The c25k has a couple of pretty decent increments in running time and because dogs can’t tell us how they’re feeling, we’ve broken those steps down to make it easier for them, based on my veterinary experience and Francis’s running experience. It will take 12 weeks instead of 9 weeks. It’s a safe and effective program that we have proven does work well with dogs. We’ve got a forum set up with topics for people to ask questions about health, behaviour and any other aspect of their dog’s wellbeing.

– Audrey

The Pooch to 5K website has a blog with lots of great information about running with your dog and other dog related research which can prove to be interesting to any dog owner.

By perhaps working with other running dog owners, and establishing a code of conduct and a doggie presence in the running world, dogs may be welcome at more runs [in Australia].

– Audrey

The Pooch to 5K training program is available for download at www.poochto5k.com now (yes, it’s free), and there are three different versions – formatted by metric distance, imperial distance, and time. You can also check out the Pooch to 5K Facebook page for updates.

Personally, I think that these new dog exercise laws, if passed, would definitely be a big step in the right direction. However, we’d have to look at different kinds of scenarios when it comes to dog exercise. For example, a disabled or elderly person may not be able to walk their dog outside every day. But if the dog is a Chihuahua, which doesn’t require massive amounts of exercise anyway, and the owner plays fetch with it in the backyard and provides suitable companionship and exercise on the property, once can hardly call this maltreatment. So there should be workarounds in the law for these types of cases. For the majority, however – I totally agree with enforcing fines to make sure that dogs are walked daily. For many breeds even a daily walk may not be enough when it comes to dog exercise, but it’s certainly a whole lot better than nothing.

Dog exercise comes with the territory of owning a dog. It’s about time more people realized that dogs aren’t furniture or goldfish which you feed once a day and started taking proper care of their pets.

One of the most common reasons why running with your dog can get frustrating is pulling. The best way to overcome this frustrating dog running problem is to teach your dog not to pull.

There are many different training methods and techniques out there and each dog trainer and dog owner will recommend different things. Here is how I taught Keeda not to pull on the leash during our walks and running sessions:

As soon as we started going for walks on leash when Keed a was a puppy, she was not allowed to put any strain on the leash. If she began to pull, I stopped in my tracks and waited for the leash to slacken. Sometimes I turned around and started walking in the opposite direction.

She “got” it soon enough, but just because a dog understands what it’s meant to be doing doesn’t mean it will do it. Keeda kept pulling, to the point of it becoming an extremely frustrating ordeal for both of us. We could barely walk together, much less run.

This is where different training methods suggest that you deal with the problem differently. and there is a lot of controversy in the dog world around the various methods.

Personally, I’m in favor of applying some physical force in dog training. Of course this depends not only on your own preference, but also on your dog’s breed and nature. Keeda is a hardy dog – she has Australian Cattle Dog and Kelpie in her, both of which can be headstrong, independent, and stubborn and need a strong hand in training.

So the way I dealt with this training issue is by lightly smacking Keeda on the side with the soft end of the leash when she pulled to get her attention and get her back in line by my side. For us, this worked instantly. Keeda slowed down to walk by my side, the leash slack in my hand. As soon as the leash was slack and she was in proper position, I gave her lots of verbal praise. Of course, Rome wasn’t built in a day and it took us a couple more walks to perfect our walking and running sessions. After the first couple of weeks, I haven’t had to apply any more physical force to get her attention when walking on a leash. Our walks became more relaxed and pleasant for both of us and the transition to running was seamless.

One of the most important factors in training your dog not to pull is consistency – don’t punish your dog for something one minute and let it slide the next. Applying some physical force during training may not be your thing, but it’s just as important to stay consistent with whatever other training method you use. And remember – there is a difference between using force to get your dog’s attention and causing undue pain to your dog. You should know the difference between a corrective slap on the wrist and a punch in the face in human terms, nobody has any excuse to abuse their dog or any other animal, no matter what training method they use. If you aren’t sure, stick to clicker training, which can also work for many dogs.

When your dog stops pulling on your daily walks, you can start running. Dogs can get more excited when going for a run, so the first few times you run with your dog may still be quite a frustrating ordeal, but through consistent training you and your dog will catch on soon enough and I will no longer have people coming here via “frustration with running with  dog” search terms.

Here are some ideas you can use to free up some time after work (assuming you work full time) to go out and run, cycle, or do another form of exercise with your dog:

Takeout night

If you’re the type who cooks for yourself or your family night, consider starting a new tradition – takeout night. One night a week, order a pizza or some other form of takeout. Sure, it may not be as healthy for you as a home cooked meal (and that even depends on how healthy your meals are), but if you and your family take your dog for a run instead you’ll get the physical benefits of exercise anyway. You can also consider having a leftover night. Cook up more food than you normally would the night before. This allows you to free up time for dog exercise by finishing off what’s left the next day.

