Canicross Story: Stuart and Mav. From triathlon to cani-sports (Episode 205)

Louise and Michelle are joined by Stuart Nuttall, who shares his journey from school cross-country and triathlon into the world of flyball, canicross and bikejor. After years of endurance sport, including triathlon and Ironman training, Stuart found that dog sports offered a new way to stay active while spending more time with his family and dogs.

 

Stuart talks about meeting Louise at Crufts, getting into canicross through off-season fitness work for flyball, and how his young dog Maverick has opened up a whole new set of goals. The conversation explores the crossover between flyball and canicross, including focus, passing, drive, confidence, strength and conditioning, and the importance of building fitness gradually.

 

There are plenty of relatable moments, from buying “just one more” bit of kit, to Maverick chewing through his harness on the start line of his first race. Stuart reflects on imposter syndrome, learning from others, looking after paw health, and why he sees himself as the weaker part of the human-dog team.

 

This is a great episode for anyone curious about combining different dog sports, starting canicross with a young dog, or simply enjoying getting outside and being active with their dog.

 

0.00 – Introducing Stuart and how he met Louise at Crufts
0.36 – Stuart’s early canicross experience and running with his dogs
1.42 – From school cross-country to rugby league and returning to running
3.08 – Getting peer-pressured into his first triathlon
4.14 – Representing GB in duathlon and triathlon events
5.05 – Why coaching and being open to learning matters
6.10 – Moving away from triathlon and towards family dog sports
7.36 – Using running to help keep the dogs fit for flyball
8.51 – What flyball is and how Stuart first discovered it
10.56 – Setting up a flyball team and competing at Crufts
12.27 – How travelling for flyball changed Stuart’s view of canicross events
14.12 – Maverick’s breeding, drive and introduction to sport
15.58 – Why canicross is not “just running with your dog”
19.01 – Commands, passing dogs and the crossover with flyball focus
20.40 – Why Stuart was most proud of Maverick’s control around walkers and loose dogs
21.24 – Stuart and Maverick’s first canicross race with Trail Dog Events
22.50 – The start-line harness chewing incident
24.19 – Flyball season, canicross season and fitting it all in
24.59 – Discovering the speed of canicross with a strong dog
26.17 – Stuart’s goals for the next canicross season
27.03 – Building Maverick’s distance and endurance gradually
28.08 – Strength and conditioning for injury prevention
28.22 – Paw care, nail care and learning what Maverick needs
30.07 – Imposter syndrome at races and comparing dogs, kit and speed
31.11 – Understanding the power of purpose-bred canicross dogs
33.41 – Why the human needs to train too
34.04 – Will Maverick choose flyball or canicross?
34.56 – Giving Maverick the right opportunities
35.20 – Where to follow Stuart and Maverick online
35.57 – Future duathlon plans and whether a triathlon could happen
37.01 – Final thoughts: canicross can be whatever you want it to be

 

Check out our episodes with Toby Lambert and Lindsay from Cani-Fit 
Stuart on Instagram: @stunuttall
Maverick on Instagram: @negativeghostrider31