Is there an official rulebook?
Not a single international one. Courses and scoring are up to the organiser, which is why every event looks different.
Agility and obstacles
Canine Ninja
A format borrowed from the human obstacle-course shows on TV: ramps, moving platforms, tunnels and wobbly surfaces, taken carefully with balance first and speed a long way behind.
About the discipline
What Canine Ninja is
Canine ninja is more of an event format than a sport. There's no single international rulebook, every organiser builds their own course, and the obstacles change a lot from one competition to the next.
The idea stays the same everywhere: a course of odd obstacles that tests the dog's balance and strength, and how far it trusts its own body. Expect wobbly platforms, sloping ramps and surfaces that feel strange underfoot.
Because it's young and loosely run, people like its relaxed feel. It sits naturally next to dog parkour, which shares most of its basic exercises.
How it works in practice
Types of obstacle you will meet
- wobbly or suspended platforms
- sloping ramps with different surfaces
- tunnels and narrow passages
- narrow balance obstacles
- steps and structures to climb
- stop zones where the dog holds a position
Which dogs it suits
- agile dogs with good body awareness
- dogs that have already done parkour or agility
- teams looking for a laid-back way to compete
What you need
- a comfy harness
- obstacles checked for stability
- rewards to mark a correct rep
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Canine Ninja
How does it differ from agility?
Agility is about speed on a standard course. Here it's balance, strength and control on unusual obstacles, and the clock counts for less.
Where do I start?
Dog parkour is the easiest way in. The basic exercises are the same and you need hardly any kit.
How do I prepare for an event?
Through parkour, again: work on balance on narrow surfaces, controlled climbing and rear-end awareness. Everything else you adapt on the day, because courses vary so much between organisers.
Is it safe for the dog?
Exactly as safe as the organiser makes it. Before you enter, check that platforms are stable, surfaces don't slip and heights are modest. At a well-run event the dog can take every obstacle slowly and carefully; if the course rewards reckless speed, give it a miss.
From the same category
Related sports
Canicross with obstacles
Running with your dog on a course full of obstacles you cross together.
Agility
A timed course of jumps, tunnels, weaves and contact obstacles.
Hoopers
A course of hoops, tunnels and gates, with no high jumps.
Dog Parkour
Teaching your dog to tackle obstacles in town or out in nature, slowly and under control.
We do not run Canine Ninja
This page is informational. We work in mantrailing, search and rescue and preparation for the TSAC and BH exams - but if you want an honest opinion on what would suit your dog, write to us anytime.