How To Run With Your Dog

When we first started thinking about adding a dog to our family one of our biggest considerations was whether that dog would be able to run with us. Running is a huge part of both Mike and I's lives and it felt like we'd be being unfair if we had to leave our furry companion at home when we went out on adventures. However, we also live in a third floor flat in the middle of London, so we couldn't go for some of the more obviously athletic breeds, spaniels and labradors were just too big for our space. After a tonne of research we finally settled on the idea of a Brussels Griffon and Loki came into our lives!

Griffs are truly ridiculous creatures, tiny (Loki weighs just over 3kg) with huge personalities they don't immediately look like the first choice of breed for a couple of runners...let's just say we get some funny looks when the three of us hit ParkRun, no one can quite believe Little Dog is up for 5km! But here's the thing, Griffs LOVE to run! Historically they're a working breed and Loki is way more roughty toughty than you'd imagine, he's a proper dog and he loves to run!

Since I started sharing pictures of the Tiny Dude tearing up the pavement a few people have asked me how we got started. Because we knew we wanted to run with Loki from the off we did quite a bit of research before taking him out for his first miles because we wanted to make sure he'd be safe, comfortable and enjoy the experience. Not everything we read worked for us, but here are the things that did.

check in with your vet

Although we'd done our research and knew that Griffs were up to running we still checked in with our vet before taking Loki out just incase there was a reason why clocking up the miles might not be the best idea. Lucky for us there weren't any concerns, but it was reassuring to ask anyway.

start slowly

One piece of advice we got from our vet was to start slowly as Loki was still growing and too much could cause an injury. When we started out we pretty much followed couch to 5km, running for 30 seconds or a minute at a time and then walking for longer intervals. This pissed Little Dog off no end (he wanted to run!), but it meant that his body could get used to running and he could avoid injuries.

have the right kit

Just like humans there's some kit that makes running more comfortable and, crucially, safer for your dog. Loki wears a harness to protect him from strain on his neck (it also acts as a useful handle when he is being tricksy!) and we started putting it on him from 12 weeks so he could get used to it. We also use a static bungee lead that goes around one of our waists, this means we're hands free but also our shoulders are protected from any pulling.

don’t over do it

Dogs are like humans, they get tired and need rest. It's important to keep an eye on your dog, take breaks when its tired and have days off running so it can rest. We run with Loki one to two times a week and the most he'll run in one go is around 10k (although we're gradually increasing that distance). There are days when he is clearly not feeling it so we stay at home, and there are days when he is raring to go so we might run a little longer. It's all up to him.

don’t force the issue

Not every dog will want to run, even if it's an athletic breed, so don't force the issue. If your dog isn’t into running that’s ok, maybe they’re more of a rest day buddy!