Boerboel Weight Pull
Rules, Training and the 22,039 lb Results
Above: Cold River's Conquest pulling 19,834 lb on rails at the Bully Max and UPF weight pull. Video: Bully Max.
How Boerboel weight pulling works, how we build a Boerboel for the track, and the official results behind the heaviest pulls in the sport.
By Cold River Boerboels · Updated November 3, 2026
Boerboel weight pull is not a theory to us. It is what we do. Every dog behind the 22,039 lb pulls was bred, raised, conditioned, harnessed and handled by our program. On May 9, 2026, Cold River's Sun Wukong and Cold River's Mr. Wednesday each pulled 22,039 pounds on rails at a sanctioned Unified Pulling Federation (UPF) event in Pittsburgh. That is the world record in sanctioned dog weight pull, and the official numbers are in UPF's published results. [1, 2, 3]
This page is the Boerboel version of the sport, written by the program that set the mark. It covers how a Boerboel weight pull works, the rules that protect the dog, why the breed's build suits it, how we prepare a Boerboel for competition, and every official result our dogs posted along the way. For the general, all-breed beginner guide, see our dog weight pulling guide. For the full record documentation and footage, see the 22,039 lb world record page.
Boerboel weight pull: quick answers
Can a Boerboel do weight pull?
Yes. Boerboels compete in sanctioned weight pull and hold the heaviest single-dog pulls in the sport. Cold River's Sun Wukong is also the first Boerboel to earn the ADBA Weight Pull ACE title. [1, 2, 3]
How much can a Boerboel pull?
The heaviest Boerboel weight pull is 22,039 pounds on rails, by Cold River's Sun Wukong at 164 lb and Cold River's Mr. Wednesday at 186 lb on May 9, 2026. Both were handler withdrawn after that pull, so it marks where we stopped, not a proven limit. [1, 2, 3]
What is the Boerboel weight pull record?
22,039 pounds, shared by littermate brothers Cold River's Sun Wukong and Cold River's Mr. Wednesday. The previous top mark was Sun Wukong's own 16,917 pounds in November 2025. [1, 2, 3]
How old does a Boerboel have to be to weight pull?
Most sanctioning bodies require at least 1 year of age. ADBA allows entry at 9 months. Being allowed to enter is not the same as being ready. We wait on real loads until a giant-breed dog is physically mature and cleared by a veterinarian. [4, 5, 6]
Is weight pull bad for a Boerboel?
Organized weight pull is rule-bound. Dogs wear a fitted freight harness, handlers cannot touch the dog during the pull, bait is banned, and judges can excuse any dog at risk of injury. A well-built, conditioned Boerboel pulling within its readiness is doing work the breed was made for. [4, 5, 6]
What harness does a Boerboel need for weight pull?
A properly fitted freight or weight-pull harness built for a giant frame, with room through the shoulders and chest. Our dogs pull in custom-tailored harnesses made by Cold River Supplies. [5, 6, 7]
How is a weight pull won?
It depends on the federation. Class placings are usually decided by weight pulled per pound of body weight, while Most Weight Pulled (MWP) goes to the dog that moves the heaviest load. That is why a 22,039 lb pull can earn MWP without winning the class. [1, 5]
Cold River's Sun Wukong driving a loaded cart down the rails in sanctioned UPF competition.
Cold River Boerboel weight pull results
Every figure below comes from the Unified Pulling Federation's official dog profiles and event results sheet. All dogs were bred, owned, raised, trained, conditioned and handled by Cold River Boerboels. [1, 2, 3]
Cold River's Sun Wukong
April 12, 2025: 12,142 lb at 162 lb body weight, 13.22 seconds, first place, MWP and MWPP (Most Weight Pulled Per Pound).
November 8, 2025: 16,917 lb at 158 lb, 19.31 seconds, first place, MWP and MWPP. The heaviest pull in UPF history at that time.
May 9, 2026: 22,039 lb at 164 lb, 23.22 seconds, 134.38 times his body weight, Most Weight Pulled.
Cold River's Mr. Wednesday
May 9, 2026: 22,039 lb at 186 lb, 25.03 seconds, 118.49 times his body weight. Handler withdrawn after the pull.
The rest of the Cold River team on May 9, 2026
Cold River's Conquest: 21,336 lb at 128 lb, 166.69 times body weight, first place in the Unlimited 120+ class at her first event.
Cold River's ALUCARD: 17,076 lb at 97 lb, 176.04 times body weight, first place, MWP and MWPP in the 90 lb class at her first event.
