Personal Trainer

Are you paying a personal trainer to help you exercise? Save your money and take a friend running! Exercising with your dog may be one of the best things you can do for your own, and your dog’s mental and physical health. Dogs love to go for a walk or a run and they will nag you to exercise better than any high priced trainer.

The right gear will make the running experience more rewarding and safer for both you and your dog. Cars are the biggest and most avoidable risk to your dog while running so always keep your dog on a leash. Think about buying a special “running time leash” that your dog will learn to associate with running vs. walking. If you run after sunset or before sunrise think about buying your dog a reflective or flashing collar; Some reflective tape applied to the leash works well too. Dogs can dehydrate more easily than a human, so take a fanny pack with a water bottle on longer runs in warmer weather. BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR - take along doggy poop bags and pick up after you dog.

A pulling dog results in a bad running experience for both you and your dog. You and your dog should practice basic obedience skills before starting to run together. Not only will it be easier to run with your dog, but also you will lower your risks of tangling up with other runners and dogs you meet along the way. Take a few minutes after every run to practice basic obedience skills with your dog. No matter the age of your dog, with a little training and time, your dog will quickly learn good running behavior.