What is Parkour?

Parkour is the perfect activity for people who are new to dog sports. It’s non-competitive and you move at your own pace. You can work at your own pace, with a friend, or take group classes. Your dog does not have to be purebred and the International Dog Parkour Association (IDPKA) is outside of the American Kennel Club (AKC). Puppies, senior, disabled dogs, and dogs who need to lose a little weight are all great candidates for Parkour.

So, what exactly is it?

Parkour involves your dog interacting with its environment through a variety of movements. This involves balancing, jumping, crawling, going through, going around, etc. objects in their world. You can choose to do this for fun or to title in it. Titling allows you to keep track of your progress (and it feels like a scavenger hunt!). We can help you do both at Lark as we are certified trainers and evalutors for IDPKA. If you want to see Parkour in action, click here

Benefits to Parkour:

  • Builds a better bond

  • Conditions muscles not typically used

  • Helps weight loss

  • Busts boredom

  • Improves impulse control

    Increases confidence

  • Exploring your environment/community

  • Working through distractions

  • Provides enrichment

  • Hones engagement

  • Reinforces obedience

So - training or novice title?

The IDPKA allows you to start with either the training or novice title to begin your Parkour journey. Overall, the training title is an easier and more simplified version of the novice title. Only dogs over 18 months can engage in Parkour - however the training title allows puppies of any age due to low impact on the joints. The training title is perfect for:

  • Puppies under 18 months

  • Senior dogs

  • Dogs recovering from an injury

  • Dogs looking to lose weight

  • Disabled dogs

  • Dogs with limited obedience

  • Owner/dog teams who are brand new to the dog sport world

  • Dogs lacking confidence

Check out the IDPKA’s website if you want to take this journey on your own. We can evaluate you in-person or via video for training and novice titles. Feel free to sign up for in-person classes (solo or group) or online classes with us as well! Not sure where to start still? Contact us and we’ll help!