There’s just something special about being out on the trail with your dog. The fresh air, the quiet and that feeling when they’re right there with you, focused, happy and ready to go. I’ve been realizing it’s not really about speed or distance. It’s about the connection you build together along the way. Every run, every step, every little moment where you can tell they’re enjoying it just as much as you are. Seeing everyone here sharing their journeys, their dogs, and their progress is honestly inspiring. It makes you want to get out there, harness up and see what you and your dog can do together no pressure, just enjoying the process. Some days are slower, some days feel amazing, but every day out there means something. What’s your dog’s favorite part the start of the run, the trail itself or the moment they realize it’s time to go?

Three quarters of the way through the final week of our Iron Paws virtual stage race in the Canicross event and still holding first place for a North American finish. A few more hard days of pushing. Here we have Doc, one of the three main members of our team this year. This was towards the end of our longer run and we took a short little side trail that Doc simply adores. Once the race is over and announcements are made as to our final ranking. I will be taking on a couple of Canicross clients as a coach. This is a limited project and will be awarding three people theee months of virtual coaching to get you started or to help you develop into a more efficient running team! The three months of coaching is not free normally and is charged on a monthly subscription basis however, as a means to celebrating race end…I want to provide three athletes from North America the opportunity to get three months of personalized coaching starting right from the couch if need be! So please, share and invite as only community members will be eligible for the contest! Also…in case you missed it, reduced price to $10 per month to join our community. Company codes and discounts from various partners coming soon too!!

Happy Saturday morning!! Oh man, I am feeling good today. New toys coming from Nonstop Dogwear and North American Canicross! Great snow conditions today for both Canicross and skijoring. I am taking time to go with a dear friend and assist her with one of her dogs. A very sweet and lovely male greyhound/husky named Bruno. Bruno has had it rough. And I do mean rough. He was a sled dog up in northern Canada with little to no shelter and less kindness. Once he took ill with an eye infection, veterinary services are essentially nonexistent there. Essentially his life had come to an end. However, life and caring people had other plans for Bruno. A local woman reached out to my friend to see if she could help. She said she could and would. Then she did. Bruno came to Newfoundland and was broken right to the soul. Terrified, unwell. Just a poor mess. Proper veterinary care, a new home with three other dogs including his long lost littermate sister (separated for 6 years) and a cat, the removal of one eye and only about 15% vision remaining in his one eye….boy is a fighter. We weren’t sure he even wanted to live when he arrived. But not anymore. Last weekend he had his very first solo skijoring adventure with his owner. It was slow and meandering and damned perfect. For his mealtimes he would eat some quickly and then run away. We would have to call him back and hold the bowl for him, sometimes even scooping the food up in our hands to feed him. It was months before he would even willingly come into the house. We would have to go retrieve him from the backyard. Even longer before he ever got up on the furniture and make no mistake he is absolutely allowed on all furniture. Last week? Well last week made me incredibly happy. I have a special affinity with Bruno due to us both being blind in one eye! So he holds a special place in my heart. But anyway, last week he discovers that he is allowed on the couch with everyone else! And now lives for it! But it doesn’t end there…the next morning he discovers this thing called ‘breakfast in bed’ and now enjoys his meals ON THE COUCH.

Good evening, as I sit and write this post it is February 5th, 2026 and I’ve some important news. While we’ve been working behind the scenes at our business and posting here on OutsidersNL more recreationally, that’s about to change. I have a personal goal this year which is to obtain a podium position in the Iron Paws Virtual Stage race lovingly crafted by North American Canicross. We are currently mid week six of seven weeks and as of week five, we were still holding first so with a bit of luck and some more hard drive; we will reach our goal. We have some new equipment coming from Nahak Sports including the Pigma harness and bungee lines for Canicross as well as the Nonstop Dogwear Belt Pro! We will initially begin with entry level or first steps. Including going over the basics of each piece of equipment, how it is utilized and proper fittings to both you and your canine friend. We will discuss varying types of harnesses from Nahak, Nonstop Dogwear and Musher and then a very specific look at lines, setups and what works for you. Trail safety for solo travellers, weather prediction, base safety, canine first aid and many of the intertwined topics of our activity will be discussed so stay tuned!! From there we will begin our lessons on getting you and your canine cohort out the door and on your way to adventure in the world of Canicross & canihiking. Important to note: Thank you to each of you who has joined us here and have been waiting. Your presence, patience and support have really meant alot as I’ve been building. OutsidersNL is an extension of both my professional and personal life and you’ve all been a part of it all along. Your membership here will remain free as content is produced. Some of it will require a fee but not to you fine people. Your presence equates to a friendship within our classroom. Afterall, you’re here because you want to be on the move AND you’re dog people! Had it not been for your presence here all along, I may just have slipped in to non-motivation.

Canicross & Labrador huskies Running was a survival skill. For me anyway. Never in a million variations of our world would I have ever thought I would ever be a runner. Here we are. Our world has changed with the pandemic and we too must change and evolve with it. Sometimes that change can be difficult and somewhat destructive. Others, a smooth and pleasant journey. For me, it was very difficult. But after all those changes, trials & tribulations I emerged with a new opportunity, a new career path and it has been and continues to be wonderous. Teaching, coaching and racing canicross has turned into a fantastic experience. I meet people from all over the United States, Canada and throughout Europe. I meet a lot of dogs (which is always a major perk) but one thing I’m learning is that though many students prefer to have one-on-one coaching - they all say the same….the physical activity with their dogs is much easier to both motivate themselves to do and much easier to enjoy the exercise in perfect company. My two are seniors. Closing on 12 years of age. The first two Labrador huskies to achieve any titles in Canicross. They ran their first registered miles in Canicross through North American Canicross (NACC) on October 19 2023 and achieved their 1500 miles (2400 kilometres) Canicross titles during January of 2025. They won ‘Rookies of the year’ in their first race and had a podium standing of second place. I retired them from officially tracking miles of racing but they still run Canicross. Labrador huskies are a truly wonderful breed. Not for everyone of course. Lucy and Cretos are descended from bloodlines of Hopedale, Labrador and are consistent reliable runners. Through the encouragement and teamwork of myself and my dogs we have become the NACC Ambassadors for Newfoundland and wear it proudly as well as Eastern Canada Region Director with ISDRA. Those who have Labrador huskies know just how big their hearts are. How loving the breed can be. Just as content on the couch with you as they are in a harness.