...is becoming an obstacle in my training schedule. This dog was adopted from the streets of Addis Ababa and has been brought back to the chilly shores of Scotland. I have been put in charge of looking after him whilst his owners are overseas for a wee holiday. He's great to walk with but just not run. If there is an awkward place to stop and sniff or a quick direction change that cuts across my path, he'll find it. The beast needs to go out for a couple of hours each day so have no spare time to take myself out running! It has been lovely watching him sprinting off along the beach each morning, terrorising the local wildlife, thinking how very different his life is now. It is not so lovely trying to squeeze in a run before it gets too dark. I have now not been out for a run since Tuesday.
I am both looking forward to getting back out running and also a little bit apprehensive as to how tough it's going to be. I'll just have to battle on through and get back into my routine...minus the dog!
26 Replies
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Oh forget your training schedule - it's much more fun to take a dog out and exercise that way. You will either have to get your own or beg or borrow another dog to walk when this one goes home! It's great exercise for you as well you know.... x
That must be a huge shock to the doggie's system; from the crazy streets of Addis (I love the place!) to chilly Scotland! How nice of you to look after him and sacrifice your running. Please please tell me he's called Gebrselassie?!
Enjoy your run when you do get back out; try not to worry as it will be fine, you'll see.
Bless you for looking after the dog cos rescues sometimes don't do so well in kennels.
I know what you mean about run disruption. After a bit of trial and error, mainly error, I take mine on a lead and make sure all the stop, sniff and responsible dog owner stuff is out of the way in a warm-up 15 minute walk. Then he trots with me, no stoppage allowed, until the cool down 5 mins when he can have more sniff time. Took a few goes before he sussed the routine but is now a bit of a pro. If he is off lead I can't really concentrate on the run because if I miss his cue he will be off after the first hairy critter he sees. This involves a wait while he turns his hearing aid back on and I finish War and Peace.
Enjoy the dog walks and don't worry about picking up the running again, just step back a couple of sessions if it is bothering you.
P.S. Dog wears a bell when off lead and no critters are harmed cos they hear him coming from miles away.
Ha ha Slookie " while he turns his hearing aid back on " ha ha . That made me laugh !
There is not a hope in hell I could run with mine. One pug likes to smell the roses, or in his case a blade of grass which can take aaaaages, and the other is off like his bums on fire. Most of the time I end up like Stretch Armstrong !
Theres a girl near me who runs with one of those belts tied around her waist and a lead attached she has some kind of super fit ,sleek, speedy hound. . It looks great, they dont half go , too ! xxx
No way I am trying that with mine Poppy. Lurcher/saluki and will go somewhere near 40mph so my Ar*e will be on fire too as it gathers friction along the ground when it spots a turbo-bunny.
Which reminds me of Dotty (surname not mentioned for her modesty) when I was growing up - we slid down the slag heaps (coal mining area, not a local pile of ill-reputes) on trays and bags and Dotty's bag went without her. She had to explain to her mam why her knickers had an enormous hole and her bum was covered in terrible scratches. Has kept me amused for years that.
Talking of slag heaps- I remember walking to the top of our local one in my slippers !!! Brand new ones they were. My mates called for me to go out and I forgot I had them on . Oh you should have seen the state of 'em. My mam went absolutely barmy with me when I got home Ha ha
Not ladybird slippers? Remember them? And the dressing gown in blue or red with ladybird buttons. Oh, hang on, they are just coming round with the cocoa trolley
Oh my goodness!! I had that dressing gown, the red one. My sister had the blue one. * sinks back into childhood reverie with inane grin on face*
Did you ever write with biro on the soles of your slippers? We did. Drove our mum nuts but they were so lovely and smooth that it was impossible to resist.
Ha ha EM , yes I definitely remember writing on the soles of my slippers ha ha ! Yes it was something to do with the smooth surface , it just had to be done !!! Xxx
Sounds like a lovely elegant picture. If I try elegant it all ends badly. Face down in mud cos I have tripped over a tree root while trying to look carefree and nonchalant or just going blue because I am holding my breath until I have got past the people I don't want to scare with thoughts of cardio-emergency
I have one of those now for when I run in lead-only places. The lead is elasticated and the attachment is a swivelly thing so it is much less jerky than you might imagine.
It is another good thing about the 'NHS C25K way' with the warm up walk as it does indeed very often result in the clearing up stuff being sorted before you start running.
My dog does seem to have some understanding of whether it is a 'sniffage walk' or a run. I also find that warm sausage has improved her recall no end (we went through a phrase where she and I had a run in the same wood but that was about the limit of our togetherness)
This is exactly what I do! I allow my dogs to sniff and do what they like for a few minutes and then they run with me and I just tell them to 'come on' and they get the message. If it's a nice safe place I let them off the lead because they don't like to not be able to see so they charge along behind me or in front. Then I put them on the leads for the cool down walk again. Good luck. Keep going!
Aw how kind of you , that is a very selfless thing to do , and I am sure the dog is having a ball ! What a lovely story, fair warms your cockles does that
Dont worry about losing your fitness, I am sure you will ease yourself back into it , no problem . In the meantime, I hope you both enjoy your walks, its all miles on the legs xxx
i walk my neighbour's hound and he demands all my time but he keeps me fit as walks with him are full on. It's like walking a young horse. I always flag by tea time so have to plan ahead and get tea done ahead of time.
ohhh I can see all your pictures but really when you think you all hold pulling dogs with arm muscles ... oh noooo! that butt / back leg muscle no competition (well mine anyway )
I'm not sure if this has been suggested yet, but is distracting him with a few treats midrun an option at all? get him excited with RUN PLAY WHEE attitude, then midrun, a few sneaky treats in your hand might keep him on track? sort of a carrot on a string type lure?
I know what you mean. I am my daughter's dog best friend as i take him for very long walks where he gets to run off the lead. When he is on the lead it is struggle to keep up with him then suddenly he will do a 180 degree turn or cut in front of me. I've taken him on parkruns however where he is totally focused. When people start to run his ears pickup, his eyes look straight ahead and all he wants to do is catch people in front. Absolutely no problem, he just loves running in a pack.
Sounds as though you don't really want to be in charge of him. You say "I have been put in charge of looking after him", but surely the position is that either you volunteered or were asked and agreed to be in charge of him. Either way, I think you've just gotta live with it.
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That must be a huge shock to the doggie's system; from the crazy streets of Addis (I love the place!) to chilly Scotland! How nice of you to look after him and sacrifice your running. Please please tell me he's called Gebrselassie?! 
First run with white (and pink) dog
Irresponsible Dog Owners 🤬.
Dog outing 
in praise of the dog
Running with your dog
