How to run with a dog on a leash?

Steve, did you ever determine a fix?

I started running without the dog and when I began bringing her, I experienced the symptoms above. I cant possibly go for a run without her, it just seems selfish..redundant too since someones got to walk her (me).

Looking for the cure....

-Dave

I started running with a 6 month old German Shepard and struggled through 3 months of it before my wife stopped me sitting a vet that said you cannot run a dog until they are 2 years old (would love someone elses opinion on thi especially if you think running the now 11-month old is all good).

My overly energengized puppy was hell on a leash when we started out. With a normal collar and a 6-foot leash, the dog us unmanageable. I switched to a shorter leaser and one of those choker collars (with the teeth) and the earlier problems all but disappeared. I run early mornings in a dense urban area and even with the distractions presented by the city things were working great.

Now if I can just get around the 2-year old thing . . .

I think you can safely ignore the vet who said to wait until the dog is two years old. That sounds like non-runner advice.
I haven't been as susceptible to the problems described, but I have found the waist connection dog-jogging products to be way more comfortable for me than holding a leash in my hand. For a while I ran frequently with two large dogs that way.
Some dogs take to this more naturally than others. Some take a long time to learn not to jump, stop, or change directions suddenly. Others go like your shadow from the first step.
Of course, it is better to run with any dog some place where no leash is required. I wish I could do that.

Oh No! You really aren't supposed to run with a dog until they have finished growing. It is true. This is because while dogs like to run they usually do not just go otu there and naturally run one to two miles on pavement. They tend to run in bursts and rest. Usually its a year but if it is a particularly slow growing breed, 2 is recommended it reduces the risk of your dog getting hip dysplasia etc etc in later years.

As far as running with the dog. I take my dog on speed work, thats about it because he otherwise sort of messes up my pace. but essentially if your teach your dog to heel, than they should be able to run along in a hell with you at a nice pace.

When you say that dogs run in bursts then rest, you mean they sprint in bursts then rest. When I run with a dog, the dog doesn't look like he/she is running. Dogs/wolves/coyotes do naturally cover a lot of territory, mostly just trotting along, not sprinting.
Having said that, I realize that people can run farther than dogs, if they train for it. You should always be alert to signs that your dog is being over-taxed.
Of course, Mark was talking about a German Shepherd, a big dog that is very prone to hip dysplasia.
I've never run with a German Shepherd, or a pure breed of any kind. All of my dogs have been mutts.
I can't imagine doing speed work with a dog. I take my dogs on easy runs. I know they need to sprint. They do that at the park, chasing balls, frisbees, and each other, without me holding them back.

I agree that when I run my dog, she really doesn't seem to be running. As Cesar Milan says "dogs want to be in a forward motion". That being said, I also won't run her more than 4 miles at a time. But every dog is different. With a normal collar she pulls, and then I end up with a sore shoulder. I have to put her in a choker (slip or teethed) for her not to pull me, and then I have no problems. Now if I could only get her to stop pooing in the middle of the street........TMI? hehehehe

-LML

Ok, I've been running with Chi since she was a year old. When I had her fixed, the vet told me to wait until she was a year old. In the mean time she went to a lot of 5Ks as a spectator and is now very well behaved amongst the pre-race madness. When I decided to train for my first marathon, I took her to the vet again to make sure she was good for long distances (she is a mutt and we have no idea of her background). That said, we are training for our second marathon in April. All I can say about pulling on leashes is practice, practice. Chi gets very excited and wants to run a five minute mile right off. Given a little bit, she chills out and is a great partner, sometimes even lagging behind me. We have a lot of verbal commands that helps me control direction and such. Chi will be 3 in the spring and really it's just been practice and some sucking it up on my part. You can try a different type of collar like a prong collar. They can be effective, I'm just not a fan of them. As for running my border collie mix, well that's another story. She is crazed but we're just starting to work on it. Dakota's nickname is Princess Crackhead - and it's totally fiting! "There is no such thing as bad weather, just soft people" Bill Bowerman

That's a beautiful picture of Chi that you posted. So much character in her face, and you can feel the weather.
Speaking of verbal commands, I used to have a dog Marcie, that I would run with in a large park that was mostly wilderness. It was pretty safe to let her off the leash to run on her own. Without planning to do it, I started telling her what to do with clapping. I was often too out of breath to say very much. I would clap and shout, then clap and mumble something under my breath, then after a while, I stopped verbalizing and just clapped. One loud clap to tell her she was getting too far away, two quick claps to tell her to come quick, etc.

I read somewhere that running with dogs while they're growing is good for their bones!!!

I'm starting to feel guilty. I've been running with my dog since he was 6 months old. Just 2 mile hill work. At 8 months, we went from 2 miles to 22 in three months and he doesn't seem phased at all. He gets home, and runs laps in the back yard. I do stop alot to see if he wants water...

We run on trails, and he's well behaved, runs ahead at a 6 minute pace until he's almost out of sight and then sits and waits for me. At home, he's less behaved, and runs around the neighbourhood when he's free until I con him back in.