It was a snowy April Fool’s Day in southern Wisconsin, and I was putting on a pair of grungy tennis shoes. I hadn’t run since junior high track, but my adolescent Foxhound was about to make a runner out of me, for life. And, oh boy, was it gonna be painful.
Two steps out the door and I slipped on the ice and fell right on my tailbone. Ruca pranced with joy, oblivious to my wincing and cursing. She was hauling on the leash so hard that I was able to use it to pull myself up — and then we were off at a mad dash down the street, Ru heading for the dog park and me high-kneeing it like a marionette, the leash slipping through my mittens.
If I’d only known then what I know now.
Accessorize!
To minimize accidents and increase the fun, a harness, head halter, and easy-on-the-hands leash are immensely helpful. Front-clip harnesses, like the Sense-ation Harness, reduce pulling right away but may not be comfortable for long runs. Head halters, such as the Gentle Leader, work well for many dogs but can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Always get help from a professional when choosing gear, and ask about special training to address any underlying issues (such as not walking nicely on leash).
You can also use a hands-free jogging leash, which fastens around your waist and is usually somewhat shock-absorbent. You can even go a step further and try Canicross, a sport in which the dog pulls you with a specially-designed harness and a line with an integrated shock cord that attaches to your belt. (Seek guidance from an experienced musher or Skijorer before trying this: your dog needs to be exceptionally well-trained to do this safely, as often both of your feet will be off the ground at the same time!)
If I’d spent ten minutes at my local pet boutique before that first run with Ruca, the staff could’ve fit my wild woman with an appropriate training tool and shown me how to use it. My runs with Ruca would’ve been more fun and easy (read: slow!) —and that would have made them much more frequent. Instead, I was miserable hearing the pant-pant-hack-hack of Ru constantly straining at her collar, and that wide nylon leash was no picnic for my chafed hands.
Hone Those SKills
My current canine running partner, Daisy, has it much better — and, by default, so do I. She does have to wear a head halter on city streets, but once we get to the park, she’s allowed to run off-leash alongside me all the way around the lake. This was a long time coming: we’ve spent hundreds of hours working conscientiously on her recall, on staying by me, on “Leave It,” on her down-stay when horses pass by. But I can’t imagine a better return-on-investment than a golden, balmy afternoon in the woods, both of us leaping over roots, charging the hills, and lazing by the creek (in it, if you’re Daisy) when we get hot and need a break.
I didn’t know how to train those things with Ruca. We’d attended (and graduated from) a basic obedience course, and I really enjoyed and respected the instructor and tried my best. But I had trouble transferring the skills we learned in class to our problems in the real world, especially walking nicely on leash. I wish now that I’d asked for more help during class, or invested in an hour or two of private training.
A Milkbone a Day
There are other precautions, too. It’s wise to get a preliminary vet check before starting any intense exercise regimen with your dog (doesn’t hurt to get one from your own doc, too). Start with short running intervals mixed into your normal brisk walks, and build up slowly. Also, encourage your dog to run on grass or soft surfaces, and check her paw pads after each outing for blisters, tears, or tenderness. Always run during the coolest times of day, and plan your route around sources of clean drinking water or bring enough along for both of you.
A long cool-down, like ten minutes of walking, is also important, and it’s easy to incorporate your dog into your post-run stretching session. Check out The Healthy Way to Stretch Your Dog, by Sasha Foster (www.dogwise.com), or Barking Buddha: Simple Soul Stretches for Yogi and Dogi, by Brenda Bryan (www.amazon.com).
Find a Pack
New habits are easier to keep if they’re shared. Start a running club with a couple of friends. If they have dogs too, so much the better – your dog will have company and you’ll always have a backup source of poop bags.
Once you and your dog are in a groove, take it to the streets! Many road and trail races allow well-behaved dogs. Visit www.dogrundog.com for a calendar of events, or ask the race director of your favorite run whether dogs are allowed.
My runs with Ruca, in all kinds of weather, were often difficult. Sometimes, they were outright disasters. Still, I wouldn’t trade a second of those special times. There’s something about moving forward in sync, facing the world together, that creates intimacy and a very special kind of peace with your canine companion. It’s a bonus when you can feel that peace during the run, and not afterward while you’re icing an ankle in front of the fireplace, an exhausted dog draped over your lap.
That said, I’m a firm believer that even the worst runs go better with dogs.
Jaime Niedermeier owns and operates Rebel Dog Training (www.rebeldogtraining.com) in the East Bay, and is an avid marathoner. She shares her home with Daisy, a 3-year-old Pharaoh Hound mix; Shy-Shy, a 6-year-old Shepherd mix; Chew Boo, a 10-year-old Golden Retriever; and Emily, her very understanding wife.
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