Running with dogs

lissdelco

Stop into your local pet store and get a no pull harness. They're great and doesn't choke the dog

froeschli

One thing it took me about a year to learn, is that it's you creating the situation. If you go in worried about what might happen, I guarantee you it will. The hardest part for me was allowing him to be good, if that makes sense.
It's also good to have a 'stop' command - I'm at a point where my dog can be getting into a rumble with another one, and I tell him 'be nice' and he stops it right there and goes back to fetch his toy. - meaning he probably has learned that 'be nice' means 'ignore the other dog', which I used a lot when he'd threaten dogs or people across the road...
Not a perfect strategy, but it has kept him out of trouble.

Just be aware of the difference between dominance and aggression. If you're dealing with injuries, it's a good time to see a professional trainer.

froeschli

Stop into your local pet store and get a no pull harness. They're great and doesn't choke the dog

We tried the one that tightens under the dogs front legs. Didn't stop him pulling, he'd just limp after a while. It only works in dogs that will respond to discomfort/pain. Bully breeds, shepherds etc, may not care all that much.

Enigmatica

I run with my German Shepherd almost every day, and frequently have a guest dog or two coming along as well. I love it!!

MrsB123111

My 8 month old Cheagle (chihuahua/beagle mix) does MUCH better on walks/runs than our German Sheperd, who will be 5 in October! The little one stays right next to me the whole time and doesn't pull at all. But she gets tired after about a mile.

WPoppysmith

Just started the couch potato to 5k this evening, have been meaning to start it for awhile but couldnt get motivated, but today started looking after a 5 yr old black ret x lab who needs to loose weight (same as me) and the vet has said she needs more exercise (same as me) - took advice from professional and we started on it tonight - The five minute warm up is good as it takes me that long to get to the back track and then I can let her off the lead, she gently jogged (my speed not hers, she wanted to go faster) and walked by my side through the whole thing and came home with a glint in her eye and a wag in her tail.

josavage

I run with my two sheltie mixes. They have a lot of hair and I use the prong collars. I clip their leash to my running belt so I am hands free. I had to switch to the prong collars because a couple of years ago they went after a squirrel, pulled me hard, and I ended up with a labral tear in my hip joint. It was 17 days before my first marathon and by the time I finished the race, I had a stress fracture at the top of my femur. So now if they want to run with me, they have to wear the prong collar.

Another thing - when I walk my dogs they are right next to me. I do not use a retractable leash and they have to stay by me. They need to know that I am the leader - not them. This really helps with control during the runs. We have a couple of parks that we walk by and that's where I give them more freedom. As soon as we start walking again, they have to be right by me.

Good luck with your dog. They really are great running buddies.

NoxDineen

My border collie/retriever cross tore my meniscus when I just headed out and tried to run with her leash tied around me. I'm going to try again, bringing her on my friends' Couch to 5k runs starting with week 1. It'll be slow enough that I can focus on keeping her running correctly right next to me, and jam treats into her mouth so she learns it's the best thing ever.

I also plan to use a different leash, and maybe even put a different collar on her. She's super smart already about figuring about what specifically is going on when I'm near the front door (doesn't budge if I don't plan on bringing her, wags and prances if I do, either way I never say a word except with my body). I figure a little "Let's go running! Let's put on your special running leash!" ritual will remind her we're going outside to do something different then normal off-leash walks.

I also plan to run even short distances with a bottle of water. I don't need a drink if it's just 5k, but my black dog running in a fur coat just might.

Good luck. A friend of mine regularly runs 10k with her 6 year old Lab, but she worked her dog up to that as gradually as you'd expect a human to do it. I've even seen ultramarathon dogs.

ashleyxxxo

Just started the couch potato to 5k this evening, have been meaning to start it for awhile but couldnt get motivated, but today started looking after a 5 yr old black ret x lab who needs to loose weight (same as me) and the vet has said she needs more exercise (same as me) - took advice from professional and we started on it tonight - The five minute warm up is good as it takes me that long to get to the back track and then I can let her off the lead, she gently jogged (my speed not hers, she wanted to go faster) and walked by my side through the whole thing and came home with a glint in her eye and a wag in her tail.

That is awesome!! I wish you guys luck!! It sounds like its the perfect situation for both of you, you two can keep each other motivated:))

ashleyxxxo

My border collie/retriever cross tore my meniscus when I just headed out and tried to run with her leash tied around me. I'm going to try again, bringing her on my friends' Couch to 5k runs starting with week 1. It'll be slow enough that I can focus on keeping her running correctly right next to me, and jam treats into her mouth so she learns it's the best thing ever.

I also plan to use a different leash, and maybe even put a different collar on her. She's super smart already about figuring about what specifically is going on when I'm near the front door (doesn't budge if I don't plan on bringing her, wags and prances if I do, either way I never say a word except with my body). I figure a little "Let's go running! Let's put on your special running leash!" ritual will remind her we're going outside to do something different then normal off-leash walks.

I also plan to run even short distances with a bottle of water. I don't need a drink if it's just 5k, but my black dog running in a fur coat just might.


