Bio from Melissa: Canicross has helped me in more ways than one. I am getting out there in my car and driving to the class (those who know about me and driving will know I get anxious) I did find my leggings get a little tight after lockdown 1 but a few hill sessions with Emma and Chewy soon sorted that out. I feel my running has just got better distance wise and I get to train with my favourite runner Chewy!

Bio from Chewy!: My Tuesday night Canicross sessions have helped my human so much.

Zuko aka “The Firelord” and I started our canicross journey together last year when he turned one. I am a keen trail runner and have always run alongside others who ran with their dogs and that was when I first came across canicross. It was lovey to see the bond shared between runners and their dogs and it’s a relationship I wanted to experience. Believe it or not I use to be scared of dogs as a young child after a terrible experience but thankfully it’s something I have overcome as I grew older and Zuko has really helped me get over that fear completely, he has just been a joy.

We started off doing a lot of free running and late last year we purchased our starter canicross kit from DogFit and have not looked back since. My running has improved immensely as a result, he is the best training partner, and we are both at our happiest when we out on the trails, I have a few trail ultramarathons to train for and he will be with me every step of the way.

Georgie Lambert, British, European and World Championship Canicross competitor.

Benson The Brave a Collie|Spaniel, 8 year old Furbaby
QueenBee a Scandinavian beauty Hound

** British Silver Medalist **

** European Bronze Medalist **

** Ranked 10th in the World 2020 **

Hey. I'm Simon. Running with my dogs is my favourite pastime. I have three English Pointers, Rusty, Jack (pictured) and Willow. Rusty is winding down now so I mostly run with Jack and Willow. I started running with my dogs a couple of years ago and started using DogFit gear this year and haven't looked back, it improved the experience a lot. Earlier this year (2023) Jack and I participated in our first Canicross events and loved it.
We're based in Surrey and most of the time you can find us running around the local canal footpaths or the Surrey Hills. When we go on holiday our favourite way to explore our destination is by going for runs and adventuring together.
Jack, Willow and I cannot wait to get stuck into more canicross adventures in the future. We're extremely excited to have joined the DogFit family and their ambassadors team.

My Canicross journey started in April 2022 when I started a couch to 5k course with dogfit trainer Lara. This course completely inspired me and got me addicted to the sport! My Labrador, Mya, also loved it so much. We then went on to train for 10k races, then half marathon races, and I have just completed my first ultra marathon in the Welsh mountains! Being out on the trails with my best friend, my fur baby, is the best therapy anybody could wish for. I'd like to inspire other people and encourage them to get their dogs in harness and get out there and have some fun! It really is life changing!

As a triathlete with running struggles Canicross was a way to not only kill two birds with one stone,
get the dogs out and get my workout in, but also was a way for me to actually find joy in running!
As soon as i started getting dragged around by Snoopy - my love for running was born!
Snoopy is a rescue who struggled with nervousness and reactiveness and going out running
not only built her confidence but she gets so focused on running she ignores everything else
around her. We love a good race weekend and being able to get her out in such busy environments
and race is key for her mentally and physically. Canicross is just what we both needed! My older beagle
Daisy enjoys cheering us on and pretending she's raced too, the post race naps are key for her!

Hi I'm Karen and this is my boy Butch. He is a rescue from Crete and started life out as a street dog. He is now a family dog who has fully immersed himself as a Canicross dog. We are still new to the sport,but have learned so much in the short time we have been running together. We have loads of fun, keep fit and healthy and cani has actually helped Butch become less dog reactive. We have both found our love for cani and we will continue running together

Rocket is just over 2years old and we started our Canicross journey together 14 months ago with a Pooch to 5k (as I like to call it ... ha ha) with run walk and building up his stamina. I had found you all at DogFit via a simple google search for kit and I’m so glad I did. I knew Zero about the sport and was able to learn about kit and canicrossing because as you can imagine I had sooo many questions.

