4 legged running companions aka a Dog

8ofSpades

Hi All

Do any of you run with dogs?
And if so would you recommend it?

We are in the process of looking for a pooch.
We will prob go for a pup so when he comes of age I'd like a dog that can run with me?

Anyone got any good recommendations?

By the time I'll get the dog I'd be aiming for about 2-3 mid week runs of say 5 miles avg and a 10 mile run at the weekend, mostly on the road.

Thanks
8ofSpades

Cool Running

Go for it.

I used to run with my dog for years. It was a cross between a springer spaniel and a dalmation so had a lot of energy. She is about 12 now so ive eased it up on her.

Used to bring her for 10 milers on a forest trail and she would be constantly running in and and out of the track so she was doing around 16 miles id say. Not a bother on her:)

I wouldnt be sure what to recomend but I think Springers are pretty good.

One thing you mentioned tho was you would be running on the road, my dog had absoultely no road sense so I could only bring her to forest tracks with no cars so you need a fairly well trained dog to be running on the road as they can get a bit carried away when they get going

fuzzyducky5

Beagles are very good dogs to run with. Very energetic and can keep up with you for as long as you run.

Wedgie

I occasionally go running with one of our dogs.

What you need (particularly if you'll be mainly running on roads) is a canicross belt, a bungee line, and a harness for your dog.

Check out www.tailsandtrails.ie for further information, lots of good stuff over there!

It's a lot of fun, go for it, and enjoy yourself!

8ofSpades

Cool

Thanks for all that
Yeah a lead/harness is a must for me as I'll be running on main roads and streets as well as country roads.

Do I need to worry about their feet at all or are they well equipped for this

Cool Running

8ofSpades wrote: »

Do I need to worry about their feet at all or are they well equipped for this

Not atal, you're gonna learn they are tough B******s and put us to shame:)

thetonynator

Springers will run for ever!!! endless energy and they never seem to get tired. The main problem is keeping up wit them!!!

Wedgie

8ofSpades wrote: »

Cool

Thanks for all that
Yeah a lead/harness is a must for me as I'll be running on main roads and streets as well as country roads.

Do I need to worry about their feet at all or are they well equipped for this

Just keep an eye on their paws, sometimes the pads can crack. You can get products to help with hardening the pads, or you can buy boots for them to wear. A lot of it depends on the surface they're running on, and how much pulling they're doing.

Just keep an eye on them to start with.

Wedgie

8ofSpades wrote: »

Hi All

Do any of you run with dogs?
And if so would you recommend it?

We are in the process of looking for a pooch.
We will prob go for a pup so when he comes of age I'd like a dog that can run with me?

Anyone got any good recommendations?

By the time I'll get the dog I'd be aiming for about 2-3 mid week runs of say 5 miles avg and a 10 mile run at the weekend, mostly on the road.

Thanks
8ofSpades

It depends on what type of dog you want.

Huskies were born to run and run, but cannot be trusted off-lead.

Springers are great dogs, boundless energy to boot. Setters are extremely happy when they're running.

Labradors are brilliant...the list goes on and on.

As I said, it all depends on what you want from a dog.

We have three, and our Lab cross is a bundle of energy, and he's the one I run the most. We rescued him from a pound before he was put to sleep, so don't be afraid to have a look around the various pounds / rescue centres, as there are some fantastic dogs (pups included) out there just looking for a chance.

8ofSpades

Thanks wedgie & all

I've posted a new thread in the 'Rec >> Animals & Pet Issues' forum to see if they can advise me on what breed of dog I should look for as this is probably going a bit OT for the ART forum.

Glad I got confirmation that dogs can make good running buddies.
I know a few peeps on this forum have had unfortunate encounters with dogs through no fault of their own (including my own raised lef incident!!) so its good to see dogs in a positive light as well.

Thanks All

clubcard

http://www.sportsfile.com/id/479018/
labrador for sure

baza1976

I run with my Dog when ever i run, which would 5-6times a week. He's a bitsa (bits of this, bits of that). He is about 1 foot high at the shoulder. Just back from a 10 miler today with him and not a bother. If i don't take him which is very very seldom, he pines for ages. Like another poster said my dog also has no "car" sense and will just wonder across the road:o So I keep him on the lead and let him off when I'm going cross country or through the trails and hills. He is 4 years old now.

Go for it, great company.

RoverHogan

just be careful! I used to run with the dog till one day he spotted a cat and decided to make a go for it. Unfortunately I was between him and the cat and he ended up running across me and wiping me out! After that, I left the dog at home!

Fluorescence

We'll be getting a dog in the next month, and I'm hoping she'll be able to come running with me. She's 10, and a JRT, so even though she's getting on a little bit, she's still a bundle of pent up energy :eek:. I'm guessing I'll need a harness for running with her though, as I imagine the leash would just get caught around her paws otherwise...

