TRAINING

HEALTH & SAFETY

  1. Make sure you take your dog for a veterinary checkup. He should be up to date on all vaccinations and have no health complications that would inhibit exercise. Any dog that is lame, ill or has joint problems will not be allowed to race.
  2. Your dog must be 1 year of age. Puppies are not allowed, as they are still developing their muscles and motor skills, which means they could be at risk for injury.
  3. A leash is required AT ALL TIMES, including before and after the race and in the festival booth areas. No retractable leashes are allowed; please use a standard leash. If you need to do anything involving both hands and can’t secure your dog, please find an UltiMutt staff member or volunteer. We will be happy to hold your dog while you complete your task.
  4. A harness is recommended over a collar, and the leash should be attached to the harness. If you slip during the race, a collar may cause injury to your dog’s neck. We also recommend a hands-free leash, which will allow you to run uninhibited through the obstacles and during training.
  5. Regular exercise is important for dogs and humans! It’s no fun to run a race you’re not prepared for.
  6. Always warm-up with your dog before exercising or racing.
  7. NEVER force a dog to complete an obstacle. This race is about strengthening teamwork and the bond of trust between you and your dog. If your dog doesn’t want to complete an obstacle and you’re running for fun, you may skip the obstacle. If you are running in the competitive category, step to the side in the designated area and complete 30 squats before moving on.
  8. Don’t feed your dog right before exercise. Limit the number of treats.
  9. Make sure to always bring water when exercising your dog. Even on a cool day, dogs take a longer time to cool down than humans.
  10. Make sure your dog’s panting has stopped, his breathing is back to normal, he’s cooled off, and your car’s A/C is going before loading up in the car after exercise.
  11. Make sure your dog is used to running on different types of terrains. If you are teaching your dog to jump over obstacles, have patience, keep it fun, and make sure he has a soft surface to land on.
  12. Never force a dog to do an obstacle or run faster than he seems comfortable. The best way to increase your dog’s speed is to practice regular exercise to gradually build his endurance.

TRAINING FOR ULTIMUTT

Check out these training videos to prepare your dog for the UltiMutt Race obstacles!

JOIN THE ULTIMUTT TRAINING CLUB!​

Attend training meet-ups with our UltiMutt Ambassadors, connect with other UltiMutts to exchange training tips, and make friends while you train for the UltiMutt Race!

Training solo, but don’t know where to start?

2024 Obstacle Training Days

Thanks to our sponsors, we host multiple Obstacle Training Days leading up to race day.

  • Fri, April 12 @ 7:00-9:00pm – Obstacle Training Glow Party & Training Challenge Kick-Off
  • Sat, June 22 @ 9:00am – Obstacle Training at Noble Dog Lodge
  • TBD: Fri or Sat, July 19 or 20 @ 6pm-8pm -Obstacle Training + Nessie’s Gotcha Day Party
  • TBD: Pup Rally @ Dapper Dog Bar

The Basics

Learning how to Crawl Under, Jump Over, and Weave are 3 basic skills that will help you overcome the majority of obstacles in an UltiMutt Race.
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Obstacles

We typically have 15-17 obstacles on our 5k course, all designed by a fitness & dog agility professionals to challenge a canine & owner team. Some are more physically challenging for one species than another, while others are more mentally stimulating. All require good communication & teamwork to overcome. Here are some helpful videos.

Advanced Obstacles

A bit of obstacle-specific training can make these advanced challenges seem easy. Just have to put in the work, be patient, and have fun. [Insert maybe a link to our YouTube Channel? Or can embed the following Ghost videos: (1) Rin Spin Spin, (2) Tug & Toss]