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Original poster

Running/jogging with dogs.

35 replies

WildRosie · 27/03/2020 08:52

If you are a runner, do you ever take your pet pooches with you ? I saw a woman run past my home earlier and she had something on a lead (it was hidden behind the garden wall) so obviously a dog of some sort. Is it something they enjoy ? Do you let them off their leads in a park or in the countryside ? I can imagine some boisterous, energetic breeds like Weimaraners would love it.

OP posts:

slavetolife · 27/03/2020 09:57

Lots of dogs LOVE to go running with their owners! I used to take mine with me when I went riding but she's too old now

TheHumansAreDefinitelyDead · 27/03/2020 09:59

My dog hates it, she’s a greyhound cross, she either trundles along or runs at 40MpH, nothing in between

So no running for us. We walk and she runs (or trundles)

It all depends on the breed

amusedbush · 27/03/2020 10:29

I have a Jack Russell who loves to run, but only on his terms. He stops to sniff things and even though he’s only 7kg, the sudden stop almost knocks me off my feet 🙄

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Hillbillyhotel · 27/03/2020 10:34

I have a Pug and she loves it. We only do 2/3 miles and I am certainly not an athlete. My dad used to run with his husky until the dog turned four and decided he no longer fancied it and would just sit down four miles into a six mile run!

steppemum · 27/03/2020 10:42

we have a springer spaniel.
He LOVES his walks, when we put shoes on, he goes nuts.

he runs with dh twice a week, and when he sees dh put his running stuff on he goes and sits in his bed and sulks and has to be persuaded out of the door!

he is fine once they get going though. Dh tends to run 5 km, which takes him about 25-30 mins. Then he finishes at the nature reserve, where he lest the dog off the lead so he can do all the sniffing and pottering he likes for 30 mins and then heads home.

he does parkrun with him sometimes, and there are a fair few dogs that do it too.

he has a running lead, this is a lead which is a bit elastic and goes round his waist and attaches to the dog's harness, much easier than running wiht a lead in your hand

BearSoFair · 27/03/2020 11:07

My sister has recently adopted a GSD cross (with something much smaller, he's not much bigger than a spaniel), he loves a morning run! They do around 5km either in woodland or around the fields at the local park. His recall is a bit dodgy if he spots a squirrel or birds so he doesn't go off lead yet but she's working on that so he can really run, at the moment it's a run for her and barely a jog for him

Original poster

WildRosie · 27/03/2020 11:20

I can imagine Springer spaniels being running fans as they seem to have limitless energy. However, I cant think of any dog, apart from elderly or poorly pooches, that would prefer to just plod along rather than trot briskly or even charge about.

OP posts:

LochJessMonster · 27/03/2020 11:25

I belong to a Canicross club and it’s an ever growing thing! We have all sort of breeds from Vizlas and huskies to Jack Russells and cockapoos.

Me and my boy did a marathon last year, he was fresh as a daisy after!

It’s a great way to exercise you both, strengthen the bond and even improve behaviour.

TreacherousPissFlap · 27/03/2020 11:29

I take DDog2 sometimes but only where he can go off the lead (he's a working cocker and is a dick on the lead)
We ran down a lane last time though as everywhere else was packed and he skinned all his pads

FATEdestiny · 27/03/2020 11:29

I run with my cocker spaniel every day. Have done for over 2 years now.

Dog on a waist lead. We've done up to half marathon distance together (13 miles) but a usual run is 5-10km.

CMOTDibbler · 27/03/2020 11:32

I run with my lurchers. DDog1 absolutely loves it, ddog2 is less keen, esp if we are running fast (this is on lead)

FATEdestiny · 27/03/2020 11:33

Do you let them off their leads in a park or in the countryside ?

Always on lead for the run (out of respect for others). But there's always at least a mile at the end of our run when I have a cool down walk. Dog off lead for this.

