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Animal
House Folly
Farm Blog
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A popular sport in Germany encourages dog lovers to bring Fido along for some weekend exercise and fun. Volkssporting translates from German as the "sport of the people" and its most popular form is organized hikes, known as volksmarches. The only special "dog rule" is dogs must be kept on leashes. Many owners find a morning or afternoon spent hiking together benefits the dog as much as the human members of the family. All breeds are excellent candidates for volksmarching, since walking is an activity natural to dogs. These marches in Germany are offered year round in dozens of towns and cities every weekend (including holidays) and typical distances are 10 and 20 kilometers (6 and 12 miles). Some volkssporting clubs offer marathon distances, too. All volksmarches are untimed.
Prizes Since the sport is noncompetitive, all finishers "win" and each human receives a medal or other specified prize such as a decorative beer stein. Breaks along the way For the canine and his human family, two or three rest stops along the hiking trail offer free hot tea for the human walkers and bowls of water for man's best friend. Usually picnic tables are set up in shady areas and additional snacks and drinks are sold. Sharing tables encourages communication among volksmarchers of all ages and nationalities and seeing the different dogs often stimulates conversation. Training your dogJust how much walking is good for a dog? German veterinarian Dr. Martina Schullenberg said, "With proper training beforehand, there is no problem building up to distances of 10 or 20 kilometers, even for older dogs. Just let the dog set the pace." She suggested starting with practice walks of several miles per day, but these distances can be done in short spurts over the course of a day. Another consideration the Aachen-based Schullenberg deemed important is that the dog has to be healthy. "Even a case of the sniffles should disqualify him from volksmarching until he gets better," she said. She added that if you have a lazy sofa dog whose only real exercise has been walking from the couch to his food dish and back, you should not consider inviting him along on a volksmarch under any circumstances. Such distances could prove too strenuous. Schullenberg said that it's imperative a dog gets walked the day or two after the volksmarch because of possible muscle cramps. These walks should be brief. Getting startedCost isn't a prohibitive factor to taking up the sport, because there's no special uniform required, apart from dressing for seasonal comfort and safety. Some marching fans prefer jogging or walking shoes, while others swear by hiking boots. Jeans or lederhosen are seen as often as jogging suits. The entry fee per march is about 5 euro if you want the prize (less if you don't). Volksmarching trails are carefully laid out and marked with signs, arrows and colored tape, so don't worry about a map or compass.
First-timers or families with small children should check with sponsoring volksmarching club officials beforehand about the type of trails. Some hiking paths may be fine for dogs, but extremely hilly and not stroller-friendly. Finding a marchVolksmarches are announced in German newspapers and on posters and an annual schedule book is sold at many events. Germany is not the only place to get in on the fun, although the country by far holds the most volksmarches in Europe and dogs are certainly welcome. The chance to hit the trail with their canines and earn a prize at the same time is what keeps plenty of volksmarchers throughout Germany hiking weekend after weekend, regardless of the weather. You'll also find marches in Austria, Belgium, France, Holland, Luxembourg, Switzerland and--to a lesser extent--Britain, the Czech Republic, Italy, Poland and the United States. The International Volkssporting Federation (IVV) is the governing agency for all these events. URL: http://www.ivv.org. This article appeared in Kafenio and is reprinted with the kind permission of the author
About the Author: Roberta
Beach Jacobson is an American writer who moved to Europe in 1974. Most
of her writing for books and magazines focuses on some aspect of European
travel. You can read more of her work at www.islandmania.com
and www.insidereuropa.com
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Ask avid
marchers why they love the sport and you'll get answers ranging from how
healthy it is to how it feels invigorating to get outdoors in the fresh
air. Camera buffs (tourists included) often shoot the scenery as they
hike and this is part of the appeal. Trailsmight wind through the Black
Forest, parallel the Rhine River or go right through the middle of a city.
The designated
starting point is open for several hours to allow participants to begin
at their leisure. A registration table is set up where marchers pay the
entry fee and get a start card (a must) which is stamped at each checkpoint-rest
stop along the way. The start card also serves as identification during
the hike and liability insurance is included in the fee. A group of volunteers,
often the Red Cross, patrols the area to assist anybody in trouble. First-aid
is also available at the checkpoints.