It's early in the morning! You're enjoying your first cup of coffee when your loyal four-legged companion stretches his nose out and gently nudges your hand. A silent exchange of looks, an excitedly wagging tail, and you already know: It's time for our training.
A lively bark announces your dog's readiness, and with a soft "Go," your next Canicross adventure begins. Together, you charge through nature, your four-legged friend with radiant eyes, a wild gaze, and his tongue hanging out. Playfully, he dodges trees, roots, and stones while pulling you along.
Yes, indeed: In Canicross, the dog runs ahead, pulling the owner or handler along with a flexible leash.
But beware: running with your dog off-road is incomparable to a regular workout! Canicross, also known as dog-powered sports, is more demanding! Canicross requires good fitness and safe running in rough terrain – for both human and canine.
In this blog post, you can learn more about how to prepare yourself and your dog for off-road running and what you absolutely must consider.
What is Canicross
In short, Canicross is a cross-country run with a dog. Ideally, you run with your own dog, or at least your four-legged running partner should be familiar with and responsive to you.
Canicross is a team sport! You and your dog are connected by a flexible leash. With this, your dog pulls you along the rough terrain. However, the pulling is subjective. Since you don't have skates or rollers under your shoes, you have to run along!
Together, you explore a variety of routes. Forest paths, mountain hiking trails, or coastal paths. Field and meadow paths. The possibilities are endless. Many Canicross enthusiasts even run with their dogs on snowy paths in winter.
But one thing should always be in the foreground: safety for you and, of course, safety for your dog! Because in Canicross, you reach much higher speeds than during a regular jog.
Which dog breeds are suitable for Canicross
Basically, any dog is suitable that enjoys movement and running and has a lot of energy. However, he should not be too light, and of course, he also needs enough strength to pull. The body weight depends a little on how high the desire for pulling and speed is in the owner or handler.
Sled dogs, like Huskies or Malamutes, are good Canicross dogs for long distances, while German Shorthaired Pointers or Greyhounds are excellent for short-distance competitions.
What equipment do you need
For Canicross beginners or experienced Canicross runners, the basic equipment is always the same.
Owners or handlers need a so-called running belt. I personally like this one from
Non-stop dogwear particularly. It is lightweight and offers good running comfort.
Your four-legged friend needs a so-called running harness. It should not be too tight and should not press on the chest. Otherwise, your dog's breathing and performance are restricted. In addition, the pressure points can cause pain. That's why many people use an X-harness, which minimizes pressure and counteracts friction. For my dogs, I use the Troll Nomesele. It has a good price-performance ratio. Other providers are NonStop dogwear and ManMat.
When choosing the size of the running harness, make sure that the connection to the leash is close to the back of your dog. If it is attached in the middle of the back, the dog's spine is too heavily stressed during training.
Furthermore, you need a flexible running leash, the so-called bungee leash. Mine is from
Non-Stop dogwear, and I am very satisfied with it. It is available in different lengths. The length of the leash depends on the nature of your running routes and your stride length. Nobody wants to feel like they're bothering the other person while running or stepping on their feet. If the leash is too short, you hardly have time to react to an obstacle. If the leash is too long, your dog may already be pulling you while you are still at the obstacle. The ideal length is between 1.80m and 2.00m.
Lastly, you should invest in a pair of good trail or orienteering shoes. At the beginning, normal running shoes will do, but trail running shoes have a coarser profile, which gives you much better grip on terrain and on wet or uneven surfaces.
How to train Canicross with your dog
If you don't have one of the typical sled dogs, then you have to teach your dog to pull first. Sounds strange, but it is true, because usually owners make sure that the dog does not do that while walking. Most dogs stop when they feel the resistance of the leash.
So to teach your dog, you can, for example, place treats a few meters away that he retrieves on command. You can also replace the treats with a thrown ball. This way, you associate pulling with reward. Here, one must become a bit creative.
Once your dog learns to pull, you must teach him the commands. Commands are important because they indicate changes in direction or speed and warn your dog of potential dangers. Commands are essential for your safety as well! Therefore, it is important that your dog reacts to commands immediately.
The most important commands in Canicross are
Go: Start signal for your dog
Stop: Your dog stops
Left: Your dog turns left
Right: Your dog turns right
Slow: Your dog slows down
Start training the commands at short distances and praise your dog regularly. Don't start running immediately while practicing the commands. Fast walking can help at the beginning. Important: Never overstrain your dog. An overstrained dog quickly loses interest and joy in this sport. Make sure to take enough breaks for play, so your dog can let off steam. Also, always finish the training with a positive experience!
Competitions in Canicross
To participate in competitions, you must meet some requirements. These can vary from country to country but are usually communicated publicly by the race organizers. Here are some of the most important conditions. For participation, your dog must be at least one and a half years old and not have any physical problems such as joint complaints. Also, your dog must have received certain vaccinations. These include, for example, rabies, kennel cough, or distemper. The race organizers usually provide more detailed information about this. Mastering the commands and flawlessly following them is a basic requirement for participating in Canicross competitions.
During competitions, the temperature must not exceed 16 degrees Celsius. If it is warmer, the organizers have to shorten the routes. Classic distances in Canicross lead over one, three, or five kilometers. To avoid putting too much strain on the animal, you are only allowed to participate in one race per day.
A Well-Intended Advice at the End
The well-being of the dog should always come first in Canicross! So always make sure that your four-legged friend enjoys the sport and never overstrain him.
Water is essential for every training session. Teach your dog to drink in between. Always have water with you, for your dog and of course for yourself.
Canicross is one of the most demanding sports you can do together with your furry friend. So why not start a bit easier? For example, you can take your dog along while cycling. This makes it easier for your pet because the speed differences are not as great, and the bike can absorb the energy well.
Whether it's Canicross or cycling: Don't skimp on the equipment. Inferior equipment increases the risk of injury to your dog.
And no matter which sport you choose, whether it's hiking, cycling, or Canicross, always have a first aid kit with you.
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