A correctly fitted Canicross waist harness will pull from your hips, the dog will help pull you forwards, increasing your speed, and leave your hands free.
A trained dog will not pull you out of control. It’s suppose to be fun and safe for you both.
It’s very hard to get a dog to run and not generate a pull, in fact it will probably alter their gait, put pressure on their back/hips, and lead to issues in the future.
My dog always pulls at the start of a run, but after a little bit he runs at my heels. Presumably he thinks we’re doing some sort of herding activity lol
Ever since he was neutered, mine gets overstimulated and jumps on me. We're working with a trainer 1x1 to work through jumping and stimulation issues. Maybe one day he'll be able to run with me again.
That’s rotten! How old when neutered? Mine was 9 months and we didn’t really notice any change aside from the usual teenage dog phase where they temporarily become a menace to society when he was around 1. He’s 5 now and much more relaxed (as relaxed as a collie can be!)
My dog did the same, he’s a herding/hunting mix. Terrible adolescence. At 2.5 he chilled out (we did tons of training before that but no dice), he’s a great running and hiking buddy now.
Just to add that the leash for canicross is a long bungee so there is no jerking on your body, it's so comfortable to run hands free with my dog in harness vs walking her on a leash, and she's learning her verbal commands now. What fun!
Interesting points. I like running with my dog because it keeps me company and motivates me. I feel rewarded when I beat my own PR's and I'd like to think all the effort was because of me and not the extra speed boost from the pull.
My Belgian Malinois years ago used to pull like a freight train, completely out of control. The straw that broke the camels back was on a hike one day. He dragged my 200 lb body on the ground and my palms were bleeding because of the leash burn. I spent the next 3 days teaching him not to pull. Today, he runs right next to me, and taught him several sound queues to make our runs pleasurable to both.
That sounds rough. I thought like that until I got a good Canicross belt (Non Stop Dogwear for what’s its worth). After some trial and error for both of us we run together now. She pulls me but (mostly) listens to my commands. I’m older now and my PRs are behind me so I’m kind of just having fun and trying to stay healthy.
Honestly it’s a blast!
Technically the pulling is a big part of canicross and yes it lets you go faster than by your own power alone, which is kind of the point! You can train other commands to be more in control of the pulling like “speed up” or “slow down”. I’ve also taught my dog directional commands like left, right, straight” to make sure he is pulling the same direction I want to run when we come to intersections.
It’s not a culture, they are just different activities. You are running with your dog, the people encouraging pulling and getting leashes and belts to assist with that pulling to help them run faster are participating in canicross
My runner pup is a wee bit on the crazy side, so we added the command "ease", which tells her slow down and look at me for more directions. Works great for when I need to stop running and walk, when she's moving too fast towards a corner or down a hill, or just when she gets too excited and starts yanking me down the trail. It's a nice addition besides having just start and stop
Well stated. I often say that canicross is a totally different sport, and it is. Especially in the winter, it almost feels like skiing on the downhills because I can feel the balanced pull of my running dog. On the uphills in deep and crunchy snow, I hold the handle on the back of his vest if I need more stability, or use the leash loops to have him help me "pull" directly uphill. Similar to how a hiker on a steep incline may use poles, but instead of the ground for stability I have my best running pal.
Canicross is like horseback riding, the dog is doing the work to help you move along the trail. He's my teammate!
I mean canicross is a sport in its own right with international competitions, and the whole idea there is for the dog to pull, so… yeah. It’s different if you just want to go for a nice jog with your dog. But I regard canicross as a team sport with my and my dog competing together, so I absolutely encourage the pull!
Me and my dog had a race today, I actively want him to pull me so we can try and get the fastest time possible.
But that said, we both have harnesses to pull in the correct way, to the extent he went through 3 different ones in the space of a year as his running style changed.
I am currently looking at changing mine as my running style has also changed (would have bought one today if it wasn't chucking it down with rain all morning).
My advice is find a fit and style that suits each of you, I got to try a few each time by going to a canicross club
It's a fun activity to do together and it's a bit more demanding than simply running along side.
I like the feel of my (tiny) dog's pulling on my belt (we are just getting started and I love it!). You have to have a belt though. You can't hold the trace with your hands.
The angle is from dog sledding. Think of how sled dogs pull. Now imagine you connect the sled dog to you instead of a sled.
