IN THE NEWS

Walking With Your Dog

(http://walking.about.com/od/dogwalking/a/dogwalking.htm)

By: Wendy Bumgardner

Dogs are great walking companions, great personal trainers, and great nags. If you begin walking with your dog you may soon find his tail is wagging your walking program. They are ready to walk when you are (unlike friends and family), tow you down the trail, and let you know when it is time to go for a walk.

1. Train your dog Formal classes if they are available. Start while the dog is a puppy and continue until the dog can be trusted off leash. The AKC Canine Good Citizen certificate can be earned by your dog, which indicates a level of obedience and training attained. Books are also available for training: Carol Lea Benjamin's Mother Knows Best, Surviving Your Dog's Adolescence, or Dog Training in 10 Minutes. The bottom line is a dog that is a pleasure to walk with. One that will sit, down and heel on command as necessary. You really don't want to be towed into the sunset at about 60 MPH!!

2. Walk on leash If your dog is on a leash it can't get away and cause problems. Consider using a pinch collar if your dog is a puller while walking to increase your control and comfort. Some walkers use a harness, and others find retractable leashes to be the best way to give the dog a little more slack, and then reel them in as needed.

3. Are dogs allowed where you plan to walk? Check with the organizers of walking events you plan to attend. If walking in a park, call to check. Note that sometimes dogs are allowed on the trails, but not in shuttle buses or visitors centers.

4. Carry a pooper scooper. Many carry plastic bags that newspapers sometimes come in. When the bag is placed over the hand you can pick up what you have to, turn the bag inside out, and tie the end closed. Dispose of properly. Ziplock storage bags are another secure option.

5. Water Carry water for both you and your pet. You can use your hand as a water dish. Walkers reported using collapsible cups and inflatable watercolor water dishes, cloth water dishes, zip lock bags.

6. Rest stops Find a shady spot and take ten. Play with the dog, talk to other walkers, and cool down a bit. Dogs can't sweat. They keep cool by panting, finding shady spots, walking in water, and drinking lots of water. In warm weather, don't leave your dog in a vehicle unattended. If you are walking near water in the summer, find a safe place (not public beaches) and let your dog go swimming.

7. Identification Every dog should have a couple of forms of identification. Name tags and collars get lost. Tattoos and embedded micro-chips will back up the name tag. You should carry a clear photo of the dog, which can aid in recovery. Also some areas of the country require you to carry the rabies certificate with you.

8. Is Your Dog Ready? Before taking a dog on a 10K Volksmarch consider if the dog is healthy enough, has the desire, and is trained enough to walk the distance at your side. You should get an OK from your veterinarian if your pooch has any sort of medical problem, is overweight, etc. Work up to the longer distances with them by doing the shorter distances first.

9. Trails The dog walkers generally preferred country walks and trails that had sidewalks or paths well off the road.

10. Books to Explore See the online bookstore for: "Running with Your Dog" by John A. Sanford and "On the Trail with Your Canine Companion, Getting the Most out of Hiking and Camping with Your Dog" by Cheryl S. Smith

Dogs On The Run

http://www.weather.com/outlook/homeandgarden/pets/tools/walking/?from=petsFL

Just like people who aren't used to exercise, dogs should start off slow. Moderately paced walking and swimming are a good way to start--they let canine athletes build their cardiovascular and muscle strength without putting undue stress on their joints. A daily ten- to 15-minute walking or swimming session is a good start; you can build to an hour a day if Rover seems up to it. If, after a few months, he's doing well and can handle long, fast walks without fatigue, he can graduate to jogging with you.

Once he's adapted to the exercise, you and your dog can run and walk to your heart's content, if you take a few precautions: 

• Keep a close eye on your dog: watch for any unusual signs of fatigue or trouble breathing. If your pup wants to stop, let him. Dogs that overdo it can suffer strained tendons or ligaments or other orthopedic problems.
• Don't expect your fuzzy buddy to be a weekend warrior, even if you only get exercise on the weekends yourself. After a long week without exercise, your dog may be ready to get out and burn off energy. But because of their enthusiasm, many of the popular breeds, such as Labrador and golden retrievers, will overdo it.
• Safety first – keep Rover on a leash when you run. Even the best-trained dogs can run into the path of a car or a territorial animal. And if you have to run when it's dark out, put reflectors on your dog's collar as well as on your clothes.
• Concrete and asphalt are tough on the paws, especially on hot days. Try to run on dirt paths or grass as much as possible. Gravel, cinders, and road salt can also irritate paws.
• Take it easy in extreme weather. If it's freezing cold or hot and steamy out, either keep your run short or play a little indoor fetch instead.

The more active your dog is, the more water he'll need. Make sure he has plenty of fresh water before and after your run. If you're going for a long run, take some water along for him.