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Michelle & Louise | Canicross Conversations
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Transcript
Introduction to Michelle, Louise, and Canicross Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to episode 54 of the UK sports chat podcast. I'm Joe Williams. And in this episode, I speak with Michelle Mortimer and Louise Humphries. Some of you may have recognized both of today's guests. Michelle, also known as miles with shell on Twitter is a running coach and Louise Humphries from Studio 44 Pilates.
00:00:20
Speaker
Louise held weekly Pilates sessions for us during the pandemic. You may have joined in some of those. Together Shell and Louise have a new podcast, Canny Cross Conversations, and this podcast is all about running with your dog. As usual, please give us any feedback via our social channels or on info at ukrunchat.co.uk. Please enjoy the rest of your week and we will see you on the next episode.
00:00:49
Speaker
Welcome, Shell and Louise. How are you both? Yeah, good. Thank you. Good. Thank you. Lovely to be here. Yep. Lovely to have you both on. Thanks for coming on to chat. So as I said in the intro there, I gave a little intro. Louise, you did lots for us. Didn't you during the lockdowns, you did weekly Pilates sessions for us?
00:01:11
Speaker
I did. It seems like a long time ago now, doesn't it? But yes, it was weekly 10 minute Pilates for runners. So yeah, it was very good. Thank you for that. All right. No, thank you. And if anyone hasn't seen those, jump on our YouTube and check out Louise's Facebook, etc. So some great little sessions there that you can do at home that will help. And Cheryl, how are you? You OK?
00:01:32
Speaker
Yeah, I'm all good. Thank you. Good. And I mentioned in the intro that obviously you're a running coach and lots of our listeners will know you as well. So I'm going to jump straight in with my first question for you both is how do you go from being Pilates teachers and running coaches to podcasters? It's a very good question, isn't it? It's when I ask myself frequently.
00:01:59
Speaker
I'll start answering that.
Journey into Canicross and Becoming Instructors
00:02:01
Speaker
Louise and I haven't actually met in person, have we yet? Not yet. We're about to meet very soon for a Canny Cross run. And we both got into running with our dogs. And we've both got very highly prey-driven dogs, which is why we got into Canny Cross, became instructors. I've been doing that about three or four years now, I think. And Louise and I kind of met over Twitter.
00:02:26
Speaker
and just decided because we're so passionate about educating people about the best ways to run with the dogs. Yeah. And we thought we'd start our little podcast called Candy Cross Conversations. And it's just about we've we've done a couple of runs with our dogs while recording. Yeah. And we're basically chatting to experts such as vets and physiotherapists and all kinds of experts in prey drive and reactive dogs, just to try and educate people really about
00:02:56
Speaker
about more about the dogs and the dog's behavior. Yeah. Okay. So there's lots of lots to pick apart there. So just to you, tell me how you become an instructor. Well, that's a good question. It's sort of a snowballs and I think it did for you as well, Michelle, didn't it? You get into Candy Cross and then you get really excited about it. And I think because Michelle is a running coach,
00:03:25
Speaker
You can see the sort of parallels, and I'm a Pilates teacher niching in Pilates for runners, so it sort of all made sense. And we both dogfit Candy Cross instructors, and you have to have certain qualifications to be able to do it. But we just applied and did it.
00:03:44
Speaker
It's been fantastic and the fact that we can use both our skills, our sort of other skills to do our canny cross has been really really good and obviously that's why we've done our own podcast as well so it's been really good. Okay so have the two of you always ran with your dogs?
Experiences and Essentials of Running with Dogs
00:04:04
Speaker
No. Kind of yes and no for me.
00:04:09
Speaker
Louise, you're more, you're newer to it than I am, aren't you? Yeah, I've had dogs, you know, I mean, Pickle is my third dog. And when I got her, I had all these visions of lovely walks and, you know, with her off the lead, running across the fields. But she is so high prey drive that I can't let her off that often. And then I think as it was, Michelle sort of introduced me to Canicross and it got me my love for running back again, actually.
