Canicross Nutrition Guide: Fuelling You and Your Dog

What's inside

01
What fuels a run

The three energy systems you and your dog both use, and why a fast 5km isn't fuelled like a long day out.
02
Fuelling you

Carbs, protein and fat without counting every gram. Real meals, not sports products.
03
Fuelling your dog

Protein, fat and the carbohydrate question, including what changes if they're raw fed.
04
Race day, start to finish

The evening before, the start line, during and after. For both of you.
05
Heat and hydration

How dogs cool down, why it matters after the run too, and the warning signs to know.
06
Your pre-run checklist

One page. Print it, stick it in the van.

Photos: Becky, Fettle ambassador, with Lexi and Bronson

You're both athletes. You just eat differently.

Your dog surges off the start line, you dig in to keep up, then you both settle into a rhythm. Same run, same energy systems, very different fuel tanks. This guide covers both ends of the line, so neither of you turns up running on empty.

You
More carbs when the pace picks up
Hard efforts lean on carbohydrate. Everyday food does the job: porridge, rice, potatoes, a banana before the start.
Your dog
Brilliant at burning fat over distance
Dogs run on fat for steady work, but still use stored glycogen for the fast start and the hills.

A sneak peek

The page you'll actually use

The pre-run checklist from the back of the guide. The rest lands in your inbox once you sign up.

Get the full guide

Your pre-run checklist

For you

Have I eaten enough over the past few days?
Is my pre-run meal familiar and comfortable?
Do I have water and, if needed, food for the length of this outing?
Have I planned a sensible meal afterwards?

For your dog

Is their body condition stable and their everyday diet nutritionally sound?
Have I allowed enough time after a meal before hard exercise?
Is the temperature safe, with water and cooling opportunities?
Am I keeping new foods and supplements away from race day?
Are they recovering normally between sessions?

You're both good to go.Have a great run. Get the full guide for race day too.

Nutrition for CanicrossFettle

Who wrote it

Meet Lisa

Lisa Hannaby-Aird is a Registered Associate Nutritionist and the author of Nutrition for Dogs. She brings together nutrition, psychology, biochemistry and neuroscience to help owners understand the science behind their dog's health, behaviour and diet.

She writes many of the Fettle blog posts, including our series on how dogs stay cool and why hydration matters. This guide takes the same approach to canicross: what the research actually shows, for both ends of the line.

Lisa Hannaby-Aird, Registered Associate Nutritionist

Fair questions

Is it really free?

Yes. Just your email, so we can send it over.

My dog's raw fed. Is this still relevant?

Very. The guide covers what changes when a dog's diet is lower in carbohydrate, and when it's worth adding a bit.

I'm new to canicross. Is it too advanced?

No. It's written for everyone from first 5km to chasing a PB.

Will you try to sell me supplements?

Probably, at some point. Nothing's 100% free, is it? But the guide itself is about food, water and common sense. We mention one of our products once, where it's genuinely relevant.