Barkour is a new discipline that combines fitness (walking/running) with canine parkour. Parkour involves looking at your environment in a new way, seeking to navigate it by interacting with its natural and constructed features. Typical parkour moves include over, under, around, through, across, and balancing on obstacles. Human parkour began as a discipline in the 1990’s, but traces its roots back centuries. Canine parkour is much newer and seeks to create a safe, non-competitive, low-impact but challenging activity for dogs and handlers.
Why Barkour?
After noticing a significant increase in her dogs’ confidence, strength, and coordination since starting parkour, Dr. Allen decided to pair it with fitness to help fight the canine obesity epidemic she witnessed while in private practice. Additionally, Barkour activities help canine athletes become fitter by utilizing different muscles with each exercise to create a cross-training effect, while walking/running increases endurance. After participating in many different activities with her dogs over the years, Dr. Allen realized parkour-style exercises are the perfect complement to organized canine sports. Additionally, these exercises are accessible to all dogs and their humans since no special equipment is needed other than a harness and leash. Barkour creates self-assured dogs by showing them what is possible and allowing them to choose to do it, which translates to increased confidence in all areas of dog sports and life.
The Exercises
Barkour is a two-track program that consists of Fitness (walking or running with your dog multiple times per week) and Parkour (exercises that can be done daily or as time permits). These programs are independent of each other but can be done concurrently. However, we don’t recommend attempting all the exercises on a single day, even if they seem simple, especially for novice teams. Your dog will be using a variety of different muscles, including ones they normally don’t use, and will find the exercises physically fatiguing. Introduce the exercises slowly, especially for young, senior, or overweight dogs, and keep it fun, with lots of praise and rewards. The exercises can initially be taught by luring using food or clicker training, but you want to move quickly to the dog making the choice to perform the exercises and be rewarded afterwards. Compulsion and/or corrections have no place in Barkour, as it must be the dog’s choice to attempt the obstacles.
Why Barkour?
After noticing a significant increase in her dogs’ confidence, strength, and coordination since starting parkour, Dr. Allen decided to pair it with fitness to help fight the canine obesity epidemic she witnessed while in private practice. Additionally, Barkour activities help canine athletes become fitter by utilizing different muscles with each exercise to create a cross-training effect, while walking/running increases endurance. After participating in many different activities with her dogs over the years, Dr. Allen realized parkour-style exercises are the perfect complement to organized canine sports. Additionally, these exercises are accessible to all dogs and their humans since no special equipment is needed other than a harness and leash. Barkour creates self-assured dogs by showing them what is possible and allowing them to choose to do it, which translates to increased confidence in all areas of dog sports and life.
The Exercises
Barkour is a two-track program that consists of Fitness (walking or running with your dog multiple times per week) and Parkour (exercises that can be done daily or as time permits). These programs are independent of each other but can be done concurrently. However, we don’t recommend attempting all the exercises on a single day, even if they seem simple, especially for novice teams. Your dog will be using a variety of different muscles, including ones they normally don’t use, and will find the exercises physically fatiguing. Introduce the exercises slowly, especially for young, senior, or overweight dogs, and keep it fun, with lots of praise and rewards. The exercises can initially be taught by luring using food or clicker training, but you want to move quickly to the dog making the choice to perform the exercises and be rewarded afterwards. Compulsion and/or corrections have no place in Barkour, as it must be the dog’s choice to attempt the obstacles.
Let’s Get Started!
First, check out the Parkour Track exercises and the Fitness Track walk/run requirements and titles. Then, read the Rules and Regulations for the general requirements for each of the levels. There is also a Printable Barkour Exercises List for you to print a physical copy or keep on your phone. While many of the exercises can be performed using obstacles found around the home, we encourage you to work with your dog while out and about. Barkour obstacles are everywhere and interaction with the environment is one of our goals. Be safe and have fun! Don’t forget to join the Facebook Group where you can ask questions, post your videos for review, and interact with other dog sports enthusiasts like yourself.
First, check out the Parkour Track exercises and the Fitness Track walk/run requirements and titles. Then, read the Rules and Regulations for the general requirements for each of the levels. There is also a Printable Barkour Exercises List for you to print a physical copy or keep on your phone. While many of the exercises can be performed using obstacles found around the home, we encourage you to work with your dog while out and about. Barkour obstacles are everywhere and interaction with the environment is one of our goals. Be safe and have fun! Don’t forget to join the Facebook Group where you can ask questions, post your videos for review, and interact with other dog sports enthusiasts like yourself.
Some Examples of the Exercises:
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