Tips for Running with Your Dog

Since I am back on the pedometer wagon, Lucy and I have been taking looong walks around town and my neighborhood.  On our walks, I always see people jogging with their dogs.  Lucy the Puggle Dog likes to give the leash an extra pull when she sees them trot by.  I suspect she would like to feel the wind her face too.  Right now, I can’t even imagine being a “runner.”  I suppose it’s something I’ll have to work up to–and maybe I will, for Lucy’s sake at least.

If you want to start running with your dog, here are some tips to get you started:

1. Ease in slooow.  Just like people, dogs need to ease into running.  The need to build up stamina.  {Lucky for Lucy, I’ll be needing to build up a little stamina myself.}
2. Don’t go long distances with your dog until s/he is at least one.  It gives the dog time for the skeletal system to grow and mature without excessive high impact.
3. Pack water for you and the dog.
4. Be aware of the heat.  You might be in a t-shirt and shorts, but the dog is running in a fur coat.  They are more prone to get over-heated.
5. Train them to run with the leash first.  Keep them on the leash until you know they won’t dart off.  Even then, keep them on the leash around roads, etc.  Trails that allow off-leash are great once you KNOW your dog will come back when called.
6. Bring a plastic bag to pick up after Fido.  It’s just a common courtesy for other walkers and runners.
7. After a long run, make sure to check your dogs paws.  If they appear raw or worn, you may want to scale back the length of the runs.  Cleaning their paws with warm soapy water after a trail run will help to get any dirt and debris out.

Do you run with your dogs?  Do they look forward to it?

~Mavis