Trail Dog is a blog about hiking, canicross, wild camping, and multi‑day adventures with a dog; written by a trail runner, her gear-obsessed partner, and the rescue Lab who taught them the wild way
I believe a trail can turn a dog and a human into a team. People are always surprised by Poppy’s fitness and agility, and they ask how we train, camp, climb, and navigate the rough stuff, but we weren’t born knowing any of this.
Trail Dog is the documentation of that journey: two rescues (one dog, one woman) and one very patient trail husband, learning the wild way together.
Whether you are curious about getting started with canicross, looking for multi-day UK hiking itineraries, or hunting for honest outdoor gear advice and dog-friendly pub stops, you will find it here. So, if you’re ready to wander a little further; follow the dog, join the pack, and we’ll see you on the trail.
Meet the Pack: The Dog and Humans Behind Trail Dog
Poppy: The Engine
Poppy is a five‑year‑old rescue, probably Lab or Lab‑cross‑Golden, and absolutely Lab in spirit – she lives for food, fetch (preferably launched into water), and snuggles. Despite loving running and being out on the hills, she despises anything that involves wearing gear – harnesses, backpacks, pyjamas, bathrobes… all personally offensive. But once she’s free to move, she’s unstoppable: a blur of paws, joy, and chaos – and a menace to any stick, snack, or body of water within a 5‑mile radius.
Syla: The Navigator
I’ve always loved dogs, and after years of dog‑sitting, I knew I’d adopt one as soon as life lined up. As a trail runner, I wanted a dog who’d join me – canicross was the obvious next step. Then 19 month old Poppy arrived, immediately declared herself a trail runner, and dragged me into the sport properly. I’ve always believed dogs are part of the family, so she comes with me everywhere; I even started holidaying in the UK just so she could be part of every adventure.
Terry: The Pilot
Every pack needs someone steady at the helm, and Terry brings serious credentials to the trail. As a former Royal Marine of 23 years, he has extensive operational experience in some of the globe’s harshest environments, including the Arctic tundra and the Scottish Mountains. Terry is Poppy’s spare human, my trail husband, and the absolute calm in our occasional navigational storms. At Trail Dog, he merges his elite survival background with a nerdy obsession for top-tier kit. He provides the infrastructure, delivering trail-tested, no-nonsense advice on gear, safety, and mountain endurance so that we and our readers, never head into the hills unprepared.
Aga is the original – the first wild camp, the sunshine, the luck of beginners, and the start of everything that followed. So far, we’ve spent over four weeks in the wild together, so she’s basically my feral sister. She’s the one who packs everything, sewing kit included, yet somehow her backpack is always lighter than mine.
How Poppy’s Fitness Grew — And How Trail Dog Began
Trail Dog began with a rescue dog and a woman who had no idea what they were capable of, not until the miles started adding up. We learned this life together, growing braver and stronger with every climb and star‑lit night. This space is for anyone who wants that same shift: the courage to trust the miles, trust the dog, and step into something wilder together.
As a new dog pawrent, I read everything I could about the needs of working‑breed dogs. Turns out a Lab needs around three hours of exercise a day — and with their endless appetite and genetic risk of dysplasia, keeping a Lab fit is the best escape from vet bills. Poppy joined me on my trail runs pretty much straight away, and before long she was building weekly mileage with me.
I kept wondering where her limit was… until I realised she didn’t seem to have one. I’d finish a long run barely able to move my achy muscles, and she’d still be full of beans, ready to play fetch on the beach like we hadn’t just done hours on the trails. Dogs are just like us: build the mileage gradually, and one day you realise they’re the ones pulling you into bigger adventures.
We are still learning every day, but we’ve picked up a few crucial hacks along the way. If you are looking to build your dog’s endurance, discover new UK trails, and stop replacing damaged kit, we would love to have you along for the journey.
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