question for people who run with dogs!

sand1941
sand1941 Posts: 73 Member
edited November 11 in Fitness and Exercise
So normally i just take my friends dog for a walk, but today I decided to take him running with me for the first time since the walks started due to a lack of time to do both before i had to go to work and because he has started listening to me better. I let him do all his business first and then we broke into a light jog, which he was fine with for about a minute, but then he wanted to stop every couple of minutes to smell things. I'm fine with that, hes a dog and his owners don't really take him for walks beyond their property, I sympathize with his canine curiousity, but when we were finally coming back their was another jogger and he decided that the thing to do was jump at her, luckily i had him on a short leash so he only jumped into me. What I'm wondering is if he will get into a rhythm eventually and understand that we are running, or if i should just stick with walks from now. Hes about 4 years old, and generally a very friendly dog( a golden retriver), although not terribly well behaved. I used to run with my fathers rottweiler and never had issues with her, but she was also very well trained, so I'm thinking he just wasn't trained much as a puppy. Then agaain I'm not a dog person so what do I know.

Replies

  • LittleMissNerdy
    LittleMissNerdy Posts: 792 Member
    Does she jump on everyone? Like, when people enter the house? If that's the case, she just hasn't been trained properly not to jump. As far as her stopping to smell the roses, she's a dog. They smell everything! Whenever I walk a male dog he has to stop 100X it seems to mark his territory on everything :laugh:

    The only way she's going to get into a routine is to keep trying to job with her, but maybe mix it up with a short walk, then a short job. She'll get the hang of it sooner or later. Golden's are a very smart breed.
  • sand1941
    sand1941 Posts: 73 Member
    Normally he knows better than to jump on people coming in the house, but i think hes very starved for attention. I'll just keep trying, thanks!
  • ItsMeRebekah
    ItsMeRebekah Posts: 909 Member
    this takes consistency. i forgot how much until i rescued another dog of recent!! time and more time -- mine responds to actions and i dont have say anything at all.. but i give him at least 10-15min to get all his smelling and other boy dog stuff out..
  • 3dogsrunning
    3dogsrunning Posts: 27,167 Member
    It won't be hard to teach the dog to run properly with you, you just need to show him what you expect him to do. With my lab, who isn't trained in a "heel" like my two GSDs, I usually start out by letting him sniff and do his business. When we are ready to go, I use "let's go". Use whatever phrase you want, but keep it the same. That is the signal to tell him we are running now, no sniffing. When your dog (your friend's dog) stops to sniff, say "no" and keep moving forward. Don't jerk the leash but pull the dog with you to keep him going, slow if you have to to avoid yanking but don't stop. Be firm too. After doing that a few times, he will quickly learn what you expect. If you stop, the behavior of the dog stopping when he wants will be reinforced.
    I also use a "free" command with my dogs. That means when "do whatever you want". So if we are in a heel, or running and I slow and don't mind them sniffing around, I will give them that command and they can go ahead.

    As for passing other people. you can try to keep a distance until the dog learns to leave them. IF he gets really excited I would stop and put him in a sit so he is under control, away from the person to avoid the jumping.

    Since he is not your dog, you are a little limited in how well you can train him, but it won't take long for him to know what you expect when running if you are consistent.

    WIth dogs, consistency is key.

    ETA -
    the person above me also has a point. I know some people have signals like clipping the leash to their belt. Dogs are pretty good at picking up any cue. I just happen to like giving a verbal one, but non-verbal works as well. It may all depend on the dog.

    Also, as you keep going with the dog, you will start to learn when they really need to stop and when they are just being nosy. My lab likes to hold the leash in his mouth. When he drops it and starts looking, I know he actually needs to stop and will let him.
  • sand1941
    sand1941 Posts: 73 Member
    He also has a control collar, but I generally don't use it. Should I be using it when we run, or is the regular collar better?

