DOG PARKOUR (URBAN AGILITY)

KATHERINE MOSELEY, A CERTIFIED DOG PARKOUR INSTRUCTOR

WWW.PATHFINDERPUPS.CO.UK

Dog parkour is a fun, easy way for you to explore the world with your dog. Once you begin this amazingly, accessible dog sport, your daily walks will change forever.

The lamp post you never noticed before; you are now asking your dog to go around and put their two front paws on. The street sign that was once only useful for navigating is now an opportunity to practice your ‘under’ element of parkour.

Even when you’re not with your dog, your parkour Eye (the ability to find parkour obstacles in everyday items), picks up a new wall you have not noticed before, perfect for practicing your dog’s balance on.

What is dog parkour?

Dog parkour is a physical discipline based on parkour, a human activity involving a person climbing, balancing, jumping, running around, under or over obstacles found outside.

Dog parkour or urban agility, is based around the same theory; a fun, physical activity where dogs learn to conquer obstacles on their walks by jumping over, balancing, climbing etc.

The basic elements of dog parkour are:

• Under

• Over

• Round

• Through

• In

• Two paws on

• Four paws on

• Back paws on

• Balance

Each of these behaviours are easy to teach but at the beginning of your parkour journey, it is important to start small. You have a lot to work on, learning the different behaviours, being able to accurately communicate with your dog and how to support them.

Risk assessing each obstacle is essential. It is so easy for a dog to misunderstand and try to do four paws instead of two, knock over the obstacle, hurting themselves and their confidence. By considering what your dog sees and may try to do, you can be better prepared for it. Once you understand the basics of dog parkour, you can tailor the behaviours to suit your needs. Your older dog may not be able to jump over very tall obstacles but could become an expert in the two paw’s behaviour. Perhaps your dog finds groups of other people and dogs stressful and traditional dog sports are not suitable. Parkour can adapt to that. Your dining room chair is as much a parkour obstacle as anything you find outside. Wherever you and your dog are safe, you can do dog parkour.

Many dog parkour behaviours can (and should) be completed on lead. In conjunction with a well-fitted Y-front harness, your lead forms your dog’s safety net in case things don’t go to plan. All other equipment is found in the environment or home so is a very low-cost option.

The risks of dog parkour put an emphasis on communication and helps you build a strong connection with your dog. Not only will you learn to ask your dog for a certain behaviour, but you will also learn how to listen to your dog. You will be able to tell when they are tired and unable to navigate obstacles, as opposed to being awkward or disobedient.

There are other guidelines in dog parkour that safeguard your dog’s health and wellbeing, an important part of the sport’s ethos. Working with a certified dog parkour instructor will help ensure that you get started in the best possible way. Pathfinder Pups’ tag line, ‘guiding your journey with your dog’, was inspired by the individuality of parkour training. The focus isn’t on some pre-defined end goal, it’s about you, your dog, and how you get there.

As winter thaws into spring, get out there and give parkour a go. Discover its true beauty which is built on a strong bond of trust between you and your dog. If you’d like help getting started on your parkour journey, Katherine@PathfinderPups.co.uk can provide support worldwide.