00:04:35
Speaker
hadn't run for a while and yeah and then I spotted it and it is so addictive it really is because I think when you're canny crossing as well you sort of stop thinking about yourself because you're focusing on your dog you don't realize how fast you're going sometimes yeah it's just it's amazing and you go to some great places so yeah it's new to me you don't realize how fast you're going to get pulled along by the dog yeah
00:05:03
Speaker
I must admit, when I was thinking about this and things that we were going to talk about, if I think back that the majority of my runs, over the last four or five years, I have done with our dog, with Penny, because I haven't done a marathon for a long time now, I think 2015, the last one I did. So naturally,
00:05:29
Speaker
I take the dog. I have a jog. She runs a lot further than me because she runs across the field. She does go off lead and runs back and runs forward and runs back. So if I'm doing a couple of miles, she probably does three. So when would I become a canny crosser? Is that a canny cross runner? Am I saying that right, by the way? Is it canny cross or canny cross? Canny cross. Canny cross. Yeah. When do I become a canny cross runner? Am I or not?
00:05:57
Speaker
No. Well, can, can he cross as a, it's, it's classed as a sport. So can he cross is defined as it's derived from the words canine and cross country running. So it's basically cross country running with your dog, but to take part in kind of cross, you would be attached to your dog with the proper canny cross equipment. So, um,
00:06:16
Speaker
So technically, no, you run with your dog off lead, which is great. I have always done that with Bella, my first dog, which was lovely. She was amazing company. She got me into trail running, actually. I used to be a roadrunner until I started taking Bella out with me. Did she suggest it? Did she sell? She did. She would look at me with those big brown beagle eyes and go, please take me with you. She looks really fun.
00:06:39
Speaker
And I only got into Candy Cross because when I adopted our second dog, Poppy, having realised that she was just not great at recall and would often chase after day and I'd be there on the moors shouting after her. That was when I thought, right, she needs to be attached to me at all times. So that's when I kind of became a Candy Crosser. So they are kind of different, but we do kind of want
00:07:06
Speaker
to chat about just running in general with your dogs and looking after them. We're not all about Candy Cross. We just want the best for the dogs, really. Yeah. Sorry, it's great to go out with them, whether they're on a Candy Cross kit or not, because, well, it kills two birds with one stone, doesn't
Building Fitness and Choosing Suitable Breeds
00:07:22
Speaker
it? You're exercising yourself and you're exercising your dog at the same time. So it's a no-win in my books. OK. Yeah, certainly helpful during lockdown when we were meant to be limiting outdoor time. Yes.
00:07:37
Speaker
What are the things you should be doing and what are the things you shouldn't? Well it's like running with a human to a certain extent because you need to be warming them up and you need to cool them down and then the running bit in between. You've just got to keep an eye on your dog if you're attached, if you're canny crossing.
00:07:57
Speaker
You do need to be aware of your dog if it's getting, you know, tired or if something's not right. But otherwise, it's just fairly normal, isn't it, Michelle? Yeah, it is knowing your dog and knowing your dog's limits, I think. And especially, I think it's crucial when you're starting out running with your dog, if your dog isn't a regular runner. And I'm not talking about when you take them on the field and they charge about like lunatics.
00:08:22
Speaker
Um, but if they're not used to running with you, um, it's, you know, we often advise, we have a catch 5k program that we get dogs and the humans started on, um, just to ease them in gently. Um, particularly if you are going to be running with them on a lead, um, it's important because it's a constant pace and the dog doesn't have the opportunity to be stopping itself for arrest. Um, it's really important to build them up gradually as you would a human to anything.
00:08:48
Speaker
And I think it's also really important because I've had quite a few people who are really good runners on my taster sessions. And it is really important that you, even though you're a good runner, that you take your dog's fitness as seriously as you take your own. So again, as Michel said, you take them up slowly and build them up. But you hear of people doing ultras. I'd love to do one with Pickle, but I know I've got a lot of work for both of us to do that. Yes. Yeah.
