Jack of All Trades, Master of None by Sarah Elliott

I’m the proud pawrent of a multi-sport spaniel squad! I have a small, chaotic pack of spanners who will try anything once, with varying degrees of success, before moving on in search of the next thrill. I love their give-it-a-go attitude. Let me introduce my furpals:

Nina – Wonderdog – is now retired and firmly in her twilight years, but don’t tell her that – she never got the memo! She is the reason this whole multi-sport nonsense started. Whatever the activity was, whether water, mud, obstacles, distance or a startling height – Nina’s answer was always, “Yes! Why are we waiting?” She's slower these days, and has earned every grey hair on her muzzle, but her title remains unchallenged. She truly is Wonderdog.

Mickey – Mr Due Diligence – likes a plan. He approaches a new obstacle, gives it a good sniff, does a lap around it, then considers his options like a solicitor reading a contract. He is not a dog who leaps first and asks questions later – he checks the small print, then leaps with great gusto! Water is the exception. Mickey will only go in if I go first. I am written into his terms of service – no human lifeguard, no swim!

Indie – Miss Speedy Gonzalez – is the youngest and has never yet paused to think before doing anything. She’s in, off, around, down, up, and through. New sport? She’s already had a go before I've finished explaining the rules. Indie is the cartoon mouse blur that’s already halfway across the field going “Ándale, ándale!” while the rest of us are still finding our trainers. It is brilliant and alarming, in equal parts.

Between the three of them, over the years, we’ve had a genuinely ridiculous go at:

Dock diving – Indie launching in with abandon, Nina diving with elegance, Mickey inspecting the dock’s structural integrity

Swimming – see above, re: Mickey’s contractual requirement that I get wet first and save him, if required

Paddleboarding – balance, patience and at least one dog treating it as a floating diving board

Agility – weaving, jumping and generally finishing the course before I’ve caught up

Bikejoring – harnessed-up, full steam ahead, and yes, I’ve only risked it a few times with Indie!

Hill-walking – climbing, trekking and camping with Nina keeping me warm.

Competitions  – we’ve taken part in many races over the years, including Tri-Dog, with all three dogs bringing their own distinct energy to the same challenge.

But of course, our favourite thing to do is Canicross; the sport we always come back to, and one at which all three are genuinely brilliant! They’re ready, willing and able, and I love being their running companion. My spanners are the best possible reason to keep lacing up my trainers and hitting the trails!

Ready, steady, go!