So Cuilli and Brods did their first Canix race today. it was ACE. for numerous reasons - the main one being Cuillin was a wee star. Cuilli has a few issues about groups of dogs, they are scary and she will get stressed and barky unless I am on top of things. We've been working on this, however nothing could have prepared us for the Cani X experience! Arrived in the car park an hour before the race to register and go to the briefings, it was quite something else. Dogs absolutely wired to the moon with excitement, and bark bark barking everywhere. Huskies in vans going loopy! Cuilli got a bit of a panic on, so we kept her in the car, all BATing went out the window and I just let her have a good old bark - everyone else was! I decided if she stayed stressed then we would pull out, but after about ten mins she calmed down completely. Fast forward to an hour later and the race start, that was just something else again. Everyone even more excited by then,70 dogs, the vast majority going loopy to get going, set off in groups of six ten seconds apart. Loads of the more experienced dogs were rearing and lunging on their harnesses at the start line when it was their turn, even more noise levels, just full on dog excitement. After about half the competitors had left we took the dogs down, it was still mayhem, Brods just stood watching it with his tail wagging gently, but he was such a calm good boy, and Cuilli? Cuilli just stood in the midst of it all as cool as cucumber! my friend and I were amazed, she was sooo chilled, just excited to get to the start line too but no barking or lunging just happily trotted up when it was our turn. they were hilarious on the race, all the other dogs pulling their owners - which is the aim of the game, some folk had pairs of huskies attached to them and they were flying - C and B would NOT pull. they wanted to run next to us all nice and dressage horse trotty ;D. lots of the race marshalls were giggling at them. Didn't matter though we had a ball and loved the race which was through lovely woods and country side - Brods surprassed himself in the good boy stakes by running past a FREE RANGE POULTRY FIELD without a sideways glance...this is the boy who is obsessed with feathery things. So great great fun, would recommend to anyone who likes a wee run, and so chuffed with wee Cuilli, we are signed up for more
Re: CaniX I have a video of the start, I'll try and post but I'm rubbish, will ask for help! There were photos taken by the race team at various bits of the course so hopefully we will get sent one and Ill try and pop that u too! Jane just give it a go, there were loads of different speeds on our race, plenty of folk just having a nice jog round the course, very welcoming environment.. Julie - yes indeed. for both of them actually, Brods wasn't even vaguely interested in the country side smells, so different, he was Dog With A Race to do...
Re: CaniX What a great day!!! Sometimes when dogs are confronted by an overwhelming number of dogs they cope much better than if there is one or two dogs around only. There are too many dogs to do anything about, so they just concentrate on what they know - you. Sounds like they were both absolute stars!!!!
Re: CaniX Great stuff, I've just bought a One Stop half harness for my Bailey as I'm thinking of getting into CaniX altho we wont be competing, just for a bit of exercise
Re: CaniX Sounds very fun...although the thought of being attached to Simba while he's running is slightly terrifying which is why I've never thought too hard about skijoring...
Re: CaniX Wow that sounds amazing! I would love to take Penny even just jogging with me but I can't run!! Haha! Glad you had a good time.
Just to dredge up this old thread... I've always hated running. Hated it. Hatehatehatehatehated it. But, the other day, when I was walking with the pooches along a mountain bike track, something came over me. I often run down the steep banks, because it's safer than walking, where I'm liable to slip, but on one of them, I just kept running. Downhill, then uphill again, along the flat, I just kept going, like Forrest Gump. And I enjoyed it. It was a very strange phenomenon indeed. Since then, I've been adding the odd little jog to my walks and it seems, when there's a dog or two there with me, running actually becomes much more fun. So I'm thinking of buying a CaniX setup and having a go. Wish me luck, I may just need it!