Bambaata

i sometimes bring our doggie out (a boxer) who goes and goes and goes but im not sure the long ones are good for her. i remember doing hill repeats with her and when we got home she she collapsed in a heap! she was wrecked. i dont bring her on anything over 15km now but will bring her on the occassional 8 - 12km. She has wiped me out once though when she ran across my path when she saw another dog, luckily we were on grass so you just have to be careful. that said if i have to do anything that involves some focus i dont bring her.

tyler71

I run with my little terrier whenever I can, but have had some bad experiences, some being that she'll take off across the road after a cat, another being she got badly hurt by an alsatian once when running past a farm on a quiet country road in the dark. Dogs that will run out after you and bark when running past a house will (sometimes) go for another dog aggressively. Another guy I run with now and then takes his labrador, and has no issues as the lab is so big - this also guarantees not being bothered by any dog when out running as they'll be so focussed on the dog with you, so I'd recommend a bigger dog, for both your sakes.

BeepBeep67

A friend is an ex international triathlete and she done quite a bit of research into this and settled on a Poodle (I kid you not), as they have high aerobic capacity and are easily trained.

donothoponpop

BeepBeep67 wrote: »

A friend is an ex international triathlete and she done quite a bit of research into this and settled on a Poodle (I kid you not), as they have high aerobic capacity and are easily trained.

Can they reach the peddles?

BeepBeep67

Requires a professional bike fit and T2 can be a bit problematic with 4 feet.

Needs a bit work on getting into a decent aero postion!

Dow99

I have a westie cross and he loves to go running with me,,, I only run with him in a park were I can let him off the lead.

He might stop for a sniff now and then but other than that he enjoys the company of the run just as much as I do.

Longest I took him for was a 16km,,

madon

I run with my dog as well (he's a husky cross) - I use a cani cross belt and bungee line, also a harness for the dog (never a collar) By using the belt and line the dog runs out front so its less likely to trip over them. I got mine from www.countryhounds.ie
Teach your dog left and right, also stop, slow down- go. If you just repeatidly use these words it should do the trick. Those commands come in very handy!

Don't run a dog under a year old (they say you should walk 5 mins for every month old for the first year).
Don't run them in hot weather even in cooler weather watch for signs of over heating.
Always check their pads and in between their toes for grit or small stones.

Good luck!

Wedgie

madon wrote: »

I run with my dog as well (he's a husky cross) - I use a cani cross belt and bungee line, also a harness for the dog (never a collar) By using the belt and line the dog runs out front so its less likely to trip over them. I got mine from www.countryhounds.ie
Teach your dog left and right, also stop, slow down- go. If you just repeatidly use these words it should do the trick. Those commands come in very handy!

Don't run a dog under a year old (they say you should walk 5 mins for every month old for the first year).
Don't run them in hot weather even in cooler weather watch for signs of over heating.
Always check their pads and in between their toes for grit or small stones.

Good luck!

I've seen somebody running with a Husky cross near me, and the set-up you describe. Are you based in County Louth, by any chance?

big mce

I run with our Labrador in the local forest. He's 11 this year and you can see old age creeping in on him, He use to able for the 8k loop (Its very hilly) but now I've curtailed him to 5k as hes too heavy to lift into the back of the car after the 8K .

Get a lab, a better running companion you won't get and kids love him and vice versa.

dreddie

I run with 2 dogs, a 2yr old Vizsla (pointer) and a 5yr old labrador. The vizsla can run and run, has done up to 3 hrs+ with me off-lead. This is a 20 miler for me but she covers far more miles than that.

The labrador is good for about 1 hr but then starts to fade, she struggled during training for Conn Ultra last year. I adapted routes so that I would pass by the car after approx 1hr, drop off the labrador for a snooze, collect food and drinks and continue on with the vizsla, everybody happy!! All runs are off-lead, usually in the mountains.

Only problem now is that we have a very fit vizsla who wants me to run Comrades next year!

anymore

Cool Running wrote: »

Go for it.

I used to run with my dog for years. It was a cross between a springer spaniel and a dalmation so had a lot of energy. She is about 12 now so ive eased it up on her.

Used to bring her for 10 milers on a forest trail and she would be constantly running in and and out of the track so she was doing around 16 miles id say. Not a bother on her:)

I wouldnt be sure what to recomend but I think Springers are pretty good.

One thing you mentioned tho was you would be running on the road, my dog had absoultely no road sense so I could only bring her to forest tracks with no cars so you need a fairly well trained dog to be running on the road as they can get a bit carried away when they get going

I used to bring my son's dog running with me in woods which she liked, but on other runs which were maninly Paths, she didnt particularily like it and sometimes went on strike by sitting down or walking back to car !