Dog-Powered Sports: 3 Ways Get Active With Your Furry Best Friend in Grand Forks

If you’re anything like me and much of corporate America, you spend most of your weekdays sitting at a desk in front of a computer, often looking out the window at Grand Forks’ breezy, mild summer weather and wishing you could be outside. You only have so much time in the day and if you’re one of Grand Forks’ many residents with a four-legged companion, it can be hard to squeeze in time for both of your physical and mental health. Grand Forks is a town with a lot of dogs, and particularly a lot of dogs that need jobs. A great way to quickly burn off some of your and your dog’s steam before or after work is to get involved in dog-powered sports in Grand Forks! Dog-powered sports come in many forms from canicross, bikejoring, skijoring, to full blown mushing. It’s accessible to most dog owners and with the right winter gear, can even be done year-round in Grand Forks! But what are these sports and how do you get started?

Canicross is the most straight-forward dog-powered sport that you may already participate in since it’s simply running with your dog pulling you forward. The only extra gear you need for this activity is a pulling harness, a line with a bungee, and a running belt to attach it to. You want to make sure that the harness you choose fits properly and isn’t a no-pull style which restricts movement. Companies such as Non-stop Dogwear or Alpine Outfitters produce high quality, well-fitting X-back and H-back style harnesses traditionally used in dog-powered sports. Next, you will want a tug line that incorporates a bungee to help absorb the shock between you and your dog. Finally, you will need a running belt. These come in a couple different styles, including the more common waist belts to robust hip belts with leg loops. I personally prefer the hip belt with leg loop style since it places the pulling pressure around your hips and upper thighs, rather than at the small of your back like jog belts tend to do. In-store purchase options in Grand Forks include Petco, PetSmart, Scheels, and Cabela’s.

Canicross can be a great way to get out and explore your region, and can transition well to other dog-powered sports like skijoring and kick sledding when the snow inevitably arrives in Grand Forks–or just throw on a pair of traction cleats and you’re good to continue with winter canicross! If you’d rather try a new dog-powered sport with the change of seasons, slap on a pair of cross-country skis, hook up your dog to yourself like you would for canicross, and hit a dog-friendly cross-country ski trail. Most folks prefer skate skis for skijoring, but it’s possible with classic skis, too, and there are several spots to rent them in town, including the Lincoln Park and Riverside warming houses on the Greenway and UND’s Wellness Center.

If you’re more interested in kick sledding, a mini-dog sledding activity that can be done with or without your dog, you can hook up your dog to a kicksled with the same gear you use to canicross and hit the Greenway trails. You can purchase kicksleds online, or watch any of the DIY kicksled videos on YouTube for some creative and budget friendly designs. If you’d like to give kicksledding a try without your dog before committing to buying or purchasing gear, head up to Icelandic State Park and rent one of their fleet of kicksleds for a day full of fun!

Now that you’re all geared up, it’s time to hit the trail! Don’t forget that running with your dog comes with different considerations: you’ll want to try to stay off concrete and asphalt as the impact can hurt your dog’s joints, and you’ll need to pack water for both of you along with poop bags to clean up after your furry friend! There are many places in and around Grand Forks for you and your canine partner to get moving, including the Greenway (in town), Turtle River State Park (25 minute drive), gravel roads around Oakville Prairie and Kelly Slough National Wildlife Refuge (20 minute drive), Agassiz Environmental Learning Center (1 hour drive), North Country Trail (1.5 hour drive), Sheyenne National Grasslands (2 hour drive), and more.

As with any outdoor activity, you should always be mindful of both your own and your dog’s health and safety, and respect local laws and regulations. Some items to remember before and when hitting a trail with your dog are:

1. Avoid the hottest part of the day on warm days and always monitor your dog for signs of overheating.
2. Not all dog breeds are well-equipped for strenuous physical activity – be cautious with short-nosed breeds like bulldogs, boxers, and pugs.
3. Follow local leash laws.
4. Be respectful of other trail users and pick up your dog’s poop and give other folks adequate space and warning when passing.
5. Build endurance with your dog slowly. There are many free training programs like this one that help you plan your fitness routine with your dog.
6. Check with your veterinarian that your dog is old enough (typically one year or older) and in good enough health to be participating in dog-powered sports. Grand Forks is home to many great veterinarians, including Grand Valley, Kindness, Petcetera, Peterson’s, and All Pets.

One of my favorite things about Grand Forks is how dog-friendly it is. I love seeing dog owners out walking their pups on the Greenway and around town come snow, sun, or high water! Dog-powered sports are a fun way for both you and your dog to get outside in Grand Forks year-round and explore many of the area trails. Hope to see you out there!