00:09:16
Speaker
So do you see certain breeds then more often in your groups? Because if you think, I think, you know, beagles and some dogs that can run and run and run and run for hours on end, doesn't there? And then my sister-in-law's just has a sausage dog and got tiny little legs. Like I couldn't see the sausage dog doing too much. I've done a taste of fashion with a sausage dog and it was brilliant.
00:09:47
Speaker
Do you see more certain breeds more? And I don't mean whippets and greyhounds, but is that a thing or not? Yeah, I mean, I tend to see a lot of kind of pointers, collies, spaniels, I get a lot of spaniels and cockapoos. And I think to be honest,
00:10:08
Speaker
thinking about the types of breeds, it's more the dogs that have a tendency to not be great at recall, so tend to be more into chasing prey. And that's often why people come to me because they can't run, they don't feel comfortable or confident letting the dog off the lead to run with them. And they just want to learn how to do it safely with them nearby, especially with the sheep around in the countryside and whatnot.
00:10:36
Speaker
And I think my mix has just been the same and I've got a Labrador and she's brilliant and I was running at the weekend and we had rescue dogs, we had a Doberman, Rockwiler, you know it's a real mix of dogs but they're usually ones that have got, I mean I want to say the word issues but I don't mean
00:10:57
Speaker
It sounds a bit not so good, but yeah, as Michelle said, there's always a reason why we can't let them off, so that's why people tend to get into Ganycross at the moment. Yeah, but then you do get people who just want to get into it for the sake of the sport, for the sake of racing, and those types of dogs tend to be the more kind of pointer, bizlar breeds that I see a lot of. You've got the foxhounds and the trailhounds as well.
00:11:23
Speaker
Yeah, those are the serious canny cross dogs. Yeah. Yeah. That makes sense that people have come to you because you're almost, you're not a dog trainer, but I suppose if they're getting used to being around other dogs and running and, you know, being in that process, I suppose, when they're being walked, then they're being trained, aren't they?
Managing Dogs and Equipment in Canicross
00:11:42
Speaker
Yeah, they are. It's especially great for reactive dogs. I mean, last week I ran a social group
00:11:49
Speaker
And we just did like, I think it was a five, six K run. Um, and there were, there were four dogs who came who were very reactive and their owners were really worried about how they would be around other dogs. Um, we had a couple of dogs who were, you know, no issues. They were, they were just coming along for fun.
00:12:06
Speaker
And the reactive dogs actually were, we didn't have any problems with them. There was a bit of barking at the start and when we stopped to let the group catch up, but they were fine. And everyone was kind of saying, you know, it's amazing that my dog can do this. I didn't know my dog had the ability to become a round of the dogs.
00:12:26
Speaker
I had exactly the same on this this weekend, because they were all reactive dogs, and we didn't get a squeak out of them. And it's because they're all running the same way. Dogs get reactive when another dog comes towards it. So they're, you know, especially if they're on a lead or something. So they can't react how they would probably naturally react. They Yeah, they that's why they react. So if all the dogs are running in the same direction,
00:12:50
Speaker
it's, you know, they just get on with it and they love it and they run side by side and they, yeah, it's really nice to see actually, and to see the owners as well, sort of calming down and relaxing and enjoying it.
00:13:01
Speaker
Yeah it makes sense because I mean they're pack animals aren't they? I can imagine that barking is you know a ray I'm going out with my mates. It was most of the barking was from my dog who was like because she's met all these individual dogs one to one when we've done taster sessions with them and it was like she was checking in with them all so she's like can't see you woof woof why are you? And she was just the noisiest dog but she was so happy it was lovely to see. Does that mean it's going to be noisy when I meet up with you then Michelle?
00:13:29
Speaker
Yes, absolutely. So when do you start with, say someone's got a pup, for example, I imagine you wouldn't get very young dogs, but when would you start running with your dog?
00:13:46
Speaker
Go on, Michelle. Yeah, well, obviously your dog needs to be fully grown. We would not advise running with a puppy at all, just for the simple reason that their growth plates have not fused together yet. So if you run with them too early, you risk just damaging their bones. So it's really important to get them checked out by your vet and ensure that they're fully grown.