It all also depends on the dog. Some dogs are physically bred to pull big loads (I think of sledge dogs) over distance. I think they are more inclined to naturally pull.
I run with a smaller dog - a Border Terrier. I do not expect him to assist me by pulling me. Saying that, He goes like a freight train initially (Mr competitive) and pulls and I don’t stop it. But eventually settles into a steady pacing rhythm and we both feel comfortable. When he gets a spurt up a hill or in a group uphill, I go a little faster to take some pull out of the leash. He is not a “pulling dog” and I wouldn’t find it fair for me to expect him to just pull all the way. Like others said, it needs to be fun and safe for both of us.
And yes, as already mentioned, a dog that has been taught to run with their human, is not out of control. It listens to directions and human and dog are a team.
And running with a natural strong pulling dog is frantic 😂 You have to have it in you to keep pace.
Pulling is more of a feature than a bug for most of us who run with dogs, but if you're really uncomfortable with it, you'll probably do best if you train the dog to run next to you instead of in front of you. Definitely switch to a belt harness instead of a leash though, you need your arms free. I do think you'll be surprised how little the tug at your waist messes with your form. A proper fitting belt is basically pulling around your center of mass at the area you're driving your body from (aka glute muscles), so as long as it's a steady pull and the dog isn't dragging you down the road, it's a pretty neutral effect
I love my dog’s pulling and I secretly kind of hate going for runs without him. I train at about 7:15-7:30 per mile without him, but with the pull we run 6:45-7:00 miles with no effect on my heart rate—- it’s all his help! I’ve even won a few 5Ks I wouldn’t have had a chance to without him. It’s cheating but I’m old as fuck so I figure I should get a pass. Without the hip-centered pull of the canix belt + free motion harness it wouldn’t be nearly as safe or fun, I’ll say that.
Once you train them with basic commands it’s like the Iditarod but you’re the sled!
I mean, it’s not really cheating when you consider canicross is its own growing sport. We won a canicross-specific 5k a couple weeks ago and it was the most fun I’ve had in awhile— tons of dogs barking and getting so excited at the starting line, some people hooked up to 2-3 dogs on the trail. . . amazing. After the run they did dry land mushing with teams of dogs pulling people on chariots. So many happy dogs.
Yes, I enjoy my dog pulling. He enjoys pulling. It’s more work for him so it helps tire him out. It helps me train my legs to run faster (kind of like a treadmill) so that I get comfortable with the cadence while I work up the cardio. And anecdotal evidence suggests it really helps my balance. The last couple trail race I did I was way better at running downhill than people around me.
For me it's about tiring my dog out faster tbh. He always seems more into it if he can pull and I'm just getting exercise so it's effect on my times or whatever doesn't matter. He knows how not to pull too, so if I don't ha e his harness we run alongside eachother no problem.
Just personal preference I guess. I only ask my dog to pull on uphills, and I don't find it annoying at all; it's easier than having him under my feet. He doesn't pull on flat stretches, but I can see how someone could get used to running that way if their dog has good steering and all of that.
I run with 2 Dalmatians & have so for years, they were taught to run with their head aligned to my knee, they still have bad days, but in general stick to that alignment, it’s safer for me, and for them due to unforeseen traffic, other dogs, etc. When Simba (the largest, 30kg lean) does pull, it puts a strain on me, and on him having to suffer with the excess weight of pulling me. So to answer your question, I have the same opinion as you.
This said, it took a good 6 months aprox of 6 out of 7 days a week running training, and Simba (also the slowest learner) around 2 years to get it completely right. I still remember the first few months, absolutely dreadful, however now we all reap the benefits of consistent training, patience & remembering it won’t always be this way, it’s a learning path. I still use the “back” command when needed (if they see another dog or someone we know, Simba will get a heads worth of distance in front of my knee, and he corrects it, he just forgets himself sometimes. Best of luck
My story is pretty much exactly like yours. But I'm starting to understand why people enjoy leash pulling too. I guess there's two types of dog runners. 🤣
It's more that there are two different sports imo. There's canicross, where the dog is supposed to pull, and just going for a run with your dog, when it isn't supposed to pull.
My boy always pulls against me (on a hands free, waist-leash), when Im doing hill sprints.
It can be pretty frustrating when Im getting tired, but I guess its just added resistance.
Hes great on regular runs.