Four Cold River Boerboels, one day, four of the heaviest pulls on the sheet. That is what a program looks like, as opposed to one lucky dog. For the event itself, the judging, the handler withdrawals and the video, read the complete 22,039 lb world record documentation. For a shorter timeline, see the Boerboel weight pull record history.
Watch the Boerboel weight pull world records
Two record pulls, both filmed by Bully Max. The first video is the 22,039 lb Boerboel weight pull world record on rails. The second is Cold River's Sun Wukong on the pull that set his 16,917 lb UPF world record.
For the full numbers, judges and event details, see our 22,039 lb dog weight pull world record page.
The four strongest Boerboels in weight pull, all owned, trained and handled by Cold River Boerboels and pulling in Cold River Supplies harnesses: Cold River's Sun Wukong and Cold River's Mr. Wednesday at 22,039 lb each, Cold River's Conquest at 21,336 lb, the strongest female Boerboel, and Cold River's ALUCARD at 17,076 lb, the strongest pound-for-pound female Boerboel at 176.04 times her body weight. Official UPF results on rails.
What is Boerboel weight pull?
Boerboel weight pull is the sport of canine weight pull, done with one of the most powerful working breeds alive. A dog in a fitted freight harness moves a loaded cart or sled a marked distance within a time limit. Weight is added round by round. The dog competes against others in its own body-weight class, and the handler guides it with voice and hand signals only. [4, 5, 6, 10]
Sixteen feet within one minute is the common standard, and it is what IWPA uses. UKC gives the dog one minute over a set distance, and ADBA runs fifteen feet in sixty seconds. The details differ by federation, so read the rulebook for the event you are entering rather than assuming last month's rules apply. [5, 6, 10]
How a pull runs, from weigh-in to the last round
Weigh-in. Officials record the dog's body weight, which sets its class and is used for any per-pound calculation.
Hookup. The dog enters the chute and its harness is connected to the cart by traces.
The release. Once time starts, the handler cannot touch the dog or the cart. No bait, no physical help.
The pull. The cart has to cross the finish within the time limit to count.
More weight. Loads climb each round. A handler can pass a round, and can withdraw the dog at any point.
That last point matters. Cold River's Sun Wukong and Cold River's Mr. Wednesday were both handler withdrawn after 22,039 pounds. We made that call. The dogs did not fail a pull. [1, 3]
How a Boerboel rail pull works: weigh-in, hookup by traces to a freight harness, voice and hand signals only, and a marked distance against the clock.
Rails, wheels and snow: why the surface changes the number
The equipment carrying the load changes the numbers more than anything else. A rail cart rolls on fixed track with very little resistance, so rail results run far higher than wheels on dirt or a sled on snow. That is why our 22,039 lb pulls are always described as rail pulls, and why a rail result should be compared with other rail results. UPF runs rails on carpet and wheels on dirt or carpet. IWPA runs wheels and snow. UKC rules cover rail carts, wheeled carts and sleds. [4, 6, 8]
Rails are not easy pounds, either. A heavy dog has to stay straight on a narrow pulling surface, keep traction on carpet, and drive a load that keeps climbing into five figures. We consider rails the most technically demanding format, and we explain why in our dog weight pulling guide.
Weight classes, MWP and MWPP for Boerboels
Most adult male Boerboels land in the top class of any federation. In UPF that is Unlimited 120+, which simply means no upper body-weight limit. It does not mean unlimited loads or relaxed rules. [1, 8]
Two awards get confused constantly. Most Weight Pulled (MWP) goes to the dog that moves the heaviest load. Most Weight Pulled Per Pound (MWPP) and class placings reward the load divided by the dog's body weight. ADBA states it outright: awards are decided by weight pulled per pound of body weight, and MWP is decided by weight pulled, then time. On May 9, 2026, the 128 lb Cold River's Conquest won the Unlimited 120+ class on ratio, while the heavier Cold River's Sun Wukong took MWP with 22,039 pounds. Both answers are real. They measure different things. [1, 5]
Cold River's Mr. Wednesday on the move, showing the chest and front assembly that carry a freight harness.
Why the Boerboel is built for weight pull
The Boerboel was developed in South Africa as a farm and homestead working dog, and the breed standard describes a large, muscular, powerful dog. The AKC lists the breed at 150 to 200 lb, with males 24 to 27 inches at the shoulder. Size alone does not pull a cart. Structure does. [9]
A heavy pull is a whole-body effort. The rear assembly drives, the topline transfers that force forward, the front assembly carries the chest and harness, and the feet have to grip under load. We break each piece down in our Canine Anatomy and Working Structure series:
Croup anatomy and rear angulation and the stifle, where the drive comes from.