00:14:14
Speaker
Pay attention to when you're getting the muted as well, because that can affect the process of the growth plates fusing together. If they're muted too young, the growth plates can fuse together quicker than normal, so the bones subsequently aren't as strong. So it's just really important to chat through the process with you there, say that you're wanting to start running with them and just get them checked over and just make sure that they're ready for it really.
00:14:38
Speaker
And so that's so important. Yeah. And the longer you leave it, kind of the better. And I know that's hard because I know people sometimes think, oh, I really want to do this. But it is the most important thing because you'll have more years of running, you know, potentially longer. So it's really important. And you do see people act.
00:14:55
Speaker
running with their dogs when they're quite young and also running on pavements all the time isn't good for them, especially again young dogs. So it's really important to get across the fields and on trails. Yeah, the pavements can affect the joints obviously and just lead to issues. Yeah, much like human runners. Yes, yeah. Especially if you walk your dog the same route every day.
00:15:22
Speaker
What do you do then, Jo? You do get stuck in some route. If there's an angle on the pavement, it's constantly wearing away at a certain part of you. What kit do you need? When we walk panty, we've got a stretchy lead.
00:15:42
Speaker
And I know that not everybody likes the stretchy lead, so my mum doesn't for example. And I think sometimes if we've got the three kids with us and they're winding each other up and we get distracted and the stretchy lead goes out and somebody's trying to walk past and, you know, what's the, talk to me about the etiquette, I suppose, and the different kit involved as well.
00:16:06
Speaker
So when you say stretchily, do you mean an extending one or one with elasticity? An extendable one. The pain of my life. I've tripped over so many of them. Etiquette is put those in the bin. It's really interesting. So let's do the etiquette first. And I think it goes for dog owners and I had a really interesting chat with a friend last night who's a dog owner.
00:16:33
Speaker
And he didn't realise that if you see a dog in a lead, you should put your dog on the lead if you can't recall it, you know, if you can't get it to sit, stand by you when the other dog's going past in the lead. So I think that's the thing as a canny crosser that can get really annoying because you're attached to your dog, you find that you've got two dogs in front of you at times, because the other one can say hello like they do.
00:16:56
Speaker
Um, so it's just sort of that etiquette dog etiquette just generally as well as when you see someone can you crossing who's obviously going at a faster pace? Um, and it's harder to slow down sometimes Um is that but then we've got the proper kit, haven't we michelle? Yes Yeah, so if you're if you let's just put canny cross aside for one minute. So if you are running with your dog um, and you just want to hold a lead, um, you you will always like
00:17:24
Speaker
Try to find a proper running harness for your dog for starters. Don't attach a leaf to its collar because that can damage the dog's neck. It's a very delicate area anyway. So do aim to get a proper running harness. And when I say a running harness, I mean one that's been designed specifically for running and that's a Y shape. So one that doesn't cross the dog's shoulders and restrict the movement in any way. Because you do see some harnesses that are like a T shape.
00:17:52
Speaker
kind of come around the dog and they've been designed to stop a dog pulling, which a lot of dog owners use for walking because they don't want the dogs pulling obviously, but they can damage the dog's shoulders if they try and run and just really restrict the movements, they're not very comfortable. So first of all, just put harness on your dog that attaches the clips on at the back.
00:18:11
Speaker
And then we'd probably just advise a handheld lead that's got a bit of shock absorption in it, like just a short onesie lead. So that if the dog does pull off to the side of it, sees a squirrel or something, or you're not getting your arm yanked off.
00:18:25
Speaker
But obviously there are them ways, once you get into Candy Cross, that you can run hands-free, which is the way Louise and I run. I'll let Louise talk a little bit about that. And that's just really important. So, you know, I started off running my dog with her, holding her lead, and as soon as you go hands-free, your running style goes back to what it should do.
