International Weight Pull Association

The International Weight Pull association is a non-profit association that promotes the sport of dog pulling through well organized, sanctioned events. The purpose of IWPA is to promote the working heritage of all dogs. The IWPA also promotes a program to keep your dog in good physical condition with a constructive outlet for canine competition.

Dog Pulling is akin to a tractor pull. Dogs compete to see who can pull the most weight 16 feet. They pull a wheeled cart on an earthen surface, or a sled on snow. The handler has no contact with the dog during the pull, so it is up to the dogs willingness to pull. Safety of the dog is of paramount concern. Since IWPA's organization in 1984, no dogs have been hurt in competition.

IWPA was organized in November 1984 when a group of dog pulling enthusiasts saw a need for an organization to promote this specialized sport. Our season for sanctioned pulls runs from September through March. We currently sanction around one hundred pulls a season throughout the contiguous United States and Canada. Membership currently runs around 250 to 300 with around 400 to 600 dogs in competition. We are open to all dogs, mixed breed or purebred.

The objective of a competition is to see which dogs (within their weight class) can pull the most weight 16 feet within one minute. A tie is broken by the dog that pulled in the least amount of time on the preceding weight. Dogs compete within their own weight class, of which there are eight: 0-20#, 21-40#, 41-60#, 61-80#, 81-100#, 101-125# , 126-150#, 151#and over.

Member dogs earn points based on their completion position and the number of dogs they beat. Their five best pulls are used in the total points for the season. They compete only within their weight class, and only within their region. Snow and wheeled competition are kept separate. At the end of the season, there is a pull-off and all first, second and third place dogs are invited.

We also have three levels of "Working Dog" certificates that a dog can earn for pulling certain percentages of their weight.

We have eleven regions across the country, some with no activity (1 and 8 last year). We have yet to see any involvement outside of North America. A region can cover a large area. Following is a list of regions accompanied with a map.

Alaska, Yukon Territory Canada Washington, Oregon, Idaho, British Columbia Montana, Wyoming, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Manitoba Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Brunswick,  Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio    Alabama, Florida, Georgia,  Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia Hawaii

 

You may travel vast distances to enter an event. There are some around the Spokane area (where I live) but I also may attend pulls in Portland, Seattle and Idaho. Members will typically travel a few thousand miles a season. And, you are not restricted to pulling in your region.

Pulls are usually organized by members that have built or acquired the necessary equipment and arranged for a site; frequently donated by some pet supply industry. You can become an organizer if you are willing to put together the necessary equipment, arrange a location (and maybe sponsors) and do the paperwork. We would love to see more events, and we would love to see some activity start in other countries.

 

Come to one of our events and see what it is all about. Some organizers will conduct a novice pull after the sanctioned event where they will loan you a harness and give you and your dog some training.