Friday 21 December 2018

Running isn't just for Xmas you know

Hello everyone!

This is a super speedy email - sadly unlike my running which is still on hold due to a horrid ankle sprain from slipping in the mud. I am holding out a faint hope that my New Years Day race (15 miles) will still happen even if I have to walk the whole way....

In the meantime I'm optimistically planning for a sneaky run after Xmas and then we're into the 2019 schedule!

Hope to see you out on the trails before long

Happy Running!

Morag


 

Run More With Your Dog – Events Diary 

 

CaniRun Social (Beningbrough Hall) Sunday 23rd December 8.30am

Find out all about it on our Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/140034202734285/
This isn’t a formal event, no money needed, just the chance to run regularly and grab a coffee afterwards.
You must have suitable kit and be capable of a 5k run (walking is allowed!).
Directions and route map are in the group files section

 

Social Christmas Run - BOOKING REQUIRED - Saturday 29th Dec 10am

A 5'ish mile loop along the edge of the Wolds escarpment followed by coffee and cake (or even a crafty beer) back in the local village - at least one of the cafe or pub *should* be open....
Millington, YO42 1DX 
Meet at the carpark on the edge of the village
This is a guided run, all monies raised go towards improving the kit bag
Run with us on Sat 29 Dec



Getting Started: Running with your dog

Want to really enjoy running with your dog?
Come and learn the essential skills PLUS individual kit fitting with the chance to try everything out
Half day workshop starts 2pm, two dates: Sat 5th Jan or Sun 27th Jan
Venue:
Wigginton near York

Book Beginner Canicross Workshop
 



Power up the Teamwork: Improvers Canicross

Want to boost your teamwork?    Polish your start line skills?    Sort out your overtaking?
Half day workshop starts 10am, two dates: Sat 5th Jan or Sun 27th Jan
Venue: Welburn Woods - keeping it real and muddy!

Book Improver Canicross Workshop  

Wednesday 12 December 2018

Something puppy this way comes....single (puppy) parenthood

No, don't panic, I wasn't daft enough to add a puppy into my canine family just yet!

But my dear friend Ali has taken the plunge and we're being treated to special mini series of blogs all about raising an awesome pup.

If you're considering bringing home a puppy, do take a read and make sure you're as ready as possible.

And a sneaky heads-up that we'll be opening bookings for the New Year of classes next week. There's a whole range of activities to choose from on Mondays and Wednesdays AND you can split your class fees into three payments too!

Monday Activity Classes
Wednesday Activity Classes
APDT Good Companion Award class
Sniffing School Level 1
Canine Activity Foundations
Sniffing School Level 2
1-2-1 Scentwork Introductions
Bodywork & Relaxation (for your dog!)
Three Week Intensives LEVEL 1
·         Baby Come Back
·         Stay By My Side
·         Mind Your Manners
Three Week Intensives LEVEL 2
·         Baby Come Back FASTER
·         Stay By My Side LONGER
·         Mind Your Manners REGARDLESS

Parkour Skills (mixed ability)

Morag and the beasts

The Eva Diaries (part 1)


This week was an exciting one for us, as 8-week-old puppy Eva joined our family.

Eva is a Large Munsterlander – a HPR (hunt, point & retrieve) gundog, she's likely to have a lovely nature, lots of energy and drive, strong natural hunting instincts and a desire to be involved with anything and everything! Eva is my fifth Large Munsterlander and I'm confident she'll be a great fit for our family and lifestyle, but it's been 11 years since we last had a puppy this young.

Eva's arrival was something of a surprise, as she came home just 12 days after I first started seriously looking for a puppy. It felt like the right time to welcome another dog into our lives and I thought it would take a while to find a litter we felt comfortable with – one bred for health and temperament, and raised in an enriched home environment, to give the puppies the best start in life. But I found a wonderful litter that fitted all our criteria almost immediately, and although the puppies were 7 weeks old there was one girl whose home hadn't been decided. Following a successful visit to meet her and her mum, dad, siblings and breeders, when she seemed to decide she'd like me to be her human, I found myself driving home with Eva beside me.

The first hour was eventful, even though Eva had experienced happy car journeys with her mum – Eva panicked about being alone in a crate and away from her littermates for the first time, calmed down when we took a short break, tried to settle but vomited up her lunch as she'd been so upset, pushed half of the vomit out of the crate and all over the car while trying to eat the rest of it, then cried because she couldn't find anywhere vomit-free to lie down! So we stopped for cuddles and a clean-up operation, and then she settled remarkably well for the rest of our long journey home.

The rest of the first week passed in something of a blur, with the half-drunk cups of coffee and tea and abandoned meals testament to how demanding young puppies can be when they're awake!


Eva, like most puppies of her age, is either on or off – she's full of energy and mischief and needs constant supervision when she's awake, otherwise she's totally asleep. Her favourite activity is biting things, including me, and it's important to let her so that she can learn to use her teeth gently while she's small. I'm fortunate that it's usually easy to distract her with a toy or chew if she gets too mouthy, and that she only turns into a piranha on legs when she's over-tired or over-excited – although I'd forgotten that antiseptic cream is a crucial part of any puppy kit!

