The term dryland refers to events, training or racing on "DRYLAND" or during the no snow season. Looking at our weather patterns of the past few years, it is no wonder that so many of us in the Midwest are turning our attention to Dryland events.





Catagories of Dryland

CANICROSS-which is running while your dog is in harness pulling you along

SCOOTERS-one plus dogs in harness pulling a two wheeled apparatus. This includes bikes if the chain is removed or disabled.

BIKEJOR-biking while your dog is in harness pulling you along

CARTS-one or more dogs in harness pulling a 3 or more wheeled apparatus

above photo courtesy of Stephan Reginald of The Gear Junkie read his blog



Dryland Options


Start with socialization and some basic obedience work, these build a teaching/learning and working relationship.

Agility activities can do wonders for confidence and also strengthen the working bond between you and the dog.


Swimming is great exercise and a great cool down option as well as a mental diversion, assuming the dog likes water and you introduce him or her to swimming appropriately.


Some pull training is helpful and will help get you started off right



Canicross

Canicross is a sport where the dog is attached to you via a towline and skijor/canicross belt. Your dog pulls you as you hike or run. It is typically done with 1 dog. It is great for training as well as conditioning. Good balance is required, Scout the trail 1st, and be aware of who the other trail users are.

Carts/Rigs

Carts and Rigs are available commercially or home built, in various styles, sizes, weights, and designs.

Cart design, weight, tire size, tire type, suspension, brake types, trail surface and conditions all effect handling, stability, rolling resistance as well as stopping and holding power. These cart attributes and trail conditions also dictate # of dogs that may be safely used on a cart. This can vary with dogs, trails, and of course training.

Carts can be good training tools as well as for exercise and conditioning .Many designs allow easier co-training as 2 people can ride the cart.

Many carts allow you to stop, set a parking brake, and then proceed with confidence to position the dog for success in command training. It also allows you take rest breaks, give treats, or water, cool down, and give praise and encouragement.

A snub line can be used as a back up for the parking brake, as a light cart can still be dragged with a parking brake set.

There is no perfect rig other than the one that best fits "your" needs and uses. Some are folding for easier transport; a few come apart for transport.

For rigs that use wheelbarrow tires, the tires can be replaced (when needed) by a trailer tire which will fit on the wheelbarrow rim and hopefully still have enough clearance for the friction/scrub brake which many use, reason: the trailer tire is far more durable.

On 3 wheel carts, many claim you can carry gear, passengers, or weight up front, Note that this will effect steering and handling. A passenger/helper riding the rear deck has less impact on handling than riding up front.

To add resistance you may add weights on the rear deck and still maintain good steering and handling, (this is assuming the ri

g is designed and built adequately to do this)





Scooters and Bikes



Scooters and bikes are typically done with 1 or 2 dogs. Definitely start out with 1until you have experience.

Scooters and bikes are easier to transport than carts or rigs. Scooters and bikes are similar in concept but yet have definite differences, and your choice is, once again personal preferences. They have different balance points, different center of gravity and do require different riding skills and techniques.

Scooter are pretty simple so typically relatively inexpensive and have less to break.

Scooters are sometimes referred to as kickbikes.

It is quicker and easier to put a scooter into you vehicle than a rig.

An advantage of a kickbike or scooter is the amount of new trails which become accessible, like cycle paths. Another bonus is that it is just a small step

Note: Not all scooters are marketed for (or built for the rigors of) dog use.

Bikes:

There is a Low tech and High tech approach and much depends on your riding style or purpose, the dog, and the trails you use. Low Tech has a basic rear wheel coaster brake on a bike frame that is comfortable for you, whatever seat and handle bars you prefer. High Tech are lightweight, mountain bike technology such as alloy frames, multi-speed, V-brakes and suspension systems. Technology offers many obvious advantages but those may be null and void if it gets trashed

Dog training can essentially be abusive on your equipment and some equipment will not hold up (this applies to bikes, scooters, carts/rigs etc.

It is your personal option of attaching to the bike or to a skijor belt, there are pros & cons to both. Dogs need to be thoroughly trained prior to using scooters or bikes. The rider/driver should have good balance and be a proficient bicyclist or scooter driver before connecting to a dog. Wear protective gear.

Do not be put off by all the talk of the competitive side of dryland. Using a cart, bike, scooter or doing canicross is just as much fun in a recreational capacity, it is ideal for going out with one dog for a quick short run during the off season to keep you and your dog in shape.

Additional note:
Rollerblades/Rollerskis: Many of the rollerblades and rollerskis are designed for use on pavement or other hard smooth surface which is hard on the dogs (foot pads and joints) and is also painful to fall on. Most have little or limited braking ability. If you chose to try this option, one should have excellent balance and be very proficient at rollersports before attempting this and then should only be attempted with a very, very well trained dog. Wear lots of protective gear. Stay away from traffic.