Running with your dog?

 Hi, Ive recently started running and as it is getting darker have been finding it hard to keep motivated. I have a chocolate lab who is now 1 and I take him for 2 walks a day so once Ive done that Im finding it hard to get myself back out the door to go for a run.

 Im thinking of killing 2 birds with 1 stone and turning 1 of his walks into a jog as I will be more motivated to go because I know he has to go out, also I might feel safer in the dark. Does any1 else run with their dog? Did you ease them in gradually or did you just go out as normal, how far is too far for them to run?

Google Canix or canicross and have a look at the various sites. 

Be careful with how far you run as labs can suffer with joint issues but he should lope along happily.  My friend trained for a 10k with her dog and he was very happy to go out.

I use a  harness and belt set up so that I have my hands free and it works well.  It's fun too.

Labs are generally fine as long as most of their running is off-road, cross country style.  They've got fantastic stamina and a strong fit one can keep going pretty much all day.

My black lab is nearly six.  I started running with him when he was about 14 months.  Just 20 or 30 minutes or so at first.  As my distance went up, so did his.  He comes with me for long runs of two hours plus, and I get the impression he could keep going long after I'd ground to a halt

Watch out when it's hot, though, and make sure they get enough water.

Hi, I used to run with my dog, but the present two are a bit too old for it, but I run 1st & take them straight out for their walk as a warm down/stretch.

 Years ago we had a Boxer who we used to take walking in the mountains etc & I ran with her everywhere (except club nights). She would happily run 10 miles at 7-8 min miling pace. Normally she would be infront (off lead) but even so, be prepared for the know-all do-gooders - many people shouted that I was cruel for making her run!!!

 More recently we had an unfriendly Boxer Boy, so I used to run on tracks/trails at night. After falling over him many times, I got a flashing ring/collar (for him, not me) - suggest you get one of those.

 lstly, you will need to build your dog up to speed/distance gradually - just like youi would a non-running friend.

Good luck

do a search on here and you will find umpteen threads on this topic, it seems to surface again  every half year or so.

We have had shepherds for the past 25 years and have run with all except one. Two of our dogs ran marathons with us. I do all my long distance training with one or both of our current two males,they love to run, we have a huge forest on our doorstep and run 99% of the time on trails in there. This time of year is no problem, in the summer I make sure to run past streams and lakes where they can drink and/or swim to cool down. I too use a harness and belt so I am hands free.

I run with my Fox Terrier & she loves it! I don't take her on the long runs (7 miles+) just the shorter ones.

I'm going to look into the belt & harness.

I use a Halti on my dog, we are going to do about 10 miles in the morning

I always get off road and let the dogs off the lead as soon as possible.  I don't see how they can get proper exercise when they're tethered to me.

The lurcher was a bit of a handful at first, and still is on occasions but you know what - the only times he ever gets into a barney with another dog is when the other dog is on the lead.  We run in open country and I just can't understand it when I see other people keeping their dog on the lead.  Sometimes I've heard people say stuff like "oh I can't let him off the lead coz he'd run riot" or once "he'd have your dog for breakfast", which was ridiculous because the muscle bound mutt would never have been able to get close even to my lab, let alone the lurcher, who's fast as lightning.

Like I said - the only time I've ever seen a problem is when one or both dogs are on the lead.  Let them off and they pretty quickly sort out who's boss, and then it's sorted and they're fine.

Totally agree about the letting off the lead thing & almost all the time, my dog is off-lead as I take her to both local parks and country parks.  She was properly socialised as a puppy and the only time she was on a lead all the time was when she was neutered.  Her 1st run off-lead after that two weeks,  she belted about for ages so I can see why dogs get very excited if they don't get to run.

However, I want her to do some canicross races with me & it's training for that and also going out at "rabbit" time when I use the walking belt.  I think she really likes the running, especially in a group and concentrates on running with the "pack".

I run with yellow lab, but only on short 1hr runs in woods, he is 7 and always lags behind. I have tried him on longer runs and never again- after about 4-5 miles he just sat down and refused to run. I put him on lead and he woudl not budge, he was ok if walked but if I started running he would stop - its difficult pulling 28kgs of dog!! I had to walk back looking like an idiot taking a dog for a walk.

 He now hides when he sees me putting running clothes on !!!