Weight Pull Rules
APBA
AMERICAN PIT BULL ALLIANCE
REGISTRY
We would like to welcome you to the (APBA)
American Pure Bred Alliance Registry
APBA
WEIGHT PULL CLASSES
0lbs. To 20lbs. Males & Females Classes
21lbs. To 30lbs. Males compete with males
31lbs. To 40lbs. Females compete with Females
41lbs. To 50lbs.
51lbs. To 60lbs.
61lbs. To 70lbs.
71lbs. To 80lbs.
81lbs. To 90lbs
91lbs To 100lbs
100lbs To 110lbs
111lbs & over
1- Dog must enter their natural body weight class.
2- Awards in all weight classes will be determined by
most weight pulled per body pound.
3- There will be 3 ribbon awards per weight class,
1st Blue/ 2nd Red/ 3rd White.
4-There will be 2 Trophy's or awards given, one for
MWPPBP overall in the 60lb. & under, and one for
MWPPBP overall in the 61lb. & over. ( Sex is not a factor
in this award.)
5- There will be 2 Trophies or awards given, one for most
weight pulled overall in the 60lb. & under, and one for
most weight pulled overall in the 61lb. & over. (Sex is not
a factor in this award
Weight Pull Rules
1 - A: All APBA licensed weight pulls shall be governed
by the rules herin.
B: weight pull competition test a dogs strength and
stamina based on the dogs ability to pull a
maxium amount of weight on a sled, wheeled
kart or a rail system over a prescribed distance
within a prescribed amount of time. Scores are
based on the amount of the dogs weight, weight
pulled and the time of the dogs pull.
2 - All dogs must be APBA registered and no less than
(9) months of age ( to the date of birth) to enter.
3- No bitches in heat will be allowed to enter. If a bitch
is allowed to enter deceitfully, the judge will
disqualify that dog and no entry fee will be
refunded.
4- No dogs that are aggressive to humans will be
allowed to enter. ( Muzzled or not muzzled.)
No aggressive action will be allowed by dogs
toward handler or any official during pull competition.
If a dog of this temperament is allowed
to enter in error, the judge will disqualify that dog
and no entry fee refunded. Excitment is not to be
interpreted as aggression. Remember, your dog
may be handled by persons other than yourself.
5- All equipment to be used by contestants MUST
be checked by judge, prior to use.
6- The weight pull sled, wheeled kart, or rail system
must be consistently level or at and incline with
no hard to pull places. The judge must check the
track before the pull begins to verify that the
track & surface is in good condition. How often
the track is to be checked will be discussed at the
handlers meeting by the judge.
7- While participating in event(s), leads are to be no
longer than 4 feet and attached to a "belt buckle"
collar only. Collar must be secure. No "quick
release" snaps, " choke chains" or " flex" leads
will be allowed.
8- No artificial aids may be used on dogs feet, carpet,
etc. ( Dogs pads are to be clean, free of any
stick-em,etc.)
9- Time will start when you release your dog. IT is
necessary for all four feet of the dog to be on
the ground when the dog is released.
10- Any individual being aggressive toward their dog
at any time such as hitting,kicking,slapping etc.
will be disqualified and no entry fee will be
refunded, and will have to vacate the premises
immediately! No If's And's or But's!!!!!
11- Fouls will be called and entrant will be out of the
competition
when they accumulate 2 fouls (example) Foul, Foul
out. Fouls may be committed intentionally or
unintentionally. The following is a list of fouls.
A. Touching the cart or dog in any way after time has
been started.
B. Pushing, pulling or dropping dog at the start of pull.
C. Any aggressive action of handler towards dog
during pull competition.
D. Running out of time ( taking longer than 60 seconds
allowed to complete the pull.)
12- Alibis- Unintentional circumstances that make a dog
unable to complete a pull. The judge will stop time
and instruct the handler to handle their dog and kart . (
An example of these circumstances could be:
tangling in the traces or harnesses, equipment
malfunction; or any outside interference that
prevents the dog from completing his pull.) Handler
may point out a possible alibi, but the judge will have
the final decision. Any two alibis= one foul. If a pull is
interrupted by a foul or an alibi. The dog may be
pushed through and then is to be immediately taken
back to the starting line and the pull will begin again.