    Thank you everyone for your advice!
  • AmeChops
    AmeChops Posts: 744 Member
    It won't be hard to teach the dog to run properly with you, you just need to show him what you expect him to do. With my lab, who isn't trained in a "heel" like my two GSDs, I usually start out by letting him sniff and do his business. When we are ready to go, I use "let's go". Use whatever phrase you want, but keep it the same. That is the signal to tell him we are running now, no sniffing. When your dog (your friend's dog) stops to sniff, say "no" and keep moving forward. Don't jerk the leash but pull the dog with you to keep him going, slow if you have to to avoid yanking but don't stop. Be firm too. After doing that a few times, he will quickly learn what you expect. If you stop, the behavior of the dog stopping when he wants will be reinforced.
    I also use a "free" command with my dogs. That means when "do whatever you want". So if we are in a heel, or running and I slow and don't mind them sniffing around, I will give them that command and they can go ahead.

    As for passing other people. you can try to keep a distance until the dog learns to leave them. IF he gets really excited I would stop and put him in a sit so he is under control, away from the person to avoid the jumping.

    Since he is not your dog, you are a little limited in how well you can train him, but it won't take long for him to know what you expect when running if you are consistent.

    WIth dogs, consistency is key.

    Pretty much this, I also run my dogs on a scooter and it was very important that we taught them an 'on' command which means 'leave whatever it is that you're looking at and keep running' - people, dogs and bushes are generally fine...deer and squirrels still require a little more of a firm 'on' lol.

    Consistency is the key...choose a word and keep re-enforcing it :-))
  • AmeChops
    AmeChops Posts: 744 Member
    He also has a control collar, but I generally don't use it. Should I be using it when we run, or is the regular collar better?

    Thank you everyone for your advice!

    What type of control collar??
  • inuit
    inuit Posts: 72 Member
    We have taught ours to run with us when biking and he is completely in the zone (he even ignores cats, rabbits etc), but it took a while. i do run with him, but because i am not very quick he does get a bit sidetracked. he does want to stop and sniff, but we keep going and then have a break half way around and he is picking up when we are running he stays with me and does not stop, regardless how slow i am.

    If the dog you are taking has not done this before it might take a while for him to get into it. i would keep going it makes running a whoel lot more fun.
  • MrsSpinks
    MrsSpinks Posts: 274 Member
    Is the control collar what we call a head collar or halti over here? I used to have my bigger dog wear one when running but he actually runs better without it! He still has to wear it when we're just walking with the push chair! Mine are also (now) good at leaving people and other dogs on command, but it took a while for them to get it! Again with me, deer and what not still need to watch out!! The problem I now have is that my girl dog wants to run slowly (or not at all)! I hope we'll get there eventually though!!
  • sand1941
    sand1941 Posts: 73 Member
    He also has a control collar, but I generally don't use it. Should I be using it when we run, or is the regular collar better?

    Thank you everyone for your advice!

    What type of control collar??

    It's metal with spikes facing his neck, I'm scared of choking him with it even though they're designed for dogs....
  • MrsSpinks
    MrsSpinks Posts: 274 Member
    Why don't you try a head/face collar? It removes the dogs ability to pull as you have control of their head - if they try to pull it turns their head to the side so they can't!
  • sand1941
    sand1941 Posts: 73 Member
    Why don't you try a head/face collar? It removes the dogs ability to pull as you have control of their head - if they try to pull it turns their head to the side so they can't!

    I've never even heard of those, I'll try it tomorrow! I need to go to the pet store anyhow. Thanks!
  • jcoco
    jcoco Posts: 138 Member
    After tripping over my dog while running & breaking my wrist & elbow, I purchased a halti & a short leash (2ft?). Worked like a charm!! No problems now, you must let the dog get use to the halti & do not give up on it to soon. Good Luck!
  • pa_jorg
    pa_jorg Posts: 4,404 Member
    He also has a control collar, but I generally don't use it. Should I be using it when we run, or is the regular collar better?

    Thank you everyone for your advice!

    What type of control collar??

    It's metal with spikes facing his neck, I'm scared of choking him with it even though they're designed for dogs....

