Jogging with a dog!

[John]

Hi everybody!

I was thinking about starting to jog with my dog (Wow! sound sswwweeeeettt!). The problem is normaly she's calm during the walk and everything fine. But when we start running, she think it's a game and try to run faster and pulling me. It's hard to old it when she's really pushing to her max (choke on herself) and no very plaisant.

I was wondering if anybody got trick, suggestion or even tool (leash, collar, etc) that will allow us to have a wonderfull jogging session together.

Thx

[golden-lover]

Training? A trained dog will keep at heel- jogging, swimming, and walking.

[KatzNK9]

I think you need to work on some regular heeling exercises with your dog before expecting your dog to keep pace with you while running. Use the training collar of your choice. While walking, I'd work on changes of pace & get your dog to stay in pace with you. After you've mastered "heel position" with reasonable success, then try running again & you'll likely have better success. If not, revert back to more heeling exercises & try again.

[GreyhoundGirl]

I jog 5 km a day with Jenny... I find it's easiest if you don't have them on leash, then they can run at whatever speed they want. :)

[John]

I'll try the heel but it's the first time (I mean, don't really know how to train her to heel...will look around). And without a leash I'm not sure yet if she will stay or just run ''free'':(. Thank you for you comment! I appreciate :D

Thank you

[klewlis]

I'll try the heel but it's the first time (I mean, don't really know how to train her to heel...will look around). And without a leash I'm not sure yet if she will stay or just run ''free'':(. Thank you for you comment! I appreciate :D

Thank you


you definitely don't want to let her off-leash if she isn't trained to stay beside you.

one thing that has helped me to train my dog to "heel" is a special hybrid dog collar I got from barkbusters--I call it a "hybrid" because it is part nylon collar, part chain. It slides like the old choke chains but only goes to a point (stops at the nylon) so that it doesn't actually choke him or damage him like choke chains do--but still is effective when I give it a tug as it tightens a bit and is uncomfortable. If you can find one of those, they're great!

also if he's running beside you he won't be stopping in front of you, which is what my dog would do before he learned to heel. I nearly went tumbling over him a few times!

When you do get started, make sure you start slowly... dogs have to work up their distances just like people do. I think we did too much, too fast, and I have had to back off of the running for him for a bit... am going to try working it up again with him.

[KatzNK9]

Heel position is simply at your side (the area between the nose of the dog & the dog's shoulder should align with the side seam on your pants).

How does your dog walk on leash? Calmly and in basic stride with you? If so, you've got half the work already done. If your dog is pulling & not paying attention to your movements and trying to keep with you, then your dog needs some heeling work before you'll have much success with running together nicely.

I recommend using a training collar & use voice & collar corrections to keep your dog in place. Obedience classes are a great resource to learn and practice these skills. You and your dog will learn a lots that will become useful to you both. Give it some consideration if you can. You'll likely be glad you did and build an even stronger bond with your dog than you had once imagined.

[skunkstripe]

I find that my pace is somewhere between my dog's trot and his canter, which means that he has to keep switching his gaits. Sophia's trot is about like my jog. That I think is a small part of the problem.

[cassiesmom]

Please wear a jacket with a reflecting stripe - I live on a stretch of road that doesn't have sidewalks and those definitely help make a person more visible to me as a driver. (especially people with dogs because then they are a little closer to the edge of the road than just a person walking or running alone)

thanks

[klewlis]

Please wear a jacket with a reflecting stripe - I live on a stretch of road that doesn't have sidewalks and those definitely help make a person more visible to me as a driver. (especially people with dogs because then they are a little closer to the edge of the road than just a person walking or running alone)

thanks

depends on where you run. ;) When I am with Sammy I mostly stick to sidewalks, so the problem is on the side of the drivers who don't bother stopping at stop signs or looking for pedestrians.

[eb4i]

The first thing you need to know when training a dog to heal is how to perform a crisp 'about turn'. That's step one.

You might wanna check out some obedience classes for this, but I can try to describe in words what works for me.

If the dog gets ahead of you, (By AHEAD I mean to the point where his head is far enough past your hip that he wouldn't be able to see where you're headed immediately) let him get out a little further, keeping your leash slack, and then turn abruptly in the opposite direction.
When turning, turn IN...TOWARD the dogs shoulder.
(The leash should pass behind your back and into your other hand as you finish the 180 degree turn.) During the initial stages of the turn, tug on the leash in the direction you want to go. Make your correction firmly, without predjudice, when the leash is in line with the dogs spine. Give the command 'heal' as the correction occurs, and the dog comes around (about) to heal, back at your left hand side.

