Talk Canicross

When we start increasing the amount of exercise we do, it’s important to give consideration to what and how much we eat to ensure we sustain our energy levels and also recover well. We covered nutrition for your dog in Episode 22 of our series (which we highly recommend you listen to if you haven’t yet) but what about the human’s needs? How can you ensure you are eating the right food and amounts...

Running with your dog is one of the best pastimes in our humble opinion, and even better when you do it with like-minded people. But what about when you want to take it to the next level? And by that we mean racing with your dog. Perhaps you have already booked up some Canicross races for the year ahead or you are deliberating about whether to take the plunge for the first time? Well, in this epis...

Canicross is for everyone and everydog, however sometimes taking those first steps in the sport is the hardest part. There could be lots of reasons stopping you and having the confidence to try can open the doors to a wonderful sport and fun with your dog. In this episode we are joined by Inein Victor Garrick, who is also one of our DogFit Ambassadors. On social media he is known as @vikto_garik_r...

Are you new to Canicross or watching on the sidelines thinking about taking the plunge? If you fall into either of these categories this podcast is 100% for you. Today we are joined by DogFit Trainer Sian Swift, who has been on the team for 4 years now coaching her popular Canicross classes in the Leeds area. We wanted to invite Sian along because she has tonnes of experience helping people who ar...

We were very excited to have one of our DogFit Ambassadors on our podcast this week. Melissa, aka Chewy Barker Woof on Instagram, has a big following on social, particularly amongst Beagle owners as her own dog Chewy is a bit of a pin-up Beagle, who happens to love running with his Mum.  Canicross has been a revelation and transformation for them both and in this episode, we hear about their...

As Canicrossers, the health and wellbeing of our dogs is our main priority. We love getting out there and running whenever we can, whatever the weather. However, when the weather warms up, how hot is too hot? This is a question we are often asked, especially by people who are new to the sport. Our guests in this interview are canine researcher, Anne Carter, and small animal vet, Emily Hall from Ho...

One of the common questions we get asked is, 'Can any dog breed Canicross and are there some that are better than others’. Our answer is always yes, however we do find that there is one particular dog group that we know takes to the sport really well. The gundog group make popular family pets and are known as reliable and loving companions. However they are very active and can get easily bored if...

Back in October 2020, Ginetta and I launched our first ever Podcast series. We kicked off with our episode 'Questions, Fun & Fears’ that involved a really fun and interesting conversation with Carolyne and Kelly, two complete newbies to Canicross. We chatted about those first steps to getting started and then gaining confidence on the trails. Carolyne had just completed the DogFit Couch t...

A top priority is for any dog owner is the health and wellbeing of your dog and when we introduce them to a new sport that ups their activity levels it is important to monitor their weight and nutrition. The same goes for dogs that have been Canicrossing for a while, or perhaps you have decided to focus on a goal, which might involve working towards longer distances. We are joined by Rebekah Thomp...

One of the most common questions we get asked by our customers, is 'how old should my dog be before they can Canicross?’ We always advocate waiting until your dog is fully grown before they do anything too rigorous as their growth plates are still forming but we thought we’d get an expert in to explain in more detail why this is so important. Grace Bird, who is our guest today, is a radiograph...

We’ve all been there…as we close one year and another fast approaches we start to think about what we want to strive for in the new year. For many of us we tend to reflect on our health and fitness goals. But how do we find the motivation to get started and, most importantly, how do we stick to a plan beyond the first month? Well, fear not, help is on hand. We are joined by DogFit Trainer and Pers...

It's nearly Christmas and at this time of year many of us enjoy the festivities and the treats it brings. We all want our dogs to join in too, but what is safe to treat them with? In this episode we chat with Zoe Russell, Nutrition Officer at Skinner's about foods that your dog can and can't eat. Zoe's answers some of those FAQs about which delicacies you can spoil them with.  For information...

