Do you run with your dog? With the spring weather a lot of people and dogs who were locked up all winter are out on an exercise binge. My mom has always been a runner and all of her dogs have run with her for part of their lives too. Running with your dog is a wonderful way for dog and human to workout, have fun, and bond, but it needs to be done correctly.
5 Tips To Successfully Run With Your Dog
1. What Breed Of Dog Do You Have?
The breed or mix of dog you plan to run with is important. If you have a small Yorkie, they really aren’t big running dogs, however, a Lab has lots of energy and will make an excellent running partner. Very large breeds aren’t always cut out for running either. Always check with your veterinarian before you start to run with you dog to make sure they don’t have any health complications. Remember puppies should never be our running. Most breeds need to be at least a year old to run. If you run with a young dog, you risk causing permanent joint damage.
2. Start Slow
Many humans see dogs running all the time and incorrectly assume a dog can just run any distance right away. Wrong! Dogs are not machines! Just as humans need to ease into sports, so does your dog. Start out slow with a nice mile run for a week or two, then increase the distance slowly. If your dog is tired, walk a bit and then run. Never force or drag your dog. Don’t run every day, do some cross training a couple days a week with walking, hiking, swimming, or other sports your dog enjoys. Cross training cuts down on injuries, and keeps running from being boring.
3. Hydration
Always be very careful running your dog in the heat of the summer! Dogs don’t sweat and can easily become dehydrated. If you need water on your run, chances are your dog will too. We always run early in the morning because it is cooler out, and then our workout for the day is done! If it is hot out, carry water for your dog, or make sure they can stop for a dip in a pond or lake when they get warm.
4. Run Hands Free
I’ll be the first to tell you, Mom was scared to death to try hands free running with Bailie, but it is the best thing she has ever done! Running hands free allows the human to have the correct form while running. The dog is controlled by the belt at the waist, which is stronger than human arms. Bailie is a total pulling dog, but guess what? When running, she almost always runs in a heel position! She has even stopped taking of wildly after squirrels and wabbits! Mom can’t believe it, but it’s true. The Umbilical Belt is what she uses, and it is an amazing tool!
5. The Fifth Paw
The final piece to Mom’s running with dogs puzzle is our brand new Fifth Paw poop bag holder. The only problem with hands free running is there was no place to keep a bag of poop, thus hands free becomes hands holding bag. Luckily, I won a Fifth Paw over at my friend Bentley’s Blog! It arrived a few days ago, and Mom wasted no time attaching it to the Umbilical Belt, and then headed out for a run with Bailie to test it out. Perfect! Mom and Bailie couldn’t be happier! Even with all the jostling around, the bag and Fifth Paw stayed in place for several miles!
Katie did the most running with Mom in her younger years, and with her breed, she was able to run as far as fifteen miles which helped Mom with her marathon training. I also ran for five or six years, but with my shorter legs, four to five miles was my limit. Bailie is a good runner and has longer legs allowing her to run up to about six miles. Over the years, Mom has perfected her running with dogs technique, and right now, she says it is perfect. We were not asked to post about any of these products, we just wanted to share our tips to help others who enjoy a good run with their own dogs. Remember, a tired dog is a good dog!
Great tips and reminders! I love how you are wearing the same shorts as you mom in the two upper pictures! 🙂
We can share clothes…the same size, but shoes don’t work for me at all.
we sometimes run together, but the mama has to use a common leash what’s annoying when the hook meets her knee or her shin :o) but I noticed that after a loud swearword she runs a little faster with hurt legs :o)
Yikes, no good! Mom loves the umbilical belt and now not having to carry poop bags either!
I just love that picture.
Thank you. I make a good athlete.
Great advice BUT i could not control myself…I woofed out loud and rolled on the floor when I saw your running outfit. You are one classy – but silly – GBGV! XOXO Sparkle
Don’t tell anyone, but when I run, I just wear my furs, not the outfit 😉
looks like your all tuckered out! Great tips.
A good run wears a girl out.
