First (and last?) run with dog.....

[BTX4]

Having read the question posted about people running with their dogs I though that I would give it a go tonight and venture out with my young border terrier...

He needed to be kept on lead to stop him bogging off plus I was going to try a route along the country lanes so we had to be able to jump to one side swiftly in the event of cars or bikes.

He is brown and it was dark under the trees so I donned canary yellow waterproof top and dog sported a bright pink lead (sorry boy, you have a feminine side in there somewhere..).

To say that he pulled is a huge understatement. We set off at a stonking pace, dog zig-zagging from side to side in glee. Phew! Well he is the human equivalent of 28, slim, fit and muscled whereas I am 56, overweight with dodgy knees. No contest really

I was coping ok until near the end of the walk when we came into a field and faced a hill. Now, earlier I had read CaroleC saying how good running up hills for your backside so this was our chance...just as I was preparing to run events overtook me..

Fox (the dog) spotted his favourite adversary ... RABBITS! Dozens of them all playing in the evening light, and beyond all the rabbits a CAT. Weyhey..off we go..and off we went.

I shot up that hill hanging onto the lead for dear life, rabbits flying left, right and centre, feet pounding and tongues lolling....

We did just over 2 miles in total but it felt like 5! Would I do it again? Yes, but nowhere near the rabbits. I will also look for a waist harness so I have more control.

At least the dog is sleeping soundly

[Oldgirl Graduate]

LOL, LOL, LOL my hubby is sitting wondering what on earth is the matter with me while I read your hilarious post. What amazed me is why did your dog not insist on wanting to stop at every tree, lampost, gate to lift his leg as dogs do?

[BTX4 Graduate in reply to Oldgirl]

I let him stop a couple of times, more so that I could catch my breath than anything else! Fortunately he didnt need to relieve himself in any other way

[Grammadog1947 Graduate]

ROTFL...your post gets my vote as FUNNIEST of the year...tears are rolling down my cheeks from laughing so hard! Please, please, PLEASE take him with you again so we may have some mirth in the middle of the pain....lol

[magster Graduate]

Cant stop laughing lol lol lol lol ................................

[Oldgirl Graduate]

Its unanimous Fox my lad you have to wear the bright pink lead again and again, we want to hear all about your outings from now on. But make sure you take BTX4 with you to fend off the girlie doggies who may try to steal your pink lead.

[fastdixie]

Hahaha! This is great...imagine, rabbits AND a cat! He thought all his Christmases had arrived at once! I had one run with my dog where we were attacked by a rogue cat! I've avoided that route ever since...

[BTX4 Graduate in reply to fastdixie]

We have had bad experiences with vicious cats too. In fact once down in Milford on sea this massive moggie came out of the bushes at us hissing and spitting and I had to pick up my squealing dog and leg it down the road with said cat in hot pursuit. Most undignified for both dog and owner

[Anonymous36 Graduate]

Oh this made me laugh

[RhonaL]

So funny!! Just think how toned your posterior will be tomorrow ... what a pacemaker. All you needed were squirrels ...

[tantrumbean Graduate]

Lol, you should have known this was going to happen with a Terrierist!!!!

[BTX4 Graduate in reply to tantrumbean]

Yup...his face when he saw all those rabbits....dozens of them....I think he was dreaming about them this evening because paws were going nineteen to the dozen

[TeamTia Graduate]

I also run with my dog but as she is pretty big - a samoyed - we use a harness for her and a canicross belt for me so I can run hands free. I find she makes a great running partner most days and she always encourages me to do the hardest part of running - getting out the front door! She never comments on how sweaty and red I get and she would run all day if I could keep up. However I have the excat same problem - rabbits! Or birds! She quite often dives in hedges after things with me attached to her!

I think its great you took your dog - just be careful to keep an eye on the temperatures you take your dog out with you in as they can overheat very quickly as they can't cool down in the same way as we do. Now its getting warmer I have to leave her at home a lot while I go running as its not worth the risk of her over heating. Happy running!

