Ambassadors

BINGO

Mitch and his girls came into my life in 2019 and it did not take long for me to become part of the family. I thought life was good enough having a big backyard in the beautiful Lake Macquarie, two active little kids who I love and adore to play outside with daily, the neighbour dog taking me for a walk every single day, and an extended family that loves me. Then Mitch added onto all that our adventures into the trails! He tried to start us off short and slow, but I wouldn't let him dial us back too much and before long, with our vets blessing, we were trail running together! I thought everything was easy, before trying on the Tail Runner Harness & Waist Lead which made life perfect. The Harness was a game changer for me, and Mitch won't shut up about how much better his life was from the waist lead. Mitch’s favourite activity is to find new trails, whereas I just love being out there regardless of how new or old our tracks are. During 2020 lockdown Mitch made a completely stupid decision to run a marathon around our house, 350x loops around our fence non-stop! I joined him for the first half, then he threw me back inside the fence and claimed I needed the rest (I still beg to differ!). My favourite run to date has definitely been the Tail Runner Riverwood Wood Trail Run! It really is the happiest race on earth, and I loved running with other Tail Running dogs just like me! The only downside of that day was Mitch was too slow for us to podium - next year!! Running with my humans is something I look forward to every day, and it is fair to say without Tail Runner our lives would be less awesome. I hope I get the chance to meet YOU out on the trails soon!

 

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SCOUT

The first day I met Scout I took a photo of her and her siblings and sent it straight to my partner. We had been looking for an Australian working breed rescue pup for a little while and just hadn't yet found the one for us. The little red bundle took our hearts almost instantly, and the next day we were at the RSPCA with the adoption papers signed, just waiting for her to get desexed so we could take her home. Since the moment she arrived home, we knew we had a little terror, but with time, training and patience she has become our perfect dog. 

 

As Scout was growing, I began to take up running. I'd always struggled to have the motivation to run, and kept coming up with excuses not to do it. But with Scout by my side, we worked together and slowly built up the kilometres and became runners. We started off just running to the dog park, letting her run around for a while, then walking home. From there we just gradually built it up and eventually I completed my first half marathon. 

 

I always hated participating in running events without Scout, and was so excited when I heard about the Riverwood Downs Tail run. I could not be more excited to finally enter an event with my running companion. Next thing you know I've got the Tailrunner harness and hands-free leash set and we could train together for our first event as a pair. Now we keep July free each year to make sure we can run together on our favourite weekend of the year!

Jess Pooley

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 FANTA

I was given up at the early age of 7 months due to my endless energy. No one had put any time into me. I didn’t even know my own name. 

 

I was rescued by Rockies K9 rescue and that is how my pawrents found me. I show them how much I appreciate them at night only since all the birds are sleeping then 😂

 Joshua Barclay

 

 

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ROXY

RIP beautiful girl December 2018  
The first of the TailRunner original ambassadors

In May 2009 after loosing our beloved German Shepherd Narla a few months earlier we decided it was time to open our harts to another four legged friend. I had seen online a dog at the Animal Welfare League on the Gold Coast that looked like she would suit. So I packed the kids in the car and made it to the Gold Coast just before the cut off time for adoptions. As we looked at all the dogs one small little pup got my attention with her big sad eyes. The lady helping us told me this dog would grow very large and would be too boisterous but I knew she was the one for us. She met our other dog Bella which went well so we adopted her and bundled her into the car for the hour and a half trip home. We re named her Roxy and she instantly became part of our family. In 2013 I decided it was time to get fit. I had always been a runner in my younger years so started my running journey. At Pete's suggestion I took Roxy along for protection and after our first run together I declared it was never going to work. She would get excited, pull, stop and trip me over. We persisted and within a few weeks we were on our way to mastering running together. From there we went from strength to strength. We ran out first half together at Ipswich park2park in 2014 and have compeated in it every year since. She has become my number 1 running partner. We have run thousands of kilometers together many of them with just us in the beautiful bush in White Rock. We keep each safe and sane on the long runs and we push each other on the hard faster runs.

 

 

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SMITHY

I remember the first time I scrolled across the application on the Australian Working Dog Rescue Website for Smithy…. something just ignited inside of me and I knew we were meant to find each other. I had been searching for a while as I wanted to find a doggy soulmate to protect me on my early morning runs. I filled out the application form on the AWDRI website and spoke to Smithy’s Foster Carer via phone. I still remember that phone call which reinforced even further that feeling that we were meant to be together. Within a couple of weeks Smithy was on doggy transport from Charters Towers in North Queensland, to his new home in Rockhampton - Central Queensland. The moment I met Smithy was a moment that will be etched in my heart forever. As the transport driver opened the door of the doggy trailer, Smithy bounded out and literally jumped into my arms with his head snuggled into my neck. It was love at first sight!

Smithy and I were running around the block within the first week. Then within a couple of months we discovered the Tail Runner products and nothing could stop us. He adapted to the hands free leash literally overnight and before I knew it he was running longer and longer distances with me. He ran his first official race at the Rocky River Run in 2015 and we have completed this event together each year. This year we completed the half marathon and the Event Coordinator’s even gave us free entries to promote and show everyone how fun it can be running with your dog! Of course we showed off our Tail Runner products to everyone who asked and couldn’t believe how easy we made it look running together. A run just doesn’t feel right now unless I have
Smithy with me. We push each other to go further and faster and most of all we have fun each and every time we go running! He has touched the hearts of so many people in the local running community and it seems that my friends only want to come running with me these days so that they can see Smithy

and buy him puppy-chinos at the local café after our runs! It is such an amazing feeling knowing that I saved his life, but most of all, amongst the unconditional love and loyalty, I’ve actually discovered that he is the one who ending up saving me.