New To Canicross?

Are you new to Canicross and want to know how it might help you and your dog? Look no further!

Canicross. What is it? Canine Cross country It is the sport of running with your dog off road quite simply. There's a few things that make it specifically Canicross;

Harness - most importantly, your dog needs to be in an appropriate harness which is designed for them to pull in, that's right you want your dog to pull!

Belt - next you need a belt, depending on your dog and how strong they are will probably determine which belt suits you, your body shape will have an impact too but mostly its about comfort.

Line - Your dog is attached to you with a bungee line, to start we recommend a shorter "park run" line whilst your dog is getting used to the sport.

Trail running - We only ever run on trails and tracks that keep tarmac and hard ground to a minimum. Consistent running on hard ground can cause injuries so we stick to trails and tracks that take us through woodlands, farms, past lakes and along rivers (which we think makes it more interesting anyway!)

So I have a dog that pulls, they'll be a natural right?

Not necessarily, although this does tend to help, Canicross is something we teach our dogs to do so we train the dogs to do as we want them to. We teach them commands including left, right, on on, steady, stop and behind. These commands vary and it is very much personal choice.

As a club we run training sessions to help beginners but also experienced Canicrossers with their progression in the sport. These are free of charge to all club members. We also love our social runs, hikes and other activities which fill our time and keep our dogs busy.

We believe Active Dogs are Happy Dogs and we recommend K9 Trail Time for all your kit needs.

3 of our run leaders are certified Canicross Coaches under Canicross Coach Ltd.