Summer is here, the sun is shining, and the heat makes you want to go everywhere with your dog? Then you’ve come to the right place. What sports can you do with your dog? Where can you take your dog to get some exercise? What are the existing dog sports? To answer these questions, the Modern Gentleman has written an article on sports to practice with your dog!
Why consider doing sports with your dog?
Practicing a sport with your dog will have many advantages, for him and you:
- You will strengthen your collaboration and the bond with your dog.
- Your dog will become more socialized as you meet him,
- This one will be able to be worked in training.
- This will allow him to exercise and stay in shape (just like you!)
- It’s also an opportunity to meet new people, share unique moments with your pet, or take beautiful Instagram photos!
What sports to do with your dog?
There are many sports you can do with your dog. Above all, remember to adapt your physical activity to your dog’s body type and abilities. Don’t hesitate to do a check-up at the veterinarian’s office and ask for his medical advice.
There are different sports for dogs! When we talk about sports for dogs, we are talking about sports that have almost all been invented for them! Among them, we find notably :
- Agility
- The rhythmic obedience
- The ring
These dog sports can be practiced in clubs. In some cases, especially Ring, you will need specific licenses. The objective of these sports is to work on your dog’s skills. It will ask you however some material in the case of the agility, or still, the ring. We propose below some bases to begin in agility:
You can also practice “human” sports and take your dog with you: let’s see which ones.
Paddle or canoeing with your dog
If you want to enjoy the sun and the water with your dog, you should know that it is also possible! Many water sports can be practiced with your pet! This is the case for paddleboarding, canoeing, or kayaking.
If you have a calm dog enjoying the water, these sports are for you! They can be practiced as walks, to discover new places, and to take advantage of water points during the heat to swim. However, you can have a more sportive practice with the descent of certain rivers for example!
If you choose a paddle, for its lower cost, we recommend this model, which is designed for loads up to 150 kilos and allows you to load even a big dog!
The cani-cross, cani-rando or cani-vtt
There are different possibilities for endurance sports:
- The cani-cross, which is practiced like a foot race while being pulled by his dog,
- The cani-rando, which corresponds to hiking (walking) with his dog,
- The cani-vtt, which allows the dog to pull its owner, then on a bike.
These different sports are exciting because they allow you to work with your power, and that of your dog. They can also be adapted to quieter sports, such as cani-marche. This is the same principle as the cani-rando, but on a slower and quieter walk, like a stroll!
Some of these sports can be realized with similar equipment, and it is notably the case of cani-cross, cani-rando, and cani-walking with the accessories proposed below:
Mushing to do sports with your dog
Mushing is a sliding sport you can practice with your dog and your friends if you feel like it! It is a sport, initially reserved for sled dogs, which consists in being pulled on the snow by a dog or a team of dogs.
This sport is also suitable for fit, powerful dogs that like to travel long distances. It can be done with several dogs who must get along well and be clear in their pack hierarchy.
Taking your dog to winter sports
Did you know that you can also take your dog with you to winter sports? Indeed, the snow is appreciated by some dogs and can be an excellent way to exercise! We have talked about Mushing, but it is not the only winter sport to consider.
Indeed, there are sports like cani-ski for example, also called canine skijoring. This sport consists of being pulled by your dog while cross-country skiing.
Be careful, the practice of this sport requires some adaptations, whether in terms of equipment to protect your dog, or for respect of the regulations applied on the tracks. This sport is unsuitable for all types of dogs, and we advise you to contact your veterinarian.
You have now reached the end of this article about sports (summer or winter) to do with your dog. We hope that this article has given you some ideas. Remember to adapt your dog’s sports activity to his body size, needs, and health! Don’t hesitate to share your own sports activities or pictures of your walks with us!