I’m sharing five tips for running safely with your dog this spring. One thing my mom goes crazy about in the spring is people grabbing their dogs and running for miles, even though the dog has not run for months over the winter. Just as humans need a safe start to a running program, so do we dogs.
5 Tips For Running Safely With Your Dog This Spring
Never Ever Run With A Puppy!
One of the saddest things we see in the spring is people out jogging with puppies or young dogs. Many humans assume that since a puppy has so much energy, running is a perfect way to settle them down. This could not be farther from the truth! Leave your puppy home!
Dog’s joints have growth plates which depending on the breed, don’t fully close until at least nine months to a year of age. Running with a dog who is still growing, can cause permanent, life long damage to joints and legs. Once your puppy approaches one year of age, check with your veterinarian to find out if she can start running with you.
What Breed Is Your Dog?
Not every breed of dog is made to be a jogging partner. Dogs with flat faces/noses such as pugs, may have trouble breathing on runs. Small dogs, or dogs with short legs are not cut out for marathon training. If you really want a dog as a running partner, check with your veterinarian to find out what the best breed for you would be.
Ease Into A Running Program!
Many dogs and their humans spend winters on the couch, being lazy. Just as humans need to ease back into running, so does your dog. Even if you ran all winter long, don’t expect your dog to start spring running with several miles the first time out. We are super active all year round, but over the past months, we have only been walking, and not running because of all the ice. Our spring running started April 1, no joke. We’ll be running just a mile for a week, then two miles for a week, and finally be up to three to four miles.
How Far Should You Run?
I am pretty short, so Mom knows not to run me more than three to four miles. If she wants to run five or six miles, she will either take Bailie or run on her own. Nothing would be worse in her mind than forcing us to run too far.
One needs to take a dog’s breed, overall condition, health, and age into consideration. If your dog is struggling to keep up with you, or to make it the entire route, slow down or take shorter runs. Humans often treat dogs like machines, but we have muscles, and other physical limitations just as humans do. Know your dog, and watch for any signs of stress or discomfort.
What Equipment Do You Need To Start Running?
Technically speaking, all you need for your dog is a leash. Over the many years of running with dogs, my mom has found several things helpful for her when running with dogs.
We wear a harness. Collars can slip off easily, and if there is pulling, the throat can be damaged. We find the Freedom No Pull Harnesses work best for us on walks and for runs. They are comfortable, safe and come in a variety of colors and sizes.
You can choose to hold your dogs leash while you run, but it tends to get your running posture out of whack. Mom has been running with the Umbilical Belt, now the Blackbelt Leash, a hands free leash, for about four years now, and just loves it. We will pull sometimes if we see a squirrel or rabbit, but having the belt to stop us is so much stronger than Mom using her hand/arm. The leashes don’t tangle, and the four feet is plenty of length. Running hands free lets Mom keep her normal running form.
One of our leashes also has a Fifth Paw for putting a used poop bag so Mom doesn’t have to carry it in her hand until we find a trash bin. An extra bag or two are also hooked on the Fifth Paw in case we need them.
We wish everyone fun, and many happy running miles this spring!
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We’re thankful we get to go running with Mom, so we’re joining Brian’s Home Blog in the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop! Visit some other blogs to see what they are thankful for.
Brian says
April 4, 2019 at 06:26We see humans running with their puppy from time to time, I hope they learn it isn’t so wise, but you girls are all very wise! Thanks for joining the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop!
My GBGV Life says
April 4, 2019 at 12:56It’s really bad for young pups.
JOANN Stancer says
April 4, 2019 at 07:09Those are 5 great tips. I don’t run so no running with my puppy.
My GBGV Life says
April 4, 2019 at 12:57That is good for the puppy at least.
Sparkle the PBGV says
April 4, 2019 at 07:26Wonderful tips but since my mom has a hard time just walking I can be assured there will be no running with her in my future! She does swim, but I do not like the water. XOXO, Sparkle
My GBGV Life says
April 4, 2019 at 12:57Too bad you don’t swim laps with her.
Ellen Shedlarz says
April 4, 2019 at 07:36I’ll wave to you as you go by. Have fun.
