This week is something completely different. Lisa McCabe, known as The Dog Witch, is a holistic dog wellbeing consultant. She looks at nutrition, exercise, environment and health, and at how they all shape your dog's day-to-day wellbeing.

It all started with Zane. He was a rescue dog who was scared of the world and reactive with other dogs, and Lisa was the owner who felt embarrassed every time he kicked off. Then someone suggested giving him a job. That job was canicross, and it changed everything for them both.

Lisa talks about how she went from dog walker to holistic consultant. She covers Reiki and massage, the silent pain dogs carry, fresh feeding on a budget, golden paste, and the two essential oils she uses ahead of bonfire night.

Timings

- 02:22 Who is The Dog Witch?

- 03:16 Zane, reactivity and how canicross gave him a job

- 06:00 From dog walker to holistic consultant

- 08:07 Zane's rescue story

- 10:44 Reading body language and scoping out venues

- 13:22 What is Reiki?

- 16:21 Silent pain and what X-rays can miss

- 17:33 Teaching owners dog massage

- 19:40 Nutrition: the best food you can afford

- 22:34 Golden paste explained

- 25:04 Natural remedies vs shop-bought supplements

- 29:25 Batch cooking for your dog

- 31:11 Essential oils and firework anxiety

- 33:41 Why Zach the cocker spaniel doesn't canicross

Where to find Lisa

Ever felt like you're the only person in your area who does canicross? Katrine knows exactly how that feels.

Originally from Denmark and now living in Norway, Katrine had never heard the word canicross until she adopted Saxo, a gentle black Labrador who came to her at 10 months old, barely used to walking on a lead. With no club, no running buddies and no one to ask, she researched it all herself and just got going.

Three and a half years later, she's racing, building her own local canicross group from scratch, and training for a half marathon across a frozen Swedish lake.

In this episode, Louise and Michelle chat to Katrine about:

• Why canicross is surprisingly small in Norway, even though it's home to Non-stop dogwear
• Starting out alone with a FreeMotion harness and a lot of online research
• Her first proper canicross race: first off the line, the only Lab among a row of hounds, and a 3K PB
• The moment she realised Saxo wasn't a "non-pulling dog." If she picks up the pace, he goes. If she backs off, so does he.
• How listening to the podcast inspired her to add strength training, a weekly solo interval session and a look at her nutrition
• Starting a Facebook canicross group, running an info evening and getting the local paper interested
• Why newcomers find canicross scary, and how she reassures nervous runners and owners of reactive dogs
• Running through Norwegian winters at minus 20, using dog boots, and plans for snowshoe cani-trekking
• Her next big goal: the Sollentuna Winter Marathon half marathon for dogs, near Stockholm
• Why she's joining the Great British Dog Jog and planning group runs around it. (Join us and run 5K with your dog any time between 12 and 31 October)

Follow Katrine and Saxo

Follow @saxothelab on Instagram

Join Katrine's Canicross Bø og omegn page on Facebook.

Becky Forman joins Louise and Michelle once again on Canicross Conversations, this time with a very personal update.

Her German Shorthaired Pointer, Bronson, has been diagnosed with epilepsy, and Becky talks openly about the confusion, the fear, the medication merry-go-round, and the change that finally gave the family some breathing space.

Bronson's episodes started at around 14 months old. At first he just seemed "drunk", wobbly and a bit unwell. Over time they became more frequent and more severe, until a specialist confirmed they were seizures. Becky shares what they've learned about triggers, how they managed day to day, what to do during a seizure, and why she wishes they'd started medication sooner.

Since switching Bronson to a raw diet on 1st June, he hasn't had a seizure. Becky is clear this isn't a cure and it won't work for every dog, but it has given them their life back.

NB This is Becky's own experience and not veterinary advice. If your dog is having seizures, please speak to your vet or a specialist.

- 01:16 How it all started

- 06:02 The medication "honeymoon period"

- 07:16 Triggers and the gentle wake-up routine

- 11:02 Seizures after sedation

- 12:10 Why every seizure matters

- 14:05 How long is too long, and cluster seizures

- 16:25 Ten tablets a day and the side effects

- 18:50 The diet change

- 21:15 Why keto is the key

- 24:13 What happened with Lexi

- 27:46 What the vet thinks

- 30:28 Is it hereditary?

- 32:33 Why you should report it to your breed coordinator

- 35:38 Is Bronson still running?

- 38:42 Vaccines and flea treatments

- 39:57 Becky's advice if you're at the start of this journey

- 41:09 Where to find Becky

Follow @lexi_and_bronson on Instagram and look for the post titled Epilepsy. Becky's inbox is open if you want to share your story or just need someone who understands.