• My name is Chelsey

    My dog’s name is Samuel. I’m a personal trainer and DogFit-certified canicross trainer based in East Sussex. I have an active dog and wanted to keep fit myself. Canicross means we both get the exercise we need in a fun and safe way where we build our bond and work together as a team.

  • Canicross is hands-free running with your dog

    You and your dog wear specially designed supportive equipment and your dog is attached to you at all times with a strong bungee line. They pull forward into their harness and off you go!

  • Tasters, classes & social runs

    I run tasters to give you the chance to find out all about canicross, try out the kit and give jogging a go. Classes concentrate on helping you improve your running and your dogs understanding of the commands. Social runs are a fun way to get fit with your dog with other people doing the same thing!

Get in touch

We meet weekly for social runs and the runs vary in length and pace. There is a run for everyone (and we do a fair bit of walking too). The dog breeds vary, as well as mixed-breed dogs, we have Spaniels, Schnoodles, Lurchers, German Shepherds, Labradors, Beagles, Greyhounds and Podencos to name but a few!

Woah! Won’t my dog pull me over?

It’s a fear a lot of people have before starting out but it’s unlikely your dog will actually pull you over! I have a very strong-pulling dog and he’s not pulled me over once yet. The special belt you wear ensures your dog pulls from your hips and not your back and it helps you feel more in control. I’ll help you teach your dog commands to speed up and slow down ensuring you can navigate tricky bits of trail. You and your dog work as a team when canicrossing.

What if my dog isn’t very friendly… is canicross suitable?

Oh yes. Canicross has been shown to be wonderful for improving nervous or reactive dogs confidence. They are attached to you at all times and your bungee line is likely to have grab handles and quick release catches to use when needed. I can do one-on-one runs for you (even leaving my dog behind if necessary!) and if you’re joining for a group run, I’ll make sure the other runners know to give you and your dog plenty of space. Our regular group runs have a mixture of dogs with different temperaments and everyone is respectful of those different needs.

I’m not very fit though…

Well what a good time to start! You and your dog can follow couch-to-5km style programs and build up your fitness together. Social runs vary in speed and distance so there is something for everyone, the vast majority will be a combination of walking and running.

Can all dogs do canicross?

The vast majority of dogs of all different shapes and sizes can canicross. Depending on your dogs breed, you shouldn’t begin canicrossing until they are at least 12-18 months. Generally the larger the breed, the longer you should wait before canicrossing - you want your dogs bones and joints to be fully developed before starting. If in any doubt ask your vet. You can run with more than one dog at a time too, plenty of runners have 2 (or more!) dogs. If you’re new to the sport, I’d suggest trying with one to start with until you get a hang of the commands and then introduce other dogs.
You will know your dog and their limits best. With shaggier coats or flatter-faced breed, you will want to take extra care to ensure they don’t overheat. With these considerations in mind though, most dogs and humans can enjoy canicross together!

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