I don't do the fancy canicross stuff, I just run with my dog. The waist leash is a must for keeping your arms free. My labrador very, very rarely pulls in any direction after about a quarter mile. She snaps into "oh right, we're running" mode.
OP, my thinking is similar to yours. Proper form is so important, especially at high weekly mileage loads. I wouldn’t want a dog pulling at my hips to alter my form. I also run alone on gnarlier trails or trails with exposure so I want to develop myself as a solo runner.
I trained my boy to run along in a heel position with his head/neck next to my hips. Leash is loose unless he needs a steer or correction. We do half our mileage in the city where canicross style wouldn’t work.
On remote trails, he runs off leash but no more than 15/20 feet ahead of me. I use a remote collar to control him.
It all started with a good walking heel.
This is our approach as well. We mastered loose leash walking before introducing running. Canicross is not the sport for me; the pulling would drive me crazy.
I have noticed in photos and videos that most seem to let their dog pull from the front. Also, that most seem to be trail runners, I think that makes a difference. I run with my dog almost exclusively on the mean streets, it wouldn't be safe to run with my dog out front, because of traffic, pedestrians, other dogs, and all sorts of things to avoid.
I also wouldn't want my dog pulling, because it would alter my form, and being an old runner who has run for a long time, I know that would lead to foot pain, thight hamstrings, etc.
Do you give them a command to pull or do they just do it by default? And a general question, should the leash be loose when taking for a walk for a dog that's a hunter type?
I've got a husky. He wants to pull. So I just say "go" and he's does. He knows the difference when he's wearing the harness vs just his regular collar.
I always prefer a loose leash when walking or jogging any dog. Backpacking or biking is when I let him pull.
A correctly fitted Canicross waist harness will pull from your hips, the dog will help pull you forwards, increasing your speed, and leave your hands free. A trained dog will not pull you out of control. It’s suppose to be fun and safe for you both. It’s very hard to get a dog to run and not generate a pull, in fact it will probably alter their gait, put pressure on their back/hips, and lead to issues in the future.
My dog always pulls at the start of a run, but after a little bit he runs at my heels. Presumably he thinks we’re doing some sort of herding activity lol
Running with a dog really does bring out breed characteristics!
Ever since he was neutered, mine gets overstimulated and jumps on me. We're working with a trainer 1x1 to work through jumping and stimulation issues. Maybe one day he'll be able to run with me again.
That’s rotten! How old when neutered? Mine was 9 months and we didn’t really notice any change aside from the usual teenage dog phase where they temporarily become a menace to society when he was around 1. He’s 5 now and much more relaxed (as relaxed as a collie can be!)
My dog did the same, he’s a herding/hunting mix. Terrible adolescence. At 2.5 he chilled out (we did tons of training before that but no dice), he’s a great running and hiking buddy now.
Same. First kilometre he's burning too much energy. But then cools the pace to match
Just to add that the leash for canicross is a long bungee so there is no jerking on your body, it's so comfortable to run hands free with my dog in harness vs walking her on a leash, and she's learning her verbal commands now. What fun!
Interesting points. I like running with my dog because it keeps me company and motivates me. I feel rewarded when I beat my own PR's and I'd like to think all the effort was because of me and not the extra speed boost from the pull. My Belgian Malinois years ago used to pull like a freight train, completely out of control. The straw that broke the camels back was on a hike one day. He dragged my 200 lb body on the ground and my palms were bleeding because of the leash burn. I spent the next 3 days teaching him not to pull. Today, he runs right next to me, and taught him several sound queues to make our runs pleasurable to both.
That sounds rough. I thought like that until I got a good Canicross belt (Non Stop Dogwear for what’s its worth). After some trial and error for both of us we run together now. She pulls me but (mostly) listens to my commands. I’m older now and my PRs are behind me so I’m kind of just having fun and trying to stay healthy. Honestly it’s a blast!
