Dryland for dogs

This is a separate group of summer sports with a dog. The very name “dryland” literally translates from English as “dry land”. The history of dryland is much shorter than the history of dog sled racing, because sports disciplines on earth originated precisely from snow sports. The fact is that in order to maintain physical fitness and skills, sled dogs needed training not only in winter, but also in summer. This is how summer sports appeared.

Summer sports with a dog

Dryland includes several areas of dog training:

• Bikejoring. It is based on cycling over rough terrain, most often in the forest. The dog runs ahead of the cyclist and tows him. The length of the route is from 3 to 10 km;

• Dog karting. This sport resembles sled racing, it is a race on carts pulled by dogs. There are usually two to six animals in a team. The carts themselves also differ: they are two-, three- and four-wheeled;

• Dog scootering. This is something like a lightweight version of dog karting. Dog scootering is racing on a scooter pulled by one to three dogs. For this sport, you need not a simple, but a special scooter with large pneumatic wheels;

• Canicross. The safest kind of ground sport. This is cross-country running with a dog.

Dryland in Russia is regulated by the Russian Cynological Federation. Competitions are held in accordance with the rules approved by the WSA – International Sled Dog Racing Association.

What kind of dogs are suitable for training?

In dryland there are absolutely no restrictions related to the size or breed of dogs. Absolutely any pet can go in for sports, the main thing is to choose the right load and type of activity for him.

Of course, as in other sports, dryland has its own leaders – breeds that are traditionally recognized as the best driving. These are Alaskan Malamute, Huskies, Huskies and other members of the family. Dobermans, shepherds, mestizos also successfully manifest themselves.

However, there are still some limitations. They are related to the age and health of the participants.

Dogs under 15 months of age cannot compete in canicross and dog karting, and under 18 months in dog scootering and bikejoring.

Age restrictions are also imposed on riders. So, children under 12 years old will not be able to participate in canicross and dog scooter competitions. In bikejoring, a higher threshold is 14 years. A team of 6-8 dogs can be driven by a racer at least 18 years old.

Training

First you need to determine what kind of sport you want to do with your pet. Canicross is suitable for beginners; if you decide to try yourself, for example, in dog karting, be prepared for investments, including financial ones.

It is quite difficult to prepare for competitions on your own. It is best to contact a professional athlete and cynologist. Such classes require not only physical preparation, but also psychological. The dog must be obedient, attentive and well-mannered. In addition, the pet must know the necessary commands and follow them unquestioningly.

Do not forget that dryland is a team sport, and success depends not only on the animal, but also on its owner.