Mary Allen
Running with your dog offers both great training and nice company for both humans and dogs. In fact, many people get a dog just for this companionship. Any kind of physical activity is very important for your dog’s well-being and significantly increases their quality of life.
Are All Dogs Suitable For Jogging?
The dog must have a formed skeleton and joints before you can take it jogging. This is the case for smaller dogs at around one year of age, and for large dogs after at least 18 months, depending on their size. Since rigorous physical training can be harmful before the body is ready for it if in doubt, consult your veterinarian.
The dog must be healthy and not overweight. Overweight dogs should lose weight before they start jogging. Walks in varied terrain are the better solution for them.
It can be difficult for very small dogs to complete a long run as they have to take a lot of steps to keep up. However, this is very individual, and once the dog has built up stamina and fitness the size of the dog rarely matters.
If your dog has a history of problems with its bones, muscles, or joints, you should consult your veterinarian before beginning training. With these dogs, it is important not to train too quickly. If in doubt, have your dog checked regularly by a veterinarian or a physiotherapist. If your dog is showing symptoms of overwork, allow him to rest.
Training Structure
All training should be done on the dog’s terms and in a non-harmful manner. If the dog is completely untrained, you should start slowly. If he’s already in good shape, you can speed up the training. Never maintain a faster pace than the dog can trot with you, as the trot is the dog’s natural long-distance walk and is the least stressful on its body. The canter can be used over shorter distances and on soft ground, but if the dog has to canter to keep up with you, you’ll need to slow down.
Training intervals are a good idea when making a plan that suits your dog. Warm up the dog for a few minutes and exercise no more than 10-15 minutes in the beginning. For example, the plan might be a 1-minute fast walk, 1-minute slow walk, 2 minutes slow pace, 1-minute fast run, etc. As the condition improves, you can also increase the time the dog runs fast. Stop training while the dog is still having fun and do not overexert him to avoid injury.
Canicross
In this discipline, your dog runs in front of you with a harness. You are connected to him by an elastic leash (2-3 meters) strapped around your waist. The special leash prevents people and dogs from pulling too hard. The dog walks with a slight pull on the leash and under controlled conditions. You can also have more than one dog in front of you. Canicross has become a huge success worldwide and can now also be found as a competitive form, similar to a cross country competition.
Advice
Water For The Dog
Remember to take water with you for your dog on long journeys. Dogs don’t sweat through their skin like humans do, but cool themselves by breathing rapidly through their mouths.
The heat is given off via the tongue, the breathing air, and a few sweat glands (especially in the balls of the feet). The dog also looks for cool places to cool its tummy. It is therefore important to offer the dog water several times along the way.
Lining
Don’t feed your dog right before a walk or run. This can have serious consequences, for example in the form of stomach torsion. Wait a few hours between a large meal and a run.
Careful With The Paws
Asphalt is hard and rubs against the dog’s paws. In summer it can cause burns. Vary the ground you walk your dog on and always check for injured paws when you get home.
Think Of The Mental Stimulation Of The Dog
Dogs enjoy physical exercise, but without mental stimulation, stress and behavioral problems can develop.