I was eager to take Penny jogging, especially since it is something I can do every morning before work to help tire her out. But it took until about 18-20 months to get there. We had the same issues of her going crazy on the leash, actually she would instantly get wound up and grab the leash in her mouth and pull, which is very annoying and then hard to get her to calm down. The key was lots and lots of practice walking. Once we got her to be a really good walker (we use a harness) at our side, loose leash, etc. we started practicing transitioning from a walk to a run for a few steps. At first starting straight into the jog was too exciting for some reason. By sometime around 16-18 months she was getting the hang of it. We even tried roller blades and bikes a few times, but then winter snow and ice stopped the efforts. This spring I was very eager to finally do the morning jog and she was wonderful. We use the harness and a retractable leash. I keep her at my side in the neighborhood and then give her full length on the trails, where she keeps pace with me. More or less. The mistake I made was pushing her too hard. We quickly worked up to a few miles and did up to 5 mile runs on weekends. The poor girl got blisters. (See previous posts) The vet said this is common and hopefully the calluses will be tough, but we are now slowly working our way back.
But overall, she is a pure joy to jog with. (Her willingness is a different topic.)
But overall, she is a pure joy to jog with. (Her willingness is a different topic.)
