What are the contests’ practical details?*

Age categories and distances

U7 (under 7, or “poussins”): no timing, no ranking, just fun ;-)
U11 (7 to 10, or “minimes”): run between 1 and 2 km. Each U11 may run with an adult.
U14 (11 to 14, or “cadets”): run between 2.5 and 3 km
U18 (15 to 18, or “juniors”): take the adult track

Seniors: between 19 and 39years old Veterans I: between 40 and 49 years old Veterans II: from 50 years old

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Long (between 5 and 8 km) or short (between 2.5 and 3 km) tracks

Juniors and adults may choose to run either the long or the short track, or both.

Start

Grouped in line or in individual time-trial (the latter every 30 seconds, in bib number order, or every minute in kid categories).

International competitions

The first Canicross European Cup took place in Malonne, Belgium, in 1998. This year’s edition will hold in Piémont, Italy, from October 12^th to October 15^th.

Are there “canicross dogs”?

“You run with your dog, the dog you love! All breeds are allowed in,” Jean-Pierre Talbot says; however, “while all dogs are accepted, not all breeds are suited. You can run with a small Jack Russell, but not with a Chihuahua or a Bulldog”.
The dog must be at least twelve months old (18 in bike-jöring). The secret lies in the human-dog adequacy in terms of capacities adjustment and exercise capability.

We are in 1982. Together with a set of workmates, Gilles Pernoud, a young veterinary student, is looking for some innovative process to help dog owners enhance their dogs’ socialisation. These vets-to-be are sportsmen, so they think up a race with dogs, a dog-cross. They name the new activity “Cross canin” or “Canicross”. A first canicross incentive is then organised in Paris by the veterinarians union, which exclusively banks on the educational aspect, totally disregarding the sporting side of the thing. The competitors make a mass start. Some walk, some jog, and a few even run. But no specific hardware is used, since it doesn’t exist yet: the lead is connected to the collar and hand-held.

Gilles Pernoud then attends courses at the Veterinary School in Lyon. The veterinarians union repeats the “canicross” experience in 1984, this time in Lyon, yet still by the same educational token: a simple walk with one’s dog and its integration in an urban setting. This time, the competitors run more than they walk. Under Gilles Pernoud’s continuing impulse, the activity really takes off in 1986, with the creation of “Veto Racing”. It should be noted that the veterinarians’ union is not involved anymore; Veto Racing is autonomous and organises a genuine canicross close to the Veterinarian School of Lyon, in the Lacroix de Laval Estate Park. This time, the sledge dog equipment manufacturer “Gens de la Montagne” is present and offers his harnesses for sale. For humans, he proposes some sort of belt that was designed for the purpose.

On July, 14th 1986, the event takes place in Saint Pierre d'Allevard (near Grenoble). Now, things are well on the way : the competitors do run, and rules are applied, that guarantee respect for the dogs.

• Results
• RTBF radio
• Vivacité radio 11/6 17:00 (minute 7 to minute 8:45)
• Facebook Belgian canicross federation
• Article in L’Avenir 14/6
• Report on Télésambre (June 20th, 2017)