CaniVTT with your dog
CaniVTT is a canine traction sport. This consists of mountain biking with your dog towing the bike. It is connected by a line to the MTB.
Today, we are lucky to have the testimony of a great caniVTT champion: Anne Fulleringer.
So I'm going to let Anne introduce herself, tell us about her caniVTT experiences and she's also going to give you great tips for starting this sport!
When I adopted Musher, I nurtured the hope that one day we would share nice canivtt outings, but Musher is a water-loving Labrador and definitely allergic to traction sports. I therefore leave the floor to THE expert in canivtt, multi champion: Anne! Who better to talk to you about the physical preparation of dogs, canivtt gear and dogs, W'ouf race. I devoured her interview with immense pleasure because I find in her an unconditional love and a deep respect for the dog as I share them.
If you are already a caniVTT regular, I also advise you to read Anne Fulleringer's advice on the caniVTT in competition.
The daily life of Anne and her dogs
My name is Anne Fulleringer, I am not yet 40 years old, and I live in Ardèche where I take care of fire prevention in a big industry. But my real passion is caniVTT, a sport that combines intense physical effort on an all-terrain bike, sensations and riding, and above all, great moments of sharing with my dogs.
I have 5 dogs at home:
– Nikita and Diabolo: 2 old husky 12 and 14 year olds enjoying a comfortable and quiet retirement
– Nerka: an 1-year-old pointer and greyhound cross who no longer runs in competition but still accompanies me during my training
– Tails: 1 crossed braque et greyhound 5 years old who is currently my partner in competition
– Tess: 1 crossbred braque and greyhound of 1 year old who is currently training and will one day take over
My 5 dogs are above all full members of the family who share with us, in a somewhat imposing way at times, a part of our sofa, who follow us on each trip and who are part of our lives.
Being passionate about Moutain Biking and wishing to share as much as possible with my companions, whether at home or in my "sporting" outings, I quickly succumbed to the crazy charm, the overflowing imagination, the overflowing energy of the "greyster" (cross german shorthaired pointer and greyhound). It was a revelation when I discovered this "special canine traction sport" cross that suited me in every way!
In the team, we are all as passionate about mountain biking as each other. When the 3 crossed braques see the mountain bike, they can't help but scream to go run as quickly as possible, whether free or harnessed in front of the mountain bike!
I also share with them my running outings, outings paddle boarding, hours of play in the water during summer periods, etc.
They are always willing to go running and play and when I have to stay home during my on-call weeks, they delight me with their games and their little delusions in the garden: you never get bored with my dogs !
CaniVTT training
Our training varies a lot according to the seasons but on average the dogs run 3 times a week in harness, a little more during competition periods, a little less when there are no objectives in sight, if at all. in the summer period.
Dogs begin training once growth is complete, which varies from dog to dog. CaniVTT competition, on the other hand, can only begin from the age of 18 months.
Before the start of training, there are still many things that you can teach your dog and it is also an opportunity to develop a bond with your future partner.
CaniVTT training is mostly carried out with just one dog in order to be able to focus on him, on his needs and on the little signals he communicates to us. I thus chain training with a different dog each time, always taking the time to warm up well and to return to calm in the game for each dog. These moments of sharing, games and cuddles are super important to us and dogs are demanding exclusive attention.
In racing, priority is given to Tails, my dog of racing age. Nerka also runs on small races, just for fun.
When they are not racing officially, they are still in the game and participate in all cases, by coming to do the course reconnaissance for example. This allows them to let off steam and do some activity even if they are not participating in the race.
Dogs have specific training plans like all athletes. They have cycles of land, cycles of strength, cycles of power… The content of the sessions varies and adapts to each dog so that its development is progressive, adapted to its needs and our objectives.
If the content of the sessions varies greatly from one day to the next and from one dog to another, in all cases the training begins with a warm-up phase where the dog trots, walks, relieves himself, repeatedly comes back asking me to have the harness put on and in all cases the training sessions end with 20 to 30 minutes of water or ball games, just between my dog and me.
Be careful, you can't train just anywhere. Care must be taken to ensure that the terrain does not present any risk to the dog, in order to avoid injuries. With my female dogs, we avoid stony paths which could injure the dog and create sprains. We also avoid too abrasive terrain such as bituminous paths that we try to limit, especially if the dogs are not used to it and/we do not have sufficiently tanned pads.
I also avoid for my part too steep paths where the dog would have to make very difficult efforts at low speed which are not very fun for him and could disgust him a little, the pleasure of my dogs always being my priority during my caniVTT outings.
Should you go mountain biking before starting caniVTT?
I practiced mountain biking in “leisure” mode before starting caniVTT. It is important to have some basic notions before tying a dog in front of an ATV in order to already have some reflexes and to be able to avoid a few falls which could scare the dog and create some bruises for the cyclist.