Topline, the bridge that carries rear drive forward.
Movement and gait, how sound structure shows up in motion.
Front assembly and shoulder angulation, and why it affects harness fit.
Feet, pasterns and nail care, the dog's contact with the pulling surface.
Cold River's Mr. Wednesday stands 29 inches at the shoulder and is a SABBS Grand Champion and 2026 Boerboel Expo winner. He pulled the same 22,039 pounds as his brother. A working Boerboel does not have to give up breed type to perform, and a show-quality Boerboel does not have to be a couch ornament.
Cold River's Mr. Wednesday, 29 inches at the shoulder, showing the size and structure behind a 22,039 lb pull.
Competition weight vs. house weight
We separate a dog's house weight, the weight it carries in the off-season around the farm, from its competition weight, the weight where it works best. Cold River's Sun Wukong competes at about 164 lb and lives at about 172 lb. Cold River's Mr. Wednesday competes at about 186 lb and sits around 193 lb unconditioned.
Two littermates more than 20 pounds apart pulled the identical 22,039 pounds. Heavier is not automatically better. Condition, structure, drive and recovery decide the pull. What goes in the bowl matters as much as what happens on the track, and our Boerboel nutrition page explains how we feed working dogs.
Cold River's Sun Wukong in side profile, showing the muscle conditioning we build for competition weight.
How we prepare a Boerboel for weight pull
It starts with selection
Cold River's Sun Wukong and Cold River's Mr. Wednesday came from a litter of 14. We kept seven and evaluated their development, structure, movement, drive, temperament, athletic ability, work ethic, recovery and mental resilience before narrowing the group to two. Performance is bred first and trained second.
Build the skill before you build the load
A young Boerboel learns what the harness means long before it learns what a heavy cart feels like. We start with harness comfort, a clear start cue, moving forward willingly, and stopping and resetting calmly. Light, successful sessions build a dog that wants to go back to work. Resistance comes later, in small steps, for a physically ready dog.
Train on the surface you will compete on
A dog headed for rails has to learn the platform, straight alignment and carpet traction. Wheels on dirt and sleds on snow bring different footing. Heavy dogs need surfaces where they can dig in without slipping.
Respect heat and recovery
Big, muscular dogs build heat fast. We keep sessions short, train in cool conditions, always have shade and water ready, and check gait, feet and attitude between sessions. If a dog hesitates or moves differently, we stop and find out why before asking for more.
When can a Boerboel start weight pulling?
Entry rules give a floor, not a plan. IWPA and UKC require dogs to be at least 1 year old, and ADBA allows entry at 9 months. Giant breeds finish growing later than smaller dogs, so we save real loads for a Boerboel that is physically mature and cleared by a veterinarian. A puppy can learn the game long before it is ready for demanding pulls. [4, 5, 6]
Puppies placed into the optional Cold River StrongStart program get extended early development with us before going home.
Cold River's Sun Wukong being fitted in a custom-tailored Cold River Supplies weight pulling harness at a sanctioned event.
The right harness for Boerboel weight pull
The harness is the one piece of equipment the dog brings to the pull. Federations require a properly fitted freight or weight-pull harness. ADBA requires the owner to supply a standard harness with no shocks or springs. On a giant breed, fit through the shoulders and chest decides whether the dog can drive with its whole body or fights its own gear. [5, 6]
Cold River Supplies made the custom-tailored harnesses worn by Cold River's Sun Wukong, Cold River's Mr. Wednesday, Cold River's Conquest and Cold River's ALUCARD. The company offers standard harnesses and custom fits built from an individual dog's measurements and intended use. See who made the weight pulling harnesses for the strongest dogs in the world. [7]
Cold River's Sun Wukong, the 2024 ADBA National Champion and the first Boerboel to earn the ADBA Weight Pull ACE title.
Where Boerboels compete: federations and titles
Several organizations sanction weight pull in North America, and their rules, surfaces and titles are not interchangeable.
Unified Pulling Federation (UPF): rails on carpet and wheels on dirt or carpet. Home of the 22,039 lb pulls. [1, 8]
American Dog Breeders Association (ADBA): 15 feet in 60 seconds, awards by weight per pound of body weight, and the ACE title at 100 points. [5]
United Kennel Club (UKC): a titling ladder across rail carts, wheeled carts and sleds. [6]
International Weight Pull Association (IWPA): wheels and snow, nine weight classes, a September through March season. [4, 10]
Cold River's Sun Wukong is the first Boerboel to earn the ADBA Weight Pull ACE title and the first Boerboel to win an ADBA National Championship, in 2024. His offspring are now earning ACE titles too. Under ADBA rules, a dog is not an ACE until it has earned 100 points, and ACE dogs then compete only against other ACE dogs. [5]
Cold River's Sun Wukong walking off the weight-pull track with his handler.
