Tips for Running with Your Dog

Speaking of adjusting routines for the summer heat, would someone like to explain to me why I thought that spending June through August training for my first half marathon was a good idea?  I'm sure the actual race will be beautiful - the weather should be more temperate in mid-September and the location is lovely - but working up to 13.1 miles in a DC summer will be challenging.

Charlie is my second biggest motivator as I continue running, right behind the need to get healthy.  He loves to run and needs the exercise; it would be a total waste to go for a run without him and then take him out to play.  It's fun to combine the two!  He's been on almost every run I've gone on since we got him last July and even ran a race with Megan and me back in February.  (By the way, check out the Lost Dog 5k Series in Arlington if you live in the DC area! You don't have to have a dog to participate - you can borrow a rescue if you want to run with a companion - and it's for a great cause.)  I've never taken him out for a run longer than a 10k, though, and I don't think I will when I get to that stage of my training. It's not about the distance; I just don't want to get used to running 10+ miles with Charlie and then be totally thrown when I have to do it alone for the half!  But I did ask my vet about running with Charlie, and I thought I'd share her advice, plus suggestions from the amazing group at Lab Rescue LRCP and some other tips I've picked up along the way, for anyone who might be interested...

1. run on trails or grass rather than pavement when you can - it's easy for dogs to burn their paw pads on hot pavement, so stick to trails or grass if possible!  If pavement is the only option, try to stay in the shade.

2. stay in the shade as much as possible - all dogs, but especially black ones like Charlie, can overheat pretty easily. They can only pant off so much sweat, so it's up to you to help them regulate their temperature.

3. bring water - this is an obvious one, but make sure you and your dog stay hydrated! I have a great OllyDog waterbottle that comes with a detachable "bowl" so my dog can drink easily when I take water breaks.  I should note that Charlie rarely ever focuses enough to drink from the bottle or the bowl (though it's still important for me to carry them) which is why we always make sure to...

4. run near a body of water - our shorter runs, those under 4 miles, are usually just around the neighborhood, but anything over 4 miles is through Rock Creek Park.  We take regular breaks so that Charlie can have a quick paddle in the creek and a drink. Wading in helps him cool off, and he always gulps down a few mouthfuls!

5. listen to your dog - this is the most important tip of all, one that was voiced most loudly by the Lab Rescue experts when I brought this up on their Facebook page. Most dogs (and especially labs!) get too into the zone when they're having fun or working hard to know when their bodies need them to snap out of it, so you really need to pay attention to your dog's physical cues so that you can stop before s/he gets overheated or overexerted.

Obviously, I'm not a vet, so if you're not sure whether or not you should run with your dog - or if your dog physically can run with you - check with an expert.  (Our vet said that I run slowly enough that, as long as I remember the tips above, there isn't a distance that would be too long for Charlie, but if you have a faster pace than I do it's something to ask about.)  But Charlie is, without a doubt, one of the best parts of running for me.  He keeps me on track and his enthusiasm is contagious.  It's so fun with him that it doesn't feel like exercise! Well, it does, but it feels like fun exercise rather than something I make myself suffer through.  If you have a dog who can physically handle that kind of movement and you want to get into running, I totally recommend going out together.

Do you run with your dog?  Let me know what tips you'd add!