Running with dogs: Does anyone run with their... - Couch to 5K

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Running with dogs

hilanic profile image
hilanic
โ€ข39 Replies

Does anyone run with their dogs? I have 2 energetic dogs and they had not been out much today because of the rain so decided to take them with me. I decided to run at the cycle path by the beach which is safe for the dogs. Everything went well until have way through my run W7R1 the dogs run down the stairs to the sea and only one comes back up. Panic set in as a ran down and couldnโ€™t see her, waves are right up to the steps and my other dog is panicking looking for her. I run on the the end of the path, run down to the beach and see her because of her pink harness bobbing about the waves ๐Ÿ˜ฎ I shout on her like a crazy women then like a miracle she comes running up the steps ๐Ÿ˜€ Never again am I running with the dogs, I thought it would end up with a lifeboat rescue!! Well maybe in a park next time, what could go wrong there ๐Ÿคช

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hilanic profile image
hilanic
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39 Replies
โ€ข
UnfitNoMore profile image
UnfitNoMoreGraduate

I find running with a child is all the stress I can handle... roll on September! Actually sheโ€™s ok, but I donโ€™t relax when I canโ€™t see her, so I do a lot of back and forth running.

misswobble profile image
misswobbleGraduate

Oh flippin eck! What a fright! So pleased it was ok but what a scare

Dogs ey ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ Loads run with dogs, and you can get proper rigged up with canicross harnesses and such like You can run with them purely for fun and exercise though, to your mutual benefit

The dog I walk loves foul weather ๐Ÿ˜ฌ๐Ÿ™„๐Ÿ˜

Denovo profile image
Denovo

I really hope that you do not run in a park with your dogs off the leash. I have had yapping and barking leash-free dogs jump all over me in a park and it totally terrified me because I was scared of being slobbered over with their germ-laden saliva or even bitten. It didn't help that the respective owners just looked on grinning while I was shaking all over and on the verge of tears.

kriswhoruns profile image
kriswhorunsGraduateโ€ข in reply toDenovo

Dog walkers are my biggest concern when I do my C25K runs in the park near my flat (also the park where they do a Park Run, which Iโ€™m determined to do when Iโ€™m not actually working on a Saturday!!), as I was bitten by a dog when I was a kid at a camp site when I was running to the loos, so running past dogs gives me the fear.

Obviously, not ridiculous dogs like some sausage/jack Russel mix that I passed this morning, but there is a walker who has a huuuuge German shepherd that I have no time for.

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduateโ€ข in reply tokriswhoruns

You probably had more likelihood of being bitten by the JRT.

Ang33333 profile image
Ang33333Graduateโ€ข in reply tokriswhoruns

If rather meet a German shepherd than my terrier!!! He is always on the lead.๐Ÿคช๐Ÿคช

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduateโ€ข in reply toDenovo

No-one should suffer from unwanted canine attention and having several all over you must have been very unpleasant and scary and owners way out of order for not doing anything.

That said, unless you are immune suppressed then being worried about germ laden saliva suggests a problem worth seeking help for.

Denovo profile image
Denovoโ€ข in reply toGoogleMe

I'm not immunosuppressed. I can relax near a dog and even touch it if the owner evidently has it under control whether by physical or vocal means. However, I do not wish to be scratched and bitten and thus am terrified when molested by unknown ones. I'm also aware that dogs root around in all sorts of unsavoury places and some of them eat the faeces of other dogs, which means that all sorts of nasties will enter their mouths, and am also aware that the Capnocytophaga canimorsus bacteria in their saliva has caused very severe desease and even death. Hence, I do not consider I have a psychiatric problem as implied in your comment.

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduateโ€ข in reply toDenovo

Lots of people, especially runners, have a legitimate concern about being scratched, bitten or just jumped up on by uncontrolled or inadequately controlled dogs, and you had a very unpleasant experience (made more traumatic by your fear of canine saliva on your skin but unpleasant for anyone)

But you were suggesting someone shouldn't run in a park with a dog off lead at all and express your concern in rather unusual terms that would make me prick up my ears on a professional level.