The dog will begin to understand that it's a good idea to be able to judge in which direction you are going at all times.

Once you have the 'about turn' down pat and your timing is correct, you should have no trouble with 'heal'... Then it's just a matter of learning how to do the 'about turn' at a jog.

We can talk about that other turn we do later. It's not so easy. :)

Good luck, Brah!

[cassiesmom]

depends on where you run. ;) When I am with Sammy I mostly stick to sidewalks, so the problem is on the side of the drivers who don't bother stopping at stop signs or looking for pedestrians.

Exactly. The ones who are changing the radio, talking on their cell phone, drinking coffee and other distractions. It gives me the willies that people walk with dogs on my stretch of road. They're building new houses (big ones) just down the way so hopefully we will have some sidewalks by the year's end. I don't know if it would be safer for the person and the dog to walk in the grass or on the shoulder. I wish drivers would pay better attention though.

[coco-bean]

this prolly isnt a very professional way of doing this...but i had this problem with my oldest...coco. I really dont jog with her unless it's just us other wise it's more of a mushing factor with me and my 3 lol!
but i kinda talk to her slowly saying okay should we try jogging? i know it's lame but i talk to my dogs...whats up?
then i kinda walk a little faster then just kinda do a fast walk/slow jog! If she pulls i stop immediately and say no coco, calm down! then walk again...slowly moving to the next step and so on! if she continues to pulls i tug back and say slow coco...or stop coco! not mean or harsh, but just firm!
seems to work for me...good luck though!
Def. work on heel for sure, it's a good command to just have no matter if your jogging or not!

[klewlis]

well I just took my dog for our first run together in about a month (I have tendinitis right now so have to take it easy). All of our heeling training has helped a LOT! It is much easier to run with him now than before... we are lucky because our relaxed paces are almost exactly the same. :)

[sheplovr]

If jogging on back roads teach the dog to sit and heel. Let it off leash to job behind or beside left knee. They is a jogger that has a black mix that takes his dog right along main RT 422 big time road busy and the dog is always behind him looking quite tired also.

[John]

How does your dog walk on leash? Calmly and in basic stride with you? If so, you've got half the work already done. If your dog is pulling & not paying attention to your movements and trying to keep with you, then your dog needs some heeling work before you'll have much success with running together nicely.

Must of the time I let her sniff and walk like she wanted (before when we got her...1 month ago). It's being a long time since she had to reduce the amount of exercise (bone problem...talked about it in LIMPING). She pull alot, try to pass in front of me to smell the grass (right side) and doesn't really listen. Must of the she's distracted by everything :(. But sometime, she walk well for a while than "smell" or "see" something and start to pull. She also jump (run and jump at the end of the leash).

I'm planning to do obedience training with her. Already found a school not too far and know the price (30$ a class). For now, she don't have the vaccination required (will have it this month) and she's not spay (yet...this month). I can't wait to bring her to the dog park, take the obedience training and go to the country house to swim and run...but for now I wanted to start jogging with her. It's also a motivation for me;) ...

I think I still have some work before starting... Thank you everybody!

[KatzNK9]

I'm planning to do obedience training with her. Already found a school not too far and know the price (30$ a class). For now, she don't have the vaccination required (will have it this month) and she's not spay (yet...this month). I can't wait to bring her to the dog park, take the obedience training and go to the country house to swim and run...but for now I wanted to start jogging with her. It's also a motivation for me;) ...

I think I still have some work before starting... Thank you everybody!

Excellent! I'm glad to hear you're going to be doing some obedience work for your dog. You'll see benefits in many, many ways & jogging should become easy for you once you've done some solid heeling work.

For early training, I highly recommend prong collars; however, for jogging, I'd definitely use a regular slip collar for safety's sake in the case of a sudden fall, etc. (I'd use a leather slip).

[toby and tracy]

HI - I'm coming to this conversation a bit late, but want to add that I was only able to jog with Toby after he had the heel. Now he responds to my commands (heel, slow, stop) whether jogging or walking. Though he definitely prefers the faster pace of the jog!

Obedience training is a fabulous thing. It helps to create a solid bond between you and your dog - think of it as a fun activity for the 2 of you to do together. I'm glad to hear things are working out well with that!

[MegBonnie]

Hi, clearly a lot of people on here would disagree because quite few obviously jog with their dogs - I have heard though that it is very bad to jog with your dog because the constant pounding is bad for their joints - it's not like when they're off lead walking and they constantly adjust their gait, stop, start etc. Just something to think about maybe as you jog a fair distance? Totally your call, but I would personally say if your going to do it, maybe getting training honed first would be a good idea so your dog can be off lead...

