Jogging with your dog is a great way to spend time with your canine companion! Regular exercise has as many health benefits for dogs as it does for their owners, plus a few additional benefits for the owner:

A daily jog can safely satisfy your dog’s natural urge to roam and explore, which will make him less likely to run off on his own. The exercise and mental stimulation your dog gets from going jogging with you can also help control behavior and temperament problems. A well-exercised dog will be calmer and less destructive because he’s used up his pent-up energy.http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=22+1275+1535&aid=1320

Before you engage your dog as your jogging] partner, make sure he is physically capable of keeping up with you for long distances. Some dog breeds (like greyhounds) are sprinters, not long distance runners. Your teeny Yorkie may beat you out of the starting gate but won’t have the stamina to keep up for long jogs. Some dog breeds are better suited as jogging partners than others, and you want to be sure that jogging alongside you isn’t going to over-exert your dog.

Before you begin jogging with your dog, take him to your veterinarian for a health check to rule out any physical conditions that might make jogging risky. (I f you haven’t been getting regular exercise, either, you should have a check-up, too.) You also want to consider your dog’s age before beginning a jogging routine with him. http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_JogDog.php

Young dogs have huge amounts of energy, but their bones are still growing. Jogging for long distances can be detrimental to their bone development. This is especially true of large and giant breed dogs, who are still considered puppies until their second year. Senior dogs just may not be up to jogging anymore!

Jogging with your dog can make a sometimes boring experience more pleasant, but there are health and safety issues that owners must consider to avoid overheating and over-exerting their canine companions. Please use this guide to learn how to go jogging with your dog.

Some dog breeds that make excellent jogging partners include Airedales, Pit Bulls, Australian Cattle Dogs, Belgian Shepherds, Black and Tan Coonhounds, Border Collies, Boxers, Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, Dobermans, German Shepherds, Irish Setters, Labs, Portuguese Water Dogs, Rottweilers, and Weimaraners. These dogs have the strength and endurance needed for long-distance running, but many other medium and large breed dogs can make good jogging companions as well. http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/jog.htm

If your dog’s breed (or his health condition) isn’t ideal for long-distance running he still may be a great jogging companion, but you may need to make allowances for his size or physical condition. Small or short-legged dogs will enjoy running with you, but will only be able to handle short sprints. You may have to combine walking and jogging to cover much distance. Dogs who are older, have medical conditions, or are overweight may be able to make short jogs with you with your vets’ approval, but whatever shape your dog is in, you need to be sure to watch for signs of overheating and exhaustion.

Consider your dog’s behavior and temperament as well as his physical condition before choosing him as a jogging partner. Dogs should have acceptable manners before taking them out in public, and dogs who have not been well-socialized will need a bit of training before they’re ready to go jogging with you.

They may be startled or frightened by passersby and pets, honking horns, bicycles whizzing by, strollers carrying squalling babies, and other strange sights and sounds. A frightened dog may behave unpredictably and become a liability. Taking your dog on daily walks around the neighborhood will help him overcome his aversion to the unknown so that he isn’t distracted by fear.http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_JogDog.php

Your dog should be leash trained before he goes jogging with you, and should know the basic “sit/stay/down” commands. You’ll want to be able to control your dog when you meet strange people or neighborhood pets, and when you are jogging near traffic. Your dog should be trained to “sit” when you come to intersections, whether walking or jogging, so he’ll learn to stop before crossing roadways.http://www.paw-rescue.org/PAW/PETTIPS/DogTip_JogDog.php

Hold your dog’s leash firmly when jogging, but don’t tie it to your wrist or another part of your body. Your dog may suddenly decide to go where he wants instead of running beside you, and take you along with him! Pet supply stores often carry dog leashes designed for hands-free jogging that attach to your waist. Jogging leashes have a coiled lead to take up the slack between dog and jogger. The leash is attached to a belt the jogger wears, and the belt has a quick-release buckle so you can quickly disengage yourself from your dog in an emergency.

Bring along extra water for your dog when the weather’s warm, and a few of his favorite snacks to keep him energized. You can use the snacks as a distraction, also, if your dog becomes too curious about other animals or people, or insists on stopping to sniff. If you’ve been walking your dog regularly, he’s probably used to stopping along the way to smell interesting scents. He’ll want to do the same while jogging, and you may have to teach him the difference between taking a walk and going for a jog. Having a special lead for jogging will help him understand whether you’re out for a leisurely stroll or a healthy workout.

Try to avoid jogging on pavement with your dog, especially if he is an indoor dog. His foot pads are probably soft, and the rough pavement may abrade them and cause them to bleed. Even on a moderate day, pavement may become quite warm and not allow their foot pads to cool off, increasing their risk of heat exhaustion and scorched feet. Jogging through a park or meadow, or down a woodsy trail, will be more fun for your dog and less stressful on his feet, bones and joints.

When jogging on concrete or asphalt is your only option, help your dog to build up protective calluses on his foot pads by walking him on pavement, starting with short distances and gradually increasing the length.ref>http://www.petplace.com/dogs/running-and-jogging-with-your-dog/page1.aspx

When you’re finished exercising, check your dog’s feet for cuts, abrasions, or foreign matter caught between his toes. If you’ve been jogging in grassy or woodsy areas, check your dog’s ears and coat as well as his feet for burrs, foxtails, ticks, and other foreign objects and parasites. Put your dog through the same cool-down ritual after a strenuous jog that you should; moderate jogging walking for five or ten minutes, and sips of water to replenish lost fluids.

Dogs only have sweat glands on the bottoms of their feet, and perspire by panting. They don’t handle heat and humidity as well as humans and can become tired and overheated in weather that may seem comfortable to their owners. Don’t encourage your dog to keep up with you if he begins lagging behind. Slow to a walk or stop and rest for a few minutes.

Dogs who aren’t used to a lot of exercise should be taken on daily walks to build up their strength and stamina before starting a jogging regimen. Start with moderate 10- to 15-minute walks once or twice a day for several days. Gradually add jogging to the routine, beginning with short jogs before moving on to more intensive workouts. Exercise early in the day or later in the evening, when temperatures are cooler, and know the signs of heat exhaustion.http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=22+1275+1535&aid=1320

Loud, rapid panting is usually the first indication that your dog is becoming overheated; glazed eyes, drooling, vomiting, whining, and lack of coordination are signs that your dog needs to be cooled down quickly. Untreated heat exhaustion can result in a stroke or even death.http://www.humanesocietyofcharlotte.org/documents/Signs_of_Heath_Exhaustion___Walk_to_Adopt.pdfCool your dog down by wrapping cold, wet towels or ice packs around his head, neck and chest (don’t soak down the whole dog), or pouring cool water over his neck and chest. Move him to a cool, shady spot, if possible. Put him in front of a fan or take him inside an air-conditioned building. If he doesn’t begin to revive in a few minutes, consider it a medical emergency and get him to a veterinarian as soon as possible.http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2008/06/keep_pets_cool_during_heat_wave_060908.html