Training a dog to run with you
Alatariel75
Posts: 18,370 Member
So, we got a puppy. He's awesome. He's also already huge and is going to be a big dog. I want to train him to run with me, because he'll need a lot of exercise and it just makes sense.
I know it's not as easy as just popping his lead on and taking off. He's very sniffy when we walk, and I don't want to hurt him, or myself, if he stops to sniff, or gets distracted.
Any advice for training a dog to run with you so you don't end up going A over T?
I know it's not as easy as just popping his lead on and taking off. He's very sniffy when we walk, and I don't want to hurt him, or myself, if he stops to sniff, or gets distracted.
Any advice for training a dog to run with you so you don't end up going A over T?
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Start walking him everyday. Build up the length of time. Kind of like couch to 5k. Soon he will be running.0
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I would start on good leash manners, and once he has those down, get started on the running. My dog actually did C25K with me, although she would insist on a potty break each run. Apparently running causes the same effect on the digestive system of dogs as it does with people.
You didn't say what breed, but our vet also recommended a supplement for joint health for our lab mix since she was running regularly and they are prone to issues, so might want to check with them about any possible concerns for your breed.4 -
Ah good point, I didn't think about breed. He's a rescue, so I know he's part (mostly?) American Staffy but he's mixed with something big and leggy. A supplement wouldn't hurt in any event.
I like thinking of it like C25k.
He's only a baby, so he's all over the place on the lead at the moment. I can imagine trying to run with him now would end up with us both wrapped in the leash on the road.1 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »Ah good point, I didn't think about breed. He's a rescue, so I know he's part (mostly?) American Staffy but he's mixed with something big and leggy. A supplement wouldn't hurt in any event.
I like thinking of it like C25k.
He's only a baby, so he's all over the place on the lead at the moment. I can imagine trying to run with him now would end up with us both wrapped in the leash on the road.
I've done that. Ouch!0 -
queenliz99 wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »Ah good point, I didn't think about breed. He's a rescue, so I know he's part (mostly?) American Staffy but he's mixed with something big and leggy. A supplement wouldn't hurt in any event.
I like thinking of it like C25k.
He's only a baby, so he's all over the place on the lead at the moment. I can imagine trying to run with him now would end up with us both wrapped in the leash on the road.
I've done that. Ouch!
That's what worries me! LOL. He's all feet at the moment
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Alatariel75 wrote: »queenliz99 wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »Ah good point, I didn't think about breed. He's a rescue, so I know he's part (mostly?) American Staffy but he's mixed with something big and leggy. A supplement wouldn't hurt in any event.
I like thinking of it like C25k.
He's only a baby, so he's all over the place on the lead at the moment. I can imagine trying to run with him now would end up with us both wrapped in the leash on the road.
I've done that. Ouch!
That's what worries me! LOL. He's all feet at the moment
Soon you will become acquainted with him, read him like a book. I read dog, seriously. LOL1 -
Be careful, due to the stress on their growing joints they recommend not running with your pup until they are at least 1, 2yo for bigger breeds9
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start with a good obedience class, that will teach dog good citizen skills. I do have a dog trained to carry my medical supplies (I'm diabetic) and to stay near me when I go down. She was at least a year when she began her running training. What kind of dog?4
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Alatariel75 wrote: »
Yep, for sure. I have a pup that turned 1 this summer and we're only starting to work on running politely on-leash (and on-command!) now, but won't go for building any distance until at least 18 months.
At 11 weeks you want to enroll in a puppy manners class to work on basic training and leash/voice control as well as providing as much canine and human socialization as possible before the "socialization window" closes ~16-20 weeks. The plus side of classes and puppy playtimes is that they burn off a lot of puppy energy (seriously, he will calm down later!) and learn basic social cues. By the time you're ready to train for running, you'll know how to get the dog focused on you and your task (running!) rather than investigating every plant and person you pass!3 -
Be careful, due to the stress on their growing joints they recommend not running with your pup until they are at least 1, 2yo for bigger breeds
All of this. They didn't recommend anything more than really short walks (or walking only on soft surfaces), to avoid jumping, or lots of running whilst they're in that first 12-18 month growth phase. For our wolfhound, he only had around the block walks or we took him to a doggy beach for the first year. American Staffy's are pretty sturdy, but if you want them to have happy twilight years, they need to be treated quite gently in their earliest ones.
Just focus on good leash habits and training, and by the time he's fully grown he'll be ready to train up as your perfect running buddy. If I started running before mine became a grumpy old man, he would have been a perfect partner
Makes me wish I started 4 years earlier.
