Quote: RobbinMann

LOL!! Too funny, Connie! Well now, no one here will be arguing with him when it comes to computers...but dogs? Hmm, that's another story! Thanks for the effort though! Much appreciated!

Yeah, that was pathetic. I'm the type who checks on the author AND whether he ever worked for Hills, for heaven's sake!

http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=199

By Joseph Hahn
Information Specialist
University of Illinois
College of Veterinary Medicine


http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_JogDog.php

He's certified as a Behavior Consultant by the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and the recipient of many awards including the prestigious AVMA Humane Award.

Google for "canicross"

It is a sport wher man and beast euh dog has to run together. They have addapted equipement to attaach the dog to you

Greetings

Johan

I just scanned this, so maybe I missed something. Sorry in advance.

I do about 4 miles with my GSD and then switch out dogs and do a 20 minute walk with my Rottie.

I started the GSD when she was over 18 months. Closer to two years old. I started with a fast walk and then put in short stints of jogging. We started on a quiet street and then progressed to the busier streets. The entire time I watched her and I was ready with the leash to keep her from tripping me up or from darting away from traffic, which was caused mostly by loud semi-trucks.

You can see the restraint she uses as her ears prick up when she sees another dog or a squirrel, but she now stays where she should. Likewise, my Rottie used to lunge at the loud trucks trying to attack them. With repitition and constant corrections for bad behaviour, this problems are a thing of the past.

I never run down hill, not that there's many hills in Florida, as it's real bad on your knees. I would think it may also be bad for the dogs joints as they are stressed while fighting gravity trying to stop the body from going too far forward.

In the summer my dog wears booties to protect her pads from the hot asphalt.

I hope that helped.

Robin, I assume you're not going to be running, which is very different than going for a jog.......Especially if you're just starting out, I assume you'll probably be doing a slow mile. I've been jogging for close to 30 yrs, often with a canine. First off, I don't jog a young dog. I wait till at least 16-18 months. I don't carry any water or packs or anything like that when it's cool out. A conditioned dog can easliy do 4 to 5 miles without a drink. I always cool down with a walk at the end, then water. As far as heeling goes, the dogs settle into a relaxed "walk nice" command, which is in front of me, on the shoulder of the road, in the dirt and NOT pulling. In my neighborhoods we have lots of joggers, bikers etc as well as other dogs so I do use a formal fuss whenever anyone is approaching. The dogs figure it out pretty quickly, plus the oncoming person sees that I have control, especially if there's a dog with them. It's a riot, so many dogs, so little control! You can use passers-by as an opportunity for control with your dog. What I do is wait till the crazy dog and owner is a few yards away then work on some attention heeling. Sometimes I have a treat in my pocket, sometimes I don't. A nice voice praise works well. Do a quick figure 8 then continue on. Good for distraction training.
I would encourage you to start slow, observe your dog, and try to be as consistent as possible. (for the getting-in-shape human in this equation. Hee hee) Jogging in hot weather is a whole different story. In the hot summer months I jog at 5am, and usually only a few miles.
Good luck!

Another thought, Robbin, is since the trot is the natural gait of the GSD, they can trot quite fast, faster than you can jog so Levi probably won't break into a run while you jog. I think Levi is old enough to trot slowly next to you while you power walk or slow jog. I don't think a slow trotting 14 mo old GSD is going to wreck his hips or joints, it doesn't make sense to me to keep the dog only walking at that age, not natural for them. They need the exercise, which strengthens the muscles around the joints.