My GBGV Life says
April 4, 2019 at 12:58We always like attention, even if it is just a wave.
easyweimaraner says
April 4, 2019 at 08:07we love the idea of fifth paw, that is really good to have your hands free… some handlers use baits in their mouth to have the hands free, but I’m not sure if that is the idea for the poop bags LOL
My GBGV Life says
April 4, 2019 at 12:58Oh my, that is one nasty thought!
Sandee says
April 4, 2019 at 10:54Good stuff to know. Much of this I didn’t know. We have to take care of our babies properly.
Thank you for this wonderful information.
Have a woof woof Thankful Thursday. My best to your mom. ♥
My GBGV Life says
April 4, 2019 at 13:00Humans tend to see us as machines, but we have bodies that need to be trained and cared for just like humans do.
catscue says
April 4, 2019 at 11:16Fascinating, I’d never thought about any of that before, of course I don’t run with dogs, so happily I haven’t done anything wrong, but I will share these facts with my dog loving friends – thanks!
My GBGV Life says
April 4, 2019 at 12:59We feel sorry for a lot of dogs when the humans are running their poor puppies, or older dogs who are clearly not doing well.
Molly the AireGirl says
April 4, 2019 at 13:24What a great post! Mom had a very short running career at one time in her life. It was hurting her knees and she stopped running and went back to walking instead.
My GBGV Life says
April 4, 2019 at 14:59My mom has always been a runner. Sometimes she takes breaks, but she loves it. We love running together, and we still get to do lots of walking.
M. K. Clinton says
April 4, 2019 at 14:22I used to love running with my Golden Retriever! Arthritis and two knee surgeries have put an end to running but we enjoy our walks and are about to start biking. Running is such a great sport to do with your dogs.
My GBGV Life says
April 4, 2019 at 15:01My mom has always loved running, and with dogs it is even better. She tried biking, but didn’t like it. One has to go so far to feel like anything has been accomplished, but we know lots of people enjoy biking.
Two French Bulldogs says
April 4, 2019 at 16:30A perfect post. However, we barely walk never mind run. Does mommy shoes smell?
Lily & Edward
My GBGV Life says
April 5, 2019 at 05:48No, they smell like all her shoes. We are always walking and running. Being out and about is out thing.
Jan K says
April 4, 2019 at 17:15I’ve been thinking of trying running again this spring, but it really bums me out that Luke can’t go with me, because of his knees.
My GBGV Life says
April 5, 2019 at 05:50It’s hard to not run with a dog, but last summer Mom ran alone because Bailie was injured and I’m not big on running when Bailie stays home.
messymimi's meanderings says
April 4, 2019 at 20:47Running — isn’t that what you do because someone is chasing you? Heeheehee!
Excellent tips, and if i ever decide to run with a dog, i will keep them in mind.
My GBGV Life says
April 5, 2019 at 05:50We run in that case too, LOL! My mom loves to run, and so do we, so it is a good fit.
The Gang at LLB says
April 4, 2019 at 21:25Great tips! Mamas knees don’t let her do much running…but we do a bunch of walking!
Mama says we don’t know what we would do without our Fifth Paws, we have one for each one of our leashes!
xoxo,
Rosy, Jakey & Arty
My GBGV Life says
April 5, 2019 at 05:52Not every can or wants to run, but my mom seems to have the need to run. On walks she doesn’t mind carrying a bag for a while, but she doesn’t like to do that when we are running. We run by the nearest trash can to remove it from the Fifth Paw and get rid of it so it doesn’t swing around anymore.
karen Meldrum says
April 4, 2019 at 22:07Running…??? Well, I like to tear around and dig holes. But, Chablis and mom found your post a very good reminder – especially for puppies AND OLDER DOGS. We have harnesses too for “walking.” THAT HARNESS IDEA is VERY important for our necks and growing plates in puppies is WOW WOWie important.
Elbe
My GBGV Life says
April 5, 2019 at 05:53Lots of people don’t think about the damage collars can do, or what running or over walking a puppy can do. It is a sad problem.
Terry says
April 5, 2019 at 01:51Very good info about puppies growth plates which I wasn’t fully aware of. I do occasionally see the odd person running with their puppy but never occurred to me about the damage that could be caused.
My GBGV Life says
April 5, 2019 at 05:53It is really bad for little ones and we wish more people would realize that.