Weight Divisions
middle-weight under 80 lbs
heavy middle weight 80lbs to under 90 lbs
light heavy weight 90 lbs to under 100 lbs
heavy weight 100 lbs and under 110 lbs
super heavy weight 110 lbs and over

Tug-of-War competitions held in conjunction with sanctioned ABA shows must be announced in advance by hosting club.

Sponsoring ABA sanctioned club to furnish the following:
1. Full sheet of ½" or bigger plywood, set up lengthwise with a sturdy frame (preferably) or securely staked, with a two and one half inch round hole 15 inches from the bottom with the center of the hole 2 feet from either side. The hole should have the edges rounded off to minimize wear on the tug rope.
2. Tug Rope. 30 feet length of high quality hemp or nylon rope with heavy duty bullsnaps with swivels attached to each end.
3. Powdered chalk to mark designated start and winning lines.
4. Three ABA approved Tug-of-War judges. 3 judges are required because of the separation of the dogs and the plywood barricade, and an additional judges is required as a starter.
5. Scale. Accurate scale that will handle our weight divisions.
6. Ribbons and/or trophies for the four weight division.
Participants to provide a bite piece with secure, study metal ring or large quick link to allow attachment to tug rope bullsnap, and a willing ABA registered Bulldog.

When Tug-of-War registration is closed, and the number of participants determined for each weight division, all dogs entered in a particular class will have their name written on a piece of paper, put in a hat and shuffled. One of the judges to draw the names out of the hat. The order of the draw to determine first matches and order of tugs. Draws 1 and 2 tug first, draws 3 and 4 tug next, etc. If there is an odd number of participants in a particular weight division, the odd dog will tug last with the first winner of the round. The winner of this odd tug will then be placed in the last pair of the next round. A winning dog must have a minimum 10 minute rest period between tugs.

To advance to the next round, a dog will have to out tug his opponent 2 times. This is a rule for fairness in case one dog would get the jump on the other. That is why he has to do it twice to prove his winning tug was not a quirk. When we did this competition at the first Iron-Dog Triathlon with the dogs pulling against each other in harness, a dog had a very large advantage if he got a jump start. If this proves not to be a problems with facing tugs, we will amend the rules to a single tug.

This is an elimination competition. As an illustration, say 8 dogs are entered in a particular weight division. The 8 dogs are paired into 4 pairs. The first elimination round will determine 4 winners which divide into 2 pairs. The two pairs tug off to determine the two finalists, who after a 10 minute rest period tug off to determine the champion for that weight division.

The winning dogs from each division will retain the title of Tug-of-war Champion until the next sanctioned ABA Tug-of-War Competition. He then has the option of showing up to defend his title or he or she loses it as default.

Any dog that successfully defends his title two times. or wins it separately at 3 different competitions, for a total of 3 championships, will have the permanent title of T-Ch added to their official registered name, and thereafter be listed as such in all subsequent pedigrees where that dog is listed.

Tug Rules

1. The tug rope will be centered before the start of each tug.
2. Chalk lines will be laid on the ground 10 feet and 15 feet from each side of the barricade.
3. One line judge to be assigned to and be near each participating tugger, the 3rd judge to be designated as the starter.
4. Each line judge to confirm to the starter judge that the dog he is watching is ready at which time the starting judge will say in a loud voice so that both contestant dogs’ handlers and other judges can hear him say the following commands: Ready, Grip, Tug! The dogs’ handlers should be holding their dog by a flat collar without a leash attached, with bite piece in the dog’s mouth or near the mouth. At the command "Grip" the handlers, if they haven’t done so by now, place the bite piece in their dog’s mouth and be ready to give the command "Tug" and let go of the bite piece and the dog’s collar when the starting judge commands "TUG". It is to each teams advantage to have their dogs gripping the bite piece in an early tug mode keeping tension on the tug rope but not tugging hard until the command to TUG is given by the starting judge.
5. The handler may not touch his dog, the bite piece or the tug rope at any time after the command of TUG is given.
6. If either line judge sees the handler touch the dog, bite piece or tug rope after the command of tug, he will call a foul on that team.
7. If a foul is called, the tug to start again starting with rule #4.
8. Only one foul allowed. If a dog’s handler fouls a second time it is a disqualification for that days competition.
9. If tug track is on wood chips or sawdust, the surface to be raked smooth before the start of each tug. If the tugging surface is grass or dirt and begins to be torn up, the two judges and starting judge should have the barricade moved to a fresh surface near the original surface.
10. A dog must have competition to win his division. If there is only one entry in a weight division, the lone entry does not win by default. The sponsoring club will refund to lone participant his entry fee.

These rules are subject to amendment as we work the bugs out of this new sport.
© 1998-2007 by the American Bulldog Association