00:18:44
Speaker
which is really important isn't it because we need the arm movement to power through and obviously we're going a little bit faster so that really helps. So a human harness is as important as the dog harness and you do see a lot of people with harnesses around there I think you can get them off Amazon and you know cheap ones
00:19:06
Speaker
Yeah, any pet shop will sell the ones that go around your waist, won't they? But they're not, they're not great for your back. No. And if you've got a strong pulling dog, that will ultimately affect your back. So Plattie's teacher head comes on at this point and it's like, you know, you need to be pulling from the strongest part of your body, which is your pelvis. So you don't want to be pulling through your back because that's going to cause issues. And I actually had a really good runner locally to me come around the other day to try on a human harness because she's been getting back ache. She's got
00:19:36
Speaker
a collie that she runs with and it's been really affecting her. So what are these designed then to sit on your pelvis when the head? Yeah they sit, yeah just on your pelvis sort of across your bottom. They're not the most attractive looking things and you've got leg straps as well so it stops it moving but you can't forget that when you're out running.
00:19:55
Speaker
So it's like a bit like a climbing harness, you know, that you'd wear. Yes. Yeah. So once you've had one of those and and then got the confidence to let go. So then you're attached to the dog by bungee lead. So you've got the stretchy lead there. So that takes the shock out if there's sudden movements or things like that. Okay. But once you get going, it's
00:20:26
Speaker
You don't want an extendable one when you're running. Oh God, no. What about, so you mentioned, you know, strong dogs then, but what if you do have a particularly strong dog strapped to you?
Handling Challenges: Strong Pullers and Muzzles
00:20:40
Speaker
Is it... To be honest, the...
00:20:43
Speaker
The human waist belt takes, and the shock absorption in the bungee lead takes a lot of that power out of the dog because your most powerful bit is your hips if you think about it. So it's really easy to not get, you know,
00:21:00
Speaker
Very rarely see people pulled over by the dogs, unless they're just taken by surprise. But a strong pulling dog, you can certainly keep up with them if you've got the right equipment. And that's the importance as well. If you want to do it seriously, or to get the right kit is to have a taster session. Because I, in Berribin, I'm sure Michelle, you were saying when we've had new people come to you, they won't let go of that lead to start off with, because they feel safer holding the lead.
00:21:27
Speaker
But actually when you let them go, and the other thing I really, really like about it is that, so when we run, we should be leaning forward, shouldn't we? Not literally from our hips, but from our ankles, we should be, you know, cause that's the way we're going. And because you're getting pulled by your dog and plus the push from you as you run, you're running styles almost better, isn't it? I think it is. Interesting point. Yeah. And the only other thing about canny crossing,
00:21:56
Speaker
for you as a human running style is that if your dog is very strong for pulling, you tend to overstride. So then you get the importance of, you know, I bang on about this all the time, but it's so important. Having had lots of injuries recently, you know, my strength is the most important thing for me to keep running. And because obviously I've got more load going through my legs because my dog's a strong puller, then I have to really work at that to keep going. Yes.
00:22:28
Speaker
What about equipment? Say somebody's got a dog who's got a muzzle and they'd like to come along to Canny Cross. Is their equipment ready for that or what tips and advice would you give? Michelle. A dog who's got a... A muzzle. Sorry, a muzzle. Yeah, we wouldn't provide a muzzle, but dogs can certainly run if their muzzle providing it is
00:22:57
Speaker
a soft muzzle or a kind of, you know, a muzzle that allows them room to pants. So dogs can certainly run in them if they're used to wearing them, provided that it is suitable and allows them to open the mouth while they're running because that's, you know, a dogs only cooling mechanism. Yes.
00:23:15
Speaker
Yeah. And people, people, dogs wear muzzles for lots of reasons. And, you know, people have got an adverse, you know, they see a dog with a muzzle and they go, oh, you know, what's wrong with that dog? And sometimes it's just to stop them eating things off the ground. Yeah. Yeah.
00:23:32
Speaker
So just two questions come from that. One is about the panting. So I suppose because that's how they, you know, they can't sweat, it's that you have to be careful with different weathers, don't you really? I suppose in terms of how far you're taking them on a warmer day.