One of the great things about Canicrosss or Canitrekking is that you can run absolutely anywhere with your dog. Through trails, farmland and finding new places together and enjoying the countryside - you are also safe in the knowledge that you are attached to your dog, so you won’t loose each other. It’s one of the great joys of the sport and seeing areas that you would have missed if you had just...

We all want to make sure that our dogs are getting the right nutrition, especially if they are increasing their activity or out Canicrossing regularly. We chat with our partners at Skinners about their new Get out & Go range, specific ingredients that are beneficial for our dogs and their new energy and recovery bars. With over 50 years of experience of fuelling active dogs, so understand the...

When we talk about Canicross we tend to focus on the three main pieces of equipment; the belt, harness & line. But what is often overlooked is what you should be wearing on your feet. We’ve all been there, and just gone out and bought a pair of trainers that we think will do the job. Then when it gets muddy and wet we start to wish we had gone for something with better traction, especially whe...

We were talking the other day about how we first got started in Canicross, many moons ago now. It occurred to us how much the sport has grown and evolved in that time. It’s like any other sport really, with so much to learn. When you first take it up and you’re a complete beginner, it might seem quite straightforward to just get your dog in a harness, put on a waist belt and go off for a run. Actu...

Are you one of thousands of people who took on a lockdown puppy, then realised they were lacking some fundamental socialisation skills through no fault necessarily of your own. And on top of that you had a very energetic young dog with excess energy to burn off, that wasn’t going to relent even when they turned into a young adult! Well fear not, help is on hand. Today, we are very pleased to welco...

When we take our dogs to the vet for their annual check-up, it’s always reassuring to hear that they are in good shape. If you’re a Canicrosser already, it’s normally at that point that you’ll have a conversation with your vet about Canicross. Did your vet know what Canicross was? In the past, there have been many vets who have never heard of it. However, that’s now changing. As the sport continue...

We are delighted in this episode to welcome Susie Chan, one of the most recognisable people in the UK Running Community. Susie took up running in her late 30s, initially be to be a bit healthier and built up from half marathons and marathons and then on to compete in some of the world’s toughest ultra-marathons and endurance races. We’ve followed Susie for a while, and when she started to include...

Many people may be surprised to hear that children can get take part in Canicross but so long as the right guidelines are in place there is no reason why they can’t. At DogFit we actively encourage juniors to get involved as it’s a fun way to introduce them to running and general fitness. We even sell a Canicross belt that is designed especially for children to fit their smaller hip measurements....

For many of us, Canicross is more than just a hobby and way to keep fit; it's a special way to bond with our dogs and build long-lasting friendships with like-minded people. But once we’ve got the Canicross bug, it’s natural to look for a new challenge…that may be to run a bit further or it may be to get that elusive 5k PB! You may even fancy entering a Canicross race. Well, we're really pleased t...

Pilates has been around for close to 100 years. Founded by Joseph Pilates, a German physical trainer fascinated by the balancing of body, mind and spirit, the discipline is all about strengthening the body, toning the muscles and improving posture and flexibility. This makes it a perfect companion for Canicrossers. Pilates has grown exponentially over the past 12 months as people have more time to...

Are you interested in taking up Canicross but concerned you have a reactive or anxious dog?  Do you worry about how your dog will react to the Canicross kit, sounds and smells, not to mention the other people and dogs running ahead, behind and alongside them? Well, experienced dog trainer and DogFit Canicross instructor Christine Barber, is on hand to reassure you that you and your dog c...

We are often asked about the right nutrition for canicross dogs. After all, our dogs are the priority and we want to make sure we are providing the best for them, especially when are upping their activity and distances. So who better to ask than our friends at Skinners. They have over 50 years of experience of fuelling active dogs, so understand the energy requirements and nutritional support that...

It's a new year, and for many of us that also means a new fitness goal. If you are new to Canicross (and possibly running too) you may be looking to complete your first Couch to 5k course, or you may already be an experienced runner looking to improve your speed or endurance. Whatever your goal, there’s no doubt that we can all improve as runners...and much of that starts from the way we run, not...