Content
- Canicross: what is it
- Canicross: necessary equipment
- Canicross: best dog breeds to practice
- Canicross: How do I know if my dog can practice
- Canicross: training routine
- Canicross: How You Should Train Your Dog
- Canicross Brazil: competition
There is nothing better than sharing daily activities with your dog to strengthen your relationship with him, for this reason in this article by PeritoAnimal we will explain everything about the canicross: what it is and how to practice it. It is a sport that consists of running together with your dog united by specific equipment.
In addition to being super healthy and bringing numerous health benefits for both of you, canicross allows for better communication to meet you. Find out everything you need to know to practice canicross and start exercising with your dog as soon as possible.
Canicross: what is it
Canicross is a canine sport that is currently very fashionable. It's actually a variation of the mushing, the traditional dog sled race.
It consists of a sport in which the tutor and the dog run together, exercising. The puppy must be attached to his tutor's waist with a special anti-pull harness and a specific canicross belt (they tend to be quite long) that will be placed on the tutor's waist to control the puppy's speed. But be careful, the traditional collars do not fit, because it is a specific equipment that protects the dog and the tutor from the pulls of the four-legged companion.
This modality is well known, mainly in some European countries, which maintain this tradition for many years. In addition to numerous canicross competitions, you can also practice alone in forests, trails and paths.
Canicross: necessary equipment
It is essential to have the specific equipment to practice this sport, otherwise an accident could happen, both the dog and the owner. The complete canicross set includes:
- Belt for the runner;
- Harness for the dog (not the same harness as the one on the walk);
- A cushioned collar.
In addition to these basic elements for this canine sport, you should take into account that:
- The dog must be over a year old, have undergone a veterinary check-up and be in perfect physical shape;
- It is not allowed to participate in a competition with aggressive dogs that could put other runners at risk, use the muzzle if necessary;
- The tutor can never go in front of the dog.
In addition, it is necessary to train the dog constantly, both with regard to the intensity of the activity (as it should be done with any other athlete) and the basic obedience commands.
Canicross: best dog breeds to practice
There is no single breed suitable for performing canicross. In fact, almost any dog is able to do it, although this canine sport is usually practiced with medium and large dogs (between 20 and 30 kilos)
Brachycephalic (flat-snouted) dogs are not recommended for exercising with as much intensity as canicross, as these breeds of dogs have respiratory problems and therefore have difficulty modulating and balancing body temperature, as well as other complications.
On the other hand, Molossos dog breeds should also not practice cranicross. Puppies of the Mastiff, Cane Corso, Boiadeiro de Berna, Boxer and similar breeds have a body structure that makes them more prone to certain health problems if they practice intense physical exercise, such as heat stroke and other respiratory problems.
Canicross: How do I know if my dog can practice
As we mentioned before, practically every adult dog can start canicross, however, a complete veterinary review is essential before starting to practice this sport to certify the dog's good health, as well as the condition of the paws, which should be examined periodically.
Canicross: training routine
There are several modalities within canicross, however the most common is the sprint, medium and long distance. They are usually between 5 and 12 km, however, the distance may vary depending on the rules of the organizing federation. In these types of events, the attention and care of the dog is essential, classification is something secondary for any responsible guardian.
People who are dedicated to competing canicross at a professional level have the greatest respect for the animal, so there are some prohibited guidelines, such as having the dog run with the harness behind the shoulder and, of course, any type of abuse.
Finally, it is recommended to go to the veterinarian with your puppy to confirm that his health and physical availability to run in these types of conditions are ideal.
Canicross: How You Should Train Your Dog
Once you have the canicross equipment and your dog has mastered the basic commands, he can start practicing on his own in any enabled region. It is recommended to start with a moderate routine and gradually increase the pace, according to your own and your pet's performance.
If you want to participate in official canicross competitions, you should set goals for distance and time, and go over it little by little to assess whether you are good candidates for this sport so intense. Then you can join a canicross club or mushing to train together with other people and participate in different activities that take place, whether official or not.
Canicross Brazil: competition
Canicross is still a little known practice in Brazil, but it has been gaining more and more popularity. Therefore, it may be that you have some difficulty in finding the necessary equipment for sale in the national market, being better to resort to online stores. In addition, a Brazilian Canicross Federation for the activity to gain more visibility in the country.
Also check out our YouTube video with the 5 exercises with dog: