If you run with your dog

[TheBigMacDougal]

How did you get started and what age/breed is your dog?

I have a (nearly) 11 month old sprocker I’m planning to run with. Since we got him my running has died a death as between walking and training him I don’t have much time, so I’m looking forward to getting back to it and having him with me.

The only dogs I see out running near us are either ridiculously well trained and off lead potter behind/with their owner or on a cani cross type harness and pull them along. I don’t want him to be pulling against me for miles, so hoping we can potter and eventually he’ll be off lead for chunks of it as I like to trail run.

Hoping we’ll build up to somewhere between 5-10k once or twice a week.

I do, and trails are perfect for this

I run with 3 dogs, a lab, a cocker poo and a bichon (who can only do 5k)

They all keep up now, took a few attempts and a bit of walking, but they love it.

I only have the bichon attached to me on a harness.

I have a canicross harness and it doesn't pull you along as the elasticy bit is very highly tensioned. My dog can range from side to side but can't 'pull'

I run with my lurchers, on their normal leads as they are happy that way and are well used to it.
I started by doing effectively C25k with them, so teaching them run/walk commands and instructions to move left or right to me, run slightly in front and building up their continuous running time. Obviously me running to my dogs is them just breaking into a trot so I don't have to be as careful as you'll need to be with your dog and especially about temperature

I used to canicross with my spaniels. Do buy decent kit. It helps to have someone ahead squeeking a ball and train commands. 'Hike' to pull. Left left. Right right. Loved it.

Not advisable to run with dogs on normal leads as the dogs can not stop if then need to or the leads can be too tight and cause pressure when running.

Cani cros equipment s is better for the dog but you do need to train directionals and commands when the dog is out front (also be ready for face plants you are not a true canicross runner unless you have )

Look at the surface you are running on, and do not encourage a lot of road or tarmac running.

Allow your dog to set the pace and be able to stop if they need to.

Most dogs will run, stop sniff etc from choice but being on lead prevents this so build up the distance slowly.

You do need to train your dog to run with you and I would be starting that now so run a few paces and have your dog in the position you want them to be.If running loose get them used to being beside you when you are moving quicker. For some dogs running excites them and they may run across you or jump up at so training is usually required to get them running beside you well. It i vey important that you train your dog to run on one side of you and not cross over and worth working on that to start with.

Running is a broad term if you are doing a 5km then the dogs will be happy and no real stress to them but if you are training for a marathon you may need to look at the distances you cover and how well your dog copes.

Following this for advice - I’d hoped to go to a trainer who does canicross classes but apparently she’s stopped doing it, and the next closest one is more than an hours drive away. There is a local group, but they don’t seem friendly - quite cliquey really. Hoping to start running with my dog soon, as long as the vet’s happy for us to start.

I did try a short (as in a few paces) run in the woods the other day and a squirrel ran straight across our path - we did stop eventually though

Rule of thumb is to wait until they are at least a year old (older fir larger breeds or those notorious fir orthopaedic issues)

Always have the dog in a harness - it doesn't have to be one sold for canicross but it dies need to be y-shaped at the front and well,fitting round the shoulder- it's important not to inhibit the dog's gait, and not to risk jerking the neck if there are any sudden movements. Fir the same reason you need a bungy lead or one with a good ekasticated section.

It's safer to use a waist lead or attach the lead to a belt/harness you wear - thus means your hands are free and not affecting your gait (injury risk to you, possibility of greater annoyance to the dog by more movement from you). Also if there is an incident you can't drop it and make it worse by the dig being loose.

Make sure you carry water (unless it's only a very short run on a cold day) and offer frequently. Make sure you have somewhere for poo bags and treats (it's another reason why a belt for you is a good idea, all this stuff can go in it).

Let the dog set the pace, stick to soft ground rather than pavement if you can, and avoid steep sections until you know your dog is fit and used to the effort

And have fun! I love running with my little dog. I followed MN advice when we were starting out, and did talk to canicross club members about getting kit that was suitable.

We no longer parkrun, as they have banned elements of safe kit (having dog on waist lead or humans canicross belt/harness - their reasoning being the nonsensical one that some leads are too long, but they're not taking measures to have a maximum length for them!)

Our vet is all for running with dogs, as she says being the right weight and being active are the two most important things in preserving healthy joints.

Have fun!!

