"Canicross is the sport of running off-road with your dog. The human participant wears a waistbelt which attaches via a 2-metre bungee line to a padded dog harness. 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."
Running is one of those things that people who want to look like they are exercising do. Lets face it most people that run think it will help them get rid of a bit of fat, they can do it listening to music and its all good. In reality, running is without doubt one of the most boring and hardest things to keep at. There is nothing but you and your mind and your body screaming at you to stop running and just walk or better yet go home and sit down!
However since working at Raystede things really have changed. I met breeds of dogs that I have without a doubt fallen completely in love with. Siberian Huskies and Alaskan Malamutes are hard work and personally, unless you want a dog that will make you run I would advise not getting these breeds! They have however taught me to love running, something I will be honest, I never believed even remotely possible! However these dogs haven't just got me running they also have the boyfriend running and we both love it!
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| Paul running Thor |
I liked the idea of it before Christmas but running while holding a lead, not a good idea! It is a well known fact that these dogs like to run and when you are clinging to the lead with the fear of what might happen if you fall over and let go - it just doesn't work! So I asked for a running belt for Christmas. This meant that I could walk and run the dogs without the fear of dropping the lead!
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| The belt I have! (Image from Snow Paw Store) |
The belt goes round my waste and the lead attaches to the two D-rings using a carabiner (mines huge!). The lead is not any usual lead either, it has a bungee to help reduce any shock either caused by the dog or maybe even me when I suddenly die and stop moving.
Since Christmas I have spent two days a week running the husky types at the rescue. I have already lost half a stone(!!!!) and the dogs love it! The feeling of being pulled along by these dogs is nothing like I imagined. You move so much quicker and further then you think you are and it's surprising how unfit the dogs can be!
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| Paul running Kai |
The photos you may have noticed all have Paul in and there are I believe, none of me in existence running the dogs. This is generally because if Paul is there he likes to run the dogs rather then take photos and I like having photos of my boyfriend and favourite dogs!
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| Me with Patch! |
The photo above shows me and Patch who is an Akita x. He unlike the huskies isn't a fan of pulling forward all the time, he rather enjoys being Patch and doing what he likes. He is getting better and sometimes he can give the huskies a run for their money! I am working with him though and today we ran about 1 and a half miles together, with breaks for him to go swimming in the lake! I do love him to bits though :)
All together I reckon I ran the 3 dogs about 3/4 miles today, which is a lot for me! They had a mile each and possibly a little extra. Today was the last time I will run Thor as he goes to his new home on Wednesday and fingers crossed they love him and want him forever! So from Friday onwards it will be just me, Patch and Kai. It would be lovely if the boys got on and I could run them together but they hate each other so no luck there :(
Kai needs training though as he might be run at a trailrunner race Tuffman (I think that's what its called!). I won't be running as I would fail like big time though Paul thinks I should train towards it anyway, I suppose it will help with my fitness but running with other people and other dogs? Nah not sure I could do it! Kai on the other hand will hopefully be doing it and he does love a good run. He is a beautiful dog as well and though he has a few handling issues I reckon he will be a great dog one day! Still he can't run a mile without needing to stop and walk! Bless he has never had such a slack lead before! So he needs running some more and though I think the head of kennels will also run him I shall concentrate my running with Kai for now and just continue training Patch obedience and agility for now, just so I don't over kill my body!
Got to be honest - don't see how anyone can like running without a dog! How do those marathon runners do it? They should get dogs...Just saying!
