Skijoring

Running with your dog is definitely a great way to get a taste for running. Many people discover harnessed canine sports via canicross, and when you're new to this world the experience can sometimes be unsettling. At what age can my dog start pulling? Where should I start? What equipment do I need?

You’re in the right place ! We'll answer all of these questions in order to provide you with as many tools as possible to start off on the right foot with your pawrtner !

The first thing to know is that the best time to start training your dog in canicross (or any other traction sport) is when he's fully grown. Depending on the breed or your vet's advice to the contrary, growth is usually complete by 12 months (later for large-breed dogs and a little earlier for small-breed dogs).

The reason to avoid pulling at an early age is to protect your dog's growing joints and bones from impact - you don't want to risk injuring your dog and creating problems that will follow him for the rest of his life. Having said that, however, it is possible to start getting your dog used to pulling before the end of his growth (around 7-8 months) through short canicross training sessions. But be careful! Training before the end of growth is intended to be mental (desensitizing the dog to the harness and getting him used to pulling), not physical. It is therefore of the utmost importance to observe the following points to avoid injuring the dog:

1. Very short training sessions : you want the dog to learn to feel comfortable with the harness and to make a positive association with pulling. You must therefore stop well before your dog shows a loss of interest and limit training to a few hundred meters (remember, the dog is still growing and is not old enough to do intensive physical training);
2. Low-intensity training Jogging: the primary objective is to limit the impact on the joints, so it goes without saying that training should be carried out at low speed. A short jog is ideal for the dog to practice a fast trot rather than long strides (the faster the dog runs, the greater the impact - which is why the bikejoring is not recommended for young dogs)
3. Infrequent training : training the dog once or twice a week is enough to start making him comfortable pulling and learn the basics (stay ahead and some basic commands);

Once the dog has reached full growth, training sessions can increase in frequency, duration and intensity. Canicross is the ideal discipline for starting out in the world of harnessed dog sports. The dog is close by, easy to guide by manipulating the bungee line, and the speed is neither too slow nor too fast. It's best to train on a track that's lightly trafficked (avoid distractions), narrow and without too many junctions, so that the dog only has to concentrate on pulling forward and isn't confronted with situations where the direction to take is unclear.

Each dog is unique and learns at its own pace. You are its trainer and it is essential that you adapt to its ability and motivation so as not to give it bad experiences while pulling.

Now let's talk about the canicross kit ! To practice this activity, there are three essentials :

• Canicross belt The canicross belt: this is the equipment you'll wear to be connected to your dog. The canicross belt gives you freedom of movement (so you can run comfortably) while providing good support to distribute the dog's pull on your buttocks and avoid straining your lower back. Depending on your dog's intensity, you'll have to choose between the multifonctional walking belt or the hybrid traction belt.
• Bungee line : also called canicross bungee line or dog bungee line, it connects the dog to the human. This equipment absorbs impacts when the dog pulls to protect your dog's joints as well as your back. In canicross, the multisports bungee line is perfect, as it's just the right length to get the dog relatively close so you can have better control over him.
• Dog pulling harness : it is with this equipment that the dog transmits all its pulling force. Our dog pulling harness is ideal, since it offers your dog great freedom of movement and is well padded for maximum comfort. Warning: many harnesses found in stores are not suitable for pulling, and can injure your dog if used in harnessed dog sports.

That's it ! You are already better equipped to embark on the great adventure that is canicross. Don't hesitate to check if a club is located near you, it's a great way to learn for you and your dog with other enthusiasts !