Start off watching that he keep a slow trot and as he gets more conditioned, he can go a little faster. Trotting for a GSD is a great strengthening exercise. Like I said, a fast trot on a GSD is going to be faster than you can jog (you'd be running to catch up!).

i run with luc, and if you build up, you can run long distances. luc runs on all surfaces and is fine.

i'm not sure if levi is old enough to do running yet (?) or if you'd be taking one of the other dogs (I guess not the guy w/the bad legs).

personally, it's a really great thing for a dog, and not just physically. luc is never more confident than when he's running.

in terms of hydration - you're just starting out? i never carry water on runs less than an hour (actually longer, but i hydrate very specifically, the rule of thumb is carry water if you're going to be out for an hour or more).

i know you're in a way hotter climate than me, but i find this true of summer as well, so i think that will apply. that way you don't need to worry about carrying around water bottles or packs yet (but if i have to cast a vote for a hydration system, i love the hand-held water bottles).

have fun!

Run for more than an hour? Are you crazy? When I was trying the jogging rout I was done with 2 sub 8 min. miles. i don't do it any more. Have started puppy on the bike however, much easier for me and more work for them. Also can get all three out in the same evening or morning. I think I AM getting old.

heh. you don't want to know how long i (and luc) run for then

 Quote: lori gallo

First off, I don't jog a young dog. I wait till at least 16-18 months. I don't carry any water or packs or anything like that when it's cool out. A conditioned dog can easliy do 4 to 5 miles without a drink. I always cool down with a walk at the end, then water... You can use passers-by as an opportunity for control with your dog. What I do is wait till the crazy dog and owner is a few yards away then work on some attention heeling. Sometimes I have a treat in my pocket, sometimes I don't. A nice voice praise works well. Good for distraction training.

Me too! I only started running Oscar after he was 18 months old. He was certainly ready to go earlier than that, but I (perhaps incorrectly) was under the impression that the steady pounding of a structured run, especially on concrete or asphalt, *can* do wear on young joints and I just wanted to play it safe. He got PLENTY of exercise running spastically with his dog friends, or through the woods on our walks, that his muscles and anatomy had a chance to strengthen and grow (of course appropriate exercise is good for them all through puppyhood adolescence), but I just didn't want to overdue it with proper running until he was closer to full grown.

I run Oscar in his prong on a leash with a built in "traffic" handle up close to where it attaches to the collar. This way he can run at the length of the lead, or I can gather him up easily to cross the sidewalk, pass people/other dogs, etc. I only carry water in the middle of the summer when it's very hot, but I ALWAYS run with a treat pouch - and I use it liberally. I can't be bothered with trying to pass someone else with a dog on the same sidewalk (not many people have enough control, or respect for me, to pull up their dog and put it on the far side of them when we pass) so I usually duck out into the road (often a bike lane) when someone else with a dog comes the other way. More often than not their dog goes nutty with barking and lunging while I keep Oscar focused with a proper "heel" and a treat or two till we get around them... this is of course as long as the other dog's are on leashes too. If not -

One thing I might suggest (in addition to keeping calm and collected in the event of an "encounter" with another dog) is to KEEP RUNNING. A number of times running on trails where dogs ARE unleashed we've passed a dog who does not look like he has the best intentions - the best thing I can do is place myself between the loose dog and Oscar, gather up Oscar's lead and tell him to "heel", and just breeze right by the other dog - maybe even give a stern "NO" or "BACK OFF" to the loose dog (I've even ran INTO a few to push them out of the way). The key is not hesitating, not giving your dog a chance to focus on the loose dog, while quickly moving past the situation. Most loose dogs won't follow you, or for very long. I'm lucky we don't have too many really nasty dogs where I now live - they might want to muscle Oscar around, but they're not blood thirsty, and they usually respect a determined human. If you have dogs in your area that are often loose and actually dangerous in that they will charge and attack unprovoked, I would avoid what I could and ALWAYS carry some sort of physical deterrent, like dog mace or a baton. Driving to a safer location would be my first idea - it's truly worth not having to run in fear, or worse, find yourself in the middle of a bad dog fight.

Oscar gets into a pretty determined mindset when we run and usually behaves himself VERY well. I think once Levi understands what your jog together is all about, he'll settle right into a nice trot (which is the most energy efficient gait of most 4 legged creatures) and enjoy being out with you.

Have fun!
~Natalya