What is dog karting?

Dog karting (kart racing) is a very young sport. At first it was just training for sled dogs during the snowless season. But gradually they became so popular that they formed into a separate sport.

In Russia, dog karting championships are officially held by the Russian Cynological Federation based on the rules of the WSA – International Sled Dog Racing Association.

How are the competitions going?

• Dog karting is a competition not only for speed, but also for endurance. The winner is the team that finished first or showed the minimum time;

• The start can be both general and individual;

• In dog karting, only long distances are provided – from 5 km;

• According to the rules of the RKF, there are 5 classes in Russian dog karting, which differ the number of dogs in the team and the type of kart.

Necessary equipment

Dog karting is a rather difficult sport that requires serious preparation. First turn, you need to decide on the type of cart, that is, carts. They are of three types: two-, three and four wheelers. The size of the map depends on the number of dogs that will be in harness. One dog can also pull, but in this case, the weight of the cart is clearly regulated and athlete. It should not be three times the weight of the animal.

If you are not interested in professional sports, then there is no need to buy an expensive kart. If desired, you can build it yourself.

As in most other sports with dogs, dog karting requires the presence of a pull in the team – a shock-absorbing cord 2,5–3 meters long.

The equipment also includes a harness and lanyards, which, depending on the number of dogs, are connected to each other by a re-fastening – a section of pull with carabiners. By the way, animals in a harness can be attached both in pairs and singly.

As for the equipment of an athlete, he needs a suit and a helmet, the presence of which is mandatory for participation in races, as well as goggles and gloves.

Who can participate in the competition?

Both purebred animals and mestizos can take part in competitions. The breed in dog karting does not matter, the main thing is that the dog knows how and loves to pull cards. Sick animals, as well as pregnant and lactating dogs are not allowed to race.

There are also restrictions for athletes. Since dog karting is a rather difficult sport, adults and teenagers over 16 years old can act as mushers in competitions. At the same time, the latter can only drive a three-wheeled or two-wheeled kart. In four-wheeled karts with a team of four or more dogs, only athletes who have reached the age of 18 are allowed.

How to prepare for the competition?

If you want to perform well in competitions and show good results, it is better to seek help from a professional cynologist. Prepare yourself for dog karting competitions are unlikely to succeed. There are several basic rules:

• Start training with dogs. Their work must be coordinated, so the pets first learn the commands. Animals should immediately respond to them without eye contact.

• Training takes place outdoors. The track is chosen in the forest, in the park or at the stadium with a special coating. Remember that you can’t run on asphalt with a dog, this can lead to a disease of the pet’s joints.

• The weather is also important for classes. Too high temperature, above 20ºС, not suitable for training. This must be taken into account so as not to harm the dog.

Remember that dog karting is a traumatic sport. Classes require extreme care and caution. You can often find negative comments about musher athletes. However, if the pet is active, energetic, ready to happily run and push the cart, dog karting can be considered as one of the options for physical activity for him.