These early days have been all about our relationship. Eva is still very young, and leaving her mum and littermates is a significant change for her. My top priority has been to ensure that she feels safe and secure, both with me and at home in general. I've spend hours sat on the kitchen floor with her, letting her climb, chew and cuddle on me in between venturing away from me to explore and find toys by herself – allowing her to build her confidence in her own time, and teaching her that I'll always be here as her 'safe space' when she needs reassurance or time-out from her adventures. I also spent the first nights sleeping downstairs – at first right next to her crate, and then on the sofa in the same room – until Eva was settled enough for me to move upstairs overnight.

My partner works away from home during the week, so I'm mostly a single parent to our dogs. I'd expected to need to manage early interactions between Eva and our older Munsterlander Inca, who at 11.5 doesn't appreciate too much youthful enthusiasm, but I hadn't anticipated our playful 8-year-old collie cross Lara deciding that puppies are scary, awful things and not wanting anything to do with her! I'm hoping gradual and positive introductions will lead to good relationships in the longer term, so for now I've mostly separated Eva so that the dogs can smell and see each other, but not interact directly – not least because Eva loves throwing herself into our soft dog beds and bouncing between them, which is not much fun for Inca when she's lying in one, and because Lara's bushy tail looks way too much like Eva's favourite soft toy for her to resist the temptation...

Eva has mostly been an absolute joy this week – she's a sweet, happy, affectionate, playful puppy and watching her antics has been a delight. It's also been a reminder of just how much time and attention puppies need to thrive in the early days. But the sleep deprivation and hard work seem so worthwhile when Eva's cuddled up to me, chewing the toggle on my jumper and gazing at me with her beautiful eyes, and I can feel the bond between us starting to grow. I'm sure there will be many highs and lows to come – but I'm already smitten!

Tuesday 27 November 2018

Behaviour is communication, but are you listening?

Standing in the hall and trying to wriggle out of boots heavy with mud, it was frustrating to have a huge dog head shoving against my hip.

I carried on getting my boots off, then got distracted by an incoming phone call.

Two minutes later, still standing in my hall, I realised Laird was still rubbing one side of his face against me.

Rub, stop, look up.

Rub, stop look up.

Finally it sank in that this really wasn’t normal for Laird.

Image

I mean, sometimes he likes to share his beard but that’s more of a scrubbing both sides of his face against anything he can reach!

Stepping away to get a better look at Laird’s face – and I found a dratted burdock seed head thoroughly matted into his beard.

Image

Bless his little heart for standing patiently while I worked it out, and for being so persistent about telling me he needed my help!

So, next time your dog does something that annoys you or even just seems out of the ordinary – pay attention.

Maybe your dog is barking because they’re frustrated, or excited, or worried – the barking is the communication attempt. Our job is to figure out the message, and help our dog feel more relaxed, calmer or safer – not just stop the barking.

Happy frosty walks and hope you avoid the evil burdock seeds this week!

Morag and the beasts
 

What’s going on in WCC Land?

Half day workshops to learn new games to play with your dog before the winter really sets in,  all are morning sessions at the Paw Park near Sand Hutton
*just click the links to see more information or book your space 

Xmas Snifftacular

Wed 19th December 7.15pm at Yorkshire Museum of Farming
Get your special invite here – limited numbers and only 8 spaces left….£15 per family
Take me to the Snifftacular!
 

Social Cani-Run (approx. 5k)

Sunday 2nd Dec 8.30am, meet at carpark outside coach entrance for Beningbrough Hall
To download directions click here
 

Last Sunday Social & Sports Club of 2018!

Our last Sunday Social of 2018 (16 December) is fast approaching and we thought we'd do something a bit different for this session, a group social walk

We'll be setting off from the usual place for a 3.5 mile(ish) route at approx 2.15pm. There is a bit of a hill to walk up (and back down at the end!) and probably a fair amount of mud so come dressed appropriately! 

After the walk there will be hot drinks and mince pies. Dogs can be showered off with an outdoor heated shower before you pop them back in your car too. 

Dogs will need to be happy walking with other dogs and all dogs will be kept on leads. 

As usual, let us know if you can make it, we don't want to set off without anyone!

I'm coming for the Xmas Social walk

Monday 26 November 2018

CaniCross - an introduction


Cani-cross is the sport of running off-road with your dog. And it really is the best feeling in the world!


Using a waist-belt for the human partner is essential to avoid injury. The waist-belt should be fitted to sit low on the hips rather than pulling through the lower back/kidney regions. Integral bungees can reduce impact from sudden pulling.




A strong bungee line connects dog to human – this needs to be robust and around 2 metres long for most activities (but shorter for ParkRun).

 

The harnesses used for Cani-cross are different to normal ‘walking’ harnesses due to the design around the chest (allows free movement of the shoulders) and the attachment point being further down the spine (to give a better angle when the dog pulls). 




It is a fantastic way to keep you and your dog fit whilst enjoying the great outdoors together.


It provides a physical workout for your dog and the use of directional commands will help him to learn to use his brain and build up his confidence.



Based in Yorkshire? 


Well Connected Canine offer starter lessons, equipment fitting, advice and group classes! 



Join our Facebook Group and sign up for the FREE Sunday CaniRun Social events https://www.facebook.com/groups/140034202734285/