Canicross

Visit the Canicross Website
Canicross is an up and coming sport which involves cross country running with your dog. Although Canicross is intended for all ages and fitness levels you will need to get yourself reasonably fit to enter an event. The shortest "have-a-go" class is over a distance of 2.5km, or just over one and a half miles. This could be good news for those who already go to the gym or run for a pastime but for the rest of us it does mean getting some unaccustomed exercise. If you have any doubts about your physical fitness you might be better off getting a check up with your medical adviser before you start. Having said that there are many less able-bodied runners who could put some of us to shame and who compete in Canicross events.

As with any exercise you need to start slowly and build up and this applies to your dog as well as yourself. Only dogs over one year old are allowed to compete. This is because they need to be mature in their bone growth and too much exercise will cause problems in later life. Dogs between one and two years old are only allowed to run up to 6km or 3.7 miles.

Canicross Harness
Dogs normally wear a harness for running and a Canicross "line". This is a special lead that runs from the harness to the handler's waistbelt.  Canicross dogs are usually trained to run ahead and to pull when they are in harness. You may think that this goes against all the training you have put in to stop your dog pulling on the lead, however dogs will distinguish between the Canicross harness and ordinary lead walking. Pulling should not become a problem for a well trained dog.
 
If you want to try running with a harness why not try out something like the ones advertised below?
 
 
 
If you want to learn more about Canicross here are some Useful websites
Canicross This site is packed with information and articles about canicross. It has a calendar for you to download plus all the Canicross events and a Google discussion group.

CaniX UK This site has news, views and masses of information on canicross. There is a shop and a comments page and also a charity page which tells you how you can run for your favourite charity.