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, balancing on, and across 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. 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-part program that consists of walking or running (accommodations can be made for those with special needs – see the Rules and Regulations) multiple times per week along with parkour exercises that can be done daily or as time permits. In fact, 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.
Additionally, Barkour offers a parkour-only titling track for those unable to complete the walks/runs due to physical or time constraints. While we encourage you and your dog to take part in the overall fitness that the Barkour program offers, these titles that can be earned while working on the walking requirements for regular Barkour titles or by themselves. Parkour is a fun activity for dogs that cross-trains different muscle groups, conferring benefits on its own, and this title track reflects that.
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. 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-part program that consists of walking or running (accommodations can be made for those with special needs – see the Rules and Regulations) multiple times per week along with parkour exercises that can be done daily or as time permits. In fact, 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.
Additionally, Barkour offers a parkour-only titling track for those unable to complete the walks/runs due to physical or time constraints. While we encourage you and your dog to take part in the overall fitness that the Barkour program offers, these titles that can be earned while working on the walking requirements for regular Barkour titles or by themselves. Parkour is a fun activity for dogs that cross-trains different muscle groups, conferring benefits on its own, and this title track reflects that.
Let’s Get Started!
First, watch the Body Condition Scoring Presentation and determine your dog’s starting point in the program. Then, read the Rules and Regulations for the requirements for each of the levels and titles that can be earned. 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. Lastly, 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, watch the Body Condition Scoring Presentation and determine your dog’s starting point in the program. Then, read the Rules and Regulations for the requirements for each of the levels and titles that can be earned. 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. Lastly, 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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