Running with your dog - gear?

[RedwingWinter]

I would like to go running with my dog now that he can walk nicely on a leash most of the time without pulling me in the ditch after interesting smells/creatures.

Those of you that run with your dog, what kind of gear do you use? I have tried jogging with him with his regular leash but obviously something hands-free would be much better. Any recommendations?

Here

I use a Trixie jogging dog lead. I really like it as it has pockets for water and mobile phone. Amazon has them for £19.99. I use it with my loopy lurcher.

I'd actually ignore the advice of Cani-x UK to use an x-back harness, they are not suitable for running in this way unless you have a very long line and a very tall dog.

Lots of different types of waist belt are available - google Culpeppers, Snowpaw store, Country Hounds, Inner Wolf, Kisi, SASS. I use a plain neoprene Nordkyn belt, no padding, I find that the padded ones rise up.

Dog needs a harness with a fitted neck, I use the Manmat long distance/shoulder harnesses, Nordkyn also do a good one. Lots of bungee leads available on the above sites, again I use Manmat ones. Don't attach a bungee to a collar!

Thanks for the advice. He is a tall dog (tall and skinny) but I wouldn't want to use a long line because I will always be having to keep an eye out for squirrels etc. I'll take a look at the brands mentioned and measure him up for a harness.

Stupid question, but do you take the collar off when attaching the harness, or can he still wear his usual collar with it? (obviously bungee goes to harness not collar).

Does he have to be on a lead? I run with my lurcher, but he's let free unless there are livestock or roads. I use a whistle for recall, but generally he stays very close, practically tripping me up, sometimes.

I've got a runner's bum-bag, which holds treats, poo bags etc. If it's really hot I have sometimes brought a small bowl and a water bottle with me.

Do you go at night? Headtorch for you, flashing collar for the pooch. Sorted.

I mostly do what merle does - but am v. rural. Big Dog is so used to it all that he comes to heel without me saying so if we turn a corner and are confronted with livestock. I've also taught him a go away command for when he runs too close. I take a very short slip lead for any roads (though have been known to forget) - and I don't find holding it in my hand (with or without him on the end) a problem at all. The only really annoying thing is when he poos at the beginning of a run - no-one wants to run for 5 miles carrying a bog of dog poo.

Hatwoman - I know! I gave up running last week and just walked - my excuse being that you can't really run with those disgusting things swinging in your hand. Sometimes the next bin is miles away and I can't bring myself to put it into my bumbag - gross!

[looks furtively round for non-doggy town-dwelling mn-ers] I have to confess ... that sometimes I move it - but only if I can find a suitable spot - completely off the path and inaccessible to all but an idiot (eg in a huge crop of nettles/under a stone/over the wall into a field of cows with no footpath/in the river). Then I put the empty bag inside another bag, knot it all up and put in my bum bag. I confessed this to a friend thinking it was very very bad of me and she told me she does it too.

Thanks Merle. I have a headtorch and flashing collar already for walking in the dark, although mostly I prefer to stick to daylight as it's a rural area.

The dog has to be on a lead. He's a husky cross and huskies are generally not recommended to go off-lead. I do practise recall with him (in a safely fenced area) but I know I can't trust him to come back if there's something interesting around. Besides, if he wasn't attached to me, I think instead of running he'd be busy hunting mice!!

Very useful point about the timing of his toileting arrangements, Hatwoman! I do an out and back route mostly so I think I would be tempted to leave the bag to pick up on the return...

Yeah, the biggest challenge about a cani-x race for me is encouraging my Won't Poo Away From Home bitch to go before a race (boydog has no such ishoos and poos with great quantity and frequency as soon as he's out of the car ).

Yes they can wear a collar as well as a harness. :) For two dogs you'd often attach them together by the collars with a neck line (I use a staggered line instead as No Pooping Bitch won't tolerate anyone else up front with her, proper mardy lead dog she is).

Ah, I must need a second husky so that I can run with two ...

You will get a second husky in the future. Multiple husky syndrome is well documented.

Yes, I noticed that many of the people who say 'don't get a husky' have multiple huskies themselves. I think we will have to get another one at some point! Maybe in the new year ...

Oh Redwing I see - definately on a lead, then . I see on the Canix site that they suggest leads which attach to your waist - would that be good? I suppose if you are out walking/running with a husky then you must have quite strong arms by now! I was out last night in a group of runners, off-road and occasionally, when my dog had to go onto the lead (when we ran along a road for a bit) I found it really hard to hold onto him, as he was pulling like mad to catch up with the other runners and another dog. I am very weedy as he's only a small dog, but I couldn't have managed for much longer.

Hatwoman - good tip about the poobags! If I've ever left it, to collect later, I have to talk loudly to the dog/any imaginary bystander, saying 'I'm coming back later, etc', so worried I am that someone might think that I'm just leaving it.

I have something liek this and I just clip it around my waist. www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/dogs/dog_collars_dog_leads/nylon_leads/special/59524
Mine don't really pull though, so they run with their normal collars.

Haha Merle, yes, I suppose I do have strong arms! He is pretty good at walking nicely on his leash now but there are still moments when he suddenly pulls in a random direction. Squirrels, birds and mice are usually the reason. I can keep a look-out for squirrels but only he can tell where the mice are hiding out underground ...

I'm going to get a harness that can connect to a belt around my waist. I have to measure him up for the harness though so will get DH to help at the weekend. I'm really looking forward to running with him. Especially to being dog-assisted on the uphills!