00:23:51
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, it's so important. I mean, even in winter, dogs can overheat. I mean, it does depend a lot on the dog. Some dogs are naturally, you know, will naturally be hotter or cooler than others. But particularly over summer, when the weather's hot, you do need to be careful about taking your dog out. And there are, you know, signs you can look out for to see if they're overheating. Yeah.
00:24:18
Speaker
So we have we have done a podcast on that, haven't we Louise? Yeah, no, it was really stroking dark. Yeah, we do share that one quite regularly. It's so important. But it's also the kind of cross season is also from September through to Easter, isn't it?
Canicross Racing and Managing Group Dynamics
00:24:35
Speaker
So we tend to run in the, you know, all the races and stuff tend to be in the winter months, although September and October this year were really hot. So
00:24:44
Speaker
Again, you have to be really careful of it. And some dogs take on more water. I run along the canal sometimes, so she often drops into the canal to have a cool off. And I don't, I'm still attached, but I don't.
00:24:56
Speaker
Yeah, mine's just obsessed with kind of stepping into any kind of water she can find like rivers or yeah Yeah, my dog does that as well. She's any water she can find she's in Which is it's always bath time as well Just so you mentioned races there tell me about the races and
00:25:19
Speaker
I'm going to do this and my Michelle, because I've never done a kind of crossroads keeps reminding me, I will I'll get round to it. This kind of got my love. It's really interesting because I hadn't I'd run on and off for a long time and I hadn't raced for ages. I didn't realize
00:25:37
Speaker
competitive as I was until I started racing. But basically they, I'm in the Midlands area so there's a race series called Can across Midlands but there's lots out there and we've got information on that on our websites but they do what they tend to do and there's lots of different ones but these ones they tend to you tend to go off separately with your dog
00:25:58
Speaker
So you got your line up and you counted down, you got 20 minute gap in between each dog, which is really nice for a lot of dogs because they like to follow the dog, you know, so that that keeps them out in front. And they, they're five k races. And yeah, they're just brilliant. And the kind of cross Midlands are really good at doing novice races. So if you've never done it before, they do a three k one.
00:26:21
Speaker
And they set you up and they, you know, take you through the start and everything like that. So, and it's a good, that's a good way to get your dog used to that sort of thing. Yeah. But the dogs love it. I mean, you can imagine the noise at a race that can be quite loud at the time. So are these on, these on trail and, you know, private land and that's, you know, estates, that kind of venue. Yeah. Yeah. But they're brilliant. They are brilliant fun. And, um, it's just, it's just, I mean, we all need goals, don't we? And it's just a really nice way to,
00:26:48
Speaker
for you and your dog to sort of do something a bit different. And again, I've got a load of people into it and they're so excited about it and they want to get fitter now and they want to get the dog fitter for the next lot of races in January. So, yeah. I'm just imagining like the winner's photographs of the... Is it the dog? Is it both of you? You're a team, are you? You're definitely a team.
00:27:13
Speaker
Oh, they're like, Joe, you need to go and find one nearby. They are, they are such good fun. And they can get really, they're not competitive, but they can get really, really competitive. And the speed. So the other thing about, sorry, Candy Crossing is that especially in races, you go off really fast. So it's really important for you to warm up yourself. And obviously the dogs warm up because they're so hyped up when they go that you start off at such a speed.
00:27:40
Speaker
I mean, some of the times I've got in the first mile, I look at afterwards and think, really? Off to a flight. Yeah, exactly. So one question I did want to ask you both is, how do you handle when you're in a group, if you're doing you can across sessions, if somebody has an overly boisterous or an aggressive dog? The reason I ask this is that
00:28:08
Speaker
You can go out for a walk with your dog and there might be another dog who's nipping away at your dog or jumping up at you and maybe even nipping at you.
00:28:18
Speaker
And then the owner will come over and say, oh, she's ever so soft or he's ever so soft and lovely whilst they're biting you. And it's like they defend them to the help because it's their dog and they love their dog. It's understandable. But have you had a scenario like that in one of your groups or how would you handle something like that?
00:28:45
Speaker
in our groups, I mean, the people who come along firstly of all, you know, we brief them all to keep the distance from one another. So we don't all run kind of as a close knit pack, we'll kind of run in a line. Yeah. So that there's always, you know, the dog out in the front, and then the rest will naturally want to follow and chase that lead dog.
