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Advice on running with your dog

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geordiegirl 29 May 1:03pm, 29 May 2025 28,516 posts	Quote Pin geordiegirl Look forward to seeing his progress, you'll have some wonderful adventures to come with him in the future. It may be worth investing in the harness and getting him used to it and you too. Much like us its then building up like a C25k format, dogs will just keep going so its important for us to monitor that one. Snacks and water essential!
Autumnleaves 29 May 1:13pm, 29 May 2025 21,008 posts	Quote Pin Autumnleaves Hi, @Totoro We have a working cocker spaniel who will be 2 years at the end of July. We run with her - either together or separately at least once a week. We're up to about 10 miles with her for the longest runs we do. She mixes running to the front (she makes a great tempo running buddy!) with being at the side. We generally take her on routes that include stretches where she can be off lead, and a mix of tarmac and trail. I am working on commands still, she knows 'wait' and 'cross' - left & right are a bit random!
jelly 29 May 1:24pm, 29 May 2025 6,942 posts	Quote Pin jelly I run with our dog daily! When I was running bigger differences she could easily keep up! On a double race weekender she did a marathon Saturday and a half Sunday! She’s a medium sized dog! Cross between a German shepherd and a staffie! Lately I try to cover a 5k a day average but she we oils happily just keep going and going!
Chrisull 29 May 1:39pm, 29 May 2025 22,934 posts	Quote Pin Chrisull Can't believe fetch doesn't have a Canicross thread that's active (this is bigger than the "Canicross" which is one page long)! We should change that! I run with my 8 and a half year old collie, normally do three miles with him, up to 7 maximum, although I have done a flat 11 miles with him once. Temperature is another thing to taken into account, rule of thumb I was told is 15C+ is generally a bit warm, so tend to run more in winter with him around the lake. I go once or twice a week in winter, less in summer. He's noise-phobic (especially gunshots) so have to be quite careful about where we run, otherwise run can end before it starts.
Autumnleaves 1 Jun 5:13pm, 1 Jun 2025 21,019 posts	Quote Pin Autumnleaves We took Bonnie this morning on a 10 miler. The last mile we let her off the lead as we were off road - she still had enough energy to bounce like Tigger and chase pigeons...
cackleberry 1 Jun 5:30pm, 1 Jun 2025 5,150 posts	Quote Pin cackleberry I run with Poppy (GWP) and would like to do more with her. We do about an hour, hour and a bit together maximum at the moment. Shorter runs more often. We only did a couple of miles today as it was hotter than I was expecting. She is better behaved while running than she is walking tbh.
Totoro 6 Jun 1:33pm, 6 Jun 2025 2,105 posts	Quote Pin Totoro That's an interesting observation @cackleberry I still only have my boy out on lead but playing with him in the back yard he gets quite excited and "jump upy" if I run as part of the game. Walking him down by the canal today saw a runner with a dog off lead that was clearly well trained and just enjoying itself sensibly. I see a dog trainer for 1 to 1 sessions so I'm going to ask if this can be target to focus on getting to. Still wary as even though on lead he will just walk past other on lead dogs he's still reacting, in a friendly but bouncy way, to off lead dogs. I have to keep a really tight control on lead and collar when horses go by. Not sure how to work on this one. Working on rewarding "eyes" and trying to keep focus but he has still reared up on his back legs pulling when last one walked by. It was unfortunate as an off lead dog had just run up to him and then a horse went past... I think if it had been one or the other, one at once, he might have kept it together. The thought of coming into a situation like this when I've not got him in close control on a short slip lead is a bit daunting. Not encountered any gunshots yet, that will be interesting @Chrisull I've got him pretty much used to sound of fireworks using youtube clips but everything is easier in his own safe home space. Big sounds when out is different. Little lad was startled by an ambulance the other day. In brighter doggy news he's starting doggy day care next week. Just as an enrichment and socialising thing 1 day a week but hoping that this will be beneficial. Helping build his confidence.
cackleberry 6 Jun 4:03pm, 6 Jun 2025 5,169 posts	Quote Pin cackleberry She can be off lead in 'safe' places, the woods near me are great and we can amble around for ages, usually hardly see anyone to cause chaos. I think she's better while running as she is a) moving at her speed instead of mine. b) she is focused on running so she doesn't have time to mess about!! Walking calmly is not her thing! She is very friendly and good natured