Luckily for me, Rocket absolutely loves to run and gets really excited when I get his kit out! From the very first run I have described it as ‘exhilarating’ and I love that we can hit the trails and rivers locally to where we live whenever we want. It’s such beautiful countryside here and so it’s an absolute pleasure to be able to get out into it. It’s been such a huge and enjoyable learning curve but one that is so simple in the respect that ‘it’s just running with your dog’. Rocket has learnt commands and control and I have learnt about Rocket. I’ve never owned a big dog before and was apprehensive to start running with him, but I’ve discovered that it’s safe and has created a wonderful bond of trust and fun for us, and there are just so very many benefits for our health & happiness. What’s not to like !

Baxter and I started running together in 2015 then in 2017 we discovered canicross and we were instantly hooked.

Canicross opened up new opportunities to explore more trails safely and participate in events. It also meant when we adopted our second (older) Brittany, Gigi, I was confident that we could give her the best life possible even she if couldn’t be off the lead. They are the best adventure buddies, we’ve travelled all over the UK for events and personal challenges and made countless friends along the way.

I have so much to thank the dogs and Canicross for!

David is orginally from Wales and is an avid mountain ultra runner of 12 years. During one visit to Eryri last year, instead of coming home with a new fleece jacket, David bought Dwynwen from a farm on the slopes of Snowdon. She is named after the Welsh Saint oo lovers and Lost Souls and is a Welsh sheepdog / collie cross. Both are always on the beach and mountains, travelling and sleeping in David's campervan. David is a run leader for Maverick Run Project and helps out at ShoreRUN by sea, both of which welcome Canicross participants. Our Canicross journey is just beginning. We have completed 10 and 13 mile races, although at a relaxed pace. We are looking forward to sharing our learning and adventures.

Hello I'm Debbie.
And what started as a way to lose weight, quickly escalated after I found trail running. 3 years later my husband joined in, in the madness. While out I'd seen people running with their dogs but I didn't know it was an actual sport. I mean, to be fair I didn't know trail running was a thing either. Once I realised I could combine 4 things I love spending time with my husband, dogs and trail running and my amazing running family Razzer's Runners. I started looking at adding the perfect dog.

Roll on 18 months and what should have been 1 dog turned into 2 cocker spaniels. Autumn and Peaches. My girls come absolutely everywhere with us. I even bought a van to accommodate them. Running with the girls for me is such a privilege. Couldn't be more happy than plotting routes and arranging days out in the hills with the girls and friends.

Hi, my name is Rebecca. I have two border collies. The younger one, Loki, has been keeping me on my toes since 2021. He is an intelligent dog and always on the go. When he reached his milestone of 12 months I wanted to get involved in a sport with him. At that time I had ‘recently’ had a baby, so I thought it would be a great way to regain fitness and build on my bond with Loki.

Loki and I absolutely love running together. It makes me so happy that we’ve found something we both enjoy, that has such profound mental and physical benefits for us too!

Riker and I started our canicross journey with a cheap waistbelt and bungee line, excitedly bought from ebay as soon as the vet said Riker could start running at 12 months. We did a few parkruns before lockdown hit, but the cheap kit meant I had no control and Riker could drag me in whatever direction he chose while we were out. I hated it and ended up hating running with him. Once Riker turned 2 years old, he really seemed to settle down so I decided to buy a dogfitUK starter kit and try again. It changed our runs together - I have lower back support and I can control his running more. Riker and I jeff our runs - 30 second run, 30 second walk, and repeat. I'm a slow runner and he's a fast runner, so this gives me a chance to catch my breath. We're planning to enter our first races together later this year and I'm so excited to see how my boy does!

She turned 1 in November and in late January we got the kit and started our c25K journey together which we are still working on.

We are absolutely hooked and even on holiday we couldn’t canicross but we did some off lead running together on the beaches of the outer Hebrides.

My favourite was running through the water with her at sunset.

New to Canicross but not running . I’ve completed many distances and I’m currently training for my 1st marathon - virtual London Marathon in October.

We got our spaniel puppy Patrick because we lost our young chocolate Labrador very suddenly last year in lockdown.it was a very difficult time .

One thing that kept me going was waiting for our cheeky and full of life spaniel to be old enough to run with and start a new adventure along side my running.

We live in north Lincolnshire countryside and have access to woodlands behind our home and we can’t wait to join our local social canicross runs.

