Top Tips For Running With Your Dog

Images: Ruffwear

Running with your dog is a fantastic experience, and means that both you and your canine companion can reap the benefits that come from the sport. As dogs naturally love running, it’s easy to get them involved. However, it is important to keep them safe and introduce them to long-distance running gradually. These top tips will have you and your dog happily running together in no time.

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Benefits of Running with your dog

Dogs share many of the same benefits that humans get from running; it’s great for their overall health. Running will help keep your dog a healthy weight and build muscle, whilst also boosting your dog's mood which can help prevent misbehaviour. In the same way that we enjoy being in the outdoors and nature, your dog will love the sounds and smells of being outside so you can appreciate your surroundings together.

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Make Sure Your Dog Is Suitable

It is worth doing a little research to make sure that your dog is suited to running for longer periods before you get started. Some breeds are naturally more suited to running than others, with Huskies, Golden Retrievers, and Collies some of the best. Short-nosed breeds such as Pugs are best to avoid running completely.

A dog's age also plays a factor in how suited they are to running. It's advised for young puppies to avoid long-distance running whilst they are still growing, as they can be more prone to injury until fully grown. As a rule, dogs should be at least over 1-year old before they start, as their bones should have fully formed by this age. Older dogs who haven't had any previous experience with longer runs, or aren't overly active, are also not particularly well suited. 

It's also worth considering that dogs with heavier coats will struggle in warmer weather. In general, it's important to only run with your dog when the conditions are right, and running in hot weather should usually be avoided.

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Master The Basics 

Before you and your dog head out on your first run, you need to ensure that they have mastered some basic skills - loose leash walking being the most important. If your dog is pulling on the lead when you’re walking, it can quickly get more dangerous when you start to pick up running speeds. However, you will most likely find that your dog stays closer to you when running, as you are travelling nearer to a speed they would like to be going.

When you start running, it’s also important to keep your dog running at your side rather than in front of you. With your dog out front, it’s quite easy for them to trip you up or tangle you with the lead at running pace. Tripping over won't be fun for either of you. 

If you are ever in an area where it is safe for them to run off the lead, it's also really important that you are confident with recall and trust your dog to stay close enough for you to keep an eye on them.

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Get The Right Equipment

Whilst running can be a simple and minimal sport, you do need to make sure that you have the right gear when running with your dog. Make sure that you are using a bungee lead, rather than static, to ensure that you don't put any strain on the dog. You will also want to use a harness rather than a collar, again, to minimise the strain for your dog.

It's also worth making sure that you have storage for water, poo bags and maybe a treat or two for your dog at the end of your run. The Ruffwear Trail Runner System is a great option that combines a hands-free leash system with some storage room

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Start Out Slowly

Running with your dog isn’t about hitting personal records, it’s instead a great way to bond with your dog and get them involved in your healthy hobby. So with that in mind, make sure that you take it easy, especially when you are both starting out. Keep your pace steady and be conscious of how your dog is coping for the first few minutes, and you can then adjust your pace accordingly. Dogs need to build their fitness up in exactly the same way as humans.

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Let Them Take Breaks 

When running with your dog, you need to be prepared to stop for short breaks. Quite often you will have to react quite quickly to your dog stopping, so be prepared. It's very easy to want to keep a steady pace when running, but this will eventually come with time.

Give your dog plenty of time for them to sniff around, take a breather, and a toilet break if they need. Short breaks are important for allowing dogs to cool down. Remember that they cannot sweat, and instead cool down through panting. So, especially on warmer days, make sure that you keep an eye on your dogs breathing and let them take a rest when needed. They should be in control of their panting and not winded.

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Keep Hydrated

Dogs need to stay hydrated throughout their run in the same way that humans do. Make sure that you take along some water for your dog, and give them plenty of opportunities to take a drink. This is again especially important in warmer weather.

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Build Endurance Over Time

Don’t try and take your dog on a 10km run for the first time out, instead, start with a steady mile, and progressively build up from there. Over the course of a few weeks of consisting running, they will quickly build fitness and be ready for some longer routes.