Warm up and cool down properly

You don’t need us to remind you that it’s important to properly warm up and cool down around exercise, but often, we still refuse to do so. Its arguably more important in canicross because should you get injured, it’s not just you who ends up missing out.

Join your local club or running group

There are classes and clubs across the country that can help with training. Dogfit UK has canicross sessions everywhere from Enfield to Hexham, for example, and Canicross UK has jog sessions in across the south coast. Some Parkruns also allow you to run with your dog as long as it’s on a lead, and that can be a great introduction to running together.

Watch out for potential issues

You want to be mindful when looking up routes to try. Be conscious of:

Surface: rough surfaces can wear your dog’s paws so it’s best to look for soft trails or gravel roads.
Traffic: train at less busy times of the day to avoid cars and try to avoid roads that have a lot of cars, trucks or motorbikes.
Temperature: on warmer days, choose a shaded trail so your dog can cool down in water along the way. If the floor is too hot for your bare feet, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.

Use it as an opportunity to get closer to your pup

Of course, the main aim of canicross isn’t to be the best or quickest; it’s about spending time with your dog, strengthening your bond and doing something fun.

Take it from a veteran canicrosser – once you start and see the difference in your dog, you won’t be sorry you tried it.

Want to run with your dog? Tips on how to nail canicross – the dog-running sport sweeping Europe