Hike With Your Dog - Canicross Style

Canicross is a way to hike with your dog cross-country style on trails. So, you don't live near trails? No problem. You can train in the city just as easily (miles of sidewalks, right?!).

Here's the deal. No matter where you hike with your dog, if he is off leash he can dig up trouble. Why? Besides the fact that huskies like to roam when loose, they can find bears, snakes, chase moose, or run into traffic. The solution? Canicross.

I like to call this the 30 minute hike with your dog workout!

hike with your dog canicross

1. Get a comfortable backpack. Go to your favorite outdoor store and find a pack that fits well. This backpack will be used to carry weight. Start with enough weight that you feel it, but not so much that you want to drop the pack off at the first stoplight, and pick it up later with the car. I started with 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms). You can use books, water bladders, or free weights to fill the pack.

2. Get Hiking Shoes. Just another excuse to buy more gear? No. This exercise is the real thing. Make sure your shoes will sustain a 10-20 mile (16-32 km) hike without blisters, numb feet, and rolled ankles. Hikers are the best shoes for this exercise. Light weight hikers work for me, but everyone is different.

3. A comfortable harness for your dog. You won't need a fancy mushing harness, but you will need a harness. This exercise is intended to allow your dog to pull, so gentle leaders and collars are not acceptable. Collars and halters will hurt your dogs neck if he pulls on them.

How To Choose A Harness

hike with your dog canicross

4. You need a 6 foot leash (1.8m). The leash attaches to the harness and the handle attaches to the belt of your pack. You can use a separate belt if you want. It is just personal preference. Keep in mind the fastek buckles can break under pressure. Know your dog.

5. Teach Gee and Haw. In this exercise your dog will be out in front leading you. You can use this opportunity to teach directions such as right and left (or gee to go right, and haw to go left, if you prefer). You can also practice passing other dogs without interaction. This is the on by command.

Now all you need is 30 minutes. If you hike with your dog everyday in this manor, you will get in shape. This can also give you some alone time while training and exercising your dog. All this while walking the city streets.

Increase the backpack weight every week by 5 pounds (2.25 kilograms). A good milestone would be 45 pounds in 45 minutes for 3 miles. You won't miss a beat when life offers the opportunity to hit some rugged trail!

Use your body as a guide and don't over do it. It is not about the weight, but getting out there with your dog.

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