In the final episode of 2024, Louise and Michelle take a look back at some of their favourite canicross stories of the podcast.

What's yours?

In this episode, Louise and Michelle chat to Lisa from Mantrailing Global all about this exciting and accessible canine activity.

Mantrailing is a sport teaching dogs to find people by following their unique scent trail. All dog's have a natural ability to hunt and mantrailing provides them with an outlet to do this in a safe, controlled and constructive way. Lisa explains how this can have a very positive impact in other areas of a dog's life too.

One of the many amazing things about this sport is it is fully accessible to all people and dogs, regardless of age, breed or disability. This includes dogs with confidence and reactivity issues.

https://www.mantrailingglobal.com/

In this Christmas-themed episode, Louise and Michelle tackle the challenges of keeping dogs safe and happy during the festive season, and chat about two important episodes they recorded last year:

• Episode 91: Ask the Vet – Christmas Food Dangers for Dogs

Vet Nick discusses the biggest food-related hazards for dogs at Christmas. From toxic foods like chocolate, raisins, and onions to tummy-troubling treats like fatty meats and rich desserts, Nick highlights common dangers lurking in holiday celebrations. He also shares advice on recognizing symptoms of poisoning or distress, such as vomiting, drooling, and lethargy, and offers clear steps to take in an emergency. This episode is packed with vital tips to protect dogs from festive food mishaps.

• Episode 92: Keeping Your Dog Stress-Free Over Christmas with Pamela Dempsey

Canine behaviourist Pamela Dempsey joins the conversation to provide strategies for minimizing stress during the hectic holiday period. She emphasizes maintaining routines, creating safe spaces, and managing interactions with visitors to keep dogs calm and comfortable. Pamela also shares enrichment ideas, such as puzzle toys and scent games, to keep dogs mentally stimulated. From preventing overstimulation to handling festive anxiety, this episode offers practical advice to ensure a joyful and stress-free Christmas for dogs and their owners.

These episodes are essential listening for dog owners looking to navigate the holiday season safely and stress-free, ensuring their canine companions enjoy Christmas as much as they do!

The festive season is here, and what better way to celebrate than with a collection of inspiring reads? 🎄📚 In Episode 142 of Canicross Conversations, we’re revisiting some of the most memorable books featured on the podcast.

From captivating memoirs and training guides, to cookbooks and stories of resilience, these books offer something for everyone, whether you’re looking for inspiration or the perfect gift for a loved one.

We share highlights from:

• Susie Chan (Trails and Tribulations)
• Allie Bailey (There Is No Wall)
• Lucy Waterlow (The Ultimate Guide to parkrun)
• Rachel Cullen (Running for My Life)
• Niki French (Stop Walking Your Dog!)
• Paul Besley (The Search)
• Juliet McGrattan (Run Well)
• Merili Freear (Just Run) …and many more!

Join us as we reflect on these incredible reads and the inspiring conversations behind them. Don’t miss this cosy, book-filled episode that’s perfect for the festive season!

👉 Have a favourite running or dog-related book? Let us know - we love hearing your recommendations!

In today's fascinating episode, Louise and Michelle chat to writer Paul Besley all about his experiences of finding and training his Mountain Rescue Search Dog, Scout. It's a fascinating episode full of insights into training a working dog, and the human-dog bond.

Paul's book, The Search: The life of a mountain rescue search dog team is out now

Those regular listeners amongst you will know the running joke that Michelle has never participated in a canicross race with her dog Poppy. She has finally found a brand new event close to her, and on this episode quizzes Trail Blazing Events Director Richard McQuilton-Morgan all about the race. It will be the first canicross event Richard has hosted too, so it makes for an interesting episode. We learn more about the challenges of putting on a canicross race, and how he’s planning to make the event a great experience for all.

We also catch up with Martin Grimshaw of Team Hounds, who was last on the podcast in episode 70. Michelle picks Martin's brains for expert advice on helping her and Poppy to prepare for their first race. Martin also tells us about his newest canine companion Kaos, and what he's been up to since we last chatted back in the summer of 2023.

You can find out more about the canicross race and Richard's other Lancashire based events on his website https://www.trailblazingevents.co.uk/

Louise and Michelle chat to Clara Hewson, founder of The Muzzle Movement, about establishing a change in people's perceptions of muzzles, and creating a muzzle which allows dogs to drink, eat and pant fully. Find out the best way to accustom a dog to being comfortable with a muzzle, and inappropriate use of muzzles.

We also ask Clara to bust a myth about muzzles in our newest feature.

In this episode, we chat to Dr Juliet McGrattan, author, speaker and former GP, about running and alcohol.

We answer all the common questions, such as:

- is a daily glass of red wine really good for our health?

- is that post-race beer helpful?

- can you sweat out a hangover?

- how does alcohol affect sleep quality and recovery?

- is there a safe amount of alcohol consumption for athletes that won’t hinder training or performance?

- how does alcohol impact our hormones?

NEW - Stay tuned for our newest feature, Myth Buster, where we tackle common misconceptions.

You can follow Dr Juliet McGrattan on Instagram

If you need support with your alcohol consumption, the NHS website is a good place to start