Running With Dogs

[ShantisMom]

Scott wants to start running with Asti (8 months old)and maybe Nala (11 years old and out of shape). Shanti flat can't. He wanted me to check and see how he goes about doing this.

 

What is the best way to start this? How slowly? How far at first?

 

Are there particular surfaces to avoid? Can they run on sidewalks without issue? He is afraid of causing problems to joints.

 

 

Any thoughts, suggestions or otherwise would be appreciated!

 

[Guest trevdog]

I was told no strenous activity until Dallas was a year old. She does agility and needed her bones to fully develop.

[Missilesmom]

Not sure if you can get this on-line but the magazine "Celebrating Greyhounds" had a really good article on Running with Greyhounds in their last edition. Here is the link: http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/cgmagazine/current.html - maybe you can find out if you can get a copy. Here are the things that I learned from running with my dog;

 

1) work you way up to it very, very slowly. run, walk and realize that it is not easy for a greyhound to run slowly or at a tempo pace. they have to build up their endurance.

2) alternate roads/trails so that paws can get toughened up

3) bring water for the dog

4) it's not your run, it's your dog's work-out. it's all about the dog, monitor how they are doing and adjust your distance, speed, based on how they are doing.

5) i never run/walk over 3 miles with my dog. that seems to be a nice comfortable distance for him that he really enjoys and doesn't knock him out for the day. he is pretty fatigued but still has energy to enjoy the day.

6) i don't feed any treats while on the jog

7) my dog is always short leashed while jogging. we stop enough for him to smell, pee and poop - that 's the walking part.

 

not every dog will like to jog. make sure that your dog enjoys it so they don't get stressed out. good luck. my god, missile LOVES to jog. Bandit has limited interest because he is still getting comfortable with our home - less than 2 months. GOOD LUCK!

 

Not sure if you can get this on-line but the magazine "Celebrating Greyhounds" had a really good article on Running with Greyhounds in their last edition. Here is the link: http://www.adopt-a-greyhound.org/cgmagazine/current.html - maybe you can find out if you can get a copy. Here are the things that I learned from running with my dog;

 

1) work you way up to it very, very slowly. run, walk and realize that it is not easy for a greyhound to run slowly or at a tempo pace. they have to build up their endurance.

2) alternate roads/trails so that paws can get toughened up

3) bring water for the dog

4) it's not your run, it's your dog's work-out. it's all about the dog, monitor how they are doing and adjust your distance, speed, based on how they are doing.

5) i never run/walk over 3 miles with my dog. that seems to be a nice comfortable distance for him that he really enjoys and doesn't knock him out for the day. he is pretty fatigued but still has energy to enjoy the day.

6) i don't feed any treats while on the jog

7) my dog is always short leashed while jogging. we stop enough for him to smell, pee and poop - that 's the walking part.

 

not every dog will like to jog. make sure that your dog enjoys it so they don't get stressed out. good luck. my god, missile LOVES to jog. Bandit has limited interest because he is still getting comfortable with our home - less than 2 months. GOOD LUCK!

Almost forgot. I obey the 2 hour rule, no food before or after for at least 2 hours when we jog.

[ShantisMom]

Great info! Thanks!

[Guest meakah]

I would not run your puppy at such a young age. It is important to let her do as much activity as SHE wants and to not push her at such a young age. It can have devastating effects on her joints if she is pushed too hard before she is fully developed. I would wait until she is at least a year old if it were me. As for the 11 year old...you are dealing with the opposite end of the spectrum and that, too, could potentially be a problem. Start very very slow and work your way up. And be VERY in tune to how Nala is reacting. If she is starting to lag...walk and don't push her much past that. When I work with horses, I pay very close attention to how they react. Once I know they are starting to lag a bit, I will push them about 1 minute past that point and then stop (this is when I am working them into shape). It is important to pay close attention to the time and monitor the increases each week.

Edited November 11, 2008 by meakah

[Missilesmom]

Come to think of it. I probably would not jog an 11 year old. Long walks or brisk walks would be about it or jog a few steps every now and then.

[ShantisMom]

Thanks everyone. I also got to talk to our vet last night about it. No major running until they are at least a year to year and 3 months. A few miles on soft turf would be okay. Sidewalks are the worst for them. What DH was looking at was around our neighborhood. Maybe a mile? Nala could do a block, but that is about all I would let him do with her. And it would have to be a slow pace. But we don't have soft turf around here so I think that is out. I don't want her joints pounding either.

 

So for now DH sticks to solo running or running on the treadmill. In the Spring he can have a jogging mate. Assuming he finds appropriate turf.