Canicross is a type of mushing, a snow sport in which a sled is pulled by dogs . The animals are guided by an expert on the sleigh, thanks to him they know where they have to go, when to brake, when to accelerate, etc.
Canicross is, in origin, similar to mushing, but in this case there is no sled involved, but whoever practices it, like dogs, has to run. It is run with the animal attached at the waist with a belt or harness. Therefore, you have to be in top shape to be able to maintain the good pace of the race.
Since it is difficult to practice on snow (although not impossible, since there are people who do it), the most common thing is that it is carried out on land. But if you want to practice it, the first recommendation is that you be a lover of nature and animals, otherwise it will be very difficult for you to adapt.
A mix between mushing and athletics makes this one of the sports that has garnered the most fans in recent years.
He who has a friend has a treasure, it is often said. A dog is a good friend, one that never lets you down. Therefore, doing activities with them will make you live very fun and unforgettable moments.
If you decide to take this hobby to competition, you should know that there is no specific breed of dog for this sport, but the conditions are that it be in good physical condition, that it can run and that it is at least one year old. , although you can always start practicing with it before. It is preferable that it be a large hunting dog or otherwise Nordic dogs such as the Siberian Husky and mixes thereof.
Practicing canicross requires that you keep in mind that it is your pet who must always go in front of you, which means that in no case You can be the one in front (he can go, in the last case, at your side). You can only pull it if there is a change of direction or whenever the situation requires it (distraction, conflicts of some kind, complicated roads...).
In competitions the routes are usually between 5 and 10 km. in length, and can be carried out in two different types of starts: either in groups or in phases (the latter requires starts with several seconds of distance between runner and runner). In all competitions, pass strict veterinary checks to ensure that the animals are in perfect condition.
With each passing year it is becoming much more consolidated in Spain, as it is a sport that you can practice with your pet, enjoy your free time with it, do physical exercise and, in addition, you can enter the world of competition. What more could you ask for?
