None of them, however, is targeted at dogs.
That changes right here.
Many dogs are good runners and love to run, if only they are given the chance. What’s more, the principles of fitness for dogs are much closer to humans than might be first thought.
For example, you’ve heard of the obesity problem with humans in America. It’s the same story with our four-legged friends.
“I have seen it [the percentage of obese dogs] as high as 60 percent. It’s right at the level of people, if not more,” said Chris Muldoon, who takes dogs out for runs as part of his small business, Dash Dog Running Service.
“Seeing an overweight dog is one of my pet peeves, If a person is overweight, that’s his or her fault. With a dog, it’s the owner’s fault. The dog would love to get out and get some exercise.”
What’s more, when a dog asks to go outside to run, it is doing its owner a big favor.
“I’ve seen a lot of articles that say dog owners get more exercise than non-dog owners,” Muldoon said.
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes, of course, so there is no “one plan fits all” scheme for what sort of exercise is needed.
“There are certain breeds that aren’t good runners,” said Muldoon, who has shown his running skills with several wins in the Corporate Challenge event in recent years. “There’s a term for dogs that have a short nose and a flat face. They have breathing issues, and they don’t do well. Some of the larger breeds, like Great Danes and Saint Bernards, are so big they can’t really run well.
“Age plays a factor too. Anytime I get a call to walk a dog under a year old, I tell them to talk to their vet first. All breeds develop at different rates. An 8-month-old boxer is bouncing off the walls already. Then for older dogs, walking is better.”
Muldoon has a husky, one of the best runners among dogs, but all of the working breeds are good at it. On the other hand, golden retrievers don’t nearly enjoy running as much as others.
Dogs can run faster and farther than you might think. One furry friend — Prefontaine Lacki — ran along with partner Jon Lacki in the Lockport Y-10 race in February, and finished in a 6:20 per mile pace. That was good for seventh place overall.
“Overall, humans are more geared for distance running than dogs. Humans are the biggest endurance junkies in the animal kingdom,” Muldoon said. “Some dogs are content to trot around at 10, 11 minutes per mile. I started one dog out at 8:30 miles, and we can just go and cruise. He could hang with me. I worry more about the pace than the dog does.”
When it comes to weather, dogs are more adaptable than might be first thought. While there are limits for running in winter weather, some dogs can go out in just about any conditions. A little cleaning of the paw pads after the run is necessary to clear the snow, ice and salt.
Summer heat actually is more dangerous for the dog than snow and cold.
“Anytime it’s about 80 degrees, you have to start watching,” Muldoon said. “Each dog’s heat tolerance is different. Dogs are poor at monitoring themselves. We run with water bottles. If it’s above 85, I’ll cancel and reschedule a run. You have to watch out for the streets getting too warm. It will burn the dog’s pads.”
Dogs shouldn’t eat within a couple of hours before going for a strenuous run, and a warm-up walk is always a good way to start a session of exercise. When the workout is over, the dog should have a little water at first but not too much.
Overall, a dog can turn into a good training partner in no time at all. If you need an excuse to put on sneakers and get out the door, Rover or Fido will be happy to provide one.
“One of the coolest things about taking dogs out is when they’ve never gone for a sustained run before,” Muldoon said. “It takes them about five minutes for it all to click. They might be a little anxious when they leave their owner and leave the house. But sometime after five to seven minutes, it clicks in. … They settle in to a pace. They pull on the leash and want to go faster. … They get it.”
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