Dog Owners/Runners

I have a 2 1/2 year old Pit bull ... he is a maniac ... NOT SAFE at all.

ZOMG A PIT BULL LOCK HIM IN THE CLOSET AWAY FROM MANKIND FOREVER!

There, I just thought I'd get that out of the way for future posters.

Our poodle does the same thing - SNIFF on the left - SNIFF on the right - DEAD HALT from a trot. It's annoying as hell. They make a harness sort of thing, example:

http://www.petexpertise.com/dog-collars-dog-harnesses/no-pull-dog-harnesses/easy-walk-no-pull-harness.html?sef_rewrite=1

it's not painful, but apparently makes them not want to pull and yank around.

(We haven't tried it.)

Good luck!

Hey girl!

Yes, there are tons of tools you can use When I run my Lilly, she wears her Halti - but there are also gentle leaders and a harness with the "O" ring on the chest of the dog, although I've never used that one.

With my experience with my crazy lab border collie mix, I would definitly recommend starting with a halti-style leader. It's going to take some time for Tosco to get used to it, but eventually if you stay consistent, it'll become routine Halti = RUN yay!

Hope this helps

I have a pitbull mix, and an american bulldog... both were crazy on the leash when we first got them - now I run with both of them (rollerblade and bike too). It may take a little time for your pup to get use to it but I use the gentle leaders with both dogs... it works great for us. Once he is doing well on the normal leash you can move to a hands free leash (basically a leash clipped to a belt you wear...) <-- they are great for running! Good luck!

YUP My 200# Dane runs perfect in his HALTI collar. much like a horse lead.

My pits are the same way and I would love to take them running. I would love to see what people suggest!

I have a dog that is the same way....I use a harness, and I find that once I build up speed the dog isn't sniffing around anymore and just runs steady with me. If I'm at a slower pace though he's all over the place.

http://poshpetlife.com/stuff/training/premier-easy-walk-dog-harness/

I have this one!!!!!!!!!!!

and it works like a charm. Raine used to pull like crazy on a regular leash -- but now when he wears this he stays right by me. It doesn't hurt them - just feels awkward when the try and pull their body turns to the side (and they don't like it) so once they know - then they just stay by you Now Raine only needs like 1 foot of leash and that's it!

I still only take him for about 2-3 mile runs though -- he gets tired haha

I have a choker collar that I use on my german shepherd, the one with the prongs. When he pulls, it 'pinches' him and he stops. Literally was trained within one week straight of using it. I have always had big dogs and the choker collar with the prongs has always worked for me. If you use them correctly, they will not injure your dog. I have also had experience with the gentle leads... they work for some dogs but not mine, he pulled right thru it. Also, try using a shorter leash because you have more control over how far they can go with out yanking your arm off. Thats another perk of having a full body harness as well. You are able to control their whole body and not putting all of the pressure on their neck and throat. Give him some time to get used to it whatever method you choose. Pits and Bulldogs are great learners and I'm he just needs time to adjust. Good luck!

If you are running it really isn't fair to use a gentle leader, I don't even like them when walking but then I own huskies and they were bred to pull ;p

your best bet would be to look into cani cross, there is a fb page called cani fit, you could join that, it's all about running with your dog

I would suggest a harness similar to a manmat walking harness, a 6ft lead and a walkie belt, the walkie belt allows you to be hands free but still connected to the lead and dog.

http://www.snowpawstore.com/sled-dog-equipment/dog-harness.html

http://www.snowpawstore.com/tag/product/list/tagId/7/

you can get them cheaper, I just used that site as a quick reference

That's awesome that you want to take your dog running and I'm sure he will appreciate it.
I noticed you have a choker collar on him already - that's definitely helpful is he is a strong dog to begin with. However I think that the most important and helpful "device" would be consistent obedience training. Especially with the "pit bull stereotype" I would be important that he does not drag you around while you are out and about running.
I would practice a combination of sit, down, heel, stay at least for ten minutes a day. This definitely would not need to be all at once, but maybe before you give him a meal - ask for sit, stay, then come when you are ready to feed him. Or do a quick, varied combination of all those commands before you go for a run to sharpen his attention on you. If he starts to get too strong and pull on your while you're running, redirect his attention & start running in a different pattern (the opposite direction, in a circle, etc.)
If he is really strong it would be important to have him know the "come back" command, always keeping it positive! God forbid he got loose, he should come back to you pretty easily.
If you want to try the Gentle Leader brand, I like the head collars much more than the body harnesses. People always say that the body harnesses are less detrimental to the dog's neck but dogs have extremely strong neck muscles and do not have the same anatomy as a human. By having head control, you can turn his attention back to your as gently or as firmly as you need. Whereas with a body harness, if he were to yank you to the left you would have less leverage.
I like the martingale collars that are similar to a choke but release much faster than the choke. You can just google search or look for any variety on Petco, Petsmart, or the like.
Good luck & hope it all works out for you! He sounds like a great dog Let me know how it goes!!