However, I'm not a psychiatrist and I'm not in professional practice here, it doesn't sound as though your concerns are limiting your ability to go about your life, and my comment was meant only at the same level as any other "Might want to get that checked out mate" that gets offered here about all manner of things that have been mentioned or noticed, of a physical, psychological or maybe either nature, so you are free to ignore it if you don't feel it is relevant. There's far too many folk here because of psychological issues or finding that running helps with psychological issues for there to be any stigma, thank goodness.

Denovo profile image
Denovoโ€ข in reply toGoogleMe

It is however quite offensive to be accused of being insane just because I loathe filthy, unknown dogs owned by irresponsible owners ruining my time spent outdoors. I guess though that as a dog owner you are biased. Maybe it is dog owners who require psychiatric assistance to comprehend that not everyone is going to go over raptures about being subjected to the unwanted, stinking, slavering intrusive attentions of their foul beasts. Your posts have moved me to campaign for dog control orders in my city.

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduateโ€ข in reply toDenovo

OK, perhaps you're just someone who likes to use very colourful language to express their opinions and don't really have any specific fears about dog saliva on skin. However, I don't think suggesting someone could seek help if they do have them is an 'accusation of insanity' (I'm really hoping that's just colourful language again rather than your real view of people experiencing such things) and I have not suggested anyone should be OK with inadequately controlled dogs... I'm not!

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduate

How awful for you! What a scary thing to happen ๐Ÿ˜ข. I am glad your dog was alright. I run with my spaniel attached to me using a Canicross belt, harness for the dog and bungee lead. He loves it!

hilanic profile image
hilanicโ€ข in reply toskysue16

The wee one that nearly drowned last night is a spaniel/ lab/ collie mix but looks like a spaniel. She pulls like a train and i use a halter lead for her. I think when I build up to running a bit faster that she would love the cannicross

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduateโ€ข in reply tohilanic

Spaniel/lab/collie sounds a lovely mixture ๐Ÿ˜€. Post a photo sometime.

Anatheboxerdo profile image
AnatheboxerdoGraduate

I always run with my goofy boxer. She's usually great but occasionally a right pain! My running buddy along with Laura ๐Ÿคฃ it's the only way I have time to run and exercise her ๐Ÿถ

telford_mike profile image
telford_mikeGraduateโ€ข in reply toAnatheboxerdo

Lol, Pooch to 5k ๐Ÿ˜‚

Anatheboxerdo profile image
AnatheboxerdoGraduateโ€ข in reply totelford_mike

๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚๐Ÿ˜‚

hilanic profile image
hilanicโ€ข in reply totelford_mike

The dogs run back and forwards so fast probably they do 50k!!!

Caldarium profile image
Caldariumโ€ข in reply totelford_mike

Thats my next go to running app so that both her and i can learn to run safely together and hopefully enjoy many parkruns in the future but i need to get my fitness to a level where i can keep up with her first off!! Lol

hilanic profile image
hilanicโ€ข in reply toAnatheboxerdo

I think it would work better with just one dog. I run with my daughter so we could maybe have one each. Iโ€™m liking the canicross idea ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ

skysue16 profile image
skysue16Graduateโ€ข in reply tohilanic

Some people run with two dogs but not sure I could cope with that. My spaniel doesn't always run in a straight line, things just smell too interesting!! ๐Ÿ˜‰

Ab36 profile image
Ab36Graduate

I run with my young collie but I keep him on the lead then I know he's right beside me and I can get on and focus on running, he loves coming running with me and it means he gets his exercise at the same time.

hilanic profile image
hilanicโ€ข in reply toAb36

On lead next time I think!

