running with a dog

[crazybikinchic]

Thank you for the replies. I have already figured out that the retractable leash is not a running leash. He has even acted as if he needed to make a deposit in order to stop. I knew he wasn't tired because we had just started the running for the day. I do tell him that we are "going to pick up the pace", so maybe I need to put it simpler for him. He does seem to like the pace that we go at (I am just starting to run, so I am very slow). Maybe he just needs more time. I won't give up on him yet (he wouldn't let me, he likes it to much).
Thank you
Tammy

[trigurl]

I have started taking my dog running and the more he runs with me the more he pays attention to my body and where I am at, I did some obedience training years ago and we did very little voice cues to start with, we wanted them to learn to "watch" us. For example if we hand cued them to sit and stay we would walk off using the right foot first, the dog knew that he should stay, if we walked off using the left foot the dog was to heel, they pick up on that really quick.

The dog I have now is getting very aware of what I do, I make sure each time I stop at a road crossing, he knows he must sit, stay and look at me before he can cross, I will give him the verbal and hand cue to "go" then he can cross. I was playing the other day with him while running, I would slow down and he would too, I have never really taught him this, he has picked it up on his own. I was walking at one point and slowed way down to just a creep and he did too, then I started walking faster and so did he! He is really paying attention to what I do.

They are good at this, just make sure whatever you do you are consistent.

I do use a retractable leash, I trail run mostly and that way he can run way ahead and get out all his extra energy - he lives in a kennel outside all day - when he has to stop I can almost keep running until we run out of leash, I also us the word "go" when I want him to move, keep running. He has stopped right in front of me one time and I had to jump over him, then I was tangled up in the leash since then I watch him better and if he lets me get close enough to grab his tail I do, that keeps him further in front of me, which is safer, b/c he is bad about stopping to pull something out of his hair of foot.

Sorry this was long but I learned most of this on our last run last weekend, we ran 10 miles, he was a bit tired but he plugged right along. He is a german/australian shepherd mix and occasionally "heels" me which I have made a big deal out of when he does, he stays in front of me now!

Have fun with your puppies and make sure to take water for them! I found a harness with a back pack attached at Target, not quite big enough for a bottle of water but it is nice to have extra space.

[farrellcollie]

This may not work for running - but I use a gentle leader head collar (it is not a muzzle - they can open mouth to pant, drink or bite) when I first teach my dogs to roller blade with me (they love it - they get to run as fast as they want) (I let them set pace - when they stop running full out - we go slower) - but it allows me to keep control and keep them from trying to sniff everything etc without pulling on their vocal cords. When the dog gets used to the run and to ignoring other dogs, squrrells etc. - I sometimes go back to regular collar - it depends on how much dog does not like gentle leader - some of mine have taken to it and others have disliked it.

[KnottedYet]

I've used the Halti/Gentle Leader and the voice commands. My dog picked up on it pretty quickly. He knows that when we run, we RUN... no sniffing or poking around. When we walk, he gets to do doggie business.

When he was first learning that "Let's Run" meant exactly that, I carried cheese and treats in a little bag at my left hip. He stayed at my left hip, cuz that's where the goodies were! If he ran politely, he got a goodie. Lots of goodies later and he really understood that he had a job to do when we ran.

[Dogmama]

What breed of dog are you running with? I always worry about heat stroke. Dogs do not communicate well and you have to really watch them. Often, people do not realize that their dog is overheated until they collapse. Short nosed breeds are VERY susceptible to heat problems because the air isn't cooled enough before it gets to their brains.

I used to run 5 miles in the early winter mornings with my German Shepherd. Now, she is almost 14 years old & a three block walk is a big deal. I let her sniff all she wants these days! She doesn't see well and her hearing is going, but her sense of smell is still pretty good. She's also a little senile and has hip problems. But, she's a very happy girl! She spends her days on my bed, air conditioning going and a fan blowing right on her.

[crazybikinchic]

Thank you again. In answer to your question, I have a toy sized American Eskimo. He is a little over a year old. Did I say that he is absolutely adorable?

[Dogmama]

Thank you again. In answer to your question, I have a toy sized American Eskimo. He is a little over a year old. Did I say that he is absolutely adorable?

OOooo - too cute! Those are dogs that run quite well (as opposed to Bassett Hounds, hehehe). I would not run him for long periods of time because his bones/joints are still forming until he is ~ 1.5 - 2.0 years old.

Regarding sniffing - here is a cure. I don't think it is particularly good for the dog, but people have been known to put Vicks Vapo-rub around their noses. Especially people who show in obedience because you get points knocked off if your dog sniffs the ground during sits & downs. Of course, when you graduate into advanced & the dog has to do scent discrimination, you have another problem. But, people who resort to that trick rarely go further than basic stuff.

[colby]

What breed of dog are you running with? I always worry about heat stroke. Dogs do not communicate well and you have to really watch them. Often, people do not realize that their dog is overheated until they collapse. Short nosed breeds are VERY susceptible to heat problems because the air isn't cooled enough before it gets to their brains.

Good call -- what should we look for? I always watch to see where my dog (a boxer/rottweiler mix, boxer sized with a rottweiler face ) is running -- if she's in the grass for too long, the sidewalk/pavement is too hot (normally she stays pretty close and just sniffs in the grass for a second). If she's trying hard to find a way to run in the shade, it's too hot for her in the sun. I also watch her tempo -- if she's dragging and panting, she's hot AND getting tired. I just don't know what her limits are and am afraid to find out by pushing too far and carrying her home (or to the vet!).

I love German Shepherds. We had one when I was growing up... such a loyal dog, great with kids and fun to play with. Even when he was old, he still wanted to be where the kids were (of course, the kids weren't exactly kids anymore by then ).

[farrellcollie]

THere is an article on exercising your dog in this month's Dog Fancy (my old collie is having serious old age health issues - I spend way too much time in vet waiting rooms). It talks about building up your dog's distance/endurance slowly - and not over doing it - as well as signs to look for when to give dog a break/rest. Another thing to keep in mind is feeding times to run time - some dogs are susceptable to bloat etc if they eat and exercise too close together.