“What exactly is Canicross?” you may ask. Well, we have never heard of this canine sport either, until just recently, when Rachel Clark, with CherCar Kennels, reached out and asked if we would be willing to cover it in The Dog Journal.
Written by: The Dog Journal
We said “Of course” and I’m glad we did! Turns out this canine sport Canicross is a ton of fun and some hard work, and provides an amazing way to bond with your dog and practice teamwork and dedication. And, as an added bonus, you just may be able to say good bye to those few extra pounds you’ve been trying to lose. Run with us as Rachel takes on a journey through her story, and tells us what Canicross is really all about.
“EASY!” My voice echoed as I ran through the woods, over streams and downhill, the arm of my dominant hand outstretched with my knuckles white, gripped tight on the leash connecting me to my young Pit Bull, who was learning in that mile and a half, just how much fun running with his mom could be. This was far from a casual romp on a trail though, this event was his first time running with me, in a harness, at a race, AND a canine obstacle course race at that! Having never considered myself an athlete nor running an even slightly enjoyable activity for that matter, it is a surprise for many that despite the bruises, bleeding, shin splints, and sore shoulder, this race was the ugly start to my love of the sport of Canicross.
Born of off-season training for working dogs of much greater familiarity, sled dog handlers may have started this activity for necessary conditioning of their dogs, but Canicross has long since blossomed into a competitive sport of its own. Believed to have originated in France and Belgium in the 1980s, with the first European Championship being held by Belgium in 1998. The popularity of Canicross has crossed the pond as its following in the United States and Canada has grown dramatically over the last few years, but it is still largely unknown in mainstream media and even amongst lifelong dog sports enthusiasts. So, what is Canicross? To put it simply, Canicross is canine propelled cross country running. You may also see it referred to under the umbrella term of “Urban Mushing,” alongside other dryland, dog propelled sports such as bikejoring, scootering, carting, etc. Whether you are a runner looking to start incorporating your dog or a dog handler looking to try something new, Canicross is a fantastic new sport for you and your dog(s) to try.
Running is of course an excellent outlet for your dog’s energy, but it can also serve as a bonding experience as you join your dog in an activity they’re predisposed to enjoy, all while exploring new places together and pushing yourself and your dog out of your comfort zone. For those interested in the health aspect of sport, this is a fun way to get in shape with a new workout partner who will certainly help hold you
accountable to a training schedule. Don’t have a husky or other spitz type? No problem! Arguably one of the best parts of Canicross is that anyone and any dog of age can do it, with vet approval. From Parson Russell Terriers to Great Danes and everything in between, Canicross runners and their dogs come in all shapes, sizes, ages, and speeds! Canicross is an activity you and your dog can enjoy on your own, you can push yourself competitively by looking for dog friendly races in your area, you can travel for Canicross specific races (often held in conjunction with other Urban Mushing sports), or you can even dive into the thrilling world of canine obstacle course runs (also called “adventure races”).
If you enjoy titling your dog, Canicross can count toward the new AKC Fit Dog program, or you can title through smaller organizations such as North American Canicross. AKC Fit Dog offers three titles for completing various types of physical exercise with your dog: AKC FIT DOG Course, running, walks and hikes, activities unique to you and your dog like Swimming or Parkour, a variety of fitness related AKC sport titles such as UpDog Disc Dog and the AKC Field Trial or Hunting Test, and AKC Parent Club titles like Pack Dog and Draft Dog. Each title has a specific number of required points, 5 points for Bronze, 10 points for Silver, and 20 points plus one relevant AKC sport title for Gold.
North American Canicross offers three types of titles–self logged Lifetime Achieved Miles, Race Dog titles, and combination Champion titles. You can earn Lifetime Achieved Miles after completing 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, and 10,000 miles. Race Dog titles offer four tiers of titling determined by number of races completed in two distances, “Sprint” for distances less than 5 kilometers,and “5K” for distances between 5 and 10 kilometers. Champion titles combine Lifetime Achieved Miles titles with Race Dog titles and activities that continue to push Canicross teams further in the sport.
For example, Bronze, Silver and Gold Champion titles include varying numbers of races 10 kilometers or more;
Silver and Gold Champion titles include 1-2 races of 21 kilometers or greater distance. The variety in options for participation only adds to the accessibility of the sport. As simple as it may sound to take your dog for a run, there is more to it than just grabbing Fido and hitting the trails. To participate safely independently or in competition, Canicross teams utilize specific equipment on both ends of the leash–a hands-free runner’s belt, bungee leash, and a harness that allows full range of motion while pulling. When used correctly, this equipment will allow you to run propelled by your dog safely and efficiently. If you are interested in getting started, you should start looking into where you would like to get your equipment; some popular brands for equipment include but are not limited to Non- Stop Dogwear, Neewa, Howling Dog Alaska, and DogFit. With so many options available you may find fitting equipment in person to be helpful in your decision making, if so look for local retailers, meet-ups, and races. At the minimum you will need:
Now don’t you take that information and run with it–see what I did there? –as great of an outlet and bonding experience as it is, you are going to want to start working on some commands for control and direction before you find yourself face down in the dirt, being dragged through the woods after kicking up a rabbit. It is often recommended to start training our Canicross commands while walking rather than diving straight in, so here are some examples of helpful commands you can start teaching on your normal walks or hikes:
There are no designated command words for Canicross, so if these commands are new to you and/or your dog, keep it simple with words that you can remember easily at the moment. Consistency is key!
Hopefully now that you have made it through this quick Canicross crash course, you can get started with a better understanding of the sport, while skipping all the bumps and bruises from stumbling into it like I did. For more information, please check out resources such as The Active Dog Podcast by K9 Trail Time, the Talk Canicross podcast by DogFit, magazine articles by Non-Stop Dogwear, Facebook groups such as North American Canicross Fan Club and Canicross Trailrunners, and look for Canicross coaches, ambassadors and meet-ups in your area for a bit more handson assistance getting started. At the end of the day, we all just love spending time with our dogs, so get out there and try something new that the two (or more) of you can enjoy and learn to do together.
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