Canicross - Cross Country running with your dog

You and your dog want to try something new and you are both passionate about running? Canicross is a country cross running sport with dogs. Read now to find out more about it!

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What is Canicross? 

Canicross is a country cross running sport with dogs. Original Canicross came from Europe as an off-season training option for the sledding events with dogs also called mushing. 

With time it has become more and more popular and is now a global sport, which has gained a lot of popularity especially in the UK, Europe and USA. 

This sport is a great way to build the bond between you and your dog. On top of that it will keep you both fit. Most dog breeds can take part in this. 

In Canicross the dog is harnessed and attached to the runner by a bungee lead. 

The most important effect of this sport is that it should be fun for you and your dog. 

Your dog must be fully grown or at least 12 months old but there is no upper age limit. When you are not sure your dog is suitable or healthy enough, please consult your vet.

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The right equipment

It is essential to have a harness for your dog, as well as a belt and bungee line which connects to the harness and belt. 

A bungee line is important to have, as it acts as a shock absorber between you and your dog. 

But not only the kit for the dog is important, when running on the trails the correct gear is essential for every runner like trail running shoes which give the much needed grip on those rugged terrains.

Make the run an exciting experience

Find a single track trail so the dog has a clearly defined path to follow. It's best to avoid gravelled or hard paths, as it is less comfortable for your dog. 

It is important to build up the training gradually so your dog has time to adapt to the new things and even maybe running in front and the forces of the harness. 

Start with a short interval of 50 -100m to encourage your dog to pull into harness. Then if you can, free run your dog for the rest of your run or walk them on lead.

World records for distances? Eg. 5K

In 2017 Ben Robinson and his dog Blake beat the longstanding world record for running 5K in 13 seconds with a time of 12 minutes and 24 seconds.

Can any breed of dog do Canicross? What's the best/most suitable breed?

Almost any dog breed can do canicross, but it's important to consider your dog's age, health, and abilities when deciding if they're ready for canicross.

With the right preparation and patience, any dog can enjoy canicross. It's also important to respect your dog's limits and map out your route in advance.

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We have spoken with Jacob Tonkin, who is a passionate Canicross runner and loves every second on the trails with his dog Hector. 

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How far is a typical race?

Canicross offers as much variety as fell or trail racing. My dog Hector and I have tackled nearly every distance imaginable, from sprinting 3 miles to enduring a sunrise-to-sunset ultra. I’ve cherished every event, but most importantly, Hector has loved them all!

What kind of shoes/clothing/equipment do you and your dog need would you recommend? 

Canicross, like other forms of running, is quite simple. All you need are a pair of shoes, a lead, poo bags, and a dog. Then you’re ready to go! If you and your dog are enjoying it, you might start looking into some specialized equipment. Most races require your dog to wear a harness to prevent choking on a collar. It’s important to find a harness that your dog is comfortable in and likes to wear. While many dogs don’t need shoes, I always think Salomon could make a great product if they created a dog shoe called S/LAB SpeedWoofs. For extra propulsion, it’s best to wear a harness yourself. I prefer one that helps drive my hips forward rather than around my waist, as it feels less like I’m being pulled down into the ground. Hector and I both wear Non-Stop Dogwear harness, with a 2 meter bungee lead. 

I’m quite particular about my footwear. Most of our races have been through forests, and even though the terrain is generally good, the fell runner in me prefers lightweight shoes with excellent grip. For the last four races, I’ve been wearing the Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 shoes because they’re incredibly light and provide great propulsion. For longer races, you might want more cushioning; I’d recommend the Ronhill Freedom or NNormal Kjerag.

How do you train your dog and yourself for Canicross races?

If you regularly run with your dog, that’s all the training you need. Nothing truly prepares you for a canicross event like participating in one! Most of our events have been time trials, and it’s absolutely wild to see around 50 dogs and their humans starting off together. The excitement is palpable, with owners often apologizing, saying things like, “They’re not usually like this!” Just as humans get nervous about racing, it’s natural for your dog to feel the same way.

Depending on the size of your dog, you might want to strengthen your legs before starting. When running downhill solo, we can exert over seven times our body weight with each step. Now imagine an excited dog running full speed downhill attached to your waist—it’s quite the challenge! I’ve never experienced muscle soreness quite like post-Canicross DOMS!

How did you train your dog to pull into the harness? How quickly did your dog learn to pull into the harness?

Luckily, Hector has never lacked pulling power. He’s a Border Collie cross Kelpie, so he’s not very big, but he sure can pull! It can feel counterintuitive to train them not to pull on a lead, only to encourage it later. My advice is to always run with them in a specific harness or full canicross kit. This way, they’ll associate it with running. Dogs are much smarter than we often give them credit for. Reward them for pulling on the harness and for walking nicely on a lead and collar.

We have certain phrases that I know really excite him and make him pull more. They vary from calling him "Send it on Beast!" to "Los gehts Los!" randomly speaking some German to him gets him going. Though I think Hector’s coolest trick is knowing his left from his right. When we’re running, I shout “left, left,” and his ears perk up as he turns left. He learned this by walking in front of us during walks while we called out the directions he was heading. It’s turned into a very useful training tool.

Have you got any tips for Canicross beginners?

The stronger your bond with your dog, the more enjoyable your runs will be. Hector and I have an uncanny ability to sync up during races. We both need a poo at the same time during warm-ups, start off too fast, tackle the descents with gusto, and collapse at the finish line in a heap. I then spend a good half hour crying out of sheer pride for him.

It's a beautiful thing to race with your best friend, and you should cherish every moment of it!

How did you get into running Canicross races?

In early 2019, after a two-year struggle, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. The very next day, I went to a local farm and brought home my first dog, George. At that time, I hadn’t run in ages, and George was too small to run, but I envisioned us running on the fells together. As George grew, my health improved, and soon we were doing short runs, coming back home exhausted. When George was big enough, I was well enough to start doing proper outings again. George accompanied me everywhere, and we ticked off many fells, making me feel like I had my life back.

Tragically, George had an accident and passed away before he was two years old. The pain was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. I lost my motivation to run, my health declined again, and I felt back at square one. Staying positive was a struggle, and I had never felt a presence in my life quite like George’s. After spending a lot of time processing the loss, I eventually got back out there and tried to carry on without him. Later this year, a short film about this journey, filmed and produced by James Appleton, will be released.

Months later, I heard that another local farmer had a litter of puppies. I went to meet them and came back with Hector. I truly believe George was sent to save my life during a very dark time, and now I feel Hector has been sent to help me enjoy life again. Hector can be a real handful—he’s loud, annoying, overly excitable, and, well, just like me!

My partner started canicross before me and, after her first event, encouraged me to give it a try. A few months later, Hector and I participated in our first event and won! We had a fantastic time, and I kept signing up for more races. Before I knew it, I had taken over from Rachael May, and Hector had become a local rockstar.

How can I find out more about the races? Is canicross a global sport?

Most of my events have been with ‘Lakeland Paws,’ which are run in a time trial format. This means there’s no mass start; you can set off at any time within a designated window. I think this is a better approach because it avoids the chaos at the start! They have an excellent website here, and their events run from October to May. These are definitely the easiest events to find. There are many other events, most seem to be in the south of the country. I am hopeful one day that me and Hector can take part in a national event and represent our county and Boarder Collies everywhere. 

There European and World Championships in the sport, though we might need some more training before we can get there!!

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