O M D O M D we love your RUNNING Attire… you look GRRRREAT.
Thank you. I feel it is always important to look good no matter what you do.
Wonderful post, Emma! I LOVE your running tips and your haute couture! You have certainly inspired me to take Granny for a walk. We are both little old ladies, now, you know. She is 69 and I am 12.
Love and licky kisses from Jolie Amie, the Standard Poodle
Good walks are awesome too. Bailie does most of the running these days, but now and then I opt to go along.
One of the amazing things about dogs and humans is that they’re both built to run long distances. Some scientists speculate that early humans and dogs ran down prey over the course of several days. So when people run with dogs, they’re fulfilling their destiny. 🙂
I never heard that. Maybe that is why we both enjoy it so much? Thanks for sharing that!
Oh my dog, those pictures are terrific!! Great information too!
Thank you. I really wanted to talk about running, but once again, my fashion sense may have gotten in the way.
Mom used to run with Tucker, her Golden Retriever but her knees don”t work so good anymore. That’s why walking is perfect for both of us. I’m so happy that you love The Fifth Paw. We don’t know how we managed without one for so long. Thanks for the shout-out, sweetie. ♥ ♥ ♥
Mom does both and with the three of us in different life stages, she is out running and walking several hours a day. You know how it goes…a tired mom is a good mom 😉 She is in love with the Fifth Paw. She’s bringing it to nose work practice today to show some friends because she loves it so much.
OMD Emma that has to be one of your funniest outfits every! I am sure that your mom did not make you run in that right? Good tips as always but we don’t do ANY running in this household. Love Dolly
I only run in my fur, but I had to do something for the theme of the post. I love fashion, you know 😉 I think my mom will run forever, she loves it, and she says she can eat more human treats if she runs. Bailie does most of the running with her these days which is fine with me as I had my time already.
That’s awesome that your mom is so organized! I bet Bailie loves running with her!
These are great tips! I imagine a lot of people don’t realize they should start out slow with dogs just like humans should start out slow (my hubby always had to overdo it when he first started out!). I’m so glad your Mom is still liking the Umbilical Belt, it really does make things easier.
She loves it and with the Fifth Paw attached it is perfect!
I loved your pictures! Especially with your ears tied up. Too cute!
Thank you.
Yorkies are terriers so a lot of them have tons of energy. Mr. N can run bigger dogs into the ground. We don’t run with him but he outlasts everyone else on hikes. This guy we met on a trail told me he was using Mr. N for inspiration. If a seven-pound dog can do it, he could too!
Lots of people do think little dogs don’t need exercise or they can’t walk much which is wrong, but one also has to take into account their size on long distances. Small dogs need exercise just as large dogs do.
You look terrific and ready for about anything!!!
I’m ready to go!
Mom is cracking up. You are ready for the marathon
Snorts,
Lily & Edward
Trust me I’ve been through marathon training and it is a real drag! Thankfully, I didn’t have to do the super long distances like Katie did!
You covered it all Emma – nice job!
Running is great if you do it right!
Katie used to run 15 miles and your mom a marathon. WOW, that’s impressive
She is big, but she is also tall and lean. She was an awesome runner, but she never really enjoyed running. Bailie and I both love running with Mom.
Jack & Maggie’s running days are over, but it doesn’t stop Steve from running. Love the photo with your ears in the scrunchy.
Katie and I are pretty much done, but Bailie is out with Mom now. She says running without a dog isn’t much fun.
Looks like you guys are totally prepared! Happy trails and tails this weekend. 🙂
Thank you. We are pretty set for running.
Like your Mom, I’ve been intrigued by hands-free leashes for running with Gretel but was nervous. She is a puller and squirrel chaser so I didn’t know how that would work out. Since Gretel was diagnosed with her back disease, I guess I will never figure out because she can’t run with me on a leash anymore. However, I AM running a 5k with her in June. I’ll be pushing her in a stroller 🙂
We are so sad about her back disease. Running with a dog is just the best. If you ever do run with dogs in the future, give the hands free a try, you will be amazed. Mom is still amazed at how Bailie runs so nice but walking is always a nightmare. Good luck on the 5k! We’ve never tried to push a stroller while running, but it always looks so difficult.
