Dog Runners The Latest Rage
Exercising With Your Dog
Todd Heisler/The New York Times
JOGGING PARTNERS Roy Scranton of Running Paws runs with two clients in Central Park.
Does your dog get enough exercise? Most people have to work and that means they may have to leave their dog(s) home alone during the day. Chances are your dog is doing one of two things while you’re gone: 1) sleeping (no exercise); or 2) indulging in some destructive chewing or digging (the wrong kind of exercise). Some people arrange for a dog walker to come in and take their dog out for a walk during the day, but there’s an article in today’s New York Times, “They Take the Bounce Out of Bowser” about the latest service available to dog owners anxious to make sure their dogs are getting enough exercise.
HIRING a dog runner isn’t merely fashionable. “Many people have come to understand that their dog needs more exercise than they can provide,” said Dr. Monica Clare, a critical care specialist at the Animal Surgical and Emergency Center in Los Angeles. “Dog walking is fine, but some dogs need more exercise. Dog runners provide it.”
Seth Chodosh, a founder of Running Paws in Manhattan, has 150 dog-running clients a week, and his business is increasing 20 percent a year. “Some people call us because their dog is overweight and needs to lose pounds,” Mr. Chodosh said. “Others’ dogs are too hyper and need to run off excess energy.”
Some deskbound owners dispatch their pets to run miles that they can’t. “In some cases people do for their dogs what they don’t do for themselves,” said Josh Schermer, the founder of nycdogrunners.com, also in Manhattan. “They know they should go to the gym. They should eat better. They should run. So they have their dog do it.”
However, you shouldn’t feel bad if you don’t want to send your dog out with a dog runner. I have a feeling that dog runners are mostly a big city phenomenon. Besides, many people feel that it’s more important to spend time doing activities with their dogs themselves. I have a friend in California who works long hours but somehow still finds time to attend an obedience class and an agility class with one of her dogs every week. She also takes her dogs — English Setters — out to field trials and hunting tests on the weekends. They absolutely love it and have the chance to run and hunt birds. So, even though she’s gone during the day and works a lot, she spends plenty of quality time with her dogs.
The most important consideration is your dog’s health and happiness. Does your dog seem bored? Many dogs are perfectly happy to sleep during the day and wait for you to come home. Some toys and appropriate chewies are all that they need to provide entertainment until you come home at night. It’s usually puppies who need more stimulation and watching during the day. As for running, remember than many breeds were not intended to stand up to the heat and stress of running. Small dogs and brachycephalic breeds, like the Bulldog, would have trouble keeping up on a run. It’s also important to remember that you don’t want to run or jog dogs who are not mature. Regular running or jogging with a puppy can be harmful to their developing bones and joints.
If you have a large breed that enjoys exercise, your dog would probably enjoy spending time with you more than going out for a run with a stranger.
The Times’ article also mentions some concerns about running:
But there are potential problems with dog running. Dr. Clare, the veterinarian in Los Angeles, said, “Big stupid young dogs — Labs, Dalmatians, goldens — can never get enough exercise, but dog runners aren’t for every dog.” English bulldogs, for example, aren’t built to run much, she said.
In addition, she warned, “Dogs with orthopedic problems or airway diseases called laryngeal paralysis — the airway doesn’t open adequately — can be harmed if they are run too much.”
Before hiring a dog runner, Dr. Clare says, pet owners should have dogs examined by a vet, who should check for bad knees, bad backs, bad hips and breathing problems. “Dogs with these problems shouldn’t be run,” she said. “Hard running can exacerbate them.”
Pet owners should send their dogs only to runners who are trained to monitor their charges, especially in scorching weather. “Dogs can burn their paws and wear them down, especially if they are run on hot asphalt,” Dr. Clare said. “We see a lot of cases of heatstroke, especially when the weather warms up. Some people run their dogs up canyons until they collapse. They hear the loud breathing and they think, Oh, how cute.”
If you plan to run with your dog (or bike or do any kind of exercise), be sure you carry water with you for your dog and check for signs of overheating. Make sure you start out slowly and go short distances at first. It’s also a good idea to take a cellphone with you, in case you need to call for help. (I once became lost while hiking with my dog. I did not have a cellphone with me. Hours later we stumbled out of the woods far from where we had started. I learned the hard way.)
It’s great to do things with your dog — your dog will love being with you. Take some sensible precautions and the two of you will have a wonderful time and your dog will get all the exercise he needs.