Hello! I'm Alex and I have a Dalmatian called Dolly!
Me and Dolly started running on and off during the covid lockdown and I immediately noticed how well we bonded with each other and I would feel extremely refreshed after each run.
Dolly was originally lead reactive and so I was afraid to go to Canicross events incase she became too anxious however changing that mindset was the best decision
Dolly now loves going to meets and races, she has a great time meeting and interacting with all different people and dogs!

I love Canicross because it combines the outdoors with my furry best friend and it's good for my mental health.
The Canicross community is so supportive and friendly and I am proud to be a part of it!

I’m Beth and I started running while at university as a stress relief. As soon as I graduated, I rescued my first dog Neville, a Romanian rescue. Neville ran/walked parkrun on his first day home! He was so unsure of everything but running together and running parkrun has really helped his confidence. He helped me train for a couple of road half marathons but is now retired and living a life of luxury.

When I got Luna, the Springer Spaniel, I wanted to be able to run with her too, but her strong pulling meant I couldn't run with her using the hands-free waist lead without really hurting my back. After a Google, I found DogFit and Canicross! I found the correct kit and haven't looked back! I’ve joined our local Canicross social group and have made some great friends through Canicross. Last year we trained for our first Canicross 10km together and smashed our PB. Now we have welcomed Lilly the Sprointer (Springer Spaniel cross German Shorthaired Pointer) into the family, and I can tell she’s going to be an amazing Canicrosser. Luna and me are currently training for our first trail Canicross half marathon in January 2024!

Hi! This is Bertie and I am Jess :)

Bertie is a two-year old Springador with bundles of energy. We live in Dorset and love exploring the countryside.

I began Canicross after watching a Running Channel video and fell in love with it immediately. It's a great way to bond with your best friend and motivates me to keep running!

We've completed the couch to 5k and have just started entering some local races ❤️ Excited to see where it takes us next!

I'm Kate and I run with my Collie-Lab Flash.

We're new to Canicross having started in January 2021 and have learned together from the very beginning, like with everything we've done.

It’s easy to fall in love with Canicross!
I started running 4 yrs ago, after always saying I wasn’t a natural runner. Then, along came Ruby. When she reached 18 months I contacted DogFit & my journey started. I had a fabulous 1-2-1 with DF Trainer Cat Everard, who introduced me to everything & we’ve not looked back!

I purchased my kit that same day through Dogfit and their knowledge & sizing for my dog was spot on. It’s so inspiring to complete the monthly charity challenges, it gives us something to work towards and something to give back 🧡.
At 48 yrs old, my journey is just starting & I can’t wait to see where it takes us.
My aim is for Ruby & myself to run an Ultra in the next year! It’s so much fun & challenging too and a subtle way to get fit whilst having a good time. We love the DogFit family, we’re proud to be part of it as ambassadors.

As someone who loves the outdoors and runs to socialise and let off steam. I chose Jinx (patterjack x border terrier) last year as I wanted a dog who was full of character, tough, stubborn and could join me on my adventures. Jinx and I have been running together since May and we started our Canicross adventure with a DogFit taster session with the lovely Michelle and Poppy.

Since then we have been working our way through the DogFit Coach 2 5K. Canicross allows use to work as a team to explore the trails of Manchester.

Hi I’m Kerry and these are my two lurchers Willow and Hazel.

My journey first started with Willow nearly three years ago we started off doing short runs together with friends. We then entered our first race together which was a 10k from then on we were hooked and last year competed in our first half marathon together.

Then Hazel joined us she started her canicross journey at the end of last year just after she turned 1 and I found out she was a little rocket and lived for running I entered her into our first race earlier this year it was tough keeping up with her but we loved running together, speed was a whole new hurdle for me to overcome. As running with Hazel is a totally different experience to running with Willow.

Now me and Willow do long distance running together working on our endurance and me and Hazel do the short sharp routes together trying to work on our speed so I have the best of both worlds with the pair of them.

We did the Cani-trail Mountain challenge in May in South Wales which was different and fun and now our next challenge is the TSB in France this month. We aren’t the fastest but we will give it a good go and enjoy the experience of something new.

