What is dog endurance?
Can you ride a bike at the same time as controlling your dog on the end of a loose two metre lead or are you a runner who’ll be quite happy to run 20 kilometres with your dog? If so, then this dog sport is for you!
The distance required for the endurance test is 20 kilometres, which is split into three sections, the first being eight kilometres. The second and third are six kilometres. There is a break of 15 minutes between the first and second sections and 20 minutes between the second and third sections. The whole test takes two hours and 35 minutes including the intervening breaks.
All this is carefully watched over by a judge. The dog’s fitness and condition is monitored by a team of vets who examine each dog during the breaks
When you have successfully finished the test, you will be presented with a qualifying certificate signed by the judge.
Is my dog suitable for endurance?
This sport is open to all dog breeds as long as the dog (and owner) has the fitness and condition to comfortably cope with endurance required. Endurance trials would better suit medium to larger size dogs.
Age restriction: The test is open to dogs aged between two and under eight years but must not have reached the birth date of eight.
Where can I do dog endurance?
Find a dog club near you by contacting ANKC‘s State member bodies.