Discussion
I went for a run yesterday and took my small collie cross dog with me for the first time.
Needless to say she loved it and behaved brilliantly throughout (albeit some minor lamp-post moments
).
I use my standard lead which is not very long but I'd like to get a running lead to be a little more "hands-free" but I'm struggling to choose one.
Can anyone recommend one? My dog is about 7.5kg's so very small and I use a harness on her so no collar is needed. Just the lead.
Ta
Needless to say she loved it and behaved brilliantly throughout (albeit some minor lamp-post moments
).I use my standard lead which is not very long but I'd like to get a running lead to be a little more "hands-free" but I'm struggling to choose one.
Can anyone recommend one? My dog is about 7.5kg's so very small and I use a harness on her so no collar is needed. Just the lead.
Ta
Are you holding or using it with a belt?
I use these with my dogs for hauling, so they are more than up for the task of jogging
http://indi-dog.co.uk/index.php?route=product/prod...
Or you could just buy something like this, not tried so I'm unaware of the quality
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Hands-Waist-Jogging...
I use these with my dogs for hauling, so they are more than up for the task of jogging
http://indi-dog.co.uk/index.php?route=product/prod...
Or you could just buy something like this, not tried so I'm unaware of the quality
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-Hands-Waist-Jogging...
Been doing canicross for the last 2 years and I and a few friends use these
http://www.kisi.co.uk/index.php/Canicross-Equipmen...
quite handy as they have 2 loops built in so you can hand hold them or attach them to a belt. Also handy if you want to haul the dog in close while you go past people or roads etc. The springy section of the lead is good too as it absorbs the difference between you and the dog so no jerking about. its not a particularly heavy lead and I know a woman who runs a little terrier with one.
If you need to buy a belt for yourself too there are plenty to choose from. I use this one http://www.k9trailtime.com/shop/canicross/canicros... Very good quality, comfortable, adjustable and a pretty good price. You wont need one with built in bunjee and webbing, straps here there and eveywhere if you are only running a small dog.
http://www.kisi.co.uk/index.php/Canicross-Equipmen...
quite handy as they have 2 loops built in so you can hand hold them or attach them to a belt. Also handy if you want to haul the dog in close while you go past people or roads etc. The springy section of the lead is good too as it absorbs the difference between you and the dog so no jerking about. its not a particularly heavy lead and I know a woman who runs a little terrier with one.
If you need to buy a belt for yourself too there are plenty to choose from. I use this one http://www.k9trailtime.com/shop/canicross/canicros... Very good quality, comfortable, adjustable and a pretty good price. You wont need one with built in bunjee and webbing, straps here there and eveywhere if you are only running a small dog.
Edited by RB Will on Monday 20th January 13:24
This is what I'm not too sure about. My girlfriend suggested a belt but are these comfortable and what if you end up wrapped around a lamp-post (all possible).
Hand-held is also good but there's no real point getting anything specialise since what I have works. I've also read bungee collars can break easily (according to Amazon reviews), and would they work on a (maximum) 8kg dog? I just have visions of my pooch going flying!! She's small, fast and tough but even a bungee might defeat her!
Hand-held is also good but there's no real point getting anything specialise since what I have works. I've also read bungee collars can break easily (according to Amazon reviews), and would they work on a (maximum) 8kg dog? I just have visions of my pooch going flying!! She's small, fast and tough but even a bungee might defeat her!
I use a dog walking belt every day, but my two weight a total of 85kg so somewhat bigger than yours. I use these people, http://www.sassdogequipment.co.uk/ their stuff is all made by them and can be altered to your requirements and the service is superb.
I couldn't imagine not using a walking belt now, as it leaves you hands free, but the dogs are still under control.
I couldn't imagine not using a walking belt now, as it leaves you hands free, but the dogs are still under control.
I would try a belt. They are comfortable, hardly notice its there, theycan also provide a bit of support, and something to mount a drink/ phone/ poo bag holder to. If you dog ever pulls you will also appreciate it more from the hip than one of your arms.
I think in 2 years we have only wrapped ourselves around a couple of posts, thanks to the dog changing direction at the last microsecond. They usually give you plenty of warning where they are going and you just follow them or its pretty easy to guide them by tugging the lead one way.
I dont know what a bungee collar is but if its what I'm thinking then I would say no. I wouldn't advise running a dog on a collar anyway, nobody I know does it and its banned in a lot of races/ clubs.
You said you already have a harness, so would stick to that as long as its not restrictive. The one I started with which was just the normal sort of harness you get from a pet shop cut across my dogs neck a bit when she was pulling so I changed to the one below which is better for her and obviously designed for the purpose.
thats one of these http://www.k9trailtime.com/shop/second-skin-harnes...
Once you get the right setup you will be surprised at the strength a dog can pull with. As you an see I run with a reasonable sized shepherd (only weighs 21kg though) but at times she will pull so hard I can barely keep up with her. I have run with a friends cocker spaniel before and it pulled just as hard, made me think my dog was being lazy a lot of the time lol
Roughly where are you based? there are local clubs you could join all over the place, you would be very welcome to pop along to one of our local runs to see what the people and dogs are wearing. We cover Wilts, Cotswolds, Forest of Dean sort of area
I think in 2 years we have only wrapped ourselves around a couple of posts, thanks to the dog changing direction at the last microsecond. They usually give you plenty of warning where they are going and you just follow them or its pretty easy to guide them by tugging the lead one way.