Canicross is brilliant fun, but do get the right kit. It is better for the dogs and you.

I run with my cocker spaniel and used a hands-free lead at first (one that you fasten around your waist). Now he's used to it I can let him off the lead and he'll run alongside, but the lead was a great investment if you can get one! :)

I did couch to 5k with a previous dog, on his normal harness but with a 6ft lead - he was an always on lead dog anyway though, behavioural issues.

I figured it gave both of us enough build up - for various reasons I just ended up restarting it about 4 times and never finishing it, lol, but the dog was fine with it.

If your dog has decent recall, you can run with it off-lead. DH only uses leads on ours on the roads (usually just to cross over to continue on a footpath, but sometimes up to about half a mile). Dogs bloody love it. Keeps them hideously fit.

I run most days with my black lab and my miniature sausage dog. We usually do about 7km, although have run 10km with them both many times.

They were 2 and 3 respectively when I started this with them. When I run with both of them it is round a local big common so I know there is no roads and they can run around freely. Lab bombs off and comes back and bombs off and comes back, and sausage trots at my feet usually, or stops to sniff then catches up.

If I run on the road with a running lead I only take the lab.

Lab took some training to stop jumping up at me with excitement as we set off but after a while he got used to it although still gets very excited. Running is quite literally his favourite thing to do.

Both dogs are super fit, lean and it keeps them at "farm dog physique" which the vet said is extremely important for both breeds.

I don't carry water, they have a big drink when they get home.

I tried to run with my dog for the first time the other week and as he has never seen me run before (because I don't) he was absolutely baffled and I think he thought we must be running away from someone or something 😄 and just sort of danced around me until we both tumbled over each other and that was the end of that!

He’s too young to start at that age - his growth plates won’t be fully developed until he’s 18 months so you need to be a bit careful with impact before that.

I have a Cavalier and run with him holding a lead if we’re somewhere busy or off lead when not (much better)

He very much reaches his limit at 5km and couldn’t cope with more than that.

A sprocker should be good to go for miles!

I have a collie lurcher, nearly 3, and he runs with me and DH.

When we're running canicross style, in a group or a race, he pulls out front the whole time - up to 5k.
But often when I run with him we're on v quiet trails and paths so I have him running loose, his recall is v good.
So it depends on our planned route - if we're mostly off-lead, then we don't wear harnesses. I pop him back on his collar and lead and we walk or v slowly jog on road bits - if he's on a collar he runs to heel, it's only in a harness that he pulls ahead.
But also with me even if he is harnessed, he doesn't always pull - I think it's because I am so slow, his running pace doesn't match mine but he can trot and i can jog at the same pace! So he doesn't put in the effort to pull. So i have him on a short harness ( like a non-stop line for example) as the longer x-back style harnesses do flap about a bit if not under tension.
So it's all sorts - but it's bloody good fun as exercise and as bonding opportunities too, and great for sensitive/loner/reactive dogs as they have a focus and purpose and we can avoid other dogs quite easily!

“his growth plates won’t be fully developed until he’s 18 months” it’s really only large breeds that take that long, most dogs they’re usually done by about a year.

I mean, you’d not want him running on tarmac, but off lead spaniels pretty much run miles on normal walks anyway.

Thanks for all the replies. It’s very exciting to read them 😂

I’m not planning on doing much soon as he’s still young and I’d like to let him finish growing. I’ve tried a few meters jogging with him on a running (waist) belt and bungee lead and my pace is very much a trot for him. Having seen him bolt around the village green/fields and cover 100’s of meters in seconds I think he’ll be fine building up to a sniffy 5k 😬

Unfortunately I do not trust his recall yet in many of what would be our off lead locations, so starting slowly and building up together seems sensible for a number of reasons. One of the reasons for running would probably be to let him get his ‘exercise’ in while we can focus on training in other sessions. As a working breed, relaxing ‘walks’ are a work in progress for him and will likely be for some time.

Honestly it’s such a lovely bonding thing to do 😁

And it's a brilliant way to get your own exercise done at the same time as theirs.

I used to, but he’s too old. He was off lead, on woodland trails mostly. We both loved it, he stayed close to me , and I think he found me much more interesting as a result.

There were a lot of fresh water streams around so he just drank/ cooled off as needed.
We were never serious runners, it was just about fun and exercise.

I cycle with one of my dogs but she us off lead. The other would end up killing us both.