Running with dog

I don't run with my dog but she is my walking partner. She is an American mastiff and not really built for long runs but I have to walk pretty fast to keep up with her walking strides. I think dogs are great motivators and its great for your health and his!!

My pit Samson tries to run with me but he's just to stocky and his legs are too short. .. but boy can he walk .... he goes about 3.5-4.0 mph and can go as far a 6 miles though it has to be 70 degrees F or less out as he can't tolerate heat at all (I nearly gave him heat stroke once) ... this is why the next dog I get will be a greyhound so I can take him/her on long runs ...

I have 2 dogs but one of them Foxy really, really loves running. When my hubby is getting ready for a run foxy starts quivering with excitement and nibbles hubby's hands while he is doing up shoelaces on running shoes. When I am walking them, if I see a runner I have to hold onto him otherwise he tries to go off with the runner, strange behaviour for a rescue dog who will not let anybody other than me & hubby touch him!

I take my dog Buster with me on runs sometimes. If I do take him, I always make sure to run an area that has a pond or lake. Sometimes I will run at the dog park as well, so that he doesn't have to be leashed.

I have a lab and german shepard who I run with. I love it and it gives them the exercise they need too!

I ran with my American Bulldog. She is great company. Only downfalls is that she has tripped me over once (its funny now, but I was pretty annoyed at the time) and she is limited to cooler temps. She overheated badly once which was really scary

A black Labrador called Taz. He comes every time, and I don't think I could go running without him

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I don't as often as I used to now. My lab doesn't like to run. He pretty much tops out at 5k. Once we hit around 4k he acts like I'm dragging him but will get home and run laps around the backyard off leash.
My older German Shepherd lives to run with me but he is almost 11 and has a some arthritis in his knee so we take it easy now.
My other GSD is usually working when I run but if my husband is away or on vacation I'll take him.

I walk/jog about 20 min. at 7 am with my 3 year old blind and deaf Aussi, Charlie along the same route each day. The exercise ends up being intervals with occasional sniffing sessions between long walk fast and short, paced run sessions. I watch where we are going very carefully for critters, dips or nasty smelling spots. And I watch him carefully to see if he is excited or tired. After doing this for 3 weeks he seems more comfortable with the terrain and wants to run/ jog a bit more lately. I couldn't possibly keep up with him if he wanted to run full out but he seems to understand that and just jogs at my rate. We might start expanding the length of time out. I do feel much safer with him by my side and I doubt if I would go out if he weren't. I'm sure that these morning walks motivated me to get started back on my treadmill in the evening.

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!

You can run with your dog in the summer as well so long as you are willing to accommodate. I always make sure that our summer runs are first thing in the morning on hot days (though that's not necessarily a "cool" period where we live as it's often 25-30C by 6am). I pick running routes that cross water so that she can wade in to cool off, and make sure to carry extra water for her and that we take water breaks. I wouldn't say she struggles any worse than I do, but if I see her flagging it's a good indication that it's time to head in!

I run with my border collie Elvira. My hubs trained her and she is a great running partner -- she runs right next to me. Best thing she does is follow a command called "switch", if she is running on my left side (her preference) and a runner or bike is coming toward us (which means they will pass on my left side where she is), i tell her switch and she goes behind me to run on my right and stays there until i tell her release. She has started to switch on her own now. I think it makes other runners and cyclists more comfortable to have a dog on the opposite side of the runner.

The funniest thing she does is watch the bikes and she starts to get into a crouch as she watches them approach --- the classic border collie stare and posture but she never breaks stride.

That's a neat idea. I may steal it. My Shepherds heel and I used to try to move to the other side of the sidewalk to put myself between the person approaching and the dog (not because of the dog but for the other people in case they were nervous) but people never seem to get it and try to swing wider.

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!

If you can get them used to going before you run it saves a ton of hassle with doggie bags. My older GSD does, but my lab is guaranteed to poop on the run.

Keep an eye on paw pads especially when it's warm.

Just like any training be consistent. Some people use a command, I've heard of others who clip the leash to their belt and that is the cue "we are running". I also use the word "break" to let them know when they can sniff and stuff (we use that command in other ways too so they know it). When first teaching them to run, give the command and run. If the dog stops to sniff, I say "no" and keep going and pull the dog along (you can slow down, I'm not saying drag the dog but if you stop completely the dog learns "I stop, she stops"). A few repetitions and the dog should get the idea of no stopping.
I also have gotten to know when my dogs need to go so I' stop and give them the "break" command.

our shelter in memphis is full of wonderful running partners that need rescue fast....come and get one and save a life and gain a firend and running companion..........you will not be sorry.

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.

Yes, the recommendation for my Lab was 1 - 2 years so I erred on the side of caution and waited the 2.
Running with us at our pace is different then running on their own. You can even see the different gait.