[klewlis]

Hi, clearly a lot of people on here would disagree because quite few obviously jog with their dogs - I have heard though that it is very bad to jog with your dog because the constant pounding is bad for their joints - it's not like when they're off lead walking and they constantly adjust their gait, stop, start etc. Just something to think about maybe as you jog a fair distance? Totally your call, but I would personally say if your going to do it, maybe getting training honed first would be a good idea so your dog can be off lead...

it depends on the dog and what kind of running you do... Sammy does quite well with it. What I will often do is bring him for the first 5k or so and then drop him off at home and continue on my own.

[Typical08]

I find that my pace is somewhere between my dog's trot and his canter, which means that he has to keep switching his gaits. Sophia's trot is about like my jog. That I think is a small part of the problem.

So speed up your pace :) .


I have heard though that it is very bad to jog with your dog because the constant pounding is bad for their joints - it's not like when they're off lead walking and they constantly adjust their gait, stop, start etc.

Any type of impact is going to wear your joints down. But look in the wild. Some types can and will chase prey for miles at a dead run without stopping or slowing down. But you are right, it is something to consider before you subject your pup to it.

I personally have never had a problem running my dogs (past and present). I have actually found that the ones that I did run with did better later in life than the ones I did not.

Anyway. Everyone has given some great advise. Some basic healing tricks you can use.

You say that the dog does well at a walk right?

When the dog starts to get ahead or starts to try to pull I will make a sharp 90 degree turn away from the dog so he has to catch up. As soon as I make the turn I will give the heel command. Then when he is where I want him I will give a quick Good boy (without stopping). You may find yourself making little squares for the first few days. But it worked for me.

[klewlis]

Any type of impact is going to wear your joints down. But look in the wild. Some types can and will chase prey for miles at a dead run without stopping or slowing down. But you are right, it is something to consider before you subject your pup to it.

The difference is that in the wild they aren't running on concrete, which is significantly harder than most other surfaces, especially earth and grass. For something softer on the dog's bones (and yours), running trails is always the best option--and way more fun than road running!

[Typical08]

Good point. I tend to prefer mud runs with D.O.G. It is always more fun when your dirty.

Plus it tickes off the wife :).

EDIT TO ADD: You can, if you feel the need, Get padded booties for your pup.

[Bailey-lover]

Try this site http://www.goodpooch.com/MyGoodPooch/heelin1day.htm goodluck :)

Oh and a question

Question

When your running with a dog you make them heel but when your walking along is it ok to let them wander in front of you can they learn that when you dog or run they must heel and when you walk they can wander in front on a leash?????

Emma :)

[Typical08]

Question

When your running with a dog you make them heel but when your walking along is it ok to let them wander in front of you can they learn that when you dog or run they must heel and when you walk they can wander in front on a leash?????

Emma :)

Any time the dog is on leash when training I have them heel. Always. I never move forward of that line untill they are firm on the heel command.

[Bailey-lover]

Thanks:)

Emma:)

[skunkstripe]

So speed up your pace :) .

I'm willing to bet you are more of an athlete than I am! Even when I was in my early twenties, the best I could do was a 9-minute mile. Then again, I could do ten in a row. :D
Maybe I should get a slower dog!

[Flossika]

Once the weather breaks im hoping to start jogging with the dogs soon.. once I've broke my dreadful addiction to smoking

[Typical08]

the best I could do was a 9-minute mile. Then again, I could do ten in a row. :D
Maybe I should get a slower dog!

Hey I am not fast. I top out at like a 22 or 23 min three mi on my best day. But like you I can keep that pace for a long long time. The slower dog may be a good idea :D .

once I've broke my dreadful addiction to smoking

Quitting really helped my run. But I sure do miss that after run smoke. Oh did it felt good. :cigar:

[Bailey-lover]

LOL my parents both quit smoking but that was because they both ended up in hospital for it..................



Emma

[Typical08]

Im sorry to hear that Emma.

[Bailey-lover]

Yeah but they were ok

[Typical08]

Yeah but they were ok

Good, I am glad to hear it.

[chase_pike]

koko really has no problem when running. It seems that he stopped trying to get in front of me and speed off after i had walked him for awhile now he stays by me while running. I can easily get him to come to me and sit on my command but i worked on getting him to 'sit" for only a few days. I think if u reall try it shouldnt be very hard to get him to run alongside you. Definately (as most have said) u need to work on heel.

[Bailey-lover]

thanks typical