That’s good practice with novice dogs, but it shouldn’t still be happening months after you get started.
Does your dog tend to run with their back end slightly to the left or right of their shoulders?
Are they moving smoothly with good hip extension, or do they tend to tuck and bunch?
Basically what I’m asking is have you noticed how your dog moves – or were you too busy keeping your feet in the mud, or calling commands to your canine partner…
Just like humans, animals have individual movement habits and tension patterns.
And just like humans, when we start to put extra demands on the body it’s important to catch any weaknesses early on.
This isn’t about waiting till your dog is lame or really stiff after a hard run.
Treating those low level niggles now will give you years of enjoyment and happy running together (you might even want to get some work done on yourself too!).
I’m hosting an evening seminar with Hannah from Theakston Veterinary Physiotherapy where we will dig into what you need to look for in your dog’s movement. Learn about what normal is for your dog, and when to seek help. Discuss the usefulness of warm up and cool down routines with us, and think about sport-specific demands on your dog’s body.
Essential information
Physical Foundations for Active Dogs (Seminar)Wednesday 16th January at 7pm
Yorkshire Museum of Farming
£25 per ticket, includes refreshments
Book here Physical Foundations for Active Dogs
Happy running folks, and I’ll see you soon!
Morag and the #dreamteam, #beautyandthebeast
Be More Active With Your Dog - Workshops
Wednesday 16th January Physical Foundations for Active Dogs Seminar
7pm @ Yorkshire Museum of FarmingPhysical Foundations for Active Dogs
Sunday 27th January Introduction to Canicross (half-day workshop)
Expert kit fitting, basic skills tuition and a short guided run to put it all into practice!Wigginton near York
Book Intro Workshop
Sunday 27th January Improvers Canicross Workshop (half day)
Survive running downhill with your dog, and learn to love those ascents, more advanced skills and lots of personal coaching for your running techniqueWelburn, nr Castle Howard
Book Improver Workshop
Be More Active With Your Dog – Weekly Events*
Sunday CaniRun Social 8.30am weekly (FREE)
Currently we’re at Allerthorpe Woods to avoid the worst of the mud. Join us for a 5k loop over varied terrain, and the option to run an extra loop for bonus fun at the end!Download directions, route map and gpx file here
Weekly Canicross Classes (start Tues 15th Jan at 7pm)
What could be more fun than running in the mud, at night, with a headtorch – right? Especially when you’ve got expert coaching and skill building sessions too.Join us for the whole block (10 classes for price of 9) or just book individual weeks.
Full information, class locations and booking links here
Bodywork & Relaxation Classes (start Wed 23rd January, 6.30pm)
Learn how to help your dog relax even in the most exciting situations using massage and bodywork plus some extra techniques. Banish the start line anxiety, or excited screaming, and save that energy for the race!- If you’ve attended anything with us before, grab your place and attend with your dog
- Not sure your dog will cope, but want to learn anyway? Sign up for a spectator place and practice on the other dogs in class.
Be More Active With Your Dog – Races*
Dalby Canicross – Forestry CommissionA series of 4 races have been announced for 2019 and you can find more details here: https://www.northyorkshiresport.co.uk/events/2019/02/dalby-forest-canicross-1
HOWEVER please consider contacting the organiser and expressing your concern about the timings. They have opted to schedule the longest distance race in June when there is a real risk of dangerously high temperatures (based on the last couple of years at least). These are races that often attract large numbers of inexperienced canicrossers, and like many in our community I’m concerned about the signal this sends out.
Running Riot (Skipton) 5k Race 14 April 2019
Several of us attended last year and it was a great experience. While the field margins were tricky for novice dogs, the event was well organised and the water crossing added some extra excitement too. More information here: https://www.sueryder.org/support-us/fundraise/events/running-riot-canicross-skipton-2019
Tail Trails Events (Lake District)
Another new series of events aimed at people running with their dogs but this isn’t quite a canicross focused event yet. Worth checking out if you fancy a trip over
First one is 27 January 2019, and more to follow. https://www.tailtrails.org.uk/
Other places to find out about races
Canicross Events FaceBook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/165126597013777/K9TrailTime event listings: https://www.k9trailtime.com/information/national-canicross-events*if you know of any events that might be of interest to the canicross community PLEASE do email or message me the details and I will add them in!
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