Running with a Dog

I was a bit shocked today to find that after our 10 mile run yesterday, my dog has a patch of missing fur along his chest where the harness had been resting. It doesn't seem to bother him, but he keeps licking it.

I don't think I'll run him again until I buy him a new harness. By the way, there's a very good article in Trail Running magazine this week about running with dogs.

I take Buckley the beagle-lab mix on short recovery runs (less than 2 miles at a gentle pace). He loves it, though he does suddenly sprint without warning.

Vizla / Weimaraner seem to make good distance running dogs.  Mine is a German Shepherd / Husky / Retriever cross and he is a bit too big and heavy for my normal 6min km pace, he starts eating grass and throwing up at about 10k.   Also cannot resist a squirrel so has to be on a lead for running because he can and does catch them, deadly clever rather than fast.  I use him for when I should be taking it easy, we can go and pootle for a couple of hours.

My dog (a Newfoundland) is useless at running BUT should be good at Swimming but most of the time wont go deeper than his chest!

Barry Lee 4 wrote (see)

I take Buckley the beagle-lab mix on short recovery runs (less than 2 miles at a gentle pace). He loves it, though he does suddenly sprint without warning.

 

Barry - what sort of harness is that ? Are you (and Buckley) happy with it ? Does anybody else have any recomendations ?

Redjeep - it is a Trixie fleece lined harness. It is padded and seems really comfortable on him. We only moved to it from a normal nylon one because when he was a wriggling/kicking little pup, we couldn't get it on! Go to Pet Planet online - really good deals and far more selection than Pets at Home.

Thanks Barry. I'll take a look at them.

I have two cocker spaniels who run with me every time I go.  I'm currently running up to 8-9 miles and they happily do this (although I'm running at about 9 min miles).  This amount of running does not exhaust them, they will still go mad round the garden when we get back!

I do run with them on leads, but they are not allowed to pull - they have to run to heel.  Yes, having them on lead does mean that I have to allow them the odd wee stop - but they aren't allowed to just stop whenever, its when I say so.

Mine are nearly 6 years and 2.5 years old and both have run regularly with me for over a year.  They are also brilliant family pets.  I will point out that they are Working Cocker Spaniels, not the show type, therefore they are bred to run all day flushing out game birds.

With any breed of dog, you need to do your research.  If it is going to be a family pet, then temperment has to be your first priority, does it require alot of grooming? (my spaniels need a fair bit).  With any breed, you need to spend the time training them (my youngest has not had enough training, hence can't be allowed off lead in open areas - my fault, not his) and the whole family need to agree on what is and isn't acceptable behaviour. Find a puppy obediance class and take them as soon as you possibly can.

 Here's a pic of my boys taken a few weeks ago

Endorsed wholeheartedly - I'm a firm believer in proper training classes for all breeds of dog. They are pack animals and happiest when they know the family hierarchy and where they rank. This is promoted during training to obey simple commands - you may find both your dog and you start to really enjoy working. And they learn that YOU are the pack alpha who is to be obeyed.

Border Terrier owner here. My lad will easily run 20+ miles up hill and down dale and still want to go out later for another mooch!

They were originally bred to run with foxhounds and have immense stamina despite their little legs. Mine can happily keep up at 6:30 min/miling but he's happier off the lead at that pace than on it. 

Hi

Working Cocker Spaniels, love to run mine is 4 and enjoys about a 4 mile run best at a good pace but on a slower run goes much further. But he'd do this every day even in the snow!

Springer spaniels !!!! I run with my sisters and she can do 10 miles no problem and then wants to go out again when we get back , one problem if she smells a rabbit she can disappear so has to go on lead near rabbit holes or i can spend a while looking for her but she loves to go out and goes wild when she sees the running shoes go on .