The environment we are running our dogs in for canicross is very important, from the surfaces you are running on, to the weather you are running in, you need to be aware of all aspects of this when canicrossing. I always advise people it is better to choose trails which are all off road and if this is not possible then try to limit running on tarmac, as it can be damaging for joints in both you and your dog. I also try and pick routes with natural water sources on them, so that if it is warmer than I expected, then I have somewhere to safely water and cool off the dogs on our route. I’m not going to go into too much detail about temperature, as I could write pages on that itself, but be sensible about how warm it is when you run your dog, paying particular attention to the humidity, which can be very harmful for dogs. Included in environment is making sure you are being respectful of the surroundings you are canicrossing in too. Try not to spook other trail users, dogs and horses not used to seeing dogs attached to people can be quite nervous, and not everyone likes dogs so be mindful of not allowing your dog to invade someone else’s space while out and about. Any livestock you might encounter might also be scared by your dog running at them, even if they can’t chase them, so keep your dog under close control in fields. Finally, make sure you clear up after your dog and follow the countryside code, shutting gates behind you and ensuring you leave areas as you found them for others to enjoy. With so many things to consider about your environment when canicrossing, it was the obvious choice for the letter ‘E’ in the K9 Trail Time A-Z of canicross.
