Harvey said:
We have a 3-month old puppy and, while she's too young to run for long distances, I've been taking her on mile-long runs in the morning. Well, most of the time the run is more like a fartlek1.
I've tried a couple of different leash arrangements with her - a six-foot leash attached to her collar, and the same leash attached to a harness. The former works the best, but am wondering if any of you run with your dogs and what you might recommend.
1 Fartlek is (a) a really fun word to say, and (b) Swedish for 'speed play', i.e. stop-and-start running.
Hi Harvey,
A couple of quick points If she runs with you even for a mile at a time please be sure she is on turf and not on cement or blacktop. She is too young to run for extended distance on hard surfaces. (Fartlek is more appropriate.)
Consider her bone development and the fact that it is not close to developed until appx 1 year of age (broad generalization).
To run with a dog at any distance the best and safest way is with the dog at a "formal" heel. That way you are both running together and the dog can see you at all times. If the dog is ahead of you they really can't see us. And it limits our control and hence even the safety factor.
Heel dog at your left, and the dogs eye "plane" is about even with our pelvis. Side by side in motion together.
Being on the left (the dog) if we run on open roads without sidewalks running against traffic (left side of road) this will place the dog on the shoulder of the road (away from traffic) and hopefully also ona "softer" surface.
Now 3 months is a bit young to have a great heel in the dog but it can certainly be learning and in a a matter of a couple of months (easily) it could be well locked in. But I have had 3 month old dogs doing nice heels.
I am not a fan of harnesses, they actually lack control. Gentle leaders and the like really are not as much training tools as management tools. Managing is not training. Training teaches, managing "deals with" in a mostly temporary manner. ANd when the management tool is not worn then the related behavior can even increase (potentially).
Another rule of thumb about dog bone development is to not allow them (as much as a possible) not to jump over or down from things much higher than their own withers (shoulder) height ESPECIALLY again, on hard surfaces.
Hope this is some help. Sorry again for not being around much. I looked in this morning because I wanted to find out about the .3 update for K2 which mine did this morning. Glad to have seen your post.
ANYONE that wants some dog related advice can always PM me if I am not on the boards much. I can always make some time available.
Later friends, I got 3 lessons in a row to go to.
Eric (aka ELDogStar)