If your exercise routine consists of running in the great outdoors, why not take your best friend and loyal companion with you? Most active adult dogs will love to tag along on those early morning runs and what a great way to strengthen the bond between dog and owner. Not to mention but it will also have your canine in tiptop shape! Running or power walking your dog before meals brings everything right back to nature. It instills to the dog that you are on the hunt when traveling, arrive back home with the kill (which is the dog food) and eat in rank of status of the pack. If you come home and eat before your dog does, you are telling him you are the boss and having him eat afterwards is a great reward for a hard workout.
You can build strength and endurance by having your dog carry a pack filled with water bottles. As your dog carries more weight, the harder he has to work. Start with less weight, and then increase the weight as time goes on. Always make sure to never over heat your pet and provide plenty of breaks for water and shade especially in hot summer months. Some signs that your dog may be over heating are: exhaustion, excessive panting, dizziness, red or dark pink gums and difficulty breathing. Should this occur, stop immediately. Place your dog in the shade and if necessary, dig a hole in the dirt to place them on the coolest surface possible. Do not try to make them walk back home- let them rest and let the body temperature cool down. Poor water over them, give them water to drink and wait until they are stable again to head back and get immediate help. Rattlesnakes can also be dangerous to dogs on trails. Have your dog vaccinated for rattlesnake bites at your local vet.
Protective booties are a good idea for extreme temperatures-hot or cold and are used to protect the pads on the dog's feet. Other supplies to carry would be a mini-dog first aid kit, which includes bandage supplies, and medication if needed. Lightweight, fold up water bowls are great and always conserve your dogs water by pouring it back in the container after they've gotten a drink. Check local leash laws and carry poop bags with you. No one likes an owner whose dog leaves an unpleasant surprise on someone else's shoe.
A must for running partners includes some simple basic obedience commands. Teaching your dog how to heel, the sit, down, come when called and stay commands are a must. Lead by example by protecting wildlife and terrain by keeping your dog on the trails. Use a long line or a 30 ft. piece of kite string in your pocket to teach your dog the come when called in all different environments and with distractions such as wildlife. Tie one end of the string to their collar, use their name first, then "come" and without hesitation, pull your dog back into you seamlessly until they have it down. Use lots of praise for a job well done and release them again. Most dogs don't want to come back because they think they either have to go back on leash, leave a fun activity or go home. Teach your pup that once they have come back into you, they can then go back to what they were doing. Once they have this down you are ready to take them off leash. Usually, if your dog can perform these commands inside a dog park with other dogs, they will be able to do this in the wilderness.
If your dog pulls on the leash, every time he goes out in front of you, make a swift right turn and jerk so he gets left behind. You may find yourself making lots of turns in the beginning but pretty soon it will dawn on him that his actions are not getting him anywhere. Use a proper training collar that doesn't make your animal into a sled dog. I recommend a six-foot leash, a flat collar with proper identification tags on it (even if the dog is micro-chipped) and a prong collar or gentle leader. Never use flexi or bungee leashes while running as these can cause accidents and also instill to the dog that you are not the leader by allowing them to go far distances in front of you. Remember that any tension you put on the line will cause your dog to pull harder. Use a loose leash always. Be consistent in your commands as well as give your dog a separate release command when they have learned how to heel.
Most importantly, have fun and be safe with your dog in the great outdoors!
25 Best Breeds For Running:
- English Cocker Spaniel
- Boxer
- Belgian Malinois
- German Shepherd
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever
- Doberman Pinscher
- Pointer
- Siberian Husky
- Dalmatian
- Australian Shepherd
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Weimaraner
- Standard Poodle
- Giant Schnauzer
- Border Collie
- Labrador
- Vizsla
- Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
- German Wirehaired or Shorthaired Pointer
- English Springer Spaniel
- Alaskan Malamute
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier>
- Collie
- Golden Retreiver
- Irish Setter
Top 3 Best Running Partners:
- Border Collie
- Australian Shepherd
- Vizsla