LittleLauren profile image
LittleLauren

Bless you, sounds so scary! ๐Ÿ˜ช

Happy she came back ๐Ÿถ๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿป

I have thought about running with my dog if I manage to get off the treadmill hehe...but being a Beagle he just wants to stop all the time & sniff haha so I know id be too focused on him.

hilanic profile image
hilanicโ€ข in reply toLittleLauren

I have a Golden Retriever who likes to steal other dogs balls and a spaniel mix (nearly drowned dog) who is just nuts. There is great potential for them to interrupt the running with their nonsense but at the same time I know they would love it ๐Ÿคช

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduate

I have only done a few runs *without* Google. I found it helped with recall to be focussed on my own running, no temptation to wait around, although I have to say that some of my distances have been achieved when I've had to do a bit more running back and forth because of her.

I do a mixture of lead and off-lead - depends where (and when) I am, although these days I prioritise off-lead more than I did because X rays suggest she has a dodgy hip so I feel more confident with her being in control of her own pace (vets are fine with the running)

hilanic profile image
hilanicโ€ข in reply toGoogleMe

I love her name ๐Ÿ˜ After last nights carryon I think it will be on lead next time ๐Ÿ˜‚

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduateโ€ข in reply tohilanic

It was my elder son's choice and I thought if he named her he'd take more responsibility. Ha!

She had a lucky escape though - my own choice was Vyrnwy (she's a Welsh Springer Spaniel)

hilanic profile image
hilanicโ€ข in reply toGoogleMe

Google is easier to spell!

Caldarium profile image
Caldarium

I have run with my Yorkie in the past but unless she was off the lead i found she ran me too fast and id struggle to complete my assigned run

hilanic profile image
hilanicโ€ข in reply toCaldarium

My wee daft nearly drowned dog would be too fast and she pulls like a train. I will need to pick up my speed a bit to keep her happy I think ๐Ÿ˜€

GoogleMe profile image
GoogleMeGraduateโ€ข in reply tohilanic

I think they do learn to adjust, but there's no doubt a bungee lead is safer for both you and the dog when running.

Lb2004 profile image
Lb2004Graduate

Just started week 9 and I'm dog sitting for the week. Took her with me to the park and she loves it. I try and go when it's quiet. She runs off the lead and carries her ball. The park is secure and we run laps.

hilanic profile image
hilanicโ€ข in reply toLb2004

Sounds perfect. I think will try the park next time ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿพ

Fernshome profile image
Fernshome

I always run with my border collie he is on a running lead ... the run is exercise for us both... and one of the main reasons I started c25k..... we donโ€™t play stop or sniff ....that happens during the many walks and surprisingly we both love our 3 early morning runs Now that is something I never thought I would say bye the way I am only on week 4 post graduation... so still slow and tired

cheekychipmunks profile image
cheekychipmunksGraduate

Whoa, that was stressful for you. ๐Ÿ˜ฎ

I always run with my dog, but sheโ€™s happy on a short lead (long gets caught around our legs!) and as I only snail along, she just trots beside me. ๐Ÿ•

I used to have her running loose in the early weeks as with the walk/run intervals I could keep tabs on her. I run in a lovely large inner city park which is very dog friendly. But when the runs got to 20 minutes plus, I didnโ€™t want to risk her running off for a sniff or to play with another dog and me having to give chase. ๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ•๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ•๐Ÿƒโ€โ™€๏ธ๐Ÿ•

So after my run she gets let off the lead for a ball chase while I cool down. ๐Ÿ˜€๐Ÿ˜€

Clementinestar profile image
Clementinestar

I run with my dog every day , he is off leash it's the only way to run , he lives for our runs and so do I , he keeps focus on me so we don't lose each other often . It's amazing .

LapoftheGods profile image
LapoftheGodsGraduate

Iโ€™d love to run with my boys when Iโ€™m more comfortable running. Iโ€™ve looked into Canicross but nowhere near fit enough yet x

hilanic profile image
hilanicโ€ข in reply toLapoftheGods

I think that is way down the line for me too! I did W7R2 tonight and struggled a bit to pass some walkers on the path!! At least I didnโ€™t have to rescue my drowning dog this time ๐ŸŒŠ๐Ÿพ๐Ÿถ๐ŸŠโ€โ™€๏ธ

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