Heroparkour – the perfect sport to strengthen the confidence of the dog
Heroparkour is a great sport for problem dogs. Since a great part of problem behaviour has roots directly in timidity. Such dog is unable to handle more complex situations of ordinary life due to fear. It doesn’t believe non-standard conditions.
Heroparkour is a great sport for problem dogs. Since a great part of problem behaviour has roots directly in timidity. Such dog is unable to handle more complex situations of ordinary life due to fear. It doesn’t believe non-standard conditions.
Heroparkour will teach the dog how to handle such situations, it’ll increase its confidence and it’ll teach the owner how to work with the dog without touching it and how to positively motivate it (some masters will be surprised, how complicated the things are that they will be able to carry out with their problem dog). At the same time, the trust and respect of the dog to the dog handler strengthens in difficult situations.
Heroparkour is, similar to agility, it’s about overcoming obstacles. In this dog sport, which is widespread mainly in the Czech Republic, however, it’s only about one obstacle that can be assembled differently. It’s a small bridge of different heights composed of grates, platforms, ladders, rope and chain bridges, movable partitions, from a bath with balls and the like. Simply a “monkey track”.
Elsewhere in the world, we encounter more frequently the so-called urban agility. Same as with the Czech version of heroparkour, even urban agility or simply dog parkour is about overcoming different objects. The main difference is, that these are objects of everyday life that the dogs encounters regularly in the street in the city, but which can give rise to uncertainty and fear in them.
So, the principle is the same, strengthening the confidence of the dog. But how does this special training work? The obstacle is designed in such a way for it to simulate the most complex situations. The dog slowly overcomes it, it gradually gains skill, confidence and it increases its concentration. For example, to cross a bridge (or a low-lying branch that can be used for this training), the dog must acquire confidence and trust, that it’s capable of managing such things by itself. And it will carry this confidence over into normal life.
For the dog to be able to cross a bridge (or a branch, bench or a low wall), it must concentrate. This sport will teach hyperactive dogs to work in a calm and concentrated manner. Not to fool around, to handle everything without stress, emotions and running wild. Greatly motivated dogs have the tendency to jump over the obstacles. But they will learn how to calm down in parkour and how to overcome the obstacles with precision and calmly.
Another advantage is, that the dog will start to be better aware of its body and it will improve its motor activity. It’ll learn, that it can use its hind legs independently, not only as a “propeller”. And awareness of oneself also helps in breaking down fear aggressions.
As with all the activities that you do with the dog together, even in parkour, you are strengthening your mutual relationship and trust. Still, don’t expect the result to be in the form of an entirely controllable and fearless dog after a single training. If you decide for regular training under the supervision of an expert trainer, your dog will probably advance faster than if you would train it by yourself on walks in the park. The advantage of the second option is, however, the real training environment. So, it’s definitely worth a try :).
Have you got any experience with this relatively new dog sport?
When we have to spend most of our time at home, we as well as are pets may be easily bored. How can you avoid stereotype and use free time effectively by working with your companion? How can you tire your dog even without long walks outside?
Staying home because of quarantine means a lifestyle change. There is much more time for hobbies, we finish things we didn’t have time for before – however, it all happens in a limited space. We spent a lot of time with our dogs and we get to learn...
The spring is here, so it’s also time to support immunity and focus on body detoxification. In winter, most toxins accumulate in our body and the weather change is also a burden. What should you do in order not to burden the dog’s immunity and to...
In the USA and some European countries, you can register a dog, a cat or any other pet as an emotional support animal. A registered pet than has some advantages over regular pets. However, it isn’t an assistance dog.
Sometimes you encounter a story of a stray dog that joins people during their greater or smaller adventures. Mera had quite an enviable adventure. Moreover, she has become the first dog that ascended a 7,000 metre high mountain. So, it means she has...
Cats are often said to be very empathetic and some believe they can sense how people feel or if they’re suffering from any pain. It’s clear that living with them improves the quality of our lives as well as our health. However, can our cat companions...
Hoopers is a relatively new canine sport. Therefore, you might have never heard about it. Obstacles are designed with minimum requirements for the musculoskeletal system of both the dog and its handler. So, it’s also good for older four-legged pets as...
It’s clear you need to take care of white hair so it doesn’t turn yellow or brown. But have you ever wondered that it might be possible to help the white hair to shine with food and food supplements?
The European Shorthair looks like a common cat and its nature is not as stable as other breeds’. That’s why it’s not extremely famous in the world except for Scandinavia, where it’s still quite popular.
This always active and playful companion is the oldest dog breed in central Europe. Its ancestors include even the dogs from the Stone Age. It is an extraordinary learner and a great watchdog. Its characteristic feature is very rich hair, sticking up...