running with a dog

[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.

[Dogmama]

[QUOTE= 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.[/QUOTE]

Large chested dogs (Collies, Danes, German Shepherds, Rotts, etc.) should have a fairly empty stomach before running or any strenuous exercise. That means no meals within 4-6 hours of running. Bloat is a serious condition that can cause a painful death if the stomach twists. Symptoms are a distended stomach, trying to vomit & only bringing up a little water, panting, pacing the floor. The dog MUST get to a vet immediately - that means get the keys & get into the car. No waiting until the vet opens to save the emergency room fee.

Symptoms of overheating are more difficult to assess. You should look for excessive panting and slowing down - especially in normally energetic dogs. Always carry cold water for your dog in hot conditions & give him water at frequent intervals. Stumbling is a big warning sign - get into the shade & pour or squirt the cold water on the stomach/groin area and between the pads of the feet. Call somebody to pick you up (you do carry a cell phone, right?) and when you get home, immerse Fido into a tub of cold water & call your vet.

Sorry for the long post - I'm a little rabid (pun intended) about this. I see so many people in Tucson running their dogs in the heat - it makes me nuts.

[farrellcollie]

My old collie simply would not go if the temperature was over 70 degrees - she would lie down in a corner of the yard if she saw me with rollerblades on she would not get up - so we did not go (I never force a dog to run) - she did sheepherding and agility too - but if she got hot - she just quit until I took her back to air conditioning. On a good day - she would run 1/2 mile with me and then we would walk/sniff back home. (she is totally spoiled princess puppy). Now a walk up and down the block is a good day for her.

Other dogs -a husky mix and a hound dog - would seemingly have run all day if they could. but I have never taken dogs on rollerblades for more than 4-6 miles and that was after we had built up. Both of those dogs would go on hikes with me and run 10-15 miles but not on leash so they could stop, drink, pee, whatever on their own.

I now have a 7 month old collie mix who I am taking rollerblading - early in am or after sun has gone down - and we go 20 - 30 minutes with vet's blessing. By fall we will be going around our local park trail 3 miles. THis dog is not a very high energy dog - so this distance seems good for him - other two dogs above liked going around park twice (6 miles).

I think it depends on the dog, the breed and the weather. I know that rollerblading lets them (generally) go faster than running - but I would think build up principle was the same.

[Tater]

I have an Australian Shepherd that will not let me out the door! He will sit on my socks or running shoes so I know he is there and wants to go with me. When I ran in rural areas, he'd always make a bee line for the irrigation ditches to cool off. Now that we run in a more urban setting, I try to find water fountains or carry his Outward Hound container so I can give him water enroute.