Lazy dog....

[beanbag]

Now the weather has improved, I've restarted my morning runs again. I'm usually up by 6am and head out for a 30 minute 6km run around where I live.

The problem is I want to take my dog with me and I can't get her to wake up or want to run with me at this time!!!

She's a VERY energetic 2 year old dog and will go running with me during the day but refuses point blank to go in the morning. Since I work long hours, this is one of the few times I can take her for a good walk during the week but running with a dog who refuses to run (or even walk with you), is seriously frustrating!!!

Can anyone recommend a way of training this laziness out of her?! Is it just a case of persistence eventually pays its way?

[beanbag]

I'mont 100% sure as she's a rescue dog. However the vet has said she's a Sheltie cross.

As mentioned before, she's incredibly energetic and full of beans. I've run 12km with her many times without any problems (but only during the day). In the morning she simply won't play ball!

Below is a photo of her if you can identify her cross breed better!

[beanbag]

davhill said:

How about mimicking the afternoon pre-walk routine? The only dog watch that exists is a navy thing so fooling her into believing it's after noon might work.

That's the problem. They don't get walked during the day due to my new work hours and I want to fit that in the morning. (I have two dogs btw).

We have a smaller Yorkie cross and she's fine in the morning but she can't manage more than a couple of km's before she gets a bit fed-up and tired so I never take her running.

Usually I take the both of them out as soon as I get back from work in the evening (8pm), for a shorter walk but they spend the day in an open garden with access to the house through a special dog flap/tunnel we had fitted, but Lady (my dog), needs more exercise as I've noticed she's been getting depressed since I went back to work after a month off. I'm guessing it's down to me and my other half not being about as much and not going out for walks as often hence trying to get her out with me during my morning runs.

(P.S. I tried before numerous times but like I said, there's nothing more annoying than a dog refusing to walk ruining your own run and then having to go home early).

[beanbag]

bexVN said:

Build it up, don't go straight for the running, start at a normal walk for a few days gradually build up the pace.

Just a poss idea to work on.

Dogs can be creatures of habit and take time to adjust, at least she is not a bulldog .

Does she jog with you if you do take her later in the day. Tbh for some dogs jogging along with their owner just isn't much fun for them.

She loves running with me. I have her on a lead for safety, but I could easily take it off and she would run alongside me the whole time.

She's my first dog and my other half and I are incredibly fond of her so we're a little worried about her being so down at the moment. She's constantly very unsettled (sits down and stands up a lot in evenings), and not eating well. She's totally gone off her food so we have to rotate different brands to keep her interested.

I've had her down the vet but there is nothing wrong with her and the vet suggested taking her out more. Unfortunately mornings are the only time I can do this so I'll try and break her in slowly as suggested with a gentle walk first, and gradually build it up.