One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned while canicrossing with Milo is that the weather can make or break a run. As a German Shorthaired Pointer full of energy, he’s hardy and robust in many ways, but he’s not invincible. Understanding how he handles UK weather conditions and what he prefers helps me keep our runs enjoyable.
Our Canicross Season: September to May
At Formby Canicross (where Milo and I lead the guided runs), we run every week from the first Saturday in September through to the last Saturday in May. Why the long summer break? The main reason is heat. Even though Milo has a short single coat, high-drive dogs like him are surprisingly vulnerable to heat stress because they push themselves so hard, tend to have a faster internal temperature rise within minutes of intense exertion, and they also have less self-regulation and will push through discomfort.
We use the summer months to properly recover from any niggling injuries, sharpen up our cues (which always slip a little over time), clean and check our kit for wear and tear, plan new routes, and choose which races to enter next season. The break keeps motivation high for both of us when the cooler weather returns. We still sneak in the occasional early morning run over summer, but we pause the regular group sessions to avoid last-minute heat cancellations.
When the Heat Hits
Milo’s body language tells me everything I need to know. In warmer weather, he pants heavily, and when that long spoon-shaped tongue lolls out the side of his mouth, it’s game over and time to cool down. Above 13°C our runs become noticeably slower. He pulls less enthusiastically and trots rather than powering forward, and will stop to sniff or wee more often. Once it hits 15°C (especially if it’s humid), we usually skip running altogether and opt for a cani-hike or normal walk instead.
Milo simply doesn’t enjoy the heat and the cooling strategies that work for us:
Carry water and offer frequent drinks
Slow down and walk for a few minutes
Take breaks in the shade
Head to the sea for a paddle when the tide allows
Sponge him down with cool water after the run
Milo Loves Cool Weather
Our favourite running conditions are around 5–10°C with blue skies and a light breeze. In this weather, Milo is a different dog, he pulls strongly into the harness, runs with purpose, and looks far more comfortable. Those crisp autumn, winter, and spring days are my favourite too, when canicross seems effortless and we can run for miles. As a GSP, Milo is built for tough conditions. His breed was developed to hunt in cold, wet German winters, so he doesn’t need a coat while running. He only wears a cosy towelling fleece when he's cold and wet for the journey home in the van. Rain mostly doesn’t bother us at all, Milo happily powers through it. However, strong winds on the sand dunes can turn into an unwelcome exfoliation session, sand blasting both of us! Milo ends up crying sand for the rest of the day, and we like to avoid that, so on those days we stick to the sheltered pine woods instead. Snow is a real novelty for us because we rarely get it here in Formby. We did run in snow once, in Wales at the Rhug Estate Canix race, it had mostly melted and Milo managed just fine although we were wet through and cold at the end. He definitely appreciated his cosy towelling fleece afterwards then!
Running with Milo through much of what the British weather throws at us has taught me what he likes and what he really doesn’t. Powering through an unexpected shower, battling into a head wind, getting wet and muddy, or abandoning a planned run because of the heat is just part of canicross. Staying flexible and being prepared ensures Milo enjoys our runs too whatever the forecast says.