Running with dogs

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Annette4

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As a result of a) my weight gain due to giving up horses and b) Tia being higher energy I seem to have accidentally taken up jogging!

At the moment I'm using her double ended lead and clipping one end round my waist and the other to her but long term I want to get a waist harness. All the ones I can find in my limited budget say the doggy weight limit is 40kg or there about.....which is no good with a dog who is over 50kg and still filling out!! We have no where off road we could go (and it's too dark this time of year anyway) so has to be on a lead.

Does anyone run with a larger dog who can recommend a waist harness? Also....do you have the dog on a harness or collar. At the moment she's still having enthusiastic moments and getting distracted by other dogs but she's getting the hang of it so if it will be better on a harness I can swap soon. With her being so strong (and the Corgis so good) I've never even looked at a harness so don't know which are good/bad.
 
p.s avoid the harness's that just get tighter when they pull. They don't work and they just get sore bits under arms etc
 
I wouldn't use a Julius K9 for running, they sit right on the shoulder. Manmat distance harness would be my first choice followed by a custom Kisi harness, Canadog shorty or Euro short depending on the dog. For hoomans again Kisi do fantastic belts, see also Culpeppers, Nordkyn for a basic design (I've had a Nordkyn belt for years now, fab thing it is) or one of the nappy style belts by Zero DC or Non Stop.

Posting from phone, can add links tomorrow if helpful. :)
 
Can I just say I am in awe...

I did try it once. Worst idea ever with 3 staffords. The result was like a cartoon as we picked up speed and momentum easily..but they kept going. Didn't stop till I fell over!
 
What sort of dog are you running? You said she is filling out, how old is she? For heavy breeds I would worry about joints being compromised whilst growing if you are doing a lot of forced road works. I would also be concerned about attaching her to a harness and herself if she gets distracted easily, it wouldn't take much for her to have you over. I can run all 5 of mine at a time (2 of which weigh 60kgs+) on loose leads with them all next to me, I can have some off and they still stick with me a good steady pace helps them focus on migrating with the pack and not distractions.
 
(Gets ready for Blackcob to start laughing her ass off at me :p)

I jog and bike mine but not in the Cani-X/mushing style, I have him beside me on a collar and lead which I can let go of as opposed to him being anchored to me, and I use a collar/flat chain so that if he does lunge or not pay attention, he gets a correction. If he took a big lunge forward on a harness which was anchored to me, and hurt me physically, I'd be no good to him or anyone else.

It's also a control exercise for us as well as a fitness thing, he must stay beside me and pay attention to/think about where I might be going and what speed I am doing, he must not pull me.
I started him at eight months on the ground teaching him a follow command (as opposed to a formal heel) with food, and a wait/steady command. It's important that these are established before you start or one or the other of you will come a cropper!!

I didn't start doing anything high impact with him until he turned a year and I had seen his x-rays (I appreciate not everyone wants to go to these lengths :p) and agree if she is a big/slow maturing lassie to take it steady.
 
Country hounds are very good - as are culpeppers www.culpeppers.co.uk

I get all of my harnesses, leads, collars and walking belts from these companies.

And agree with the taking it easy comments - pups no more than 5 mins per month of age; we didn't start walking, let alone running with our big bones malamutes til they were at least a year.
 
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ace33 said:
What sort of dog are you running? You said she is filling out, how old is she? For heavy breeds I would worry about joints being compromised whilst growing if you are doing a lot of forced road works. I would also be concerned about attaching her to a harness and herself if she gets distracted easily, it wouldn't take much for her to have you over. I can run all 5 of mine at a time (2 of which weigh 60kgs+) on loose leads with them all next to me, I can have some off and they still stick with me a good steady pace helps them focus on migrating with the pack and not distractions.
Click to expand...

She is a rotti x American bulldog who is 20 months old. She finished growing up just seems to be muscling up now. I am horrifically unfit so we only do a mile, 3/4 Times a week and with walk breaks so not too much to.my mind? She does more running on an off lead walk!

She gets distracted in the sense that she looks and slows or goes to cross my path but not to lunge or try to interact with them.
 
moppett said:
is there any difference between a Y - shaped harness and chest one?
I can't decide which would be better?
http://www.muddypaws.co.uk/dog-training/dog-harnesses/lifeguard-padded-harness

http://www.muddypaws.co.uk/dog-training/dog-harnesses/lifeguard-padded-y-harness
Click to expand...

Y shape every time, the ones with a single chest piece have a tendency to ride up and throttle the dog about the windpipe and restrict the movement of the shoulder. They're also very easy to reverse out of! I don't especially like either of the Hurtta ones, I've seen the Y-shape in use and the neck opening is too large for most dogs (same for some of the popular fleece harnesses)
 
thanks BC thats helped alot. Think I've narrowed it down to a custom kisi harness for my two boys. Then they can be used for putting them on the bike, running, everyday walks etc. and they should be able to run comfortably!
 
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