Canicrossers running through a field together

Ahead of the pack!

We will guide you through whichever comprehensive Canicross Coach course you choose, with both classroom and practical elements, providing you with all the tools you need to be a successful Canicross Coach or Run Leader.

Once completed, you will become part of our Canicross Coach community and receive ongoing support with your coaching business, including mentoring through a dedicated Facebook group.

Our dog centred, professional, approach will certainly put you ahead of the pack!

Two canicross coaches chatting

Training courses will include:

  • Equipment training, including harness fit in relation to the musculoskeletal demands of different dogs 
  • Dog behaviour in the context of canicross 
  • Dog welfare in detail 
  • How to manage your groups (Taking a dog and runner centred approach to sessions) 
  • Running safe and successful sessions 
  • Support to ensure you are confident

Run Leader - for those already leading runs or assisting with runs for their clubs and groups

This course provides takeaway training activities that support you to move from social runs to be able to deliver canicross skills within your group run safely.

This course is ideal as a gateway to the Certified Course or Level 3 Qualification but it can also be used for individuals wanting to develop their own knowledge.

The Run Leader course is a one day in-person course which we run a few times a year.

Certified Coach Course - is suitable for experienced canicrossers who wish to develop their own coaching and covers setting up your own group or business.

In addition to how to structure sessions and deliver key canicross skills, it gives access to our comprehensive manual and our mentoring group to support you as you develop and progress.

This course is again ideal as a gateway to the Level 3 Qualification but it can also be used for individuals wanting to develop their own knowledge.

The Certified Course course is a two day in-person course which we run a few times a year.

The Level 3 Award in Canicross Coaching is the ONLY canicross coaching qualification available provided by us as an iPET Network approved training provider and is a government recognised qualification.

It is therefore suitable for experienced canicrossers who want to start their own business or club or support and develop their existing business or club.

With a total qualification time of 110 hours and Ofqual regulation, you will work with our course tutors to develop your knowledge in all aspects of starting and running a business including how to plan and deliver successful sessions in addition to dog behaviour and legislation.

The first 5 units are delivered online then assessed via long and short answer questions submitted via an online portal for the theory side of the course and candidates once they have passed the theory units are then required to attend a one-day eight-hour practical assessment to complete the qualification.

This course is currently the highest level of training you can undertake in the sport of canicross and we are proud to have written and developed this qualification to raise the standards in canicross coaching.

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Meet your instructors and founders of canicross coach

Dawn Crook-Richards

Dawn Crook-Richards is well known in the Canicross community as the owner of CaniX, organising the oldest and largest National Championship in the UK alongside the CaniX Fur Nations. She has competed in canicross for over 13 years, both in the UK and abroad, in addition to being a founder member of Canicross Somerset. Moreover, she has 20 plus years of teaching experience, including adult education, with a special interest in Outdoor Education, where she holds NGB recognised qualifications. She is also an approved LiRF from UK athletics, and is level 3 and 4 qualified in Sports Massage.


Emily Thomas

Emily Thomas runs K9 Trail Time,  known as the leading canicross retail business within the UK. Emily founded the Cotswold Canicross group, organises the only UK Dog Triathlon with her Tri Dog team and is proud to be a representative for the British Sleddog Sports Federation, the National governing body for all dog powered sports. As a competitor herself for over 12 years in canicross, bikejor and dog scootering,  she brings with her an extensive knowledge of equipment and a passion for dog health and welfare. In addition to this Emily is qualified in Canine Hydrotherapy, giving her a solid understanding of canine physiology and musculoskeletal dynamic. Emily is also an approved UK athletics LiRF and qualified in both Sports specific and canine First Aid.

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