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The following is a guest post from my lovely friend Corey.
When my alarm goes off in the morning, the first sight I see is Mantequilla (a.k.a. Mante), sitting at the edge of the bed, shoving his cold, wet nose under the covers and begging to go for his morning run. He dances around the house, wiggling and hopping, until I don my running gear and harness him up.
As soon as our feet hit the pavement, he's on pace, trotting along jauntily, wagging his tail and sniffing the air. Just having an all-around good time with his companion human. When I start to slow down, he looks back as if to say, "Come on, Mom! Hurry up!"
Running has been our ritual ever since he was old enough to safely run more than a mile. Mante is a bundle of energy—running every morning offers a great way for him to release some of it while also keeping in shape. Not to mention, it's a great way to spend quality time together.
All animals benefit from a healthy exercise routine, be it a daily hour-long walk or a 30-minute morning run. If you want to take your canine companion running, start off slowly. Just like us, they need to build up their mileage. Start by walking and adding a few minutes of jogging at a time. See how they do. If they're still comfortable (not panting or slowing down), then jog for a little longer. For their first run, don't exceed more than five to 10 minutes at a time. Gradually build up from there. Soon they'll be able to run with you for a reasonable length of time.
If your dog just loves to run, like Mante, and happily accompanies you for longer runs, be sure to take water along. There are a ton of great doggie hand-held water bottles and collapsible bowls that can easily fit into your fanny pack. Give them water often and make sure they stay hydrated.
Your dog should never run with the leash attached to his or her collar. Just think about how uncomfortable that would be for you if someone was yanking on your neck while you ran. Instead, get them a comfortable harness, something that will not chafe and isn’t too tight. They'll thank you for not being a "pain in the neck."
Now you're ready. Harness up, grab some water and your dog, and hit the pavement.
Happy running!
