Running with dog

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  • Calliope610
    Calliope610 Posts: 3,783 Member
    I have a 6mo old Australian Cattle Dog (blue heeler), and she and I have been walking since she was about 2mo old. We walk about 1-2miles twice daily, but in this Texas heat and humidity, I have to really be mindful of her comfort. I walk with her, then go solo for another mile or 2.

    I have started C25K, so hopefully, by the time I can run 3 miles, the weather will be cooler and Cora (my pup) and I can start running together. I can't wait.

    Any training tips from other dog runners is greatly appreciated!

    Also check with your vet on when it is OK to run with your puppy. With our border collie, they recommended not running with her until she was a year old to allow her body to grow properly and be ready to handle the exercise. Then I built up her miles as we started just like I do for myself. I did walk her and hike with her until she was 1. Now she is 3 and runs and also hikes with a backpack with no issues. During the hot months, i try to run in the morning or evening on dirt trails to protect her pads. She also has booties for rocky terrain. She has super tough pads so we have not had any issues but our last border collie had very sensitive pads so we watch them pretty closely.

    I have checked with my vet, in fact, the clinic is on our walking route. On occasion, he is out with the large animals (I live in a rural community) and waves us down, asking how the walks are progressing and how far we go.

    And in Texas, it won't get cool until about November. Cora will be 10months by then. I don't anticipate really running with her on a consistent basis until next spring.
  • Leah_Alexis
    Leah_Alexis Posts: 139 Member
    My husband used to take our collie x out for his runs. Last fall he took her out on a long run in the warm weather. Within an hour of being home she had a seizure. She does have Epilepsy. Since I'm much slower than my husband and just learning to jog with lots of walking in between I take her out now but only on cool days. My husband has recently started to take our bullmastiff out for his runs. There would be no way I can control a 125lb dog who is not well socalized.
  • airen123
    airen123 Posts: 149
    I run my Puggle in cooler weather. He loves it! But when it's hot, he can barely stand to go outside in our yard for more than a minute, so I don't run him in the summer.
  • DavidHusky
    DavidHusky Posts: 112 Member
    I started running so I could tired out my siberian husky in less time (now I've actually grown to like it!). I live in Minneapolis and in the winter I am definitely the limiting factor (he can keep up with a 4 wheeler going 20mph no problem). Now that its nasty and humid I have to be careful not to over do it with him.
  • Melissa11412
    Melissa11412 Posts: 145 Member
    running with your dog is great! Only thing I would say is don't take the dog if it's a warm day - it's just not fair on them, I've seen people running with their dogs at midday in the height of summer and the poor things really struggle, imagine running with a big thick fur coat on! But other than that it's great for both you and your dog, enjoy!

    OMG thisss......I live in Houston and the temp index gets to be 100+ during the day and this starts in MAY......it pains me so much to see dogs struggling along the run trail at Memorial Park! ugh
  • katarina236
    katarina236 Posts: 40 Member
    I love running with my dog. He is a 15 pound terrier mix. When we rescued him he was scrawny where you could see his ribs poking out. Now he is a lean mean running machine! We go in the morning since it is cooler and if I don't get up when the alarm goes on he will come in and make me get up. I made my own version of a hands free leash by tying one leash around my waist and tying the other leash to that so he is always by my side since he has a tendency to dart after small critters.

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