Canicross is an excellent way for dogs and humans alike to get some exercise.
This dog-joring sport, which involves running or jogging with your dog on a specialized harness and hands-free bungee leash, has gained popularity over the last decade.
It is not only beneficial for your health, but it can also help your furry friend to get in shape. Plus, canicross will give your dog some much-needed mental stimulation.
In short, canicross is good for dogs.
How is Canicross Good for Dogs?
1. It Reduces or Eliminates Behavioral Problems in Dogs
If you have a high-energy dog that hasn’t been getting regular exercise, canicross is a great way to give them the workout they need, which will, in turn, eliminate all sorts of behavioral problems.
This includes things like excessive barking, destructive behavior, and hyperactivity. They’ll tire out from the exercise and won’t have time to think about anything but rest and sleep!
2. It Keeps Your Dog Physically Healthy
Similar to running, canicross provides one of the most vigorous forms of exercise there is.
Your dog will be able to burn off pent-up energy, release stress, and feel the satisfaction that comes with completing a good workout.
It can also prevent the adverse health effects associated with inactivity like weight gain and obesity, which are quite common in dogs these days.
3. It Gives Your Dog Mental Stimulation
Doggies are always looking for something to do. They’ve been bred over thousands of years to serve as companions and to work, so they crave mental stimulation as much as physical exercise.
By offering a workout that keeps their mind occupied, canicross helps your dog become a more relaxed and happy pup while relieving or keeping any negative emotions like boredom and anxiety at bay.
4. It Helps Your Dog Lose Weight
Having a bit of extra weight is never good for anyone, including pets. If your dog has been gaining weight lately because they aren’t as active as they once were or for whatever reason may be, canicross can help them shed some pounds.
Like regular running, jogging with your running buddy off-road gives both of you an intense cardio workout that revs up metabolism while breaking down excessive fats and releasing toxins from the body.
5. It Strengthens the Bond Between You and Your Dog
While canicross isn’t a strict working activity, it’s still an opportunity for you to spend time with your furry best friend.
Because humans run and dogs pull, both of you will be required to work together as a team. It’s never been more apparent just how much you need each other when running together through the trails!
Read More: Does Canicross Reinforce Pulling Behavior?
In Conclusion
Canicross gives both you and your dog something to look forward to and provides many benefits. From helping your dog lose weight to strengthening your bond with your furry friend, canicross is good for dogs and humans alike.
Plus, if your dog has been a little out of sorts lately, canicross gives them an outlet for their pent-up energy and helps them become more emotionally stable.
If you’re curious about this sport, it certainly is worth a try. It’s not just for competitive athletes! In fact, once you’ve both learned the basics of this sport, you and your dog will explore nature in a fun, new way.
One thing, though, is if you’re going to try it with your dog, make sure that they don’t have any underlying health issues. They also need to be well-behaved, geared up properly, and know the basic canicross verbal commands, for instance, hike, forward, gee, haw, on by, and heel. Otherwise, this could potentially end quite badly.
If your dog is highly reactive or aggressive towards other dogs or people, I would not recommend doing this as there is potential for problems to arise if you are out on the trail with your dog and other runners or dogs are nearby.
