Running with Marthadog

[AnneDroid]

Who runs with their dog? Does it always go according to plan? YOUR plan, I mean...

Our Martha - a six-year old black labrador - often comes with me. She's mostly very keen on the idea and we're sometimes in danger of recreating the scene in the top picture here.

This morning, though, about 7 minutes into my run she sat down and refused to go any further. I tried tugging her lead to get her up and at it again but she just wasn't having it. I tried pleading and praising and even negotiating (not that she understands me) and she just dug her heels/paws into the pavement. Of course, this happened right beside a busy crossroads with lots of drivers waiting at the traffic lights getting the full benefit of our floor show. I couldn't make eye contact with any of them as I was so embarrassed.

So, I gave up and turned for home and what happened? She then ran very happily without any more problems. Sometimes I think she's the owner and I'm the pet. The power-balance is definitely the wrong way round.

[UnfitNoMore Graduate]

😂. Maybe walk her long and run home? I’m guessing she was happy to turn and run as it meant getting back to her territory. They are very strong willed at times though.., a marshal at our parkrun had her dog with her a few weeks ago. She was first marshal point and I was second. I walked back to find her dog sat, not willing to go back towards the start. When he eventually got up he pulled the other way and she ended up running the lap with him. Guess he’d seen 350 people run one way and needed to know where they were running to, must be something exciting to have humans running. He was fine at the finish, but probably a little disappointed to find not a lot there.

[AnneDroid Graduate in reply to UnfitNoMore]

Ha! I can just imagine it! That's quite funny.

And yes, walk first and run home would've been better. Mind you I was pushed for time, and usually she's a fan of running.

[Dizzysmum17 Graduate]

Haha! Poor you - they can be so embarrassing! Yes I run with my dog but I know for a fact she would never stop dead - unless she saw a cat but she would be more likely to chase it than stop. She has tripped me over a couple of times so I do have to be wary. Perhaps you were going to fast for her. Mine is a lurcher and doesn’t get off the lead so it’s great exercise for her

[AnneDroid Graduate in reply to Dizzysmum17]

No danger of me ever going too fast for anyone, human or canine!

Martha tripped me up a few weeks ago and I found myself sitting in a puddle.

To be honest, I'm not sure why I love her.

[Maddee_6333 Graduate in reply to Dizzysmum17]

Maybe try Canicross? Most lurcher I know, love it.

[AnneDroid Graduate in reply to Maddee_6333]

I would love to try that. She's quite unpredictable with other dogs but I could always disappear at the end and never return...

[Maddee_6333 Graduate in reply to AnneDroid]

Most Canicross groups are used to problematic dogs, if you can find a group close to you - there’s a Facebook group with a location map in the files m.facebook.com/groups/82005... - just tell them your dog needs space and you should be fine. They’ll probably have kit you can borrow too. Best advice it to start at the back, so your dog is chasing. A good group won’t leave people all alone back there.

[AnneDroid Graduate in reply to Maddee_6333]

I'd be at the back anyway so that wouldn't be a trial!

[Dizzysmum17 Graduate in reply to Maddee_6333]

Yeah I have thought about that too. Will look into it. X

[Maddee_6333 Graduate]

You know I run with dogs, yes?? Just not on a lead. As I live on the edge of the South Downs, I run trail and do Canicross, which is where the dog wears a harness and helps pull you along by means of a bungee line attached to a belt worn round a runner’s hips.

My new rescue guy runs off lead most of the time and only goes in harness once, and very occasionally twice, a week at the moment as he’s still only young.

[AnneDroid Graduate]

I've got a belt with a bungee lead but it just attaches to her collar. I suppose I should look at a harness too.

I let her run off the lead if I can see there are no dogs coming! On trail runs etc where I can't see far ahead I just keep her on the lead.

[Maddee_6333 Graduate in reply to AnneDroid]

Harnesses are preferable for running dogs to lessen the risk of injuring their necks. 👍

A good harness will leave their shoulders free for running.