Extra Canicross Workshops (Feb 25th)

It was amazing to watch the January workshops fill up so fast!

Just in case anyone missed out or couldn't make the January date, we're holding a new set of Getting Started and Improvers sessions on Sunday 25th February in Wigginton, just outside York.

You can book using the links below, but don't delay - there's only 8 places per workshop and no way of reserving you a place until you have paid.

Book the Introductory Workshop here:Schedule Appointment



Book the Improvers Workshop here:Schedule Appointment

New for 2018 Canicross Workshops in York!

Canicross means running cross country (on trails) with your dog in harness. Sounds straightforward enough, right?

You could just grab some shoes (and a harness & leash) and head out the door with your hound. But just like with regular running, starting without preparation or wearing badly fitting kit can quickly lead to injuries and spoil your fun. Worse still, it can turn your dog off the idea altogether.

We’re not just asking our dogs to run with us or near us, we’re asking them to learn a whole new set of skills and behaviours. Doesn’t it make sense to train this stuff carefully just like you’re going to build up your fitness?

Morag has been canicrossing with her own dogs for over ten years now, and along the way she has qualified as a professional dog trainer, community running coach, remedial human & canine massage therapist and more. In March 2017 Morag successfully completed the Hardmoors 55 mile ultra with Freya-UltraCollie.

If they can do it, so can you!

NEW Workshops on Saturday January 27th 2018

Shipton By Beningbrough

Introduction to Canicross (10am - 1pm)

Don’t waste precious time buying harnesses on the internet, only to return them when they don’t fit your dog properly.
We offer a specialised introductory session where you and your dog will be fitted with the right kit and try it out on the trails with us. We’ll help you teach the basic commands to your dog or dogs, and get you running together as a team.
Book your kit fitting and introduction to canicross session here:
Book Intro to Canicross Workshop


Boosting your canicross teamwork (2pm - 5pm)
A 3 hour class to check your choice of harness and running belt, test out more options, boost your teamwork and techniques, plus learn how to work smarter not harder!
Refreshments provided.
Kit checking in a warm indoor hall. Training and running outside no matter the weather!
Book your workshop here:
Book Improvers Canicross Workshop



Tutors: Morag and Laura are keen canicrossers, and qualified community running coaches with Run England. They have the knowledge and practical skills to help you love canicrossing with your dog!

Safety note: Running in harness at human speed is quite different to the kinds of running that dogs do off leash, so please consider a thorough vet check before starting and follow a good couch to 5k type training plan even if you already run frequently.

Would you go to work in a swimsuit?

What clothes did you put on this morning?  Did you throw on an old t-shirt and jogging bottoms ready to get on with painting the bathroom?

Or did you choose a smart outfit ready for that big interview?

What if you work from home, do you wear “work” clothes or have you ever tried to work in your PJs? How did it feel?!

The clothes we wear help us to get into the right mindset for the task ahead. Think about dress down days at the office, often there’s a more relaxed atmosphere and a bit more laughter too.

And if you’re wondering what on earth this has to do with dog training, bear with me!

What we wear helps us to do our jobs or tasks better, and not just because it’s easier to run well in decent shoes and sports bra (for those of us that need one!).

I spent the weekend learning more about tracking from Allyson Tohme down in Cambridgeshire with Bronte (my collie). Bronte mostly does TD Scentwork and her preferred style includes lots of movement and air scenting.

Now I’m asking Bronte to follow a new smell, and in straight careful lines (at first).

Enter another new harness - and no I don’t have a harness problem, just a lot of sport interests! Bronte actually has the fewest harnesses of all my dogs…

I was concerned that if Bronte wore her normal Scentwork harness she might go back to that style of sniffing and searching when it got more difficult. With Bronte being deaf and part-blind, I needed to make things as distinct as possible – so we used a different style of harness and a new hand signal.

New sport = new clothes!

Bronte has a different harness for canicross (running and pulling in front), wimbling walks (allowed to move around but not drag me), TD Scentwork (only used when we’re doing serious sniffing), and now a tracking harness.

Putting each harness on helps Bronte understand what her “job” is going to be, and you can see her getting into a totally different frame of mind too.

If Bronte pulled a lot on walks, we’d use a front attachment harness. So the lead getting clipped to the front ring on her chest would = loose lead walking time.

How does your dog know what his job is when you get ready to go on a walk, saunter into town or prepare for a sport like tracking, TD Scentwork or Rally?

Happy walking and stay safe in the wind this week

Morag and the collie girls

PS If you need to try out harnesses. we stock and fit the Dog-Games fleece Perfect Fit range of harnesses, plus we have a range of canicross running equipment too. Just drop us an email to arrange a fitting info@wellconnectedcanine.co.uk

Why canicross is more than just running with your dog

Canicross means running cross country (on trails) with your dog. 

Sounds straightforward enough, right? 

You could just grab some shoes (and a harness & leash) and head out the door with your hound. But just like with regular running, starting without preparation or wearing badly fitting kit can quickly lead to injuries and spoil your fun. Worse still, it can turn your dog off the idea altogether.

I’ve been canicrossing with my own dogs for over ten years now, and along the way I’ve qualified as a professional dog trainer, community running coach, remedial human & canine massage therapist and more. 

Here’s some of my top tips on what to think about BEFORE you dash onto the trails:

1. Assess your fitness levels, and those of your dog. What kind of condition are you both in right now? Do either of you need a health check? Remember that running at human speed, in a harness and at a constant pace can be much harder for our dogs than you might expect. Consider starting with a simple couch or pooch to 5k programme to avoid injury.

2. Get fitted for proper kit. Don’t look for cheapo options to get started with especially if your dog is a strong puller. You want a supportive waistbelt (or you risk lower back injury) that won’t ride up and put pressure on your kidneys. You’ll also want decent running shoes with good grip – essential for slowing down on steep descents! Take the time to visit a proper running shop for gait analysis and avoid early injury.

3. Choose the right harness. We spend a lot of time teaching our dogs not to pull – but now we want them to pull hard and consistently! Choosing a running harness that feels very different to any other equipment helps your dog learn the difference. There are so many different harness options around now, we might need to try a few styles to find the best fit – allows free shoulder movement, doesn’t slide around and no restriction on breathing or rib cage expansion.

4. Choose a quiet narrow trail to get started on if you can. The narrower paths help your dog get up front in a straight line rather than circling back to look at you in bemusement. If your dog is keen on rabbits or squirrels then take advantage of their interest in pulling ahead. Avoid hard surfaces and tarmac especially early on.

5. Do some short practice sessions with a trainer or helper who can run or bike ahead to encourage your dog up front. Odd though it sounds, lots of dogs need to learn it’s ok to pull up ahead so keeping a gentle tension through the bungee line and moderating your pace to suit your dog is essential.

We’re not just asking our dogs to run with us or near us, we’re asking them to learn a whole new set of skills and behaviours. So it makes sense to train these carefully, and not just concentrate on getting fit and running!

More technical skills to help you descend tricky slopes, accelerate up hills and take corners all come in later. Again this is as much about training you in good biomechanics and posture as it is about training your dog.

North Yorkshire folks - can’t wait for our autumn classes and want to book a kit fitting + intro lesson now?  You can share your session with up to one other person + dog!

Email Morag to book your session