Canicross Instructor Course

 

Are you passionate about Canicross and want to work with dogs for a living? Or maybe you already have your own dog business and want to add a unique dog sport to your existing services? We can give you the knowledge, skills & equipment required to launch your own successful Canicross business!

This online course will provide you with everything you need to begin running Canicross training sessions for your clients and their dogs and how to structure future sessions for their progression. You have the option of adding your very own Instructor starter kit bag worth £450 (RRP), available in a choice of 6 colours. This means that you are suited and booted ready to launch your business as soon as you complete our course!

OUR ONLINE INSTRUCTOR COURSE INCLUDES:

  • Two 4 hour lessons, delivered online via Zoom, including presentations, practical videos and breakout rooms
  • Instructor handbook
  • Instructor T-shirt
  • Use of the Sporty Paws Certified Canicross Trainer logo
  • 1 month’s free access to our Instructor Guild for on-going support, advice and benefits after the course. See full details below.
  • Heavily discounted Instructor Kit bag bolt on worth £450 RRP including the full range of sizes of Sporty Shorty harnesses, a Sporty Paws 1m & 2m Canicross line in a choice of brass snaps or carabiners, and a Sporty Paws S/M and L/XL waist belt all in your very own kit bag. You can even choose the colours of your harnesses, belts and lines.
  • Syllabus covers – 
  • A historical understanding of the sport and equipment involved, including how to fit clients
  • Basic hydration/nutrition theory, alongside dog first aid advice
  • Coaching skills
  • Tried and tested business/customer service strategies and templates
  • Navigation and route planning
  • Legal issues such as permits & insurance
  • Warm up & cool down routine pre & post canicross run
  • How to run a Canicross introduction session from enquiry through to practical session
  • How to structure a Couch to 5K Canicross programme
  • How to set up a Canicross club & communication
  • Common troubleshooting problems

The completion of this 8hr online Canicross Instructor Course will enable you to become a Sporty Paws Canicross Instructor.  

COURSE COST – £199

KIT BAG BOLT ON (WORTH £450) – £299

After The Course…

We welcome you to become a member of our Instructor Guild. For £10 per month you get the following:

  • Access to Sporty Paws Head Canicross Instructor for on-going support and advice
  • Online Q&As / workshops for continued personal development opportunities covering both Canicross and business related topics
  • Access to our private instructor forum to connect with other Instructors
  • 15% Instructor Kit discount at Sporty Paws through our loyalty scheme
  • 10% discount for your clients to use at Sporty Paws
  • Opportunities to trial and test Canicross kit
  • Business listing as a Certified Instructor on the Sporty Paws website
  • Discounts on further courses like Pet First Aid and Human First Aid

Hi, we’re Jess & Jambo, 
Head Instructors at Sporty Paws; experienced instructors and mushers with our variety of dogs (x15+!) 

Between us, we have been running/riding with and racing dogs for over 25 years. We have raced both nationally and internationally for Team GB and have a wealth of experience when it comes to training dogs, especially when wheels are involved – you’ll definitely be well looked after with us on your Instructor journey. We will be sharing our knowledge, experience and tried and tested methods and templates when it comes to customer service and teaching dog sports, ensuring you finish the course feeling confident on how to set up and deliver your canicross/bikejor/scooter sessions to pet dogs and their owners.

Jambo first started mushing with his dogs Cash & Codi in 2008. He quickly discovered the buzz of running with a team of dogs and that’s when China joined in. All of Jambo’s dogs are initially trained on either a bike or a scooter, before they ‘make the big team’ and he’s therefore confident that 6 dogs+ aren’t going to drag him in to a hedge! Jess started Canicross in 2014 with her GSD Harry and they soon became addicted to getting out and about together and meeting likeminded people. It was an opportunity to keep fit, maintain a bond and get a good dose of fresh air. During those years, we have had a wide range of dog breeds, from huskies and german shepherds, through to alaskans, eurohounds and greysters. Our training and experiences have naturally changed over this period and we are confident in the tried and tested methods we will be passing on to you.

After discovering canicross with her German Shep, Jess joined her local club (Wessex Canicross) where she soon ended up on the committee, in several roles including Chair. Jambo similarly ended up on the committee of the Sled Dog Association of Scotland and later became president for a number of years. In 2018 we then both joined the British Sleddog Sports Federation as ‘President’ and ‘Vice President for Development’ – this is often referred to as the National Governing Body of sled dog sports in the UK. We are now in charge of our local dog sports group in Moray, Scotland, focussing on getting new people in to the sport in our local area. All of these opportunities gave us a chance to work with a huge range of people. We have arranged a crazy number of events, had paperwork coming out of our ears, harvested clients & participants from all around the country and managed to visit some amazing international locations and share and swap stories with dog sport participants around the globe.

