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Canicross Conversations

Canicross Conversations

By: Michelle Mortimer and Louise Humphrey
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The leading podcast for all things canicross and cani-sports. Canicross instructors Louise and Michelle chat to various guests and experts, who love to run or compete with their dogs, about how to keep both dog and human happy and healthy.Copyright 2021 All rights reserved. Hygiene & Healthy Living Running & Jogging
Episodes
  • Inside Battersea (Episode 213)

    Inside Battersea (Episode 213)
    Jun 26 2026
    Louise and Michelle are joined by Courtney Goodright, a Canine Behaviourist and Training Advisor at Battersea. Courtney pulls back the curtain on what really happens behind the scenes at one of the country's best-known rescues, from the moment a dog arrives to the day it goes home. We learn why strays are on the rise, what those first three decompression days look like, and how the team works out what makes each individual dog tick. There's a beautiful success story about a shut-down foster dog who completely blossomed, an honest chat about what reactivity actually means, and a lovely thread running right through it all: every dog needs a job, and that is exactly where canicross comes in. Warm, fascinating, and genuinely useful whether you're thinking about adopting or just want to understand your own dog a little better. Timings 00:00 – Meet Courtney Her role splits two ways: hands-on behaviour work with the more complex dogs, and training and mentoring the staff, volunteers and fosterers. No two days look the same. 01:55 – Three sites, 160 dogs Brands Hatch, London and Old Windsor each have their own strengths, from rural space to on-site clinics. Battersea is completely charity funded with no government money, caring for around 160 dogs at a time. 03:43 – Why dogs end up at Battersea A big rise in strays, the financial squeeze meaning people can no longer afford their pets, the knock-on from COVID-era ownership, and life changes like new babies and returning to the office. Courtney also touches on the new Renters' Rights Bill and what it could mean for keeping dogs in rented homes. 05:35 – History helps, but it can cut both ways Why a dog with no known background isn't always harder to place, and how a long list of "can't live with this, can't cope with that" can become a barrier of its own. 06:36 – Behaviour modification plans How the team builds a plan for any flagged dog so they can see the behaviour for themselves, make progress, and then be completely honest with new owners about what's been done and what they'll need to take on. 10:03 – The first three days Why every new arrival gets a decompression period to settle, build bonds with their care group, and start showing the team their likes, dislikes and motivations before anything formal begins. 11:11 – The assessment process Formal handling, play with and without toys, dog-to-dog assessments and more, always at the dog's pace. If something flags up, they pause, train, and set the dog up to succeed. 12:04 – The success story that says it all A foster dog from abroad who arrived so shut down they could only use a single lead on his collar. Weeks of patience, tiny glimmers of joy, paddock zoomies, and eventually a completely different dog whose personality shone. Have the tissues ready. 14:53 – Matching dogs and owners (a bit like a dating site) It starts online with a form about your lifestyle and what you're looking for, then the rehomers match you on what suits you both. The takeaway: get registered early, because you could be matched before a dog even hits the website. 19:03 – Going home and aftercare Check-in calls, a settling-in window, and aftercare cases that stay open to 28 days, with the Behaviour Advice Service on hand for the more complex dogs. Plus a gentle reminder to keep those first few weeks calm and quiet. 21:43 – Early teething issues Toileting indoors, struggling when left, and behaviours spiking at home after so much change. All normal, all manageable with calm, fun and plenty of enrichment. 23:48 – What "reactive" really means Spoiler: it's not always fear. It can be frustration, excitement, or a mix that shifts moment to moment. Courtney explains why reactivity is a spectrum, not a fixed label. 25:21 – Prey drive and what to do with it Why you often can't train it out, and how to redirect that genetic desire instead, using a flirt pole, a long line or a favourite toy so the dog has a productive outlet for the chase. 27:09 – Why every dog needs a job The bit canicrossers will love. From Labradors and search games to the Shih Tzu nobody expected to love a toy, Courtney explains how giving any dog a job builds focus, engagement and relationship, and how that's exactly what canicross delivers. 29:44 – Other jobs beyond running Agility, scent work, mantrailing and constructive toy play for the dogs who aren't built for the trails. 32:08 – The power of the pack Louise and Michelle share how their canicross packs look out for nervous and reactive dogs, including a shout-out to Rosie, and how the right group can help a worried dog just keep going. 35:17 – Breed trends and social media Why Battersea is seeing a wave of French Bulldogs right now, and the good and bad sides of social media for a rescue. 36:05 – A canicross dog on the web right now Meet Sonny, a leggy, athletic German Shepherd Courtney reckons would make a brilliant canicross partner. 37:57 – Honest ...
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    45 mins
  • What To Do If Your Dog Goes Missing — Lost Dog Tracking (Episode 212)

