Whew boy oh boy. Winter trailrunning and in this case Canicross can be a challenge. Between dressing properly for conditions, selecting terrain you can handle, being aware of what’s beneath the snow, ensuring someone knows where you are, that you have first aid supplies on trail for both yourself and your dog….oi vey. I work alone. I spend five professional days a week in the wilderness with just the company of dogs. I have to ensure I am organized, prepared and ready for each trip. There’s a lot to consider. Now with much of North America in the embrace of winter season, it’s time that we consider what we can do to keep ourselves safe. But before I post an article with tips and tricks , I’d like to get some feedback from group members here as to what personal tricks you’ve learned over the years?

Community members!! Please consider subscribing to the paid tiers for $13.99 per month to help small businesses grow and keep afloat! Greetings greetings greetings!! Starting on January 01 2026 - OutsidersNL will be providing a magazine available only to community members! I am closing free memberships for new members! Once the paid memberships begin, private coaching, tips, tricks, gear and personal motivation will all be provided to you by an experienced, knowledgeable, professional and friendly Canicross coach! Private or group! Magazine will be emailed out each term to our paid subscribers as well as access to private consults! Let’s build this Canicross community and make it the first and most active in Canada!! Let’s do it! Monthly subscriptions are $13.99 per month! Includes: : Private hands on gear reviews : Private consults : Personal base camp for solo travellers - report your location, time of departure, expected time back and we will watch, monitor and record your safety ensuring you touch base with us here to confirm your safe arrival. If we don’t hear from you, we contact your listed emergency contact and get you home safe! (Distance from me is irrelevant). : Distance & mileage tracking for you! : Quarterly magazines and updates on your dogs performance (You report your distance to me, I record and analyse patterns in performance and training) : Access to partnered harness sports professionals across North America AND MORE!!!!

This is just Tazzy third time in harness with me. Technically fourth but the first session didn’t involve much work. Just forming familiarity. This video was taken yesterday, his start is a little wild and high energy but that’s perfectly acceptable! Have you tried harnessing up your dog yet? No? What are you waiting for?

Probably the question I am asked most frequently is how I am able to teach almost 20 dogs of varying breeds, sizes, temperaments and backgrounds canicross? I see many people post with concerns about if I’m teaching their dogs to run and haul in harness, how will the owners be able to walk them? First off there are two points I’d like to address right away here. 1. The first is that yes while I teach almost 20 dogs currently, each has their own specific personality and need. Silly as it may sound….I talk to them. I listen. I pay attention to body language. Recognize patterns in behaviour and especially things that do not fit the normal day. I spend enough time with each of my client dogs that I am familiar with their physicality and mentality. There’s alot of work that goes into it to ensure the dog is getting what they require. 2. Don’t underestimate your dog. They can very easily tell the difference between their activity harness and their walking harness and are more than capable of adjusting their energy level to the anticipated activity. You don’t have to take my word for it. All my clients dogs have learned as have the thousands of Canicross dogs across North America. Below we have a video of a brand new client. His name is Archer. Archer is a Labrador rescue dog of considerable size and strength. The video is a short one and it is Archers only second time in harness with his only other activity experience our first session which was mostly him and I getting acquainted and allowing him the feel of the harness. The clip below is unedited. Unstabilized. As is was filmed. It is only his second time to be in the forest with me. In harness and running formal Canicross. I currently work with dogs of varying breeds to learn Canicross and canihiking activities! Imagine all handsfree all the time and voice commands doing the work for you. Or even better….familiarity with the route and activity doing the work for you and your canine teammate! And you could too!!

Doc, a young male Groendael who came to me with crippling anxiety is now one of my most reliable and driven working Dog clients!! Yes, activity works. Before you spend a fortune on a dog trainer…get off your couch and get yourself moving. The benefits to reap are well worth your time!