Canicross Conversations

Louise and Michelle chat to Lucynda, about how canicross has helped her anxious cockerXcollie Sansa.
Lucynda is a behaviourist, so we also get an insight into other techniques that might help owners of other anxious dogs. 
www.dakotaschoiceabt.com

Louise and Michelle chat with Leanne, founder of Bark & Beau, about a surprisingly common canicross problem: drying muddy, wriggly dogs without turning it into a full-body wrestling match. Recorded during a very rainy February, the conversation is instantly relatable for anyone dealing with soaked coats, filthy paws, and that lingering “damp dog towel” smell that never quite leaves the boot of the car.
 
Leanne shares the story behind Bark & Beau, inspired by Darcy, her bonkers (and much-loved) German Shorthaired Pointer rescue from Benidorm. With a background as a horse trainer specialising in behavioural problems, Leanne brings a calm, practical approach to animal handling and product design. That experience led her to create a microfibre dog towel with hand pockets, allowing owners to hold and dry their dog more securely, with less stress and mess.
 
Louise and Michelle dig into what makes these towels different from standard bath towels, why microfibre can dry faster and stay fresher, and how a simple addition like a washable carry bag can make life easier for races, walks, and travelling. They also explore the reality of launching a new dog business: starting small, learning from customer feedback (including requests for a bigger size), and building recognition in a saturated market through shows, collaborations, and community connections.
 
Expect a friendly, practical episode with plenty of muddy-dog honesty, small business inspiration, and ideas for making post-run clean-up quicker, calmer, and a lot less grim.
 
 
Timings
0.08 – welcome and why muddy dog towels are a February reality0.45 – meet Leanne and the Bark & Beau origin story in Cornwall1.19 – Darcy the German Shorthaired Pointer: energetic, rescued, and the reason the product exists1.44 – the “wrestling match” problem and why calm handling matters2.28 – why bath towels fail and how microfibre became the solution3.34 – how the hand pockets work (and everyone miming it!)5.22 – making the leap: from horse training to building a home-based business6.02 – Leanne’s “day job” at Josh’s Chocolate and transferable skills7.31 – the towel bag: keeping the car boot less grim8.17 – Louise’s real-world test at a race and feedback about towel sizing9.56 – launch timeline: prototype in August, launch in November10.36 – marketing so far: website, socials, dog shows, and plans for more events11.06 – Crufts visit, collabs (shampoo brands), and talking to people in person11.57 – how Darcy adapted: calmer routine, less stress for everyone13.27 – future products: practical only, and where towels fit alongside dog robes14.56 – biggest challenge: getting recognised and social media unpredictability16.40 – customer feedback and pet professionals using the towels (walkers + mobile dog wash)17.22 – canicross chat and Cornwall community shoutout (Little Gecko)18.14 – Darcy’s rescue story (Benidorm to Cornwall)20.16 – pricing, colours, and why grey was the starting point21.48 – why bath towels can hold smell and why microfibre dries faster23.03 – five-year hopes: bigger shows, recognition, and hearing “I’ve got one — it’s amazing”24.06 – where to buy + how to tag Bark & Beau and the podcast
 
www.barkandbeau.co.uk
 
Bark & Beau is also on Instagram and Facebook
 
Mentioned event: Purple Gecko (Episode 86)

In this canicross story, Louise and Michelle chat to Laura about her two Parson Russell Terriers Fudge and Philly, and how canicross and showing complement one another perfectly.
Follow @two_russells on Instagram

Michelle and Louise are joined by Sweden-based mother–daughter duo Annika and Felicia Thor, members of the Danish national team. From humble beginnings with a malamute mix to World Championship gold, this conversation tracks their remarkable journey through canicross and bikejoring.
 
Annika shares her entry into dog-powered sports and how things ramped up when the family welcomed Scandinavian hounds into their lives. Felicia, now just 11 years old and the current ICF World Champion in her age category, reveals how she started running at 3, entered her first race at 7, and continues to train with help from mentor Martin Grimshaw of Team Hounds.
 
The pair dive into what training looks like (spoiler: lots of swimming and technical trails), their bond with their dogs Helium and Tosse, and how the sport keeps the whole family active and connected. Felicia shares her wisdom and drive, from managing race-day pressure to offering encouragement for other young canicrossers.
 
An episode full of motivation, laughter, family warmth and a global view on youth participation in dog sports.
 
“Just keep going and never give up.”
Timings
1.10 – Living in Sweden but racing for Denmark2.00 – How Annika and Felicia got started5.30 – From a malamute mix to world-level competition7.45 – Felicia’s first race at age 79.50 – The canicross scene in Denmark and Sweden11.30 – Meet the dogs: Helium and Tosse14.00 – Switching to bikejoring17.30 – Training routines for dogs and humans20.50 – Race-day warm-up and mental prep24.40 – Winning World Championship gold29.00 – Keeping motivation high post-race30.50 – Social media and inspiring others32.00 – Advice for new and young canicrossers
 
 
Resources mentioned
Felicia & Annika’s Instagram: @k9trailrun
Team Hounds
Episode 70 with Martin from Team Hounds

Michelle and Louise sit down with Pauline, founder of Scottish trail‑inspired running brand Trailbreeze, to explore how a love of running in the Scottish hills sparked a business born on the trails.
 
In August 2024, Pauline left her long‑term job in care to focus on family life and pursue something that nurtured her spirit, running the trails around her home with her spaniel, Joey. What began as a simple idea for headwear soon blossomed into a full range of trail gear, embraced by runners, dog lovers and the canicross community alike.
 
Pauline shares her journey from that first beanie, to events, sponsorship and future plans. She explains why trails have kept her inspired, motivated and balanced. Throughout, she speaks honestly about running, business, community and simply enjoying the outdoors.
 