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Thanks guys, this is really helpful! I wonder if we have been over-walking him, he goes around the block a couple times a day. He's just got so much energy!
He needs his next lot of shots before he can be properly socialised at the dog park, but we've got friends who have fully immunised dogs who he has met and played with a few times. He gets lots of human socialisation. He will start puppy school next weekend.1 -
You have a new puppy and don't post pics?3
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Awwwww! So cute.
Agree with comments here - no running until his bones have stopped growing, dog obedience for loose leash walking and I'll add lots of mental stimulation to wear him out.
We just adopted a 1 year old rescue and he's a rascal! He's a working breed mix so he's high energy and we wanted to run him but he's a monster on the leash (probably because he was tied up for most of his early life).
We're week four in basic dog obedience and the improvements are amazing. We do 15-20 minutes training a day with him plus loose leash walking twice a day and he is learning fast. While I read a lot of hints and tips for training (that were great) there is nothing like a professional instructor showing you how to do it (and listen to what they say and follow their rules no matter how hard they are!)
Google mind games for dogs and try some - mental stimulation can be as tiring as exercise for a puppy (and save your sanity).
You're on the right track. Good luck and in 12 months u bet you have a fantastic running partner.1 -
So sweet. We taught our 5 year old rescue dog to run and she is a staff mix also. The main training was teaching her that she had 5 minutes at the start of the run and 5 minutes at the end to sniff and toilet break. She loves it and can manage 5 miles as long as it is not too hot.2
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Alatariel75 wrote: »
d'aaaawwwwwww. He certainly aint going to stay that little for long. I'm sure he'll always stay just as cute though, unless e's drooling on something.
Actually, how does your cat like him?1 -
mangrothian wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »
d'aaaawwwwwww. He certainly aint going to stay that little for long. I'm sure he'll always stay just as cute though, unless e's drooling on something.
Actually, how does your cat like him?
Funnily, they both like him better than they like each other. The older one ignores him until he's right in her face, then she bops him. The younger one hisses when he gets right in her face, but is also fascinated with him, follows him around and watches him all day. They curl up on opposite sides of the glass backdoor and nap in the sun. I think they will be friends soon.2 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »mangrothian wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »
d'aaaawwwwwww. He certainly aint going to stay that little for long. I'm sure he'll always stay just as cute though, unless e's drooling on something.
Actually, how does your cat like him?
Funnily, they both like him better than they like each other. The older one ignores him until he's right in her face, then she bops him. The younger one hisses when he gets right in her face, but is also fascinated with him, follows him around and watches him all day. They curl up on opposite sides of the glass backdoor and nap in the sun. I think they will be friends soon.
Maybe you can leash train one of your kitties and they can go on walks together 1 -
mangrothian wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »mangrothian wrote: »Alatariel75 wrote: »
d'aaaawwwwwww. He certainly aint going to stay that little for long. I'm sure he'll always stay just as cute though, unless e's drooling on something.
Actually, how does your cat like him?
Funnily, they both like him better than they like each other. The older one ignores him until he's right in her face, then she bops him. The younger one hisses when he gets right in her face, but is also fascinated with him, follows him around and watches him all day. They curl up on opposite sides of the glass backdoor and nap in the sun. I think they will be friends soon.
Maybe you can leash train one of your kitties and they can go on walks together
Baha, now that would be a sight to see! They could use it, they're both obese. Somehow, I don't think they'd cooperate...1 -
Sooo cute!! Sounds like he and kitty will be best buds.
I agree with the other recommendations to start with walking and work on leash manners first. My puppy is almost 1 and totally ADHD on walks. Leash manners has taken constant, daily work and still need improvement. I'm just learning to run and really slow, so running for me is just a slightly faster walk/slow trot for my dog. Now that his leash manners have improved, he actually behaves better when I run than walking because he desperately wants to go faster. When we first started working on running, it was a disaster with him dragging me forward, then pulling me to a stop or tripping me when he stopped to sniff something. We almost wound up tangled in cacti several times. Now he is pretty good at heeling when we run, although he will still occasionally pull me to a halt to sniff something like he did last night.0 -
Ditto the recommendation not to run until at least 1 year and the recommendation to build up to it when you do. Running with us on lead is different than just running on their own.
One of my dogs was trained in "heel" so running wasn't really an issue. It really is the easiest place to start but not everyone does the "heel" command.
For the others, I used a command "let's go" to let them know "it's time to run, no stopping". My dogs are also all trained in a "free" command. When walking or doing anything else, "free" means they are free to do whatever they want. So I use that when running to let them know they can stop/sniff/pee, whatever.
