Canicross Conversations

This week, Louise takes us on a live tour of Goodwoof, as she teaches Pilates with dogs, and chats to various cani-sports exhibitors, including canicross (of course!), bikejor, and scooterjor.  

Louise and Michelle chat to Jason Pascoe from Non Stop Dogwear about harnesses. Find out: the difference between long and short harnesses how to fit a harness for your dog which harnesses offer the best adjustment what to look for in a well-fitted harness the signs of an ill-fitted harness how the dog's posture is affected by the harness, and how this differs for strong pulling dogs what should beginners look for in a harness how long should a harness last? harness care and cleaning should we use a different harness for cani-trekking? It's a fact-filled episode with absolutely loads of useful information, so grab yourself a cuppa, or pop in your headphones and head out for a walk with your dog, and listen in. If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a review. You can find @nonstopdogwear on Instagram

How do you get into canicross after having spent your childhood fearful of dogs? In this episode, Louise and Michelle chat to Inein Victor Garrick who found running later in life, and decided to get a dog after meeting a few canicross runners in his running club. They are now a member of Cardiff Canicross group, and are enjoying being part of the racing scene. We challenge those perceptions of whether running with a dog is easy, or challenging! What do you think? You can follow @vikto_garik_runs on Instagram.  

In this episode. Louise and Michelle chat with Barkrun founder Claire Martin.  When parkrun decided to no longer permit the use of waist belts for running with dogs in April 2022, many people in the canicross community understandably felt excluded. Barkrun was already in existence prior to this, a play on words for those who loved to participate in the free weekly timed 5k with their dogs, with regular runners sharing photos and running news, but when news of the parkrun rule change broke, Claire, a long time canicrosser, set up a Facebook group, encouraging runners to arrange to meet up to canicross their dogs at 8am before parkrun at venues where it is safe and allowed to do so (public land). The group encourages barkrunners to have a little impact on parkrun as possible, while also supporting (i.e. participating and volunteering at parkrun) where they can.    The group now has in excess of 3000 barkrunners, and new barkruns are popping up all over the country. We chat to Claire about the last couple of months, and what the future might hold for Barkrun.   You can join the Barkrun Facebook group here Like the Barkrun Facebook page here

In this episode, Michelle interviews Louise about Pilates, and why every runner could benefit from it. Find out how to get started if you're brand new to it, and how to plan it into your week, around your running and canicrossing. Find out more about Pilates here Join Louise's Facebook group for runners and canicrossers here

In this episode, Louise and Michelle chat to Rachel Spencer about our relationships with our dogs in our homes, and just how much a part of the family they are. Is your dog allowed on your bed or sofa? Do you have a wardrobe for your dog? Does your dog buy you birthday cards, and how do you celebrate your dog's birthday?   About Rachel  Rachel Spencer is a freelance writer specialising in the pet industry for national newspapers and magazines focusing on human interest stories, health, trends and technology. She works with pet business owners helping them raise their profile in the media and clients have appeared in the Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, BBC Breakfast, Mail Online, Daily and Sunday Express, and a host of pet titles like Edition Dog, Your Dog, Your Cat and industry titles including Pet Gazette and Pet Business World. Each week she shares tips on how small businesses can secure coverage on the Publicity for Pet Businesses podcast. Rachel provides consultancy services and runs a publicity coaching programme helping pet businesses stand out from the competition.    Find out more at www.publicityforpetbusinesses.co.uk    You can also find Rachel here:   https://www.instagram.com/rachelspenceruk https://www.facebook.com/rachelspenceruk https://twitter.com/rachelspenceruk https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelspenceruk/

Kate Mellor didn't have a dog when she decided she would love to try canicross; she saw it on a TV programme and decided it looked so much fun, so set the wheels in motion to adopt her collie lab cross Flash. Collecting Flash just 2 hours before national lockdown came into effect in 2020 meant that Flash's puppy training and socialisation looked quite different to most puppies, but knowing that the duo were aiming to do canicross once he was fully grown, Kate had the time and the patience to carefully train him in all the canicross commands. Now, two years later, the team love to race together, and can't imagine life without canicross.   What kit do the team use? Non Stop Freemotion Harness Dogfit waist belt / Non Stop Canix belt Non Stop canicross line   You can follow Kate and Flash on Instagram   Image by James Kirby

In this episode of Canicross Stories, Louise and Michelle chat to Nat, who runs every day with her dog Esme, Nat and Esme have developed a strong bond while canicrossing, and have completed ultra distances together.

parkrun have decided that, effective from (and including) Saturday 2 April, they will no longer permit parkrunners to use waist harnesses when participating with their dog. Dogs will be still be allowed to participate with their owners, but the rules from 2nd April state: “One dog on a short, handheld, non-extendable lead by the side of the participant, and within reach at all times. Care must also be taken to avoid tripping other parkrunners.”   Louise and Michelle chat about the new rule and its implications for canicross and the safety of dogs and their owners.    Here's a link to the parkrun blog we refer to   We would love to hear your thoughts too, so please do get in touch.

This season, we talk to canicrossers across the world to hear their stories of what inspired them to take up canicross. In this episode we chat to Mel Grier, who is based in Scotland with her dog Breagha. Mel is a member of West Lothian canicross and is a keen canicross racer.