    What To Do If Your Dog Goes Missing — Lost Dog Tracking (Episode 212)
    Jun 19 2026
    Louise and Michelle are joined by Jules, Team Coordinator for the Lost Dogs Tracking Network, Southern Counties. Jules talks through how she went from dog training and truffle-hunting to coordinating a team of scent-tracking dogs across Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire and beyond. It's a genuinely fascinating (and at times emotional) listen covering how tracking dogs work, what to do in the first crucial hours after losing a dog, and why a cheap fabric collar in a sandwich bag could be the difference between finding your dog quickly or not at all. Equal parts practical advice and brilliant dog stories. Timings 00:00 – How Jules got started From dog training and horses, to truffle-hunting dogs, to a "very naughty spaniel" who needed a job — Jules's route into lost dog tracking via Claire Brown, founder of the original West Yorkshire team. 01:18 – Southern Counties coverage Jules is based near Andover, covering Wiltshire, Hampshire, Berkshire, parts of Surrey, and sometimes as far as Oxford and Gloucestershire. The network now has 11 teams nationally, with the goal of nobody being more than an hour from a trained tracking dog. 03:34 – How the dogs actually track The difference between scent work (find this specific trained thing) and lost-dog tracking (match this scent, in a constantly changing environment). Jules compares it to medical detection dogs — same underlying skill, different application. 06:23 – The scent article problem Why a single scent item (collar, blanket, bed) is usually easy in a one-dog household — and genuinely difficult with multiple dogs, especially if they've all been on the same walk. Includes the story of a successful track using a Christmas coat that had been in storage for months. 08:22 – The first 48 hours Jules's team don't usually track immediately — most dogs return to the loss point on their own. Key advice: stay at the loss point, post once on social media (not repeatedly), register with DogLost and Drone SAR, and leave a worn item of clothing to draw the dog back in. 10:46 – Owner panic and dogs returning to the car Louise shares her own "anger to panic" experience, and Jules confirms it's extremely common for dogs to return to the loss point or the car — often while panicked owners are out searching elsewhere. 13:04 – How tracking dogs signal they're close A brilliant bit on individual dog "tells": Jules's collie freezes and stares from a distance, her spaniel switches from straight tracking to busy side-to-side hunting, and a team Labrador rears up to air-scent. 16:38 – Catching a dog once it's found Often it's simply sitting quietly and letting the dog calm down enough to recognise its owner's scent — sometimes taking 40 minutes to an hour. Includes the story of a dog found after 10 days, who later joined the team as a tracking dog himself. 17:00 – How lost dogs survive Water from streams and puddles, foraged fruit, and — for the hunting breeds — the odd self-caught pheasant or rabbit. Useful context for ground searchers working out where a dog might be. 19:01 – The harder stories Jules is honest that outcomes are roughly 50/50 between reunions and dogs found deceased, usually from road or rail incidents — and why giving owners closure matters just as much as a happy ending. Also covers how individual dogs are matched to searches based on temperament and likely outcome. 23:09 – "She's never done this before" Why owner honesty about recall and likely behaviour (hunting vs genuinely bolting in fear) changes the whole shape of a search — and why nobody should be embarrassed about a dog running off. 25:49 – What makes a good tracking dog Trainability and temperament over breed — the team includes spaniels, labradors, münsterländers, collies, an Australian shepherd, and even terriers. Training takes roughly a year to 18 months through a structured three-level course with annual CPD. 33:39 – Kit talk: harnesses and hi-vis Why standard canicross harnesses can choke a tracking dog (head down, pulling hard) and the benefits of a lower-sitting harness. Plus the now-famous detail from meeting Jules at Goodwoof — hi-vis coats with a different colour on each side, so handlers can tell at a glance which direction their dog went. 40:08 – GPS trackers vs AirTags Jules's clear advice: get a proper GPS tracker (the team recommends Tractive), not an AirTag, which relies on nearby Apple devices and is useless in rural areas. Includes the story of a dog missing for 12 days over New Year whose AirTag never pinged once. 42:08 – Microchips and collars A reminder to keep microchip details up to date — many dogs are found with no collar (slipped it in the house or garden) and an out-of-date chip means rescuers can't reach the owner at all. 43:52 – Final advice Stay where you are. Don't shout and call repeatedly. Get help and split up sensibly. Try not to panic — and if your dog does go missing, it's not a ...
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    48 mins
  • Canicross Story: Building Community Through Canicross - Tails & Trails (Episode 211)

    Canicross Story: Building Community Through Canicross - Tails & Trails (Episode 211)
    Jun 12 2026

    This week Louise and Michelle are joined by SJ, founder of Tails and Trails, a canicross club based near Ludlow in South Shropshire. SJ's journey into canicross began not from a love of racing, but from a simple need: helping her rescue dog Rosie thrive. What started as a behavioural tool recommended by Dogs Trust became a decade-long passion, a business, and a thriving community.

    SJ talks honestly about starting with the wrong kit, the joy of introducing beginners to the sport, and why canicross can be genuinely life-changing for reactive dogs. Timings 00:00 Introduction: Michelle introduces SJ and her rescue dog Rosie 00:33 SJ's background: PE teacher, running, and her first dog Molly the mad cocker spaniel 01:37 How Rosie came into SJ's life in 2014 via her sister at a London vet's 03:43 Dogs Trust behaviourists suggest canicross as an outlet for Rosie's energy and reactivity 04:12 SJ's first experience of canicross — starting from scratch with no prior knowledge 05:45 First run with Rosie at the Salisbury rehoming centre — and the moment she "was absolutely off" 06:20 Kit chat: SJ's honest admission about not having the right kit to start with 08:57 Rosie at 13: she's hung up her canicross harness 12:33 Moving to South Shropshire two years ago and using canicross to find friends and build community 13:51 Setting up Tails and Trails: from casual group in Dorset to a proper canicross club with her coaching qualification. 15:10 Summer running: early starts, shaded forest runs, dog-friendly water spots, and keeping the community together with guest speakers 16:50 Racing: SJ's experience at CaniX and Canicross Midlands events — taking the group together so no one feels intimidated 18:18 The range of dogs in her group: Vizslas, Labradors, Golden Retrievers, a Dachshund… and a marathon runner who wants to learn to run with his dog properly 21:20 Why canicross works so well for reactive dogs 25:31 What's next: restarting beginners groups in September, plus exciting news about a retail store selling Non-Stop Dogwear at the farm shop

    Tails and Trails website 📍 Based near Ludlow, South Shropshire
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    33 mins
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super inspired and enthused hearing this, looking forward to experiencing it myself!
this podcast has been an awesome source to have as a "buddy" to keep me motivated as there is no local club for me in my area, thank you!!

can't wait to try this!

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