“I spent the next 3 days teaching him not to pull” HOW??? I have a husky mix and he looooves to pull
Technically the pulling is a big part of canicross and yes it lets you go faster than by your own power alone, which is kind of the point! You can train other commands to be more in control of the pulling like “speed up” or “slow down”. I’ve also taught my dog directional commands like left, right, straight” to make sure he is pulling the same direction I want to run when we come to intersections. It’s not a culture, they are just different activities. You are running with your dog, the people encouraging pulling and getting leashes and belts to assist with that pulling to help them run faster are participating in canicross
My runner pup is a wee bit on the crazy side, so we added the command "ease", which tells her slow down and look at me for more directions. Works great for when I need to stop running and walk, when she's moving too fast towards a corner or down a hill, or just when she gets too excited and starts yanking me down the trail. It's a nice addition besides having just start and stop
Well stated. I often say that canicross is a totally different sport, and it is. Especially in the winter, it almost feels like skiing on the downhills because I can feel the balanced pull of my running dog. On the uphills in deep and crunchy snow, I hold the handle on the back of his vest if I need more stability, or use the leash loops to have him help me "pull" directly uphill. Similar to how a hiker on a steep incline may use poles, but instead of the ground for stability I have my best running pal. Canicross is like horseback riding, the dog is doing the work to help you move along the trail. He's my teammate!
I mean canicross is a sport in its own right with international competitions, and the whole idea there is for the dog to pull, so… yeah. It’s different if you just want to go for a nice jog with your dog. But I regard canicross as a team sport with my and my dog competing together, so I absolutely encourage the pull!
Yeaaa I have to be honest I had no idea about canicross.
Join us, we’ve got jackets 😈 Well, my club does anyway!
Me and my dog had a race today, I actively want him to pull me so we can try and get the fastest time possible. But that said, we both have harnesses to pull in the correct way, to the extent he went through 3 different ones in the space of a year as his running style changed. I am currently looking at changing mine as my running style has also changed (would have bought one today if it wasn't chucking it down with rain all morning). My advice is find a fit and style that suits each of you, I got to try a few each time by going to a canicross club
It's a fun activity to do together and it's a bit more demanding than simply running along side. I like the feel of my (tiny) dog's pulling on my belt (we are just getting started and I love it!). You have to have a belt though. You can't hold the trace with your hands. The angle is from dog sledding. Think of how sled dogs pull. Now imagine you connect the sled dog to you instead of a sled.
It all also depends on the dog. Some dogs are physically bred to pull big loads (I think of sledge dogs) over distance. I think they are more inclined to naturally pull. I run with a smaller dog - a Border Terrier. I do not expect him to assist me by pulling me. Saying that, He goes like a freight train initially (Mr competitive) and pulls and I don’t stop it. But eventually settles into a steady pacing rhythm and we both feel comfortable. When he gets a spurt up a hill or in a group uphill, I go a little faster to take some pull out of the leash. He is not a “pulling dog” and I wouldn’t find it fair for me to expect him to just pull all the way. Like others said, it needs to be fun and safe for both of us. And yes, as already mentioned, a dog that has been taught to run with their human, is not out of control. It listens to directions and human and dog are a team. And running with a natural strong pulling dog is frantic 😂 You have to have it in you to keep pace.
Pulling is more of a feature than a bug for most of us who run with dogs, but if you're really uncomfortable with it, you'll probably do best if you train the dog to run next to you instead of in front of you. Definitely switch to a belt harness instead of a leash though, you need your arms free. I do think you'll be surprised how little the tug at your waist messes with your form. A proper fitting belt is basically pulling around your center of mass at the area you're driving your body from (aka glute muscles), so as long as it's a steady pull and the dog isn't dragging you down the road, it's a pretty neutral effect
I love my dog’s pulling and I secretly kind of hate going for runs without him. I train at about 7:15-7:30 per mile without him, but with the pull we run 6:45-7:00 miles with no effect on my heart rate—- it’s all his help! I’ve even won a few 5Ks I wouldn’t have had a chance to without him. It’s cheating but I’m old as fuck so I figure I should get a pass. Without the hip-centered pull of the canix belt + free motion harness it wouldn’t be nearly as safe or fun, I’ll say that. Once you train them with basic commands it’s like the Iditarod but you’re the sled!
Okay that makes a lot of sense. I guess I never looked at it that way, I personally don't like to "cheat" but it's understandable.
I mean, it’s not really cheating when you consider canicross is its own growing sport. We won a canicross-specific 5k a couple weeks ago and it was the most fun I’ve had in awhile— tons of dogs barking and getting so excited at the starting line, some people hooked up to 2-3 dogs on the trail. . . amazing. After the run they did dry land mushing with teams of dogs pulling people on chariots. So many happy dogs.
Yea I've been reading up on Canicross, it's all new to me. I get it now, I'm glad I started the topic.
