By DOUGLAS QUENQUA via New York Times
A MAN’S friend is not always his best choice of a running partner. The same can be said of man’s best friend. It’s a lesson that Michelle Powe, an English teacher in Midlothian, Tex., learned last summer when trying to run with Mookie, her 90-pound Catahoula.
“He kept trying to herd me,” she recalled. For the entire three-mile run, Mookie displayed the kind of herding behavior that is typical for the breed, throwing his weight against Ms. Powe and nipping at her legs. “By the end of it, my knees were sore from having 90 pounds constantly bumping into me,” she said. “It was fun for other people to watch, but not so much for me.”
Like many dog owners, Ms. Powe assumed that her young, healthy dog would make a natural running companion. After all, dogs love to run, they love spending time with their masters, and they rarely tire of chasing a stick before their owners tire of throwing it. But not all dogs are born to run, particularly the way humans go about it: in a straight line, with little regard for scent. And there is nothing fun about running with an untrained dog. Indeed, it can be dangerous for both you and your pet.
The first step for anyone thinking about running with a dog is researching the breed, said Alexandra Powe Allred, a Dallas-based trainer and author of a book on dog obedience. Some of it is common sense: small dogs — teacup poodles, Chihuahuas, Yorkshire terriers — will have trouble running at high speeds or for long distances. But other problems may not be so obvious. For example, dogs with flat noses — pugs, bulldogs, some boxers — may have trouble breathing during strenuous exercise. And while some hunting or herding dogs are physically built for running — like border collies and Rhodesian Ridgebacks — they may be more interested in chasing prey than staying on the sidewalk.
Once you have determined whether your dog is built for running, it is important to teach it some commands. “Stay,” for example, is useful should you want to put down the leash long enough to tie your sneakers. But trainers say that if you teach your dog only one command before running, it should be “heel.”
Teaching your dog to heel will also prevent it from straining at its collar, resulting in neck irritation and breathing problems. And never run with your dog in a choke collar, trainers say — with luck, teaching it to heel will also stop the dog from darting off after every squirrel or stopping suddenly to smell a fragrant pile of trash.
Regardless of breed or training, all dogs display one trait that makes them appealing partners to runners who don’t like a lot of chatter: they don’t talk. But that silence also means you have to work harder to know when they are hurt.
Ms. Anderson recommends taking your dog to the veterinarian before running together to make sure it is healthy enough. She also says never run with a dog younger than a year old (2 years for larger dogs, which take longer to mature).
“The asphalt is not hot to us ’cause we’re wearing running shoes,” Ms. Anderson said, “but a dog can easily burn the pads of their feet. Take frequent water breaks, and check their pads.”
Not that the ground has to be hot for a dog to become injured: very cold conditions can damage a dog’s feet and lungs and should be avoided. Again, breed will play a role: Ms. Anderson noted that huskies can run miles in the snow with no discomfort.
Another frequent mistake that owners make is assuming their dog can always run farther and faster than they can — after all, it’s a dog. But just as you wouldn’t take human running partners on a 10-mile run their first time out, you should gradually build up your dog’s distance. Start with a run of less than two miles, then build gradually from there. Paying attention to your dog’s physical cues should help you know when enough is enough.
Ms. Prather said she continues to run with her other dogs — a pit bull and another collie — but only as far as they are willing to go. “Anytime you engage in an activity with your dog, it’s going to enhance your relationship,” she said. “It’s running with your best friend.”
Like many single women, Ms. Prather also feels safer having a dog there for protection. “I know my dogs are super sweet and would only kill you with kisses, but nobody else does,” she said. And she cherishes another benefit that all dog owners can appreciate. “A tired dog is a good dog,” Ms. Anderson said.
via http://www.bestfriendnyc.com/
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