Good luck. A friend of mine regularly runs 10k with her 6 year old Lab, but she worked her dog up to that as gradually as you'd expect a human to do it. I've even seen ultramarathon dogs.

That sounds like a really good idea bringing her on the journey with you. That way you always will have a buddy Plus I can see dogs being a big motivator, they will always have more energy and speed then we ever could, (especially a border collie) and I could see them pushing you.

I can't wait to start running with my dog. Its definitely a bonding experience between the two of you, and I can not wait to get to that point.

easfahl

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If she pulls, you ideally need to firstly train her to walk and jog by the side of you, a dog running at speed with you is more likely to pull you off your feet than at a slower pace, so for yours and everyone else's safety her knowing the commands is needed first.
It may be she already knows the commands but the excitement of running with you just overwhelms her in which case using something that gives you full control of her in a kind none harsh way is an option. I use dogmatics, they are a headcollar which doesn't ride in to the eyes. I can walk, or jog four great danes total weight being nearly 300kg.
Another thing to remember is if the dog is young jogging for a long period of time is not good for the joints. And just like us they need to build up their fitness and stamina.
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^^^^^^^ This!!!

I've been running with my 2 English Springer Spaniels (yes, both at the same time) since they were one year old. I feel so much safer with them and they ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! It really enforces the pack mentality too. That's another reason it's important for them to run next to you instead of in front of you, even if you take up a lot of room. I did do obedience training with both of them and continue to work really hard on training maintenance. I've tripped over them only twice in almost 4 years. They really learn to watch your cues and pay attention to your body language as you both learn to run together. I try to keep their distances up as to not lose ground in our training distances, but remember they have to work up to longer distances just like you. That means their pads as well as their cardio. Have fun!

You can see my two running buddies in my pics section.

dodgersprincess

when I run my 10 year old dog gets happy and pulls on the leash with her teeth and jumps. She is one happy dog.

jilliew

Ohmygosh, I couldn't imagine taking my dog on a bike. I think she would murder me haha. How in the world did you train them to do that?

It was actually pretty easy. Once he was good walking beside me without pulling, I got a retractable leash (one made for a dog his size) so he wouldn't pull me and the bike over (I really have terrible balance anyway). I started with walking him with the bike between us so he got used to the bike. Then I got on the bike and walked it without using the peddles. Then I rode the bike. That took me about an hour. The first time I shifted, he freaked out and tried to bolt (hence the retractable leash, btw) but I'm sure a normal, well adjusted dog will have less of a problem with that - he just hates noises.

I just repeated that over and over, each time actually riding and pedaling the bike a little longer and a little faster. It took me maybe two weeks to get him to trot beside the bike for a good 10 minutes, then we stopped for a rest and a dip in the local lake so he could cool off a little, then bike home. I got him good enough so he could run at full speed for a bit on a straight stretch of path, but mostly he just trotted at a comfortable speed happily wagging his tail with his tongue hanging out. He already loved running with my boyfriend on his roller blades, so it was really just getting him used to the machine of the bike.

I also taught him to run on a treadmill, too, incidentally, for the days when it was too hot or too cold or too rainy to be outside. It took me about a half hour (and probably half a bag of treats) to get him to walk, and about a month to teach him to stay on the treadmill and trot at a decent speed when I wasn't sitting on the floor beside him. I liked to do calisthenics while he ran on those crappy outside days, and he usually had a 15-20 min trot in the morning while I was making my breakfast and lunch for the day.

tabinmaine

If she pulls, you ideally need to firstly train her to walk and jog by the side of you, a dog running at speed with you is more likely to pull you off your feet than at a slower pace, so for yours and everyone else's safety her knowing the commands is needed first.
It may be she already knows the commands but the excitement of running with you just overwhelms her in which case using something that gives you full control of her in a kind none harsh way is an option. I use dogmatics, they are a headcollar which doesn't ride in to the eyes. I can walk, or jog four great danes total weight being nearly 300kg.
Another thing to remember is if the dog is young jogging for a long period of time is not good for the joints. And just like us they need to build up their fitness and stamina.
[/quote]

^^^^^^^ This!!!

I've been running with my 2 English Springer Spaniels (yes, both at the same time) since they were one year old. I feel so much safer with them and they ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT! It really enforces the pack mentality too. That's another reason it's important for them to run next to you instead of in front of you, even if you take up a lot of room. I did do obedience training with both of them and continue to work really hard on training maintenance. I've tripped over them only twice in almost 4 years. They really learn to watch your cues and pay attention to your body language as you both learn to run together. I try to keep their distances up as to not lose ground in our training distances, but remember they have to work up to longer distances just like you. That means their pads as well as their cardio. Have fun!

You can see my two running buddies in my pics section.
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Your springers remind me of my running buddy, who is a black and white cocker spaniel cross, I will have to post pics of her, she is a doll and loves to run with me... we usually do 3-5 miles

Owlie45

What is the reason for waiting until the dog is 1-2 years old?

Bones and joints are not fully developed.

jennaworksout

i would love to run with mine but I guess you need to wait until they are 2 and fully grown? mines only 1 but he loves running, I hope to take him sometime I still worry about his hips.