Excellent tips, Emma. My human daddy is a marathoner, and he’s looking forward to running with my little sister . . . after she’s a little older. Mommy and I are looking forward to her being tired when she comes home. 😉
My mom did two marathons but that is it. She said it just takes way too much training time and with our sports, she would rather stick to 10k or less and have time to train our dog sports. If you little sis runs, definitely get the hands free thing going. My mom was terrified to try it and now wouldn’t run any other way! Just an fyi, my sisters and I have always been wired up after running, but after an hour or so, we crash out.
The training time for marathons kind of got to my daddy too, so he’s been “retired” for a little more than a year. I think when he really gets back into it he’ll also opt for half marathons and 10ks. P.S. That part about being wired after the runs really scares my mommy. 🙂
Linus is my running partner. The only problem we have with him was he always comes out of the gate full speed for about 1/2 a mile! I told him us older humans need a bit of a warm up. Those are some great tips and I like the idea of trying the hands free running. We’ll have to check out the Umbilical Cord. Thanks for sharing.
The Umbilical Belt really gets a dog to run nicely at you side. The key is, you have to trust it and don’t be grabbing the leash with your hands as that ruins the effect.
We bet you have tired happy dogs after a good run.
We are always wired up after running, but then we eat our breakfast and crash.
Important tips! I follow most of these when I bike with my Husky. It’s so much fun!
Love & biscuits
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
My mom isn’t much for biking, but they would work there too. We have a good friend who trains her husky with a bike.
Great advice here Emma! I’m glad you mentioned waiting until the puppy is fully developed too, some people wouldn’t consider that.
Delilah would probably be a good running mate, the few times I’ve ‘jogged’ with her, she’s done well. The problem for me is MY legs just don’t care for running. So sometimes we just do little bursts so she can get some energy out.
The bursts are so much fun. Mom incorporates that into runs sometimes. We would sprint from one lamppost to the next, and then return to our pace to the next one, and repeat. I loved it, and Bailie does too. Mom loves to run, always has, but running isn’t for everyone.
Ducky would probably love running, but neither hubby nor I can do much running these days. That’s why we let her run around the yard so much. I chase her in mini-bursts, or just throw her toy for her from one side of the yard to the other. And she gets to run and play at daycare, too.
Running is more of a benefit for the human and having the dog along makes it more fun. Dogs seem to be able to run forever and never tire out.
I’m imagining running hands free with four dogs. I would probably end up with my clothes in tatters.
Mom has done two, but even walking with three or four dogs is challenging. The dogs have to be very disciplined to make that work!
Awesome! If Bailie is normally a puller and heels when you both are running with the waist leash then I’m sold. I’d love to run with Walter but he’s also a puller and I never think it’ll work well. Great ideas – thanks for sharing!
It works amazingly well. Bailie rarely pulled after the first time or two they went out. One still needs to keep an eye out for critters as she will lunge for a wabbit or squirrel, but even then, she gives up quickly, much quicker than when on a normal leash.
HAHA, this picture just made my day!! It’s SO funny!!
I go running with my dogs too! I like to take my mom her working Border Collie, since, you know, it’s a Border Collie and never gets tired!! When I take one of my Labradors, I only run 3-5 KM maximum! Since they are a little heavier I don’t want to force them!!
My mom just loves running with dogs, as it makes it so much more fun and keeps her mind off the running. All Mom’s dogs have spent years running with her, but it has never been as much fun as with the hands free leash and the Fifth Paw bag holder. It makes a world of difference.
I should have known that you would be perfectly accessorized for going running! I bet the hands free leash makes running much more enjoyable for your Mom and Bailie.
LOL! Mom says the hands free has made running so much more fun and she has always loved running with dogs! Add in the Fifth Paw so she doesn’t have a poop bag in one hand and it really can’t get any better!