Canicross Conversations

This week Louise and Michelle are joined by Emma Stuart, farm animal vet, ultra runner, dog owner, and the woman behind @the_running_vet on Instagram. Emma spends her days working with cattle and her weekends running big miles through fields full of them, so she's the perfect person to answer the question every runner and dog walker has thought at some point: what do I actually do when I'm surroun...

Louise and Michelle chat to Katie Parker and Jack Avery from Pickles Pet Pantry, who share the story behind their independent pet shop and how their own experiences as dog owners shaped the business and canicross club they wanted to build. At the heart of the conversation is Fred, their rescue dog. When he first arrived, he was energetic, unpredictable and highly reactive, making everyday walks a...

Louise and Michelle are joined by Courtney Goodright, a Canine Behaviourist and Training Advisor at Battersea.   Courtney pulls back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes at one of the country's best-known rescues, from the moment a dog arrives to the day it goes home.   We learn why strays are on the rise, what those first three decompression days look like, and how the team works...

Louise and Michelle are joined by Jules, Team Coordinator for the Lost Dogs Tracking Network, Southern Counties. Jules talks through how she went from dog training and truffle-hunting to coordinating a team of scent-tracking dogs across Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire and beyond. It's a genuinely fascinating (and at times emotional) listen covering how tracking dogs work, what to do in the first c...

This week Louise and Michelle are joined by SJ, founder of Tails and Trails, a canicross club based near Ludlow in South Shropshire. SJ's journey into canicross began not from a love of racing, but from a simple need: helping her rescue dog Rosie thrive. What started as a behavioural tool recommended by Dogs Trust became a decade-long passion, a business, and a thriving community. SJ talks honestl...

Louise and Michelle are joined by Dr Janey Lowes — a vet from the North East of England who, at 26, packed up her life and moved to Sri Lanka to help street dogs. What started as a year-long volunteering trip has become a decade-long mission, a team of 70, and Sri Lanka's only emergency hospital for street dogs.   Janey shares the story of how WECare Worldwide grew from just her, a friend, and a t...

Michelle and Louise are joined by Mick for another real-life canicross story, this time with his three dogs: Rodney, Amber and Betsy. Mick shares how he came back to running after years away from it, starting with a muddy dog challenge and gradually finding his way into proper canicross kit, races and longer-distance adventures.   Listeners will hear how each of Mick’s dogs has a completely differ...

Michelle and Louise are joined by Lyndsy for an honest conversation about canicross, chronic illness and redefining what it means to be a runner.   Lyndsy shares how she went from a love-hate relationship with running to finding a completely new sense of enjoyment through canicross with her Bernedoodle Indy. After years of feeling pressure around pace, personal bests and being at the back of the p...

Michelle and Louise are joined by Clare Thompson and her rescue dog Loki, whose first season together has been full of surprises, progress and plenty of learning.   Clare moved from ultra running into canicross, first with her rescue dog Rex, and then with Loki, a young, high-energy pointer who arrived underweight, inexperienced and in need of confidence.   What began as a gentle, low-pressure int...

Michelle and Louise are joined by Lucy J Morgan from Wales, a professional musician, ultra runner and member of Dexy's Midnight Runners, who has recently discovered the world of canicross with her dog Tedi Bêr. Although Lucy has been running with Tedi for years, including through mountain training for ultramarathons, she only recently realised that what they were doing had a name, a community and...

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, get...

Michelle Mortimer and Louise Humphrey are joined by Lindsay, founder of Cani-Fit and a four-time British canicross champion.   We chat about how the sport has grown and what really matters when it comes to training dogs and humans well.   Lindsay shares how she found canicross in the early days, when there was very little support available in Scotland, and explains how that experience shaped the w...

Michelle and Louise chat to Ebony from Sporting Paws, a dog trainer, behaviourist, and passionate canicross advocate who has recently organised her very first race in Lancashire. Ebony shares her personal journey into canicross, which began not through competition, but through a desire to reconnect with her dog during a difficult period. What started as simple runs together quickly became somethin...

Dr Juliet McGrattan returns to share expert insight into one of the most misunderstood topics in women’s health: menopause and its impact on running.   Drawing on her experience as a former GP, runner, and author of The Runner’s Guide to Menopause, Juliet brings both professional knowledge and lived experience to a conversation that is honest, reassuring, and highly practical.   Listeners are guid...

Emily shares the story of Max, her timid and easily spooked Weimaraner who initially struggled with wearing a harness or coping with everyday noises such as wind.    As a behaviourist, Emily offers valuable insight into working with nervous dogs, including how to approach training without pressure, why progress isn’t always linear, and how small wins can lead to big breakthroughs. The conversation...

Louise and Michelle are joined by Rhys Denham, digital growth manager at Non-stop Dogwear, who shares his journey from UK teacher to living an outdoor-focused life in Norway. Listeners are taken behind the scenes of a life shaped by dogs, adventure and bold decisions, as Rhys explains how he made the leap abroad and embraced a new lifestyle centred around nature and movement.   The conversation ex...

Louise and Michelle catch up after Louise’s busy few days at Crufts and share a behind-the-scenes look at what the event was really like, from the exhibition floor.   From long days on the stand and meeting listeners in person, to fitting first-time runners with canicross kit and chatting to dog lovers curious about the sport, this is a warm, honest and practical conversation about what makes cani...

Michelle chats to Seán and Louise from Canicross Ireland. www.canicross-ireland.com www.instagram.com/canicross_ireland https://www.tiktok.com/@canicross.ireland

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...

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 hou...

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...

  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 tr...

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 fo...