Dogs
By Suzanne Alicie
I know that our lovely editor Julia only assigned this title to me because I’m known to want to try the things I write about. Well, surprise! I’m not giving Canicross a shot… although for an athletic person and a well behaved dog it could be a fun activity. My dog Bear has ‘ADD of the nose’ and just a normal walk around the block means me racing along behind her frantically as she runs back and forth following scents. Harness or not, I definitely won’t be trying Canicross with her!
Canicross is the sport of harnessing your dog and running or walking cross country. It’s similar to the sport of Skijoring which I’ve thoroughly explored here before. How is Canicross different, you may wonder, from simply taking a walk? Consider the actual idea of cross country walking or running – it’s a test of your endurance and stamina, strength and coordination to be able to travel long distances. Now think about heading up a large hill while you’re walking or running cross country. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a partner harnessed in front of you to give you a little bit of a pull?
Harnessing your dog for Canicross is much like harnessing him to a sled for pulling power. When you run or walk cross country with your dog you have a partner, a bit of extra strength. It also strengthens your bond with your dog to learn to work together as a team to get where you are going. Canicross does require that your dog learns to keep tension on the line while traveling at a speed that is comfortable for you. Your dog needs to be accustomed to a halter and to having some weight on the harness in order to learn the restraint and pace of Canicross.
Canicross hasn’t yet caught on quite as much in the United States as it has in Europe, where they have competitions and organizations for the sport. If you have tried and enjoyed Skijoring with your dog, then Canicross may just be the next logical step. Dogs that are trained for one of these sports can easily adapt to the other. Let the weather and the season decide which sport you will enjoy when!
Canicross is best with a single dog. Whereas many times Skijoring and Sledding involve a team of dogs, with Canicross you and your dog form the team. A healthy dog that has endurance and conditioning will do best with Canicross, and it’s up to you as the responsible pet owner to make sure your dog is ready. A healthy diet of CANIDAE natural dog food, treats to reward him when he performs well, plenty of rest, and patient training are all part of making your dog the best Canicross partner you could have.
Our dogs are part of our lives, why wouldn’t we include them in our fitness and hobbies as well? If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you may want to give Canicross a try. Personally, I’ll just walk my middle aged self to the middle of the back yard, throw a tennis ball and let Bear do all the running!
Photo: Racheal Bailey of Akna K9 Academy
Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie
- Getting Fit With Fido: Exercise You’ll Both Enjoy
By Lisa Mason Now that summer is officially here, it’s time to head outdoors with your dog! Going for walks and changing up the pace is a great way for both you and your four legged friend to get some exercise. However, there are lots of other ways...
- Have You Tried Dog Scootering?
By Tamara McRill Dog scootering could be the perfect canine sport for those of us who are envious of the athletic coolness of mushing, but just aren't down with playing outdoors in frigid temps. Not being the most graceful individual on the planet,...
- The Alaskan Malamute, A True Arctic Breed
By Ruthie Bently The Alaskan Malamute’s origins go back 2,000 to 3,000 years, and their creation is credited to the Mahlemut Inuit tribe of northern Alaska. Most experts agree that the Malamute is one of the earliest dog breeds of North America. It...
- The Best Dog Breeds For Runners
By Suzanne Alicie We’ve all seen those movies and television shows where the faithful dog keeps pace with his owner as they run through the park or on the beach. Luckily I am not a runner because my dogs would be dragging me all over the place. While...
- Running With Your Dog
By Ruthie Bently Now that the weather is turning nicer in many parts of the country, we can get back to those activities we usually only do during warmer weather. Skye and I love to walk, but Minnesota winters are too bitter for us to go walking very...
Dogs
Canicross - Head Cross Country with Man’s Best Friend!
I know that our lovely editor Julia only assigned this title to me because I’m known to want to try the things I write about. Well, surprise! I’m not giving Canicross a shot… although for an athletic person and a well behaved dog it could be a fun activity. My dog Bear has ‘ADD of the nose’ and just a normal walk around the block means me racing along behind her frantically as she runs back and forth following scents. Harness or not, I definitely won’t be trying Canicross with her!
Canicross is the sport of harnessing your dog and running or walking cross country. It’s similar to the sport of Skijoring which I’ve thoroughly explored here before. How is Canicross different, you may wonder, from simply taking a walk? Consider the actual idea of cross country walking or running – it’s a test of your endurance and stamina, strength and coordination to be able to travel long distances. Now think about heading up a large hill while you’re walking or running cross country. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a partner harnessed in front of you to give you a little bit of a pull?
Harnessing your dog for Canicross is much like harnessing him to a sled for pulling power. When you run or walk cross country with your dog you have a partner, a bit of extra strength. It also strengthens your bond with your dog to learn to work together as a team to get where you are going. Canicross does require that your dog learns to keep tension on the line while traveling at a speed that is comfortable for you. Your dog needs to be accustomed to a halter and to having some weight on the harness in order to learn the restraint and pace of Canicross.
Canicross hasn’t yet caught on quite as much in the United States as it has in Europe, where they have competitions and organizations for the sport. If you have tried and enjoyed Skijoring with your dog, then Canicross may just be the next logical step. Dogs that are trained for one of these sports can easily adapt to the other. Let the weather and the season decide which sport you will enjoy when!
Canicross is best with a single dog. Whereas many times Skijoring and Sledding involve a team of dogs, with Canicross you and your dog form the team. A healthy dog that has endurance and conditioning will do best with Canicross, and it’s up to you as the responsible pet owner to make sure your dog is ready. A healthy diet of CANIDAE natural dog food, treats to reward him when he performs well, plenty of rest, and patient training are all part of making your dog the best Canicross partner you could have.
Our dogs are part of our lives, why wouldn’t we include them in our fitness and hobbies as well? If you are an outdoor enthusiast, you may want to give Canicross a try. Personally, I’ll just walk my middle aged self to the middle of the back yard, throw a tennis ball and let Bear do all the running!
Photo: Racheal Bailey of Akna K9 Academy
Read more articles by Suzanne Alicie
- Getting Fit With Fido: Exercise You’ll Both Enjoy
By Lisa Mason Now that summer is officially here, it’s time to head outdoors with your dog! Going for walks and changing up the pace is a great way for both you and your four legged friend to get some exercise. However, there are lots of other ways...
- Have You Tried Dog Scootering?
By Tamara McRill Dog scootering could be the perfect canine sport for those of us who are envious of the athletic coolness of mushing, but just aren't down with playing outdoors in frigid temps. Not being the most graceful individual on the planet,...
- The Alaskan Malamute, A True Arctic Breed
By Ruthie Bently The Alaskan Malamute’s origins go back 2,000 to 3,000 years, and their creation is credited to the Mahlemut Inuit tribe of northern Alaska. Most experts agree that the Malamute is one of the earliest dog breeds of North America. It...
- The Best Dog Breeds For Runners
By Suzanne Alicie We’ve all seen those movies and television shows where the faithful dog keeps pace with his owner as they run through the park or on the beach. Luckily I am not a runner because my dogs would be dragging me all over the place. While...
- Running With Your Dog
By Ruthie Bently Now that the weather is turning nicer in many parts of the country, we can get back to those activities we usually only do during warmer weather. Skye and I love to walk, but Minnesota winters are too bitter for us to go walking very...