Is weight pull safe for a Boerboel?
Sanctioned weight pull has more welfare rules than most people assume. Handlers cannot touch the dog or cart after time starts. Bait is banned, and ADBA allows voice commands only. Pregnant or nursing females are barred from IWPA events. The IWPA chief judge may disqualify any dog they feel is in danger of injury, and IWPA reports that no dogs have been hurt in competition since it organized in 1984. [4, 5, 10]
The responsible version of the sport is built on a mature, sound, conditioned dog, a harness that fits, the right surface, and a handler willing to stop. Pulling is also a reason to stay sharp on your dog's health. A Boerboel that suddenly moves short or swells in a joint needs a vet before it needs a cart. Our tick-borne disease guide covers one cause working-dog owners in the northeastern United States should know well.
Watch a Boerboel weight pull
This is the pull. On May 9, 2026, Cold River's Mr. Wednesday and Cold River's Sun Wukong each moved 22,039 pounds on rails under sanctioned UPF rules, and both broke the world record at that weight. Watch the hookup, the voice-only handling and the finish, and you will see everything this page describes. Bully Max posted the 22,039 lb dog weight pull world record video on YouTube, and more of our pulls are on the Cold River Boerboels YouTube channel.
Cold River's Mr. Wednesday and Cold River's Sun Wukong each pull 22,039 lb on rails at the May 9, 2026 UPF event. Video: Bully Max.
Can Boerboels weight pull? Bully Max thinks so
Yes, and at the top of the sport. A Boerboel brings the mass, deep chest, rear drive and steady head that weight pull rewards. The official results settle the argument: two Cold River Boerboels each moved 22,039 lb on rails, Cold River's Conquest moved 21,336 lb as a 128 lb female, and the 97 lb Cold River's ALUCARD moved 176.04 times her body weight. [1]
Bully Max believes it too. Bully Max sponsors Cold River Boerboels, hosts sanctioned UPF weight pull events at the Bully Max Training Facility, and filmed the 22,039 lb pulls above. Meet the handler behind the dogs on our Bully Max handler profile.
Cold River's Mr. Wednesday and Cold River's Sun Wukong on the rails at the Bully Max Training Facility, each moving 22,039 lb on May 9, 2026. Photo: Bully Max. Tap the photo to see our Bully Max handler profile.
Want to learn more about Boerboel weight pull?
Reading is a start. Hearing it from people who train, condition and compete is better. Check out EE&J's The K9 LAB podcast, which brings together Eli from Cold River Boerboels, Emmanuel from Funny Man Kennels and Jonathan from Workingbullz. They cover picking a prospect, starting a puppy at the right stage, harnesses and equipment, conditioning, mentorship and what actually happens at events. Start with Episode 1 below, then find every episode on EE&J's The K9 LAB on YouTube.
Episode 1 of EE&J's The K9 LAB: an introduction to weight pulling dogs.
Interviews, articles and press
Our dogs' results have been covered by the press and discussed in long-form interviews. These are the best places to start.
Interviews and podcasts
World's Strongest Boerboel: Cold River Boerboels' exclusive interview
All World Doberman Club: South African Boerboel Mastiff and weight pulling
Catch Dog Concepts: inside Cold River Boerboels, breeding, temperament and performance
Articles and coverage
Bully Max: How This Elite Breeder Raises Record-Shattering Dogs
Pet Age: African Boerboel Sets World Record at Bully Max Weight Pull
Yahoo Finance: Bully Max Training Facility hosts UPF weight pull event
Every interview, article and feature is collected on our media, interviews and press page.
A Cold River illustration celebrating the 22,039 lb Boerboel weight pull.
Keep reading
Looking for a Boerboel from a program that proves its dogs on the track? See available puppies, upcoming breedings and the puppy application.
References
Unified Pulling Federation. Official event results, May 9, 2026, Pittsburgh, PA (rails)
Unified Pulling Federation. Official dog profile: Cold River's Sun Wukong
Unified Pulling Federation. Official dog profile: Cold River's Mr. Wednesday
Cold River Boerboels. Weight pulling harnesses by Cold River Supplies
Published by Cold River Boerboels. All results are taken from sanctioning bodies' official published results. Photographs are Cold River Boerboels originals unless credited; diagrams are original Cold River illustrations.
Bred to work. Proven on the track. That is Boerboel weight pull at Cold River.
World-Record Performance Boerboels: Bred to Work, Proven to Win.