Group Runs

Ready to run?

Watch for group run opportunities in the Ridgeway Canicross Facebook Group.

Group run FAQs

How old must my dog be?

Smaller dog’s bodies mature faster than those of larger breeds so you need to consider your own situation carefully. In a accordance with Canicross best practice all dogs must be over 12 months of age before joining a Ridgeway Canicross run that doesn’t mean you can’t start your training now though; there are commands and skills that can (and should) be learned on a lead long before your dog wears a harness.

Do I need to have Canicross Kit?

No! For you we can generally find a spare belt and a line, for your dog we have a selection of medium sized (Collie to Pointer) harnesses to try. If all else fails any rear fastening harness will be fine for you to try Canicross. Please don’t be offended if we check non-canicross kit for dog welfare purposes.

Do I need specific kit?

Our runs are all predominantly off-road and can be extremely muddy. You will need trail shoes with grip suitable for muddy conditions.

Can I free-run my dog?

Whilst opportunities to free-run dogs do arise, on group runs dogs should be on the line/lead at all times. Accidents occur when groups mix free running dogs with those on the line so we ask you to respect our sport’s values and run ‘professionally’.

Do I need to be fast?

This is session dependant but no, not for beginner or improver sessions. Dean & Millie are quite quick on their feet (which allows us to work with almost everyone) but you don’t have to be. Sometimes the pace will be slowed for the entire group, if possible we break into smaller groups of variable ability and sometimes we just open the gas at the end. We are used to managing groups of mixed ability and never leave anyone alone.

Is there a charge?

No! ‘club style’ run on an opportunity basis and are always free of charge. For guided sessions we recommend a small donation to our favourite charity. We can never rule out occasional car parking fees but otherwise there are no charges.

My question isn’t covered here?

Get in touch through facebook, I’m sure we can help.