Out of all the cues in canicross, “Steady” is the one that has saved my knees and dignity more times than I can count.
When you’re a 5ft 4in woman running with a 28kg athletic speed machine German Shorthaired Pointer like Milo, you quickly realise you’re “over-dogged” (too much power, not enough control). He provides the engine; I’m the steering, but without brakes, that engine can feel more like a runaway train. I’ll never forget when I first noticed the obvious gaps in my training and kit selection, hurtling down behind Milo pulling well into harness on a hard-packed forestry track in Cannock Chase Park during the Canix Fur Nations race. I was frantically shouting “Steady!” with panic levels ratcheting ever higher. My legs were struggling to keep up, my trail shoes had zero grip, and I was one misplaced foot away from disaster. Sure enough, I ended up in a heap on the ground, grazed, winded, and thoroughly humbled. Milo stood over me, tail wagging, clearly wondering why his human had decided to lie down mid-run. To him, my excited noises probably sounded like encouragement to go faster!
Canicrossing around Formby, with flat landscape, soft sand dunes and pine-needle-covered trails, I initially underestimated how vital this cue would become. Falling here usually means a soft, slightly embarrassing landing and a good laugh and I’ve been unexpectedly horizontal more times than I care to admit. But, when we started travelling for races, everything changed. Steep muddy embankments, loose stony paths, and slippery river crossings don’t forgive mistakes or lack of training, and a couple of terrifying near-miss experiences later, meant teaching Milo “Steady” became a priority. The core principle is simple: your dog is the engine, but you control speed and direction. Cues like “Go”, “Steady,” and “Whoa” let you set the pace together as a team. Unfortunately, Milo (like all dogs) doesn’t understand English, and these cues must be taught and practiced to become reliable.
How We Trained “Steady”
We started on flat trails and the beach. While running at a comfortable pace with Milo pulling into harness, I’d slowly say “Steeeaddyyy,” sit back into my hip belt, and slow my own pace from a run to a jog – this creates more drag behind him and encourages him to slow down. As soon as Milo matched my speed, I’d mark it with a “Good” (my duration marker that means “yes, keep doing this”) and maintain the slower pace for a few strides. Then I’d lean forward again, lengthen my stride, and say, “Go! Go!” in a more excited voice, Milo would pick up on this as I feel lighter behind him and with encouragement he increases his speed too. With enough repetition, he learned to listen to my cues and match my pace. I avoid using “Yes!” or a clicker during runs because I don’t want Milo turning round to look for a treat. Forward motion is the real reward, and the verbal markers keeps things flowing. We’d repeat this speed-up/slow-down sequence about ten times, then stop for a tasty reward before having another go.
Once reliable on the flat, we progressed to gentle slopes. I did our sessions solo because the excitement of a group run can make training ‘steady’ much harder. Gradually we tackled steeper terrain, practising controlled descents by slowing to a jog before the top of the slope, and sometimes holding him at my side with his harness for more control. The goal was to proof the behaviour so well that I could slow him by verbal cue alone, without having to push back into the belt to create drag.
It takes time and consistency, but it’s worth every session. “Steady” transforms running downhill from a scary out of control experience into an efficient partnership. We both stay safer and conserve energy for longer, more enjoyable runs.
If you’re running with a powerful dog too, make teaching “Steady” one of your first priorities. Your knees (and confidence) will thank you for it. In the meantime, slow down before the downhill slope, and walk down holding your dog at your side so he can’t pull you forward – if you have a solid ‘close’ or ‘heel’ cue, this helps too!