Running with a Collie

[unfitmum]

Are there any runners out there that run with Collie (or equally highly strung dog!)? Last weekend thought I would try running with my dog - I attached a lead round my waist and then another from this to her and off I went. She must have thought that she was a husky as she ran full speed pulling me behind her (my phone afterwards proudly told me I had run the fastest ever!!! Little did it know that I couldn't have stopped if I had tried!). Today I thought I would run with her off the lead and all she did was try to round me up!!! Has anyone successfully run with their Collie trotting beside them? Should I carry on trying or should I give up now?!?!

[Hidden]

My dog is quite well behaved but I run with him off lead anyway. He is more interested in squirrels, rabbits, smells......He sometimes nips at my heels ( I look a bit like a sheep obviously)

There is a canicross movement and I think local groups do training. Maddee_6333 knows all about it.

[Maddee_6333 Graduate10 in reply to Hidden]

I felt my ears burning!

Canicross is an excellent way of running with your dog - it’s both mental and physical exercise - and the whole idea is that they do pull you. Though ultimately you are the one in control. Even many reactive dogs manage Canicross very well as everyone is running in the same direction and has their ‘working’ heads on.

If you want to give it a go it’s best to run in a proper Canicross belt for you - them the pull comes from your hip area and you aren’t as likely to hurt your back, plus a harness and bungee line of some kind for your dog so that they don’t injure their necks.

Those things cost money - but if you have a group local to you then it is more than likely that they will have beginners’ sessions where they will loan you kit to see what best suits you and your dog.

There’s a Facebook group called Canicross Trailrunners - if you go in the Files section there is a map of clubs in U.K. They also have a web page if you aren’t on Facebook.

[misswobble Graduate10]

Theres a few here running with dogs. I'm sure they're all very happy doing so. Maddee is running in a race today I believe, with a borrowed dog

Canicross it's called and it's really popular. I ran with a borrowed collie last weekend, just a few laps of the park while we went for a walk, and he was ace. Your dog will love you for it!

[Maddee_6333 Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

Glad you enjoyed! Be careful, it is truly addictive.

[misswobble Graduate10]

Have you ever seen a Basset on one of these cani runs Maddee?

[Maddee_6333 Graduate10 in reply to misswobble]

It's possibly o e of the few dogs that I haven't!

[Elfe5 60minGraduate]

Brilliant post- my family are wondering why I am laughing aloud alone in the kitchen!

Reminds me of our family dog towing me on roller skates when I was little!

Obviously you should persevere so we can enjoy the posts! 😃

[misswobble Graduate10]

Ah bless, I bet that was right fun 😃🐕

[unfitmum]

Thanks for comments! My husband is threatening to buy me the canicross harness for Christmas (why would a girl want diamonds?!). I wish I had videoed the attempts - it would have given every one a laugh!

[skysue16 Graduate10]

I run with my Springer spaniel and he loves it! I would definitely recommend a canicross belt, bungee lead and dog harness. Such a good investment and very comfortable. Some great advice by Maddee_6333

[GoogleMe Graduate10]

I almost never run without Google. It was miserable this time last year when I was having to run without her. There was a phase where we were in the same wood but not what I would call 'with' one another so had to do some more recall work (good tips in the Total Recall book - hence running with warm sausage wrapped in foil and sachets of cat food for a while). I'd second the suggestions to use a waist belt with bungee attached to a harness (mine is a Trixie not a proper Canicross eventing get up), makes running in places where you need full control much pleasanter.