The dog is not allowed to rest or have his feet wiped
etc. No pull will be valid unless it is an uninterrupted
pull. If a dog is disqualified, his last valid pull is his top
pull of that class.
13- If a dog completes the pull off the track, it is
consider a complete pull as long as no fouls or alibis
are committed.
14- Certification will be made by the weight pull judge of
the clubs kart and individual weights to be used. Total
weight of kart and traces will be considered as part of
the total weight pulled.
15- Traces must be no less than 4 feet and no more than
6 feet long. Handler will allow no more than one foot of
slack in the traces.
16- Owner of the dog must supply harness. ( A well fitting
harness is an advantage for your dog. This will
encourage handlers and owners to provide their own
harnesses made to fit the dog that is pulling and made
to weigh as little as possible. Any harness used must
be a "standard harness". Shocks, springs etc. cannot
be used on harness. NO leashes will be allowed
to be attached to the dog, collar, or harness while the
dog is pulling.
17- Surface - any surface selected by the club must be
smooth and level as possible. We discourage using a
paved surface unless covered in order to protect the
dog's feet. (Every dog will pull the same Kart
under the same conditions and surface for that days
competition. Your dog is competing with the dogs of
their weight division under equal conditions for that
days pulling awards.)
18- Pulling track will be roped off or blocked off 10 feet on
each side of track to prevent spectators from
crowding pulling track and distracting the pulling
contestant. All dogs should also be kept well
away from pulling track.
19- Club can choose to pull 1 class at a time or combine
all weight classes and pull them together. Extra
attention is needed to keep the classes seperated on
the record.
20- Start and finish lines will be marked plainly with length
of pulling surface extending far enough beyond the 15
feet so that the dog may remain on the pulling
surface after pull is completed.
21- Dogs must pull the kart and weight a total of 15 feet in
60 seconds.
22- Ties will be broken by elapsed time it took to
complete pull. In the event of a tie due to club running
out of weights, additional weights can be provided in
any form as long as the judge & hosting club approve
it. (Safety and club's liability is first concern
when considering this option. Therefore, elapsed time
should be used whenever possible to break all ties).
Judge will make the decision as to how ties will be
broken. Judges decision will be
final.
23- Every dog has the right to "sit out" on a weight
increase an unlimited amount of turns. (Choose to pull
at a weight increase or wait for the next weight
increase.) " Sit out will start after a dog has made a
complete pull".
24- There will be 1 body pound call per dog. But only with
the lightest dog still pulling at that time. The rest of the
dogs still pulling may pull the body pound call weight
or may sit out with no penalty to your dog.
25- NO BAITING DOG ALLOWED ON TRACK! NO
EXCEPTIONS!
26- Treats may be used at the dogs kennel only! This
means No treats in the on deck area or in kart &
track area.
27- No more than 2 handlers can work the dog.
28- Judge can disqualify contestants for any
inappropriate behavior.
29- There may be more than 1 judge per day. Club's
should have a back up judge on site incase of one
judge needing to leave track area for any reason.
30- APBA sanctioned conformation judge and weight pull
judge, have the authority and responsibilty to enforce
all rules of the sanctioning body and hosting club in
and outside the ring/pulling track area at all
sanctioned events.
31- All dogs must be in a kennel at all times, unless you
are called to the track or emptying your dog out.
32- ADDING WEIGHT FOR RAIL KART.
There will not be any weight added more than 10X the
weight of the lightest dog still pulling. This will round
down to the nearest block.
34- ADDING WEIGHT FOR SLED.
There will not be any weight added more than 1/2 the
weight of the lightest dog still pulling.
35- IF ANY SITUATION ARE NOT COVERED IN THESE
RULES, DO NOT ASSUME! YOUR OPINION IS
RIGHT. Remember the Judges have the final say.