    NO, no, no, please don't use that collar! A Golden should not need one of those!!!! You simply need to set the example and pace for the dog and he will learn in time what you expect of him. It's all training and routine with dogs. Good luck and great job running!
  • sand1941
    sand1941 Posts: 73 Member
    I'm glad I'm not crazy for not wanting to use that metal collar! I used it once and felt horrible, since then I've stuck with just his fabric collar.
  • turkeytrotter
    turkeytrotter Posts: 35 Member
    I run with my dog and she wears the collar you described, with the prongs (girl, they are not SPIKES - that would hurt :smile: )

    She runs great with it. We've been using it since we could not get her to not pull and it stopped the pulling (she would gag before but she just struggled to pull even still). We've used it for 3 years (she is 3 1/2). Once around 6 months ago I tried to go out without and she pulled again, even after all that time.

    It does not seem to hurt her but she knows to not pull away. I think you should try the collar they have.
  • Lesa_Sass
    Lesa_Sass Posts: 2,213 Member
    He also has a control collar, but I generally don't use it. Should I be using it when we run, or is the regular collar better?

    Thank you everyone for your advice!

    OMG on a Golden? No, you should not have to use that. I also am not a fan of neck collars, I am more of a harness girl. After seeing my best friends dog break her neck with one of those type of collars, I think they are borderline cruel to use. After talking to my friend that is a vet, she says that they get a large number of dogs with bad injuries due to neck collars, one of her favorite paitents was a terrier that was running through the yard and someone stepped on the leash to stop it and broke its little neck right in the middle of the family bbq. :(

    As far as your other question goes, 3dogsrunning knows EXACTLY what she is talking about.

    Good luck and I am glad that dog has someone that will exercise it like it should be. People that do not properly care for their animals P*%$## me off.
  • juicemoogan
    juicemoogan Posts: 994 Member
    i have begun running with my Boston Terrier as she has lots of energy, and as soon as i start running is usually way out ahead of me. She looks back to see if I'm still coming, and that's my little motivation. She doesnt stop too often and is quite good in the run.

    We have a buddy belt (http://buddy-belts.com/) and an extender leash so if she stops for a little bit, i can keep going and she will follow when the lead runs taught... and it never hurts her or chokes her.
  • JodaNord
    JodaNord Posts: 496 Member
    OK Here goes. I have a French bulldog x boston terrier = stubborn and we use the prong collar to walk him so he's not yanking. Doesn't hurt, you can put it on your own arm and you see how it works, as well a friend has a lab and they use this with great success and no cruelty as well.

    For walking/running,try and make the dog keep going with you at your pace for 10-30 mins, then reward them sticking with you and not stopping at everything with a 5 minute sniff pee snopp break. They with TIME learn that the walk/run is for them to follow you and when they do what they are asked too, the reward is to sniff and be a dog...

    Over time, you may be able to be rid of prong collar as well, when they see your the "boss" in that time and they need only pay attn to you. When i walk my guy he needs to collar to remind him who he follows and that he follows, but jogging, he sticks with me and i dont need the prong anymore for that.

    Just saying, its all possible and there is every opinion out there, but find what works, don't let the dog pull you and be ahead and tell you where to go and when and when to stop and where... You are the boss. Make him see you that way. We all fundtion better when we know a defined role for ourselves.

    And i totally agree with 3dogsrunning!!
  • Azdak
    Azdak Posts: 8,281 Member
    Why don't you try a head/face collar? It removes the dogs ability to pull as you have control of their head - if they try to pull it turns their head to the side so they can't!

    I've never even heard of those, I'll try it tomorrow! I need to go to the pet store anyhow. Thanks!

    It's called a Gentle Leader.

    And there is no way a golden retriever should be wearing a pronged control collar. Gentle Leader is more effective and not as .....well, I can't use the word I want here.
  • susanloveszumba
    susanloveszumba Posts: 182
    i am on week 7 of the c25k program. i am new to jogging/running. my two dogs have been doing this program with me and i think it has worked well for them too. it has taken them from couch potato dogs to being able to run 25 minutes straight with me. i just keep them on a short leash and try and avoid other people with dogs. it took them about three weeks to figure things out. they still want to chase a squirrel if they see one though! good luck!
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