[BTX4 Graduate in reply to TeamTia]

No, I wouldn't take him out when it is hot. I have seen a waist belt that has a bottle holder so might invest in that and a harness. Can then take water for the dog and a folding plastic dog bowl. I tend to go out in the evenings.

Lol at the thought of you disappearing into a hedge after rabbits!

Often thought that canicross looks fun. There is a lady does the park run locally with two huskies and she goes round in an amazing speed!

[TeamTia Graduate in reply to BTX4]

I started off with a trixie one from ebay - basically an elastic belt which comes with a small bag and a bottle holder - however once I started getting more into running with the dog I upgraded to a Kisi belt. Twice the price but with a big dog pulling me I really needed something a bit more solid. however I use it on walks with her too as its nice to be handsfree. For water I take a small shaped running bottle with me and we share it which I don't mind although I do draw the line at sharing my water with her if she picks up 'tasty' snacks along the way - normally dung of any variety she can find...dogs - who would have them?!

[BTX4 Graduate in reply to TeamTia]

Thanks for the info. I Will look at the belts you mentioned. My dog weighs around 9kg so I probably will start with the smaller one first and see how we go... Having said that when he sees something he wants to chase he accelerates with high velocity and I wouldn't want it snapping!

As you say, who would have them?

[jeds]

Dogs do add a different angle to runs. During a walking "recovery" stage during week 3 I found myself stuggling up a hill on a path that had turned into a stream due to rain. At the top there was a stile that was too steep for the dog. I hauled the dog over (a chunky Springer Spaniel) only to have my arm wrenched as he spied a field full of rabbits. Red and puffed I heard Laura say "I hope you have recovered because we are now going to run again!"

[BTX4 Graduate in reply to jeds]

Oh so funny...just think of all the calories you burned up!

[sounfit Graduate]

LOL, my patterdale terrier does the same with squirrels so I only take her when i've also got hubby along to keep her in control. She wouldn't be happy on a lead once we hit anywhere near grass!

[BTX4 Graduate in reply to sounfit]

A Patterdale. Oh my, we are gluttons for punishment

I hope she is a better girl than my BT bitch!

[tantrumbean Graduate]

Is there some pattern evolving? There seem to be statistically far too many terrier owners on here! Do people who are crazy enough to run tend to have crazy dogs? Has there been an official study on this?

[BTX4 Graduate in reply to tantrumbean]

Irish, Jack Russell, Patterdale, Staffie, Border...... Any others to add to the mix?

We also have our sane runners with Springer, Samoyed, Labrador, GSD, Boxer.....

Perhaps we should start a sub forum 'Doggy runners'?

[tantrumbean Graduate in reply to BTX4]

And one for "Dodgy Runners" while we are at it!

[Grammadog1947 Graduate]

LOL...I was running with my Shih-poo....all 7 pounds and 4" legs of her. Needless to say that stopped around W3...people were staring at us, and I was worried the SPCA would be waiting for us when we got home....

[TeamTia Graduate]

I have to add though and I hope no one is offended - I work in my local village shop so many of the customers have taken an interest in my running with the dog, and sponsored me for the Race for life, but the funniest thing was a lovely lady told me she goes running early morning so no one sees her. As I was chatting to her about running with the dog her husband came in the shop to see what was taking her so long so she explained to him that we were discussing 'dogging' - which is her term for 'running with dogs'! I did have the heart to explain to her the correct meaning of the word as she is such a lovely woman...I was just glad that there was no one else in the shop!

However - I live in fear of bumping into her now incase she asks me in front of someone - say my partner or my boss - how my 'dogging' is going!

[BTX4 Graduate in reply to TeamTia]

I'm sure that no one will be offended! I would love to see your partners face

My husband, who should know better often asks me if I am going 'dogging' ie to agility shows at the weekend. I hope he knows what the term means!!!! That could be an interesting conversation. Lol