 
Timings
 
0.00 – welcome & introduction to Pauline0.30 – Pauline's story: leaving work, family life & running1.30 – how Trailbreeze began: headwear idea to brand name3.00 – Joey the spaniel 4.00 – thoughts on canicross 5.30 – quitting her job & Trailbreeze launch7.00 – running background: road vs trail experiences8.40 – Glencoe marathon & the joy of trails10.00 – weekly training & ultras12.00 – next race: GB Ultra 50 miler13.30 – Trailbreeze product beginnings: beanies & tops15.00 – retail stockists & early success16.15 – events, brand awareness & BSSF sponsorship17.00 – feedback from canicross community18.30 – technical kit details & product quality20.00 – garments: shorts, hoodies, headbands, gloves22.00 – clubs & custom gear offerings23.30 – audience ideas & new products coming soon25.00 – quickfire questions26.00 – upcoming events
 
“Running on the trails isn’t about pace — it’s about enjoying where you are.”
 
Links
Trail Breeze website — https://trailbreeze.co.uk
Trail Breeze UK on Instagram — @trailbreezeuk

 
Hosts Louise and Michelle are joined by Amy, founder of Track and Trail Canine Outfitters, for an inspiring conversation about how one dog changed her life and led her into canicross, community‑building and launching a specialist canine gear shop.
 
Amy shares her personal journey with Max, a rescue cocker spaniel with behavioural challenges and boundless energy, and how discovering canicross transformed both of them — from anxious walks filled with zig‑zags and reactivity to focused runs, confidence building and partnership. 
 
Rather than take on the cheapest gear she finds on the high street, Amy’s experiences with a lead breaking under stress inspired her to research strength testing and purposeful design. This leads to the creation of her shop — a place that prioritises tested quality, and supports owners with nervous or reactive dogs through private shopping sessions and accessible advice.
 
 
 
Timings
00:00 – 04:40 – intro + how Amy first got into canicross with Max04:40 – 10:15 – Max’s progress and impact of running on behaviour10:15 – 17:00 – the incident that sparked the idea for a shop17:00 – 22:00 – research into strength‑tested brands and gear advice22:00 – 28:00 – what to look for when choosing dog equipment28:00 – 33:00 – business journey, community and online growth33:00 – 37:00 – rewarding moments, private sessions and helping owners37:00 – 42:30 – exciting plans: expanding shop space and workshops
 
 
https://trackandtrailcanine.co.uk

In this episode, Mary Pearson, Race Director at Race Harborough tells us all about how she and Louise have set up a new canicross event, as they prepare for its second edition in February.
Mary shares the story of how a canicross‑only race came to life in Leicestershire, inspired by the loss of canicross‑friendly parkruns, and a desire to create an inclusive, fun and sustainable race experience for beginners to canicross.
 
With practical tips on rolling starts, chip timing, ways to handle public parks and working with volunteers, Mary explains what she’s learned both from the inaugural event and from her extensive experience organising regular trail races and parkruns.
 
The conversation also explores what makes the race beginner‑friendly, the support available on the day — including kit fittings and advice — and how the event fosters community and inclusivity without feeling elitist. Mary and Louise discuss real participant feedback, route terrain, and what to expect at the 2026 race, taking place on Sunday 8 February at Irchester Country Park. This episode is perfect for anyone thinking about entering a canicross race, organising their own event or simply curious about the behind‑the‑scenes work that makes a race day successful.
 
Link for the race - https://raceharborough.co.uk/canicross/
 
 
Timings
1.00 – episode intro and overview3.00 – why Mary started a canicross‑only event6.20 – designing a dog‑friendly course9.40 – the importance of rolling starts12.00 – beginner support and equipment stands15.30 – participant feedback from the 2025 race18.00 – how public park logistics are managed21.30 – what’s new for the 2026 event24.40 – date, distance and entries info26.30 – trophies, medals and event extras28.00 – final thoughts on inclusivity and community

In this episode of Canicross Conversations, Louise and Michelle are joined by Ed Warner, former chair of UK Athletics, passionate sports advocate, and now an enthusiastic canicross convert. Ed shares the story of how a desire to stay fit for a family skiing trip led him into the world of running, and eventually to trail adventures with his energetic standard poodle, Trixie.
 
Ed shares with us his entertaining take on learning to canicross: from the early days of training with Trixie, to racing experiences full of surprises, and even some kit confessions. 
 
"You think poodles are just fluffy? Mine runs like the wind."
 
Topics and timings
 
1.10 – how Ed started running (hint: it began with skiing)3.30 – marathons, ultras, and getting hooked on running6.00 – Ed's journey into canicross and his first experiences10.40 – the surprising athleticism of standard poodles15.00 – training Trixie and early racing stories18.45 – getting to grips with Canicross commands21.30 – kit choices and why your waist belt matters26.00 – building a stronger bond through Canicross28.40 – training volume and respecting your dog’s limits32.10 – racing plans, ambition, and the fun of chasing goals
 
Resources mentioned
CX Run Club Race Calendar: https://www.cxruncalendar.com
DogFit harnesses: https://dogfit.co.uk
Episode 20 on parkrun changes to rules for dogs
Canicross Midlands: https://www.canicrossmidlands.co.uk
British Sleddog Sports Federation (BSSF): https://www.thebssf.org.uk
 

Today, Louise chats to Kerry Burridge about how she got into canicross with her two lurchers, Willow and Hazel, and how they reacted when there was a new pup introduced to the pack who isn't a Lurcher.
@thelazylurchers

In this episode, Michelle and Louise chat to Sarah about discovering the joy of canicross with her rescue dog Jasper. This is a feel-good episode that reminds us why we love the sport and the community so much.
Follow @adventuredog.jasper on Instagram