Jogging with dog

[Chikeletta]

Posting for traffic as not sure on best forum!

Would ot be cruel to jog with my small dog? He's 18 months old, enjoys running and playing but is a shizsu jack russel cross so larger end of small dogs. He still pulls on his lead desperate to sniff and pee on EVERYTHING.

I want to get back into jogging, 30 mins sessions and would love to take him. I think if I don't stop to let him sniff he will quickly learn the difference between sniff walks, jogs and field play running, bit is it cruel to make him do jogging speed for 30 mins???

I don’t have a dog myself but take a friends terrier dog running, I’ve had varying success, he loves it but is older than 18 months, he could go a lot faster than me but is mostly happy by my side or just a bit in front or behind. However I’d say because he doesn’t consistently go out for runs he takes a while to settle in to knowing we are going out running and not to stop and sniff every 3 seconds!
it’s really fun and he wags his tail when I turn up, so much so that I feel so guilty if I’m just going round to see my actual friend 😂

You can only try it and see how he reacts? Maybe do it on a field that has limited sniffing opportunities or let him have a sniff first then see how he reacts to having a little jog together. Maybe try and teach him a command for it like "Shall we run now?" So he knows when it's jogging time. If it's too much for him just dial it back or jog without him.

As long as it's not every walk, you build up to it and use the correct equipment, it's absolutely fine!

There's a reason canicross is so popular ☺️

That breed of dog is not bred to run that long. And to match your jogging, its little legs will be fully running. It would be cruel to take him with you.

I am assuming your dog is mostly Shih Tzu not Jack Russell.

What about doing different speed sessions? I always feel so sorry for the dogs who have to run continuously with their owners at one pace. A bit of a walk, jog, short sprint could suit you both.

Although I don’t know if that’s appropriate for your breed mix.

I have a 2 year old short legged Jack Russell and she loves it. I use a special bungee style jogging lead that attaches to your waist and a harness (different from her normal walk/sniffari walk lead) and she gets really excited.

I keep it to 10 minute miles for up to 30 mins, twice a week but never on a hot day. She is quite an energetic little dog anyway so I think it fits in well with her other walks to mix it up a bit.

I go every now and again with my 2 year old dog - he's a mini poodle /airedale cross, so bigger than yours and loves to run. I have a waist belt and bungee lead i can use, but prefer to just be able to let him off. Last time I took him, I let him run loose - I did 8 km, for the first 6 he ran about all over the place, sniffing, nah and forth, and then he voluntarily ran with me for the last 2k - although I say run, he's more doing a fast walk 😂

So yes, I think you could easily expect him to run for 30 minutes, but build up so he understands what's going on.

Jack Russells were bred to run with horses. But Shih Tzus were bred to be lap/toy dogs for royalty. Having a dog that is mostly Shih Tzu means it probably isn’t up for running like a pure bred Jack Russell would be.

I run with my two miniature poodles but mostly off lead on the beach or trails.

I only run relatively short distance with them on the lead - usually when we are getting to the off lead but or sections of
road etc.

Off lead they can run next to me or stop and sniff and catch up. That way we are all happy!!

I used to run with my dog but remember that for part of your run you will have a bag of hot shit in your hand. As long as you are happy with that, go for it.

This.

It's really not a good idea! Way too much pressure on their joints. They may well live it now but will pay for it in years to come. Over 80% of dogs over 8 have arthritis. Running with them only increases their chances of developing it

I run with mine - but she barely breaks out of a brisk walk, because I'm that slow! (Big dog)

It's such a shame that there's so much negativity and misinformation on this thread.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with running with dogs as long as you do it properly.

That means either having them off-lead or using a proper harness and waist lead combination. Never have the lead attached to your dogs' collar.

Build up the speed, distance and duration and only ever run with your dog on soft surfaces like grass or sand - never do it on the road due to the impact on the joints.

Always carry plenty of water and never run in hot weather. Be prepared to stop and walk if your dog isn't enjoying themselves or is struggling to keep up.

Don't do it all the time - it should be done 2-3 times a week at the most, with rest days in between. Your dog should still have plenty of sniffy walks, enrichment and walks where they can just "be a dog" without having to keep up with your pace.

Cani-cross is a hugely popular dog sport for a reason - and your dog doesn't need to be a husky to do it. I know dogs of all shapes and sizes who love running with their people!

Agree entirely with @coffeecupsandwaxmelts and would add that it depends on your specific dog. Some of mine absolutely love it and do an off road 5k with me or DH fairly frequently. Some of my others frankly just can’t be arsed! (same breed/similar ages) Try it and see.

Your dog isn't ready to run with, even if they could manage it physically.

A dog walk is for the dog - not for you, so run solo and walk the dog separately.

See if there are any canicross clubs local to you who may be able to let you borrow some kit. Try to do most of your running on softer trails rather than roads and pavements as these can be tough on their joints and pads. You can also alternate between canicross and running with your dog off-lead alongside. Have fun - my spaniels love running

As long as your dog and their safety and enjoyment is the top priority, go for it! Bungee lead, waist belt and a Y shaped harness are the essentials I think, and as an above poster said, run on soft surfaces and build up to it, maybe C25k? Be mindful of temperature too!

Have a look at canicross websites/Facebook groups for more info - Dogfit is a good one for the basics. I run with my dog, but I'm not concerned about times etc, so if he wants to stop for a sniff or to throw himself in a puddle, that's fine with me! He loves it!

My dog jogs with me. She's small. We jog somewhere she can be off lead and do 5k ish.

She also gets another walk that day for her - lots of sniffing and enjoying.

I'm about to start running again - I'm planning on doing couch to 5k with my JRT cross as we both need the fitness build up. He loves it but is great off lead so does his own thing while I run and is on lead only for the road bits. I used to do 30mins (around 5k) 5 or 6 times a week with him no problem. He's 12 now and still full of beans.

My other dog is a fluffy terrier sized mongrel. She used to love coming with me too but I think is older than we thought when I first homed her as she has zero interest these days and is happy to stay in bed and snooze until we get back.

Mine also get a slow speed sniffy walk and have a big garden to mooch around. I think 30mins running on lead won't be much fun for your dog.

I would check if they have finished growing so you don't inadvertently cause damage to their joints