How it Works:
The Fitness Track has the same levels as the Parkour Track, and the two complement each other. This track has required walking/running distances per week that increase with each level to help build your dog’s endurance. There is a printable Fitness Track Summary Sheet for quick reference and an Excel spreadsheet to help track your walks/runs. Each distance must be documented using a smart watch, phone, activity tracker, etc. and this proof (screenshots or pictures) submitted with your title application. Your dog must be registered with Barkour before we can process your title, but there is no fee for registration and it can be submitted along with your title application.
Barkour Canine Fitness awards the following titles for the Fitness Track:
Fitness Beginner – FIT-B
Fitness Novice – FIT-N
Fitness Intermediate – FIT-I
Fitness Advanced – FIT-A
Fitness Excellent – FIT-E
Fitness Superb Bronze – FIT-SB
Fitness Superb Silver – FIT-SS
Fitness Superb Gold – FIT-SG
Fitness Superb Platinum – FIT-SP
Backpacker Challenge Designation – -B
First for Breed Designation – *
Backpacker Challenge – In order to earn this additional designation for Starter-level titles and above, the dog must wear a backpack containing 5-10% of their body weight for all walks/runs. The Backpacker designation (-B) can be earned either when initially earning title(s) or afterwards by re-walking/running and resubmitting the required distances with the dog wearing a backpack.
First for Breed Designation – The first dog of their registered breed will receive an asterisk (*) special designation with their title signaling that they were the first of that breed to earn that specific title. This designation will appear on the List of Titleholders as well.
Upon meeting and submitting the title requirements (see next section), your dog will be awarded a title certificate and title charm. A List of Titleholders will be maintained on the Barkour Canine Fitness Website. Title submissions will generally be processed and title certificates sent out within two weeks of submission, but please allow extra time around holidays. Certificates are sent by email and title charms will be mailed.
Fitness Beginner – FIT-B
Fitness Novice – FIT-N
Fitness Intermediate – FIT-I
Fitness Advanced – FIT-A
Fitness Excellent – FIT-E
Fitness Superb Bronze – FIT-SB
Fitness Superb Silver – FIT-SS
Fitness Superb Gold – FIT-SG
Fitness Superb Platinum – FIT-SP
Backpacker Challenge Designation – -B
First for Breed Designation – *
Backpacker Challenge – In order to earn this additional designation for Starter-level titles and above, the dog must wear a backpack containing 5-10% of their body weight for all walks/runs. The Backpacker designation (-B) can be earned either when initially earning title(s) or afterwards by re-walking/running and resubmitting the required distances with the dog wearing a backpack.
First for Breed Designation – The first dog of their registered breed will receive an asterisk (*) special designation with their title signaling that they were the first of that breed to earn that specific title. This designation will appear on the List of Titleholders as well.
Upon meeting and submitting the title requirements (see next section), your dog will be awarded a title certificate and title charm. A List of Titleholders will be maintained on the Barkour Canine Fitness Website. Title submissions will generally be processed and title certificates sent out within two weeks of submission, but please allow extra time around holidays. Certificates are sent by email and title charms will be mailed.
Title Requirements:
The required distances for each level do not need to be part of a formal race or community activity. However, they must be documented with a smart watch, phone, activity tracker, or other wearable that shows the milage completed. Screenshots or photos of this documentation must be submitted with the application in order to receive credit for the miles/kilometers completed. Above the Starter level, the weeks do not need to be consecutive – it is okay to take a break one week and then pick up with your walks/runs the next. Additionally, the dog does not have to be handled by the same person for each walk/run.
No matter how the distances are completed, the dog must walk or run the entire distance. Being pushed in a stroller or riding in a wheelchair or carried in a backpack is not acceptable. This requirement of the program is to demonstrate that the dog is increasing their level of fitness. If you are in a safe area where off-leash dogs are permitted, you are allowed to have your dog off-leash, but will only receive credit for the miles the handler walked as documented with the activity tracker.
Please be cognizant of the surface while exercising your dog. There are no ground requirements beyond those at the Beginner level, but “pounding the pavement” every day is not beneficial to either the human or canine half of the team. While some walks/runs on hard surfaces may be unavoidable, please make an effort to use softer surfaces (dirt trails, etc.) for longer distances, especially while running.
Humans and Dogs with Special Needs:
We strive to be inclusive of those with disabilities or special needs (both human and canine) so please contact us if you need to modify the program in order to participate and we will come up with alternatives. For example, the distances for each level may be walked, ran (except for Beginner which must be walked), or rolled in a wheelchair by the human half of the team. Those with mobility issues (in a wheelchair, utilizes a walker or cane, etc.) or tripod dogs may split any of the distances in half (except the 0.25 mile) and complete them in two walks instead of one. These two walks also do not need to be completed on the same day. For example, the two 0.5 - 1.0 mile walks/runs per week at the Novice level may be completed in four or more 0.25 mile walks per week instead for those with special needs.