00:29:08
Speaker
So we don't tend to have issues with the people who come to the groups with, if there are dogs around who are off lead, when they see a pack of running dogs coming towards them, that it's not often an issue because the dogs will usually not want to get involved when they see us running past as a group. So it doesn't tend to happen much. We do occasionally have dogs run up to us. But it's usually a case of just
00:29:37
Speaker
I normally just kind of shout ahead, you know, coming through and owners will generally avoid us. Yeah, I haven't really had an issue while we've been out running. It tends to be more while I'm out walking. They avoid you because they're worried about their dog running off with you. Yeah, they do tend to grab hold of their dog because dogs will chase us because we are having loads of fun. So that does happen quite a lot. Dogs will join in with us and you can hear the owner shouting, come back, Benny or whatever.
00:30:03
Speaker
put back because we can't run off there's also i don't know what um poppy's like michelle but i when pickle is uh canny crossing i think it more happens more when we're out by ourselves but um she's working she's on a on a job when she's canny crossing so she can run part she she doesn't get involved with other dogs and i can just give her the commands like on on or forward
00:30:27
Speaker
and she will keep going and we sort of leave dogs standing because they're like, oh, that dog doesn't want to play with me. And so I think the commands and everything are really important, training your dog so you can get yourself out of the situations. Are there a standard set of commands, is there, that you teach your dogs? You can use different words. Yeah, ish, yeah.
00:30:49
Speaker
It tends to come down to personal preference, isn't it really? It depends what you're comfortable shouting at as well because you do shout a lot when you're running.
00:30:57
Speaker
Yeah, because your dog can't see you, so your only communication is via the lead. So you can kind of tug the lead if you want the dog to go in a particular direction. I mean, I've taught Poppy left and right now, so she will kind of avoid trees so we don't get wrapped around them. I still find myself putting my arm out in one direction and then forgetting to tell her which way I want to go, but you know. Yeah, remembering that she can't see you.
00:31:21
Speaker
Have you or can you think of the best dog name that you've come across in these groups? Oh gosh, that's a good question. I've had a diesel recently which I quite liked.
00:31:38
Speaker
I don't know actually. I personally like the boy's names when they're like Stanley and things like that. Yeah, we've got Gary who comes to our group, he's lovely. Gary named after your favourite uncle or something like that. So tell us, sorry, we've chatted about running with dogs in general, tell us a bit more about the podcast then, you know, how often is it, where can people listen to it, who you're having on, that kind of stuff.
Canny Cross Conversations Podcast Overview
00:32:07
Speaker
Well, we've organised it into seasons, haven't we Louise? So we are attempting, while each season is running, that there is an episode released every Friday morning at seven o'clock. But then we have a break every now and again, because it is a big job putting a podcast on, isn't it? I mean, you'll know this, Jo.
00:32:27
Speaker
it's a big commitment. So we're basically our first season was mainly about kind of getting started with canny cross wasn't it really and kind of the important things to consider so we did an episode on heatstroke for example we talked to a couple of researchers who'd done a lot of research into this area and we chatted about canny cross kits but our most recent season which we're just
00:32:52
Speaker
which we've just finished, is about, it's just about different types of dogs that are suitable for Candy Cross. So we've chatted to an expert in prey drive. We chatted to Sarah Jones from My Anxious Dog. So she was talking about, you know, dogs wearing yellow and the importance of, you know, how Candy Cross helps dogs who are anxious. So we're talking about how it focuses them, and it's certainly helping her dog who's very anxious.
00:33:19
Speaker
We've done, we've talked to vets, physios, we've talked to dog behaviorists. Yeah, it's just been really interesting. And we're always open to new suggestions as well. Yeah, so if anyone's listening today and thinks, oh, I know, I know something about dogs that would be useful. Yeah, do get into it.