Windyatthebeach · 27/03/2020 11:34

My ds did his pre army training fitness training with ddog. She loved it!!
She 'speaks' to him via ft every week now!!

LochJessMonster · 27/03/2020 11:38

At Canicross races all dogs have to be on lead, when training I practice both, on and off lead.

Dogs MUST be run on a harness, even if you think your dog doesn’t pull much, the strain on it’s neck from a collar can cause horrendous long term damage.

Shinyletsbebadguys · 27/03/2020 11:40

I run with ddog, sometimes she loves it sometimes and goes all flappyeared and tongue hanging out because shes going so fast (for her), and other times shes is a giant grumpy sod and stops dead in her tracks (I swear I hear doggy snuffles of laughter when it nearly boomerang me backwards). On these occasions I provide entertainment to local houses when I have to stand in the middle of the path lecturing an obstructive and frankly with an insolent look on her face, spaniel lab cross about the benefits of exercise.

Dont get me started on the daily random "am I afraid of the beach or do I love it" interactions as I try to run onto the sand. Clearly some days there is a risk of errant fish attack and some days there isn't and apparently only ddog knows the right days !!

Frankly my dog is not very good at being an actual dog, she is more of a confused cat/ sheep hybrid (who is the worst guard dog on earth and would instantly sell me to the zombies if they attacked ) but we love her.

okiedokieme · 27/03/2020 11:42

Mine does Parkrun normally, you need a harness for your dog then go for it

Chuffingchuff · 27/03/2020 11:50

My Ddog is a border collie, he loves running with us and goes at a good pace for us. It's really a trot for him at my speed do he isnt pushing himself. Hes 11 now though so I'm careful how far he goes.

Bienentrinkwasser · 27/03/2020 11:54

My parents dog runs with my dad at parkrun. DH or I take him on longer runs occasionally. Me and dog are pretty well matched for speed and distance. DH wears him out!

steppemum · 27/03/2020 12:01

I would just like to add a caveat to all this enthusiasm.

Dogs naturally don't run like this. Naturally they stop and start, sniff and wee etc.
So it is actually pretty hard work for a dog to run at one pace for 20 minutes, much harder than if you walk and they run round you in circles (steppedog I'm looking at you)
So, when I walk him for 5 km he probably runs for 15. When dh takes him for a run on a waist lead, he runs 5km and then walks a bit, but he is more worn out. (dh runs fairly fast)

They can't go from no running to running 5km with you without some training.

Mominatrix · 27/03/2020 12:02

My dog is a terrible running partner and slows me down. I like to go at least 7.5 miles/hr and with her I need to keep to just under 6 miles/hr. I would never push her faster becausevthatbisnjust cruel, so I normally just walk her and go for a separate run. With restrictions on, I either get one of my sons to walk her or just go for a slow run.

Cherrysoup · 27/03/2020 12:07

I wouldn’t fancy it, bit boring for the dog. They live to sniff.

Flippetydip · 27/03/2020 12:16

My dog hates it, she’s a greyhound cross, she either trundles along or runs at 40MpH, nothing in between

Same, although mine not a cross but pure greyhound. She doesn't love running with me but at the moment she doesn't have a choice - she either gets a walk or I get a run so I'm trying to combine the two. This morning I took her on the lead and DD on the bike and I ran. Everyone has to make sacrifices at the moment - the dog will just have to suck it up for a bit! She's fine for about 2 miles and then we have to walk as she just slows to the point of being dragged but it's better than nothing.

She then spends the rest of the day upside down on the sofa.

Original poster

WildRosie · 27/03/2020 12:17

Horses for courses then.

OP posts:

LochJessMonster · 27/03/2020 12:19

@Cherrysoup My dog lives to run! Trust me, he loves every moment and pulls like a steam train.

It’s not for every dog and they still need their downtime and relaxed walks but it’s a fantastic way to burn off energy, and improve the bond between you and the dog.

adaline · 27/03/2020 12:19

DH runs with our beagle - they both love it and tires them both out nicely

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