Storm and I started our canicross journey 6 months ago when Storm turned 18 months. I love hiking and was excited to get started together however Storm can be a very strong pulling spaniel so I was delighted when I found Dogfit as the equipment made it possible for us to both enjoy our hikes together safely. We have recently started running together so I am looking forward to learning more and taking part in some events. Storm has boundless energy so this is a great way for us to learn together and show what an amazing dog she is.

I'm Zea and I've been running for about 6 years. In July 2022, I got Nancy; she's a working cocker spaniel, and the plan was to do Canicross together! Obviously, we had to wait until Nancy was old enough but also in that time I ended up taking a long break from running due to injury. Fast forward to September 2023, finally I was pain free and Nancy was old enough to run. We are still at the very beginning of our Canicross journey but we've already joined a local club for weekly beginners runs and we LOVE it. Nancy is amazing and I think Canicross is not only something we had planned to do but is something that we were meant to do 🧡

Ralph is a 4 year old Patterdale x JRT and we've been regularly running together for around 1 year. He’s a happy little chap but when that harness goes on, he’s ready. I decided to get back into running for my own physical and mental health but I'd struggled with the stresses of life, running my own business and a young child. When we came across Canicross, this was the answer to everything we needed, getting Ralph and I out together. We struggled for around 10 months not really getting out consistently and if we did we just weren’t very good. I started to think perhaps it just wasn't going to be for us. After stumbling across a local trail running group we now happily get out once a week for a social 5k rain or shine (and snow). I love the bond Ralph and I have when we're out running, I love getting out in the beautiful area of Cannock Chase and I love the positive effect it has on our physical and mental health. We realised Canicross is absolutely for us, we just needed the support of our friends!

My Canicross journey started in 2021 at the tender age of 57, having never been a runner (I’d not even run for a bus!!). I was looking for something to do with my retired gundogs and I discovered this amazing sport.
I started with a taster session with my local DogFit trainer Lara Trewin of Lets Go Canicross and from that moment I was hooked. Following completion of a C25K program with my spaniels, we ran our first 5k race and haven’t looked back since then. So far, we’ve raced 10k’s, a Half Marathon and even completed a 50k Ultra. Although these races are great fun, my true love of the sport comes from the group runs with other Canicrossers. We run with all shapes and sizes of dogs and an equally unique set of humans. As an Ambassador, the inclusiveness of this sport is something I am really keen to promote.

Anyone and everyone is welcome and I would wholeheartedly encourage anyone thinking of having a go to just do it…..I think you’ll be surprised just how much fun you and your dog can have.

Hello, I’m Elise and this is my Border Collie, Millie. There really isn’t much I do without her, we are a team! We enjoy long walks and hikes but we are totally new to Canicross. My level of fitness is probably below zero and since lockdown the extra pounds keep adding on – it really is time to get into shape but also have some fun in the process! I’ve thought about starting Canicross for a while but had no idea where to start. After speaking to a few friends and a lot of help from the DogFit website, we recently joined a Canicross club in our area.
Our Canicross journey now begins and we are so excited to share our progress with you!

I started doing canicross with my dog Panda as he has a very high prey drive and can rarely be let off the lead. He is extremely energetic and gets very overstimulated on walks and I realised that he needed a safe way to burn off all his energy - I am so glad we discovered canicross!

I have always enjoyed running but I couldn't imagine hitting the trails without Panda now. Canicross has also had a really positive impact on our bond and his behaviour - he is much more focused when we run together and I can't wait to see where our canicross journey takes us.

Hi, we are Daisy and Pepper!

I have been running for over a decade, mainly long-distance trails and club running events. However, 6 years ago I started to suffer from debilitating panic attacks during runs. After numerous tests for asthma, cardiac issues and thyroid disorders I was eventually diagnosed with exercise induced panic attacks due to stress and putting too much pressure on myself. I didn’t run properly again until I got Pepper in 2020 as a puppy. We started running together in 2023, starting off by jogging every lunch break for 20 mins to get some fresh air and stave off the mid-afternoon slump. I discovered there was something different about running with Pepper. Not only is she great company, but I didn’t feel so alone on my runs, she distracted me from my anxiety and I felt ‘looked after’ by her. We have been following Dogfit for a while and have been listening to the podcasts and exploring the events page. We love exploring the trails and have some events in the pipeline!

