercise both physical and mental, which is why we get questions asked on here like 'how do I stop my Stafffy chewing the place up, barking all day or pulling me when taking him for a walk' - often owned by young women/couples with a couple of kids in a pram with little or no time to devote to exercising and training a canine athlete.
(These comments are not meant as a criticism, just an honest observation).

[pmjblue]

thanks lankeela, interesting, never heard of dogs weight lifting, though it makes sense now. You are quite right, you rarely see a staffie walking to heel or not pulling, strange i hadnt thought about it before. Problem is people believe that they are family dogs, but with a family they dont have time to exercise them, which is why the end up with these problems.

[Noweia]

I know of someone who put their Staffie on a treadmill for several hours every night - the result was a 33kg dog (about twice the usual breed weight), entirely muscle!