Be prepared

Whether you’re a fitness fanatic or just looking for a fun day out, we’re welcoming all dog lovers and their canine chums to take part in the Muddy Dog Challenge and raise money to help care for the animals at Battersea.

Make sure you and your four-legged friend are ready for the challenge with our helpful tips.

Speed through each obstacle or stroll along the length of the course - there will be supportive hands and paws along the way.

PREPARING YOURSELF

You can choose to walk or run the course or do a bit of both. We recommend going out for a few short walks or runs, and gradually increasing the distance up to 2.5, 3 or 5K, to ensure you are prepared for the day. Just remember it’s all about having fun, there’s no pressure to complete the course in certain time. You’ll also need to be prepared to jump, crawl, duck and clamber over the obstacles!

PREPARING YOUR DOG

It’s important to ensure your dog is ready for the Muddy Dog Challenge, as it will be a lot different to a normal walk for them! If your dog is used to walking in remote areas where they don’t come across other dogs, it’s a good idea to take them for a few walks in busier areas so they start getting used to meeting other dogs, otherwise the Muddy Dog Challenge will likely be very overwhelming for them.

Do remember, although each obstacle has been designed specifically for dogs, you are able to take them around any obstacle that they aren’t able to do on the day. Have a watch of the below video and continue reading down the page for some tips around how to prepare them for the day.

Health and safety

Ensure you and your four-legged friend are safely prepared for the Muddy Dog Challenge by watching our health and safety video.

health and safety guidance

Five dog training tips

Check with your vet

It is always wise to consult with your vet before starting an exercise programme with your dog. Vets can recommend both the length of time and intensity for the programme, and tailor this to your pet’s special needs.

Size up your animal

Different breeds are more agile than others. Develop the length of the walk based on the breed of the dog. Make sure the length of the walk is in line with what what your dog can comfortably complete.

Start out slowly

It’s important to start training at your dog’s current ﬁtness level. This is especially true if your dog is older, or overweight. Make sure you start every session with a walk. Just like humans, dogs need to warm up too.

Watch out for tiredness

Listen and watch for signs of fatigue and make sure you have plenty of water with you. Pay close attention to your dog’s footpads for signs of wear. Avoid hot surfaces and trails with sharp rocks.

Exercise at cooler times of the day and avoid extremely hot and humid days.

Bring a lead

Off-lead exercise is normally recommended, but due to our event being on-lead, we advise that you practise this method when building up your training regime.

We strongly recommend that you use a harness to reduce any tension around your dog’s neck.