Jess has a background (outside of dogs!) which completely focusses on instructing/coaching, including training the UAE Olympic Sailing Team, and she’ll be the bread and butter when it comes to customer service, teaching techniques for humans, paperwork and what’s needed to set up a business. Jambo will be all about the dogs and the training. His background of having a team of dogs is unlike most others and with a huge amount of dogs comes a huge number of past experiences and stories, as well as years of training.

We were utterly delighted to have become Head Instructors for Sporty Paws in 2021 and we are confident our course will provide you with the knowledge and skills needed to set up and run your own business or club. We are huge believers in ‘grass roots’ participation and strive to see our ‘sport’ grow within the UK. It’s not all about international racing, and we know everyone must start at the beginning one day! It’s all about getting out of the house and enjoying the time you have with your dogs. We really look forward to meeting you on our courses so you can spread this knowledge to others.

FAQs

  • Who is the course for?

    You must have basic Canicross experience and have a willing dog in harness.

    This course is ideal for anyone wishing to offer Canicross training as a new business venture or as an additional service to an existing business. Alternatively it is also suitable for Canicross Clubs and Groups who want a representative within their group who is trained to correctly fit equipment and teach the correct methods

  • What will I need for the course?

    To be able to fully participate in this course, you will need to have a laptop or phone connected to the internet which the ability to join Zoom calls/meetings. This device must have a working camera and microphone so you able in interact with the Instructors and other participants, when necessary.

  • Is there a payment plan available?
    Yes! You can either apply for Paypal Credit and use this as a payment method at the checkout or you can apply for Klarna or Afterpay at checkout. All are 0% for 3 or 4mths.
  • Will I need to buy kit after the course?

    You can purchase your very own Instructor Starter Kit Bag worth £450 retail value in with the course cost to enable you to get started with your introduction sessions. This includes 7 different sizes of Sporty Paws short Canicross harnesses, 1m and 2m bungee lines and 2 waist belts. All in a colour of your choice.

    Please note: Not all dogs will be suited to one harness style due to their running style/needs, therefore you may need to purchase additional kit after the course to add to your kit bag to accommodate your clients needs.

Upcoming Dates

9TH MARCH 2024

7TH APRIL 2024 

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SportyPaws - Dog Sports Equipment & Training
Average rating:  
 5 reviews
 by Kasia Eason

What a great course, can't recommend highly enough! Beautiful venue, friendly atmosphere, informative tutor. And let's be honest... who doesn't like all the bits and bobs that come with it - I'm in love with my new kit bag! Also, for someone with no experience of being self-employed and running own business, I now feel confident enough to give it a shot!

 by Darren Cutler

For someone relatively new to Canicross, the course was great in providing the knowledge needed to go away and confidently set up a range of Canicross classes and services. The two days were relaxed, informative and provided an opportunity to learn from a variety expertise in dog related areas. It’s also great to know that you have ongoing support from people that clearly know their stuff, and the classroom wasn’t too shoddy either!

 by Anna Roberts

After doing a previous course this one was undoubtedly better with it being 2 days you covered a lot and in detail for those who haven't measured for a harness or don't feel confident in it will gain the knowledge and HANDS on experience in this which is vital. The location makes you feel special. I enjoyed the meeting of new people and love the support you receive in building a better business. I totally recommend this course.

 by Rachel Ferbrache

I thoroughly enjoyed this course and would highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn more about canicross and how to advise new canicrossers on the correct harnesses for their dogs.
The Instructor had a wealth of knowledge and presented the course in a very informal manner.
The Instructor was very friendly and patient and answered all our questions to the best ability.
I feel confident now in advising clients about their dog’s harnesses and waist belts.

 by Laura Compton

This has been a fantastic course in an amazing venue. The Instructor has distilled as much of their knowledge as possible into the two days, and I now feel confident in fitting kit, advising clients on appropriate equipment, and running my first classes. The Instructor was friendly, approachable and patient and taught in a way that makes the subject completely relatable even for a novice. As well, the kit that comes with the course is everything I need to set up as a Canicross instructor and will give me a great start until I can build a larger collection on my own. Nobody looking to start running their own Canicross classes will regret booking this course.