00:33:37
Speaker
I mean we've learned loads though haven't we? It's been brilliant. Yeah because as she said earlier Jo we're not dog trainers and I think people come to our sessions and think that we know how to you know and we have learnt a lot about dogs so we can give some information out but we're not dog trainers.
00:33:54
Speaker
No, we're not experts. We know the kit and we know how to train people in running, but we're not kind of behavioural experts. So it's been really good for us. Yeah, I agree.
00:34:09
Speaker
doing podcasts you write, it is hard work, but you do learn a lot because you get to ask the questions that you want to ask us. Which is nice, you do learn a lot. So it comes out on a Friday, it's in seasons, is there a season out now or a new one?
00:34:29
Speaker
yeah we're currently on season two aren't we just finishing that one up so there'll be a new one out then in the new year yeah okay yeah we're going to record one together aren't we Michelle we are we're going to record the first yeah the first episode of season three when we actually go on our first run in real life together and you record that whilst you're running will you yeah yeah so there'll be lots of barking and things yeah
Holiday Tips and Listener Engagement
00:34:53
Speaker
So let's finish on Christmas presents for dogs then. My mum's always done this. I get a Christmas card off the dogs every year. Do you do that? That's so cute. We don't bother. My mum does. And birthday cards. That's so cute. Christmas presents for dogs. Well I bought her a harness this year which she's already using.
00:35:20
Speaker
And I tend to just get her a toy, but there's so much out there, isn't there? There's the stockings. I've seen all these advent calendars this week. Oh, this month, you know. What, advent calendars for dogs? Advent calendars for dogs. Have you not seen those jokes? Yeah, I think they've got biscuits and things and little treats. Yeah. Yeah, we were chatting in the last episode of Series 2 actually about the importance of keeping your dog warm after it's been running. So
00:35:50
Speaker
I was kind of hoping Louise would buy Pickle a nice little fleecy jacket to wear. It's in hand. When she's finished her run. Yeah, because that was the thing that we learnt because I'm not very good at washing down. I don't wash my dog down. I hear all the gas from people now, but I just rub her down and then it was about keeping them warm and I'm like, well, she's a dog, of course she's warm. Yeah, but we were saying obviously we finish her run. I always take a coat in the car for me and it's kind of put on after my run.
00:36:18
Speaker
So, you know, we should be doing the same for our dogs, really. Keep them warm. Yeah, I would have said exactly the same thing to Lisa. She's a dog. She's cold. I don't know, do you? You need to know these things. So give us all of your web address and where you can listen to the podcasts and where people can connect with you as well, please.
00:36:45
Speaker
Shall I go first? Yes. I'll let you do the, well, so we've got Candy Cross Conversations, which is our podcast, and you can get that on www.candycrossconversations.co.uk.
00:36:58
Speaker
Um, so all the, um, all the podcasts are there. I am, I'm confusing. I'm pause for running, which is mechanic costs, um, business and I'm studio 44 Pilates, which is Pilates for, um, runners. And that's on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and I've also got a website under the same name. So there you go. Find me. Thank you.
00:37:19
Speaker
Yeah. And I'm just mileswithmichelle.co.uk. And I'm also on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook as well. So yeah, happy to answer any questions that anybody's got about dogs. I always, you know, I always welcome kind of messages from people who are looking for more information. I'll do my best to put them to the right place. I mean, with Louise and I being trained with DogFit, DogFit has a team of trainers around the UK.
00:37:43
Speaker
So there will be somebody near you, if you're not local, to either me or Louise, who can offer you a taster session and show you a bit more and give you a bit more information so you can try the kit on. Which also makes a great Christmas present, fact, just for taster sessions. There you go. Yeah, there we go. Shall, for listeners, this is recorded on the 14th of December. I believe it's your birthday tomorrow, Michelle. It is, yes. It was Louise's birthday yesterday as well.
00:38:14
Speaker
Happy birthday to you both. Thank you. Thanks, Joe. And thanks ever so much for coming on and telling us all about Canny Cross as I now know it's pronounced correctly. Yes, brilliant. Thank you so much, Joe. We really appreciate it. Yeah, thank you. It's been brilliant. Thanks, Joe.