Barkour Levels for the Fitness Track:
Beginner – This is an optional level for dogs under 18 months (Puppies) or over 7 years (Seniors). Dogs over 7 may participate in higher levels if their current level of fitness is appropriate, but we recommend any Senior beginning a new fitness regime start here. Puppies must start at this level and cannot progress to Starter until they turn 18 months of age. This is to help ensure growth place closure to avoid injury. Additionally, any dog can start at this level if they and/or their owner are just beginning a fitness regime.
– Two 0.25-mile walks per week for four consecutive weeks on a soft surface.
Novice – Two 0.5 to 1-mile walks/runs per week for four weeks.
Intermediate – Two 1.5-mile walks/runs per week for four weeks.
Advanced – Three 1-mile walks/runs per week for four weeks.
Excellent – Two 2-mile walks/runs per week for four weeks.
Superb Bronze – Two 2.5-mile walks/runs per week for four weeks.
Superb Silver – One 3.1-mile (5k) walk/run per week for four weeks.
Superb Gold – Four additional 3.1-mile (5k) walks/runs done on your timeline.
Superb Platinum – Either Two 6.2-mile (10k) walks/runs OR one 6.2-mile (10k) and two 3.1-mile (5k) walks/runs done on your timeline.
Backpacker Challenge – In order to earn this additional designation for Starter-level titles and above, the dog must wear a backpack containing 5-10% of their body weight for all walks/runs. The Backpacker designation (-B) can be earned either when initially earning title(s) or afterwards by re-walking/running and resubmitting the required distances with the dog wearing a backpack.
First for Breed Designation – The first dog of their registered breed will receive an asterisk (*) special designation with their title signaling that they were the first of that breed to earn that specific title. This designation will appear on the List of Titleholders as well.
*Barkour Canine Fitness reserves the right to modify or change these exercises as needed.
No matter how the distances are completed, the dog must walk or run the entire distance. Being pushed in a stroller or riding in a wheelchair or carried in a backpack is not acceptable. This requirement of the program is to demonstrate that the dog is increasing their level of fitness. If you are in a safe area where off-leash dogs are permitted, you are allowed to have your dog off-leash, but will only receive credit for the miles the handler walked as documented with the activity tracker.
Please be cognizant of the surface while exercising your dog. There are no ground requirements beyond those at the Beginner level, but “pounding the pavement” every day is not beneficial to either the human or canine half of the team. While some walks/runs on hard surfaces may be unavoidable, please make an effort to use softer surfaces (dirt trails, etc.) for longer distances, especially while running.
Humans and Dogs with Special Needs:
We strive to be inclusive of those with disabilities or special needs (both human and canine) so please contact us if you need to modify the program in order to participate and we will come up with alternatives. For example, the distances for each level may be walked, ran (except for Beginner which must be walked), or rolled in a wheelchair by the human half of the team. Those with mobility issues (in a wheelchair, utilizes a walker or cane, etc.) or tripod dogs may split any of the distances in half (except the 0.25 mile) and complete them in two walks instead of one. These two walks also do not need to be completed on the same day. For example, the two 0.5 - 1.0 mile walks/runs per week at the Novice level may be completed in four or more 0.25 mile walks per week instead for those with special needs.
Barkour Levels for the Fitness Track:
Beginner – This is an optional level for dogs under 18 months (Puppies) or over 7 years (Seniors). Dogs over 7 may participate in higher levels if their current level of fitness is appropriate, but we recommend any Senior beginning a new fitness regime start here. Puppies must start at this level and cannot progress to Starter until they turn 18 months of age. This is to help ensure growth place closure to avoid injury. Additionally, any dog can start at this level if they and/or their owner are just beginning a fitness regime.
– Two 0.25-mile walks per week for four consecutive weeks on a soft surface.
Novice – Two 0.5 to 1-mile walks/runs per week for four weeks.
Intermediate – Two 1.5-mile walks/runs per week for four weeks.
Advanced – Three 1-mile walks/runs per week for four weeks.
Excellent – Two 2-mile walks/runs per week for four weeks.
Superb Bronze – Two 2.5-mile walks/runs per week for four weeks.
Superb Silver – One 3.1-mile (5k) walk/run per week for four weeks.
Superb Gold – Four additional 3.1-mile (5k) walks/runs done on your timeline.
Superb Platinum – Either Two 6.2-mile (10k) walks/runs OR one 6.2-mile (10k) and two 3.1-mile (5k) walks/runs done on your timeline.
Backpacker Challenge – In order to earn this additional designation for Starter-level titles and above, the dog must wear a backpack containing 5-10% of their body weight for all walks/runs. The Backpacker designation (-B) can be earned either when initially earning title(s) or afterwards by re-walking/running and resubmitting the required distances with the dog wearing a backpack.
First for Breed Designation – The first dog of their registered breed will receive an asterisk (*) special designation with their title signaling that they were the first of that breed to earn that specific title. This designation will appear on the List of Titleholders as well.
*Barkour Canine Fitness reserves the right to modify or change these exercises as needed.
