Autumn is well and truly upon us, and that means the return of cooler temperatures and the perfect time to start harness sports with Pitou! But where to start?
If harnessed canine sports are new to you or your dog, we recommend starting with cani-marche, cani-randonnée or canicross. This is the safest and least difficult way for your dog to acquire skills and learn new commands, but before you even set out on the trail, let's make sure you have all the equipment and that it fits you and your dog properly.
To check that you have all the equipment you need, use our equipment module to confirm that you're not short of anything!
Once you have everything in hand, the next step is to make sure everything fits. Did you know that we have many informative videos in our media library? These will help you adjust your equipment to yourself and your dog, ensuring that you and your dog get off to the safest, most comfortable start possible.
Now that your equipment has been properly adjusted, it's time to grab your dog and head out for a hike! At first, you may find that your dog does better when learning in a group. There are many clubs across Canada that welcome you and your dog to participate in group training or lessons. Learning in a club or with a trainer or mentor is a great way for you and your dog to gain knowledge and experience from others. Starting out on your own? Set your dog up for success by starting on a clearly defined path with few distractions. Start slowly and give your dog time to develop his skills. Harness sports require not only physical effort, but also mental effort (commands to start and stop, directions like gee (right) and haw (left) to turn or ahead to continue).
In the beginning, it's better to do less than too much. The most important thing to remember when starting out is to keep it fun! Harness dog sports are an incredible way to get out with your dogs and enjoy all that nature has to offer every season.
Check back soon! Over the next few months, our blog will be packed with tips and tricks to help you and your dogs succeed together on the trails!