We are so excited to start this new journey together with Dogfit.

Hi, I'm Jess, and I run (in pairs) with my girls, Lunar, Summer, Nancy and Ethel. I'd been looking for something we could do together that would be both confidence boosting and expel some of those crazy lurcher beans. With the added bonus of helping me get fit!
We finally took the plunge into canicross earlier this year with the Dogfit C25K and competing in our first 5k event just after Easter, which really got us hooked! And we're now working toward our first 10k in October!

Our first Ambassadors Bai and Blue, who have been with us right from our launch in 2015.

Bai the gorgeous GSP and cheeky whippet Blue. They love Canicrossing with their owner @alexiabooker and have always been incredibly supportive of DogFit.

Hey I’m Shelley and this is the gorgeous Henry J.

Henry’s start in life had a little blip and he joined our family when he was 14 months old, hes been with us for 6 months now and has made some really positive steps forward.

My partner and I are both very keen long distance runners and having lost our running cockerpoo after a short illness the doggie shaped gap in our world had to be filled with another active breed and what better than a Working Cocker Spaniel!

Henry is extremely excitable all the time and no amount of running or exercise appears to tire him! I wish I had the same ability as him when it comes to his power naps they really do work wonders.

Now with him being so excited I needed to introduce him to running safely so we kitted ourselves out with the Dogfit starter kit and from that point on our Canicross journey has began, we are at the very beginning but I hope to get Henry by my side for all our runs in the future!

My Canicross journey started when I had seen how much fun
my wife was having with Riker without me 😂
I had never been interested in running at all
but seeing how much they both enjoyed it,
it peaked my interest and I finally bit the bullet and
had my first run with Riker attached and I loved it!
Obviously with Cat having Riker as a running partner
I needed one and then came Flynn. The power rocket.
I love spending my days Canicrossing or Canihiking with them
and we always plan the adventures for the weekends!

I am based in the Lake District where I have lived for the last 10 years. I love to run on the fells, but just before the pandemic I picked up an injury which, alongside the lockdowns, brought my running to an abrupt halt. During this time my partner and I were lucky enough to rescue a collie cross puppy (with kelpie ears and a huntaway bark!), called Kobe. Kobe brought us a lot of happiness during a difficult time. As he grew and restrictions eased, we started venturing further afield with him. Kobe and I would hit the trials to walk and then run together, and it brought us both a lot of joy. My partner got me a Canicross harness for Christmas 2021 and Kobe and I started practising Canicross together - my love for running was reignited! We've since run Wainwright's, Canicross events and even a marathon together. Canicross has helped me find my enthusiasm for running again, and I can't think of a better way to spend time with my best four-legged friend!''

Hi, I'm Mandy and I have two Belgian Malinois, 8yr old Loki & 4yr old Narla.

I have been running non - competitively for 12yrs & canicrossing since 2018 and we haven't looked back since!
We are not very fast :⁠-⁠) but we love it!

We started our journey taking part in local 5km CaniX events at Pembrey Country Park. This progressed to some 10km trail events and this year are hoping to take part in as many CaniX events around the country as we can. 2023/24 season is likely to be Loki's last year of competitions and we want to make the most of it! Narla will be taking over full time from next season, wish me luck 😂

I have found the bond with my dogs has only got stronger since we started running together and I love how we connect as a team.

DogFit gave us loads of help and advice on choosing the right harness for Loki and kit for myself!

We hope we can inspire other people to take up canicrossing and get fitter together with their dogs 🧡.

Manny loves to run, everywhere… so rather than struggle with on lead walks, I decided to join him and our canicross journey began!

Starting life as a hunting dog in Spain, Manny arrived in the UK anxious and overwhelmed and canicross has been great for building his confidence, socializing with other dogs, creating positive experiences, and has been part of his behaviour modification program.

Running only comes naturally to one of us! But Manny’s enthusiasm is infectious and together we’ve made lots of new friends, explored new areas, participated in events and even run a half marathon – not bad for someone who’s “not really a runner”!

The bond and trust that we’ve built in each other is truly amazing - he is the best adventure buddy!