Any tips for training a dog to run with you?

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Any tips for training a dog to run with you?

14 posts & 10 voices | Started 1 year ago by Jase | Latest reply from Surf-Mat

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Jase - Member

My dog (Doberman) is now a year old and I’m looking to start running with him. Our vet has recommended limiting it to 1 mile until he’s 15 months.

Has anyone any tips of how to get him running with me in a safe manner? At the moment when we’ve been playing and I start to run he runs along at an angle (tail next to me, head in front of me) looking up at me with his toy in his mouth wanting me to play.

So I need to stop him doing this if we are going to run for any distance.

If though he’s well behaved on the whole off the lead is it best to start off with him on the lead?

Any tips greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Posted 1 year ago #
donks - Member

Hand a string of sausages from your belt...

Posted 1 year ago #
Milkie - Member

Can he walk to heal without a lead, stop on command and things? Gold/Silver/Bronze Citizen Award? If you can't do these things, or don't have an award, then training would be difficult, as its not only training the dog, more of training the owner to communicate with the dog correctly.

Personally I wouldn't do anything like that until the age of two, you're just shortening his life expentancy. I know of a dog that now runs sideways because the owner cycled with the dog rather than walking, and now at the age of 4 is showing signs of hip problems already; this isn't an isolated case either.

Posted 1 year ago #
algarvebairn - Member

Like anything, I would have thought that repetition and reward would have done the trick. Take the toy out of his mouth and give it to him - as a treat - when he starts to run properly. And thing about tying the lead around your waist so you have to hands to control him.

Posted 1 year ago #
carriegold - Member

does he walk to heel yet? Cos you gotta walk before you can run

Posted 1 year ago #
soobalias - Member

either do it properly and get him walking properly,

or jog with him on a short lead*, the first 400m will be hard but IME he will settle into it in no time. Same as any exercise, start slow and short distances, build up slowly.

*head should be by your thigh, no further forward so he can read direction queues from you not the other way round.

Posted 1 year ago #
Jase - Member

Have thought long and hard about when to start this up. Bearing in mind he'll only be running for 9 mins and will make sure its on grass should be ok. Plus 9 min mile for a dog is very slow so he'll prob be walking fast as opposed to running!

Prob do need to get him walking to heel first as at the moment we just let him off and play so he really gets to do his own thing, other than getting him to wait when we see cyclists/runners etc.

Posted 1 year ago #
Lucas - Member

Mine runs with me, he runs with his nose just behind my legs when off the lead and a little bit further forwards (head next to leg) when on the lead.

I didn't really train him he just did it. Having said that he could walk to heal perfectly and do 'corners' at dog training before we started to run.

When we started running we built up slowly (I'd not run since at school so couldn't run far anyway) we probably did 200m running then walked 200m then when I got to knackered we'd just walk. eventually we were able to run 8km without stopping. I think this was a good way as I know it's not done him any harm as it was nice and easy. He was also 1.5 years old when we started.

try running with him on the lead, you might find that the increased speed over walking means that he is happy to run at your side. When off the lead there is no reason for him to be at your side as long as you are in control. If he gets in the way just run into him he'll get the message and get out of the way. I wouldn't take toys out running either.

Posted 1 year ago #
surfer - Member

Slight hijack!

My dog from the age of about 12 months started coming for short runs with me. She enjoyed them and over months they were extended up to around 6 miles or so.
Problem is she now is not interested! (Lakeland terrier) so basically if I take her for even a short run she just looks at me like I am daft. She may have a point.

Posted 1 year ago #
Lucas - Member

Dog's can be cleaver and want to have fun - are your runs fun for her or is she just following you? I reckon my dog gets a bit board running with me, he enjoys it more when his sister comes with us and they can run and play fight at the same time. He likes it if I pick up sticks and chuck them for him but that is quite difficult when your knackerd and still running.

The 'walks' he enjoys the most are when we just walk 0.5km to the park and then he gets to play with his friends with the football. I always feel that it's not a proper walk for him but they are effectively doing 45 minutes of interval training so he gets more exercise than a proper walk. I think he likes the fact that I throw the ball so am playing with them too and he's got my attention all the time.

Posted 1 year ago #
surfer - Member

Lucas

You are right. My training is serious (ish) but I change the surface and route to suit her but I suppose they are really 7:30 per mile steady runs for me as oppose to a fun session for her.

Posted 1 year ago #
TooTall - Member

Prob do need to get him walking to heel first as at the moment we just let him off and play so he really gets to do his own thing, other than getting him to wait when we see cyclists/runners etc.

You need to get that dog properly trained. Something that size with the reputation the breed has will get you in trouble if not properly controlled. Once he is trained, the running thing is just an extension of that and won't be a problem. Invest the time now - and get his knackers cut off ASAP!

Posted 1 year ago #
Jase - Member

They came off at 7 months

He is pretty good at following comands, i.e. he comes straight back when we call him. The only time its difficult is when he starts playing with another dog, that becomes more appealing than coming back to us!

Posted 1 year ago #
Surf-Mat - Member

Mine just follows me - first two runs were a bit dodgy but all fine after that. Makes runs much more enjoyable IMO!

Posted 1 year ago #

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