Help your anxious dog overcome their fears with a sport you both can take part in and enjoy

ANXIOUS rescue dogs are overcoming their fears with a new form of running. Canicross is a sport where dogs and their owners run while harnessed together and originates from the sled dogs of Siberia.

It is increasing in popularity with groups popping up all over the UK and is helping rescue dogs settle into new homes.

Canicross is a sport that originates from the sled dogs of Siberia and it has just started to take off in the UK

Lara Trewin, an instructor for DogfitUK, who runs with her dog Tilly, says: “We work with a lot of dogs from rescue centres and one of the benefits is an improvement in behaviour.

“We’ve seen reactive dogs and nervous dogs become more sociable when they’re canicrossing. They see running as part of a pack of other dogs as ‘work’, and it really helps them have a job to do.”

To take part in canicross, a dog wears a harness that does not restrict movement in their shoulder and allows them to run freely. The owner wears a belt which sits on the hips and a bungee lead is clipped on the belt and attached to the dog’s harness.

The dog goes in front of the owner, and the bungee lead acts as a shock absorber so there is no jarring on the lead for either the dog or human. For Christine Barber, running helped her rehabilitate her English Shepherd rescue dog Izzy, which she adopted two years ago.

Canicross is a great way for you to spend some quality time bonding with your pet poochCredit: Alamy

Before this, Izzy was reactive and would lunge and bark at other dogs, people, cars and bikes. Christine, 36, who lives with her husband Jonathan, 43, in Blisworth,

Northants, says: “Even if she saw another dog in the distance she would bark and go crazy. For the first few weeks, I would drive out with her to remote places and walk her for three hours a day. It helped her trust me. I’d always enjoyed running with my dogs, so the next step was to try running in large country parks with lots of space.

“Then, I asked friends to bring along their dogs and run alongside us. It took a lot of time and patience, but Izzy is now friendly and well behaved, and takes part in agility shows and working trials.”

Helping Izzy inspired Christine to study to become a dog trainer and certified canicross instructor and, last June, she left her job in the police to set up her own business, working with reactive dogs.

You can even compete in Canicross competitionsCredit: Alamy

She recommends canicross to all her clients. One has a Jug — a Jack Russell-Pug cross — who could not go near other dogs, but now is calm.

Christine says: “When they’re running, they don’t have time to react and start barking. They’re being gradually introduced to other dogs and people in a safe way. They’re being praised and this relaxes them. Something so simple as running together can help dogs immensely.”

Find out more about canicross and where to find a group at dogfit.co.uk.

Star of the week

MEET Rolo the King Charles Cavalier who has battled for balance to walk and run after being born without a tail.

Laura Johnston, 44, got Rolo as a pet for her daughter Tilly, eight, by answering a Gumtree ad. Tourism officer Laura said: “The owner had named him Rolo because he just kept rolling over instead of walking and running.”

But Laura, husband Mark, 45, son Finn, ten, and Tilly promised to give him extra- special care at their home in Bangor, County Down, and help him to walk and run.

Laura said: “It’s been a real struggle but he can stabilise a bit now and tries to walk and run – but in quite a comical way. People stop and comment and love to hear his story.”

Pet vet

SEAN McCORMACK, head vet at tailored food firm tails.com, is on a mission to help the nation’s pets.

Sean is here to answer all your pet questionsCredit: Doug Seeburg – The Sun

ANGELA NELSON, 56, from Enfield, North London, has a two-year-old Labrador called Bonnie who has started being scared of things. Angela says: “She has growled at dogs who come up and sniff her. I’m worried she’s becoming a bit moody.”

SEAN SAYS: “Dogs can become fearful of other dogs getting too close if they’ve had an unpleasant encounter, or for no apparent reason at all.

“Because you’ve identified this change in her confidence at an early stage, try to set up as many meetings with new dogs as possible, and explain to their owners you’d like nice gentle introductions on lead only. Don’t reward any fearful behaviour by reassuring her, as hard as that sounds.

“All that will say to her is ‘Good girl Bonnie, growl again next time that happens’. If it’s really becoming an issue, a qualified dog behaviourist can give you great practical advice after observing exactly what’s happening.”

LOTTIE ADAMS from Poynton, Cheshire, is due to take her two-year-old retriever Monty for his next set of jabs. She says: “I’ve been told dogs don’t need the jabs every year so is it best not to have them?”

SEAN SAYS: “The benefits of vaccinating pets far outweigh any risk. It’s true dogs don’t need certain vaccinations each year, and most vets now give an annual and a tri-annual booster injection.

“It’s extremely rare to have a vaccine reaction, and even rarer for a dog to die from a vaccine. If you’re worried, you can ask your vet to test your dog’s antibody levels, then vaccinate if they are lower than the recommended level.”

Do you need the Pet Vet’s help? Email sundayfeatures@the-sun.co.uk and you and your pet could feature in The Sun on Sunday.

Win grooming bundles

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