In addition to the need to master a minimum of mountain biking, the discipline has the particularity of being practiced with a dog and therefore it requires concentrating on the animal which, even well educated, can sometimes have somewhat unpredictable reactions.
The steering can be slightly distorted by slightly powerful hammers which bring the mountain bike, especially in curves, which may require a little balance in the most technical portions.
The distance in competition is quite short since the courses are generally between 4 and 7 km. The speeds are quite variable depending on the route and the dogs but can go up to speeds of 35 km/h on average. To maintain these speeds it is necessary to provide a very important effort behind the dog, the advantage being that the concentration that we carry on the dog often helps us a little to forget our little muscular pains, the heart which beats quickly and strong and our breath short.
It is somewhat for these reasons that many people take up sport with their dog, for the pleasure of sharing an activity with him, but also because once their dog is in front, these people suddenly find themselves more motivated and stop thinking about the sometimes unpleasant sensations of a somewhat sustained sporting activity. Playing sports with your dog is a real source of motivation.
What equipment to practice caniVTT?
The equipment used to practice CaniVTT is specific to traction sports.
The dog must be equipped with a pulling harness specially designed so that it can tow, without hindering the natural movement of the dog's joints during the race. There are different types of harnesses on the market and it is sometimes a bit complicated to find "THE" harness adapted to your dog because depending on the physical particularities of your dog, the choice of harness can change.
La leash that connects the ATV to the dog is a lanyard equipped with a shock absorber so that the dog does not suffer from coupling during changes of rhythm.
We also very often use “caniVTT bars” which are just a small rod passing over the front wheel of the mountain bike and serving to guide the lanyard, thus limiting the risk of ending up with a lanyard wrapped around the front wheel of the bike. mountain biking, which can cause heavy falls. If the dog is in constant and fairly significant traction, it is possible to do without it although this is a safety element often imposed in competition, but it varies according to the federations.
For dog equipment I am lucky to be equipped with Non-Stop Dogwear, a Norwegian brand of canine equipment that I have been using for several years and that I really appreciate.
Concerning the equipment for oneself, the mountain bike helmet and the gloves are essential whether it is in mountain biking or in CaniVTT.
The precautions to take when practicing CaniVTT with your dog
All dogs having completed their growth and without veterinary contraindications can practice caniVTT even if certain breeds of dogs are less adapted to provide such physical efforts. The best thing to do is to speak to your veterinarian before starting caniVTT with your dog, in order to have his medical opinion.
Of course, depending on the race, you will have to adapt, agree to go less far and perhaps slower.
Care must be taken to be very progressive in the effort by only carrying out very short distances at the start and at a moderate pace to adapt to the dog's rhythm.
The practice of caniVTT requires constant vigilance in order to be able to react quickly in the event of an unforeseen reaction of the dog in front of the MTB, you must be careful never to go beyond what your dog can do in good conditions.
In mountain biking, the speed can quickly become a little sustained, especially if the terrain is rolling. Without realizing it, you can then quickly impose a pace a little too fast on your dog or chain the kilometers without realizing it.
Sometimes the dog transmits small, rather discreet signs which can alert the cyclist behind, but this implies that one is vigilant and that one knows his dog very well.
At home, Nerka tends to refuse to get in line with the mountain bike when she starts to get tired, Tess maintains her rhythm but doesn't start again, Tails starts to foam but still runs and I have to be very careful that it does not overheat during exercise. It is very important to get to know your dog to practice this activity.
In terms of food, the dogs are fed morning and evening but I make sure that the meal is given 2 to 3 hours before an effort and at the earliest 2 hours after a big effort. It's not nice to run on a full stomach, and feeding a dog just before or after exercise can cause stomach upsets. This can be deadly for dogs so care must be taken to space out meals and physical effort.
The advice I would give to someone who wants to start caniVTT and get closer to a club in their region. Indeed, it is always better to start well so as not to put your dog through bad experiences.
In any case THE priority must always be the pleasure of the dog and for that you must remain calm, serene, even when nothing goes as planned, and always adapt to your dog.
There is no bad dog, even if some are still much less motivated by sporting activity than others, on the other hand there are a certain number of dogs who have been badly taught to like the activity. . It must not be a constraint for the dog, it must remain a pleasure for the cyclist as for the dog.
Woh, a big THANK YOU to Anne for this precious testimony. A great lesson in life and sport and which proves that with a dog by your side you can move mountains. That with love and respect, our dogs are real treasures and often upset our life paths. And I can't say the opposite because it was Musher, my dog, who made me want to create this EmmèneTonChien.com website and make it possible and easy to go on vacation with your dog! For my part, no sporting challenge but the creation of a company, a team, a community and Too W'ouf partnerships. All this for the beautiful eyes and soft ears of my love blanket.
For information on the caniVTT in competition you can also check out this other testimonial from the champion.
If you want to contact Anne or follow her journey more closely, visit her Instagram account @anne_fulleringer