Below you will find some answers to the most frequently asked questions about our event, this list will be updated as and when we feel another question needs to be added to the list!
What if my dog doesn't swim? / I'm not sure my dog will swim
You have a number of options:
You can enter with others who have dogs who will swim as part of the Team Triathlon
You can enter the duathlon which is biking with your dog and running with your dog
You can work on your dogs' swimming up to the event and if on the day your dog doesn't want to swim, you can take a time penalty and either wade or come out of the water totally.
Please note that if your dog is not comfortable on the day during the swim phase, we as organisers can and will make the decision for your dog to come out of the water and receive the time penalty.
I haven't biked/ swum/ run with my dog before can I still enter?
The answer to that is yes BUT you must have trained between entering the race and taking part in the race. If it becomes obvious on the day you have not had any experience in any of the disciplines then we as organisers reserve the right to pull you out of the competition for the safety of you, your dog and the other competitors. We suggest you must have trained some basic voice commands and be in control of your dog for every discipline before entering.
I would like to swim and canicross but not bike or scooter with my dog, can I still enter?
Yes if you enter as part of the Team Triathlon with others who can take up the discipline you do not want to take part in. If you enter intending to swim and canicross but have a second person complete the bike, which is the middle discipline, we cannot guarantee you will be able to get around to the canicross transition in time to meet the person off the bike. In this instance the time will be still be running while they wait for you to make it over to the canicross transition area for the changeover.
Can I use different dogs for each stage or some stages of the triathlon?
No if you enter the normal triathlon, you must use the same dog for all 3 disciplines, however if you should have a handler willing to wait at the transition areas with your dogs (as your team members would be) then you can enter the Team Triathlon to run different dogs through the different stages.
What if my dog doesn't swim? / I'm not sure my dog will swim
You have a number of options:
You can enter with others who have dogs who will swim as part of the Team Triathlon
You can enter the duathlon which is biking with your dog and running with your dog
You can work on your dogs' swimming up to the event and if on the day your dog doesn't want to swim, you can take a time penalty and either wade or come out of the water totally.
Please note that if your dog is not comfortable on the day during the swim phase, we as organisers can and will make the decision for your dog to come out of the water and receive the time penalty.
I haven't biked/ swum/ run with my dog before can I still enter?
The answer to that is yes BUT you must have trained between entering the race and taking part in the race. If it becomes obvious on the day you have not had any experience in any of the disciplines then we as organisers reserve the right to pull you out of the competition for the safety of you, your dog and the other competitors. We suggest you must have trained some basic voice commands and be in control of your dog for every discipline before entering.
I would like to swim and canicross but not bike or scooter with my dog, can I still enter?
Yes if you enter as part of the Team Triathlon with others who can take up the discipline you do not want to take part in. If you enter intending to swim and canicross but have a second person complete the bike, which is the middle discipline, we cannot guarantee you will be able to get around to the canicross transition in time to meet the person off the bike. In this instance the time will be still be running while they wait for you to make it over to the canicross transition area for the changeover.
Can I use different dogs for each stage or some stages of the triathlon?
No if you enter the normal triathlon, you must use the same dog for all 3 disciplines, however if you should have a handler willing to wait at the transition areas with your dogs (as your team members would be) then you can enter the Team Triathlon to run different dogs through the different stages.