I dont know what a bungee collar is but if its what I'm thinking then I would say no. I wouldn't advise running a dog on a collar anyway, nobody I know does it and its banned in a lot of races/ clubs.
You said you already have a harness, so would stick to that as long as its not restrictive. The one I started with which was just the normal sort of harness you get from a pet shop cut across my dogs neck a bit when she was pulling so I changed to the one below which is better for her and obviously designed for the purpose.
thats one of these http://www.k9trailtime.com/shop/second-skin-harnes...
Once you get the right setup you will be surprised at the strength a dog can pull with. As you an see I run with a reasonable sized shepherd (only weighs 21kg though) but at times she will pull so hard I can barely keep up with her. I have run with a friends cocker spaniel before and it pulled just as hard, made me think my dog was being lazy a lot of the time lol
Roughly where are you based? there are local clubs you could join all over the place, you would be very welcome to pop along to one of our local runs to see what the people and dogs are wearing. We cover Wilts, Cotswolds, Forest of Dean sort of area
Edited by RB Will on Monday 20th January 14:05
Hi Will,
Thanks for the very helpful advice. This is all pretty new to me as I've only had my dog for 6 months and she's barely a year old but stuffed full of energy hence me wanting to try and wear her out a little during my runs. The problem is she wears me out and still seems to have bags of energy left!!!
For now I think the harness I have works well. It doesn't pull her too much and gives her plenty of freedom to run quickly without it bothering her.
The belt also seems like the best option. I'm liking the water / poo bag pouches plus another to keep some treats for her.
The next question is how do I get her to run ahead of me? When I walk, she pulls ahead but when I run, she tends to keep to my side.
And here's a photo of her. She's only 10 months old in this photo so she's grown a bit but she's pretty small:
Cheers!
Thanks for the very helpful advice. This is all pretty new to me as I've only had my dog for 6 months and she's barely a year old but stuffed full of energy hence me wanting to try and wear her out a little during my runs. The problem is she wears me out and still seems to have bags of energy left!!!
For now I think the harness I have works well. It doesn't pull her too much and gives her plenty of freedom to run quickly without it bothering her.
The belt also seems like the best option. I'm liking the water / poo bag pouches plus another to keep some treats for her.
The next question is how do I get her to run ahead of me? When I walk, she pulls ahead but when I run, she tends to keep to my side.
And here's a photo of her. She's only 10 months old in this photo so she's grown a bit but she's pretty small:
Cheers!
She looks lovely. I know how you feel regarding the energy, I can go out with mine and run for a couple of hours and she is still bounding about the house when we get home. She obviously needs to pull me more 
Regarding the running in front, I don't really have a guaranteed method.
Some of my friends have dogs that just get out and pull like blummin trains with no training.
Some run more than one dog and they kind of work off each other or they run their dog with a good pulling dog until theirs picks up the idea.
Some will get their partner in front on a bike and the dog will chase.
in each case just give the dog lots of excited praise while doing it. its awkward to do it if you just want to go out for a run but its good to start with very short distances 10-50 metres stop and praise if pulling well and work up the distance. Maybe practice that on a normal walk.
The best dogs just end up really enjoying just running/ pulling and don't need the praise.
With any of these techniques it can take months to train a dog. As well as trying to get the pulling sorted there are 3 very helpful commands to teach them. Right, left and straight on for junctions.
My dog is a bit of a mixer. Sometimes she will be out in front pulling, other times just happy to be by my side. She always tries harder when she thinks she is heading to the finish. We were out the other day and we did the first 3 miles at a nice steady 7.6 mph with her giving me nothing when we made the last turn to head for home she picked up all by herself and we did the last mile at 10.2mph!
As I said they can make a massive difference. I run with a guy who has a really good weimaraner. Without dogs my pace has always been comfortably above his but he creams me by 2-4 mins in any 5k canicross race we do!
Regarding the running in front, I don't really have a guaranteed method.
Some of my friends have dogs that just get out and pull like blummin trains with no training.
Some run more than one dog and they kind of work off each other or they run their dog with a good pulling dog until theirs picks up the idea.
Some will get their partner in front on a bike and the dog will chase.
in each case just give the dog lots of excited praise while doing it. its awkward to do it if you just want to go out for a run but its good to start with very short distances 10-50 metres stop and praise if pulling well and work up the distance. Maybe practice that on a normal walk.
The best dogs just end up really enjoying just running/ pulling and don't need the praise.
With any of these techniques it can take months to train a dog. As well as trying to get the pulling sorted there are 3 very helpful commands to teach them. Right, left and straight on for junctions.
My dog is a bit of a mixer. Sometimes she will be out in front pulling, other times just happy to be by my side. She always tries harder when she thinks she is heading to the finish. We were out the other day and we did the first 3 miles at a nice steady 7.6 mph with her giving me nothing when we made the last turn to head for home she picked up all by herself and we did the last mile at 10.2mph!
As I said they can make a massive difference. I run with a guy who has a really good weimaraner. Without dogs my pace has always been comfortably above his but he creams me by 2-4 mins in any 5k canicross race we do!
Can highly recommend culpeppers - www.culpeppers.co.uk . Got loads of his leads and stuff. The belts are superb quality and the leads are excellent. Mine are 8years old and still in great condition, no fraying etc.
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