Running with your dog can keep you fit, but needs to be done responsibly | Letter

Though canicross is a rewarding and safe sport, it requires proper equipment and training, writes Dr Stephanie Merchant

As a fellow “dog runner” and longtime reader of the Guardian, I was intrigued, and subsequently disappointed, to read Zoe Williams’ article (The dog and I can run together – what could possibly go wrong?, Weekend, 15 December). In a clumsy attempt to be humorous, Williams both belittles a burgeoning sport (canicross), provides misinformation and promotes the purchase of inappropriate equipment (the suggested dog “vest harness”), which could negatively impact on pet health.

Considering the Guardian’s wide readership and potential to influence reader behaviour, I believe it has a duty to publish informed and well-researched articles that value quality information over quick satire.

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