Cut down 10 minutes of TV or computer time

You may be the kind who comes home from work and just wants to relax in front of the TV. That’s understandable – you’ve been working all day and are exhausted, all you want to do is relax. However, cutting down 10 minutes of TV or computer time after work gives you a great opportunity to go for a cycle with your dog. Cycling at a moderate to high pace for 10 minutes (remember to do a quick warmup, though!) is sure to tire your dog out at least a little.

Get your kids to exercise your dog

If you have teenage kids who you know have control of your dog and trust to take your dog out on their own, why not get them to go out for some fetch or a jog at the park? Not only will your dog get some great exercise, but your kids will also get some fresh air.

Skip the gym

You might be one of those people who go to the gym before or after work. Set aside a couple of days per week where instead of going to the gym, you use that time to go for a run with your dog. Cardio is an important aspect to being fit and working out anyway, and running outside is much more fun that running on a treadmill.

Organize dog walking sessions with your neighbors

If your neighbors or other residents of your neighborhood also have dogs, they’re likely to be in the same boat as you when it comes to finding the time for dog exercise. Organize a routine where you alternate exercising each others’ dogs before or after work. Each day a different neighbor can take up to three or so dogs and take them for a walk or run. With two dogs you can even get two bike attachments and cycle with them both running on either side simultaneously. This way everyone’s dogs get some exercise and the time requirement for each dog owner is lightened by sharing the responsibility. Make sure that you know the people you’re doing this with well and trust that they can handle your dog and walking several dogs at once .

Organize dog play sessions

Similar to the above, find some dog owners in your neighborhood who own friendly dogs. Introduce your dogs and, if they get along, make weekly dog play sessions a regular event. All the dogs in the neighborhood can meet at one owner’s house (preferably one with a large backyard) or local park where dogs are allowed off leash. Dogs can often tire each other out through play better than you can.

These are just a few ideas you can consider to free up some time to keep your dog fit. If you have any of your own ideas or techniques for freeing up some time for dog exercise, post them in the comments below.

• A leash, preferably longer than 6 feet which allows some roaming room but is still comfortable for you to hold. You can also try using a waist harness instead, to attach the leash to your hip instead of having to carry it around.
• A portable water bowl or a dog water bottle.
• Plastic bags to clean up after your dog

In addition to these two mandatory pieces of equipment, you can also consider bringing along the following:

• A toy for your dog, such as a tennis ball
• Some dog treats
• A dog backpack. This will allow your dog to carry its own water bottle and plastic bags while hiking with your dog.
• An extra collar and leash. You never know what might happen on your hike and don’t want to get stuck far away from home with no way to have total control over the situation.

Make sure that you and your dog are ready for the hiking trip. If you have a fat pooch who’s been a couch potato since he was a puppy, your dog probably won’t be ready for a day-long hike. Get your dog in shape gradually and look before you leap into a long hiking trip with your dog. Keeda and I sometimes go to the undeveloped area in the back of the neighbourhood, where there are large sand dunes and patches of trees and clearings. It isn’t as great as hiking in a proper forest, but there’s plenty of open space to run, play, and explore freely.

Many people choose to let their dog roam free off the leash on hiking trips. This is great in hiking areas where off-leash dogs are permitted. Make sure that your dog is well behaved and has a good recall if you decide to do this. This way you can avoid any potential trouble while hiking with your dog on your trip.

How great! I thought. Now here was a great pair – an owner and his dog exercising after work. The dog was pulling on the leash a bit, but that’s ok!

As we passed the pair, though, I noticed that the dog had a slip collar (also known as a choke or choker chain) around its neck. A slip collar is a chain that tightens around the dog’s neck when it pulls, effectively ‘choking’ it if the pressure is constantly applied. When used correctly, slip collars and prong collars are designed to cause discomfort, not pain to the dog – they are not meant to choke your dog or prevent breathing. But you should never put a slip collar on your dog when running or cycling.

When used incorrectly, a slip collar can damage your dog’s neck. And applying constant pressure on the neck using a slip collar like this owner was doing is one of those incorrect uses. His dog was obviously pulling on the leash, so not only could it have been damaging its neck in the process, but it was obviously desensitized to the constant pressure of the collar as well.

If your dog pulls on your run, focus on training it to walk politely with a regular buckle collar first, then advance to jogging politely using a buckle collar. A slip or prong collar should not be used for running or cycling with your dog.