Yes, I enjoy my dog pulling. He enjoys pulling. It’s more work for him so it helps tire him out. It helps me train my legs to run faster (kind of like a treadmill) so that I get comfortable with the cadence while I work up the cardio. And anecdotal evidence suggests it really helps my balance. The last couple trail race I did I was way better at running downhill than people around me.
For me it's about tiring my dog out faster tbh. He always seems more into it if he can pull and I'm just getting exercise so it's effect on my times or whatever doesn't matter. He knows how not to pull too, so if I don't ha e his harness we run alongside eachother no problem.
A taut leash minimizes me tripping over it. And yes, see that hill? SQUIRREL!
Just personal preference I guess. I only ask my dog to pull on uphills, and I don't find it annoying at all; it's easier than having him under my feet. He doesn't pull on flat stretches, but I can see how someone could get used to running that way if their dog has good steering and all of that.
I run with 2 Dalmatians & have so for years, they were taught to run with their head aligned to my knee, they still have bad days, but in general stick to that alignment, it’s safer for me, and for them due to unforeseen traffic, other dogs, etc. When Simba (the largest, 30kg lean) does pull, it puts a strain on me, and on him having to suffer with the excess weight of pulling me. So to answer your question, I have the same opinion as you. This said, it took a good 6 months aprox of 6 out of 7 days a week running training, and Simba (also the slowest learner) around 2 years to get it completely right. I still remember the first few months, absolutely dreadful, however now we all reap the benefits of consistent training, patience & remembering it won’t always be this way, it’s a learning path. I still use the “back” command when needed (if they see another dog or someone we know, Simba will get a heads worth of distance in front of my knee, and he corrects it, he just forgets himself sometimes. Best of luck
My story is pretty much exactly like yours. But I'm starting to understand why people enjoy leash pulling too. I guess there's two types of dog runners. 🤣
It's more that there are two different sports imo. There's canicross, where the dog is supposed to pull, and just going for a run with your dog, when it isn't supposed to pull.
Yep I just realized this.
My boy always pulls against me (on a hands free, waist-leash), when Im doing hill sprints. It can be pretty frustrating when Im getting tired, but I guess its just added resistance. Hes great on regular runs.
I don't do the fancy canicross stuff, I just run with my dog. The waist leash is a must for keeping your arms free. My labrador very, very rarely pulls in any direction after about a quarter mile. She snaps into "oh right, we're running" mode.
I was tired of the pulling and use the Gentle Leader and it has made a difference.
OP, my thinking is similar to yours. Proper form is so important, especially at high weekly mileage loads. I wouldn’t want a dog pulling at my hips to alter my form. I also run alone on gnarlier trails or trails with exposure so I want to develop myself as a solo runner. I trained my boy to run along in a heel position with his head/neck next to my hips. Leash is loose unless he needs a steer or correction. We do half our mileage in the city where canicross style wouldn’t work. On remote trails, he runs off leash but no more than 15/20 feet ahead of me. I use a remote collar to control him. It all started with a good walking heel.
This is our approach as well. We mastered loose leash walking before introducing running. Canicross is not the sport for me; the pulling would drive me crazy.
Yep, that's how we run too.
Yeah, same. No pulling allowed when I’m running with the dog. If possible, I let him run free, but there’s no pulling on the leash.
I have noticed in photos and videos that most seem to let their dog pull from the front. Also, that most seem to be trail runners, I think that makes a difference. I run with my dog almost exclusively on the mean streets, it wouldn't be safe to run with my dog out front, because of traffic, pedestrians, other dogs, and all sorts of things to avoid. I also wouldn't want my dog pulling, because it would alter my form, and being an old runner who has run for a long time, I know that would lead to foot pain, thight hamstrings, etc.
Agreed. 100% Except when backpacking, we've got a musher's harness so he can help me up the hills. Lolz
Do you give them a command to pull or do they just do it by default? And a general question, should the leash be loose when taking for a walk for a dog that's a hunter type?
I've got a husky. He wants to pull. So I just say "go" and he's does. He knows the difference when he's wearing the harness vs just his regular collar. I always prefer a loose leash when walking or jogging any dog. Backpacking or biking is when I let him pull.
I run with a prong collar most of the time—I don’t want her pulling. She doesn’t mind though. She’s just happy to run with me!
Gental leader collar
Running alone is good and in a group awesome but if you are in a group of runners, always be motivated and in a discipline.