When I first started running and they'd want to stop, I'd say "no" "let's go" and keep moving. I'd slow down so as not yank them but not allow them to stop either.
You also get to know your dog. My oldest dog (now passed) would never stop to poop on a run. He'd go before we left and be golden. My lab ALWAYS did even if he went before we left. I could always tell when the urge struck, he starts looking around and air scenting, so I stop and give him the free command.
The biggest thing is be consistent - same command, where you want them to run (my lab hates when we run on the wrong side of the road, he wants to be on the gravel but also won't leave my left side). I prefer my guys on my left but some people like having them out front or even behind.
Sadly, my lab never loved to run with me. He would be done at about 4 km. He would lag behind and make it look like I was dragging him (I was not). We get home, let him off leash and he'd run forever in the backyard.2 -
My puppy is also too young, but my last dog was my running buddy.
We had a harness that was only used for running. He knew when he was wearing it we would walk a block and a half so he could pee on every post, then once we started no stopping or pulling was allowed. If I got tuckered out and needed to walk he could stiff and mark to his hearts content, but no pulling was ever allowed while in the harness.
With the new puppy it's all about learning the leash skills now so the transitions is easier later.
edit to add: Even though Finn had almost perfect running manners I still had a tumble a time or two because of him. When the dog is more than half my size it happens, still worth it to me to have the company on a run. Since I'm capable of tripping over my own feet without help it hasn't increased my spills considerably.0 -
We have two dogs - one APBT and one boxer mix. Both are high energy, active dogs who love to go for long walks. When I was running (pregnant + summer = naahhh I'm good), the boxer mix was my go-to. He loved to run, and he wouldn't "pull" but he'd definitely help me keep my pace up if I started slacking. My APBT? He hears run, and fakes a limp. I'm not even joking. I tried to not say anything and take them out and start running, and he laid down and cried. Some dogs just aren't into it - and you'll learn that too.1
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Good suggestions above.
Also, as he matures, make sure to nip any signs of crittering in the bud. You can have the best heeling dog ever, but you will go flying when he unexpectedly launches after some squirrel or bird and you happen to be in mid-stride.
Ask me how I know.4 -
D'awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
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He's so cute! I don't have experience of running (with or without dogs!) but I remember being really nervous the first time I attached Diva's leash to my powerchair - teeny tiny dog and massive electric chair could have ended in disaster! Here are some tips that you may find useful:
- Liver cake treats - I make my own liver cake for her (flour, eggs and liver), and cut it into small pieces once baked. Every time she did the behaviour I requested she got a piece. She might get other treats for other things, but for following commands it's always liver cake.
- Teach pup the commands "left" and "right". I didn't want squished Bichon in my wheels, and you don't want to get caught in the leash ;-)
- Have a command for when it's appropriate for pup to go to the toilet. As an Assistance Dog, Diva's command is "be quick" and she will only empty when I've taken her working jacket off her and used that command.
- I don't know if this is only applicable for small dogs, but I was told to only exercise her for 5 minutes for each month of her life until she was 1 year old. So, at 6 months she had 30 mins (6x5) exercise.
- Reward all positive behaviours and be consistent.
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Build up slowly and make sure you aren't hurting his growth. Talk to the vet to see when it is okay to start taking him for longer distances. Animals, like humans, can be effected by too much impact. It is why so many racehorses break down - they are pushed too hard too soon.
Otherwise just start small, walks, and short jogs. It will just take patience. Make sure to teach him manners and to obey you around the house too. I'm a fan of rewarding positive behaviors when training any animal. Punishment is almost always misused and timed incorrectly to be useful in training.
And please, please - always run with your dog ON A LEASH. I am a huge dog and animal lover, but it is SUCH a pet peeve of mine for those who don't leash their animals when out in public. I don't care how well trained they are, there is always that one instance that they could choose to disregard you and chase something and get hurt, or hurt someone else. Not everyone on the trails are animal lovers, and it is out of respect for them that you keep your animal attached to you at all times. There are also a lot of state and park laws that enforce leashes.1 -
Good suggestions above.
Also, as he matures, make sure to nip any signs of crittering in the bud. You can have the best heeling dog ever, but you will go flying when he unexpectedly launches after some squirrel or bird and you happen to be in mid-stride.
Ask me how I know.
One evening I took our tracking dog for a run. He looked distracted so I thought he needed to pee. I gave him the "free" command and just about ended up in the ditch when he ran after some critter in the bushes I did not see.1 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »
oh my god that pupperz is soooooooooooo fricking cute. Looks like you might have a boxer or American bulldog mix!!!!!! Boxer are silly leggy weirdos that will jump straight into the air like a cat1
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