Running with Dog

[colby]

What a cute baby! Is that vest heavy when it is wet? That would be perfect for Zack. He HATES hot weather. In fact, he runs faster in the sun & slows down in the shade. It's pretty funny.

Where did you get it?

It's very light dry, but it's been a long time since we've had to wear it wet so I can't say for sure. She didn't complain about it nearly as much as she has with other "new" things (like a doggie pack), even when wet she didn't do the "I can't walk, this is so heavy, I might die" dance. (I may just have jinxed myself for this year)

I bought mine at REI online, it was one of the few places I could find it. Looks like REI doesn't have it, but RuffWear's site does: http://www.ruffwear.com/Swamp-Cooler...=2&category=12

She's a 70(ish) lb boxer-rottweiler, and we got the size Large because of her big chest. It's a little long and a little loose, but I don't think we could have sized down.

[Dogmama]

Thanks so much! I'm ordering one for Zack.

[emily_in_nc]

The swamp cooler jacket has been on my "to buy" list for Paisley for moving to Belize since I first saw one last year in a swanky doggie shop. I think it will help a lot with the heat and the sun. So glad I found out about it in time!

[TsPoet]

The swamp cooler jacket has been on my "to buy" list for Paisley for moving to Belize since I first saw one last year in a swanky doggie shop. I think it will help a lot with the heat and the sun. So glad I found out about it in time!

Just wanted to say I run/walk my dogs in the dessert nearly every day, summer and winter. So, I've tried numerous dog cooling devices, and this one is the best for one of my dogs, and the second best for other dogs I've tried it on. In other words, I'm recommending it.
Other's I've tried
1) ones with ribs in them filled with beads - rather like these cool ties
http://www.rei.com/product/691097/kafkas-kool-tie
these used to be all the rage, now I can't find an example to post - good thing, they were awful. If you do find one, stay away. They break, the flop around on the dog, they get everything wet.
2) Chamois cloths -
http://www.pettemp.com/05koolkoatmai...atmain6-06.htm
These are great for dog events (conformation, agility...) but I find them less so for exercising with the dogs - in the dog events you take the cool coat off while the dog is performing. These are nice, simple, can be homemade, but they just aren't secure enough to run your dog in
3) the cool vest
http://www.mightymitedoggear.com/coolvest.html
This is my favorite for my doxie-x mutt - it stays dry on the outside and keeps my car clean. It stays sturdily on him. My only complaint is the velcro - running in the dessert the velcro lasts maybe a year before I have to have a belt put on it to keep it on. I don't bother with keeping 1 side nice and dry the way they advertise, that's for show dogs to avoid dampening their fur so they look pretty, Mutt Murphy doesn't care what he looks like and neither do I.
4) the Ruff Wear cool coat from above
http://www.gandermountain.com/modper...D=GSHOP_438752

I really like this. It covers my Shiba-x mutt nicely, it's easy to put on, she can move in it, it has buckles instead of velco.

For my IG, I have to use the chamois style because of her deep chest. But, heat bothers greyhounds less.

[Deborajen]

Well, we ran about 2 miles today. It was 87 degrees when I got home from work, so we waited until the sun got behind the trees and it had cooled off a little. I didn't know how she'd do since we hadn't been out in temps that high - I didn't know how I'd do - but it went pretty well. We stopped and rested under a tree after about 15 minutes, drank some water, and then continued - she picked the pace right back up. So far we're just doing run intervals with walk breaks - no running straight through. I might look into a vest for her - those look like a great idea. We got a chance to run through someone's sprinkler system. Worked great for me but Abby went to the grass on the other side of the sidewalk where the sprinklers don't reach - she didn't like it one bit!

I'd heard that booties aren't a good idea because dogs sweat through their feet, but I also found an article yesterday that said one of the most common injuries dogs have with running is pad wear. I've noticed Abby sometimes licks her feet after or during a run or walk, but I can't find anything like a sticker in her foot, etc. Our LPS (local pet store ) told us pavement is our friend because it helps keep the toenails worn down, but maybe we need to watch the pad wear, as well as potential orthopedic issues, by giving her some field running time and not all pavement. We do have a small park that I've run laps in occasionally, and we may just have to clip the toenails a little more often.

We won't shave her. We were told about that when we used to have a Husky who was slow to blow off her undercoat in the summer. We just brushed and brushed - we'll do the same with Abby. It's supposed to provide some insulation against the heat as well. I expect her to overheat more than I would, so I'll keep an eye on it.

Susan, I loved the video - that guy must have a blast - and the dog too! - roaring around the bike trails together.

I did find a website on running with your dog that had some helpful info, if anyone is interested:

http://www.clickertraining.com/node/2928

It's a lot of fun and we get lots of smiles from people. Maybe they're actually amused because I can't keep up with my little dog - but what the hey!

[Dogmama]

Good find. Karen Pryor is great.