Roadwork?

Hi, I was just answering another member about dog conditioning, but then I wondered what most of you would say about having the dog running next to the car. Every other day I have my dog run next to the car for about 2 miles (up a hill). I am planning on having him run a longer distance, just to get more wind. The problem is that he runs on a hard surface and I don't want him to have joint problems. I live in a city, there are no dirt tracks around. Should I buy him some special dog shoes or what?

 

There's nothing harmful in roadwork as long as your cautious and patient. If your dog is young take your time working him up to distance. You may want to invest in a pad conditioner/toughner. Be very wary of your surroundings. Watch for broken glass, metal debri & other things that could hurt your dog. also be wary of strays, if you're in a car it may take you some time to get to your dog if an accident does occur. Also be cautious about running them on wet cement, like during or after a rain. Sliding on wet cement can easily tear pads.

 

you run your dog beside a car? Isn't that dangerous for your dog.
I run my dog's beside a bike or just run with them. I also handwalk them for their roadwork. This is less danger for your dog(s). When running besice a car your dog can't urinate or emptying out when he wants to. He also can get his lungs filled with dust.

 

I used to condition my great danes this way, I would find an area where new houses were being built, wait for the workers to go, make sure there was no debris, and trot my dogs. I would have to agree not the safest way to do it.

 

Anytime you do any kind of "roadwork" or any work in general on a dog, you should always keep a close eye on the dogs pads...A good pad toughner will help coat and prevent sores or rips on the pads. A torn pad takes WEEKS to heal. Up to 8 weeks depending on the case. Working a dog with sore or ripped pads will cause lameness and most of the time an infection. Check the dogs pads daily for soreness, cuts, or tears..I have seen so many people ruin a dog by working the hell out of it and never once checking the pads....only to find out they are raw and infected...

 

What would you suggest for a pad toughener?

 

in my experience, as long as you keep an eye on your dog, it's not any more dangerous than running them along side your bike. when i run my dogs, i put him on a long leash and give him slack, so when he needs to do his business, he can just run to the side of the road. I live out in the country, so i mostly run him on dry dirt roads, i try to stay away from gravel roads. i also scout out the area first to make sure the area has no stray dogs. the most important thing about road working with a car is to get the dog used to the sounds made by a car... so they don't get scared... i do this by 100-200 yard runs when they are around 9-12months old.

 

My personal preferance: Happy Jack's Pad Coat. Make sure you wear some plastic gloves when you apply it.

 

good post tab...i also heard that burnt motor oil is good...?? but i don't know. i live on dirt roads and don't have the pad probelm...but i still check them before and after each run.

 

I personally wouldnt use a car but if you do be really really careful as it is very risky with many accidents waiting to happen.

 

If you read a bottle of motor oil, this is what it says..."continuous contact causes skin cancer in animal tests". Motor oil is a carcinogen and should not be used to toughen a dogs pads.

 

Oh i don't use it...as most human products say "do not use on animals...or not tested on animals"...i just heard someone say that is what they use...it was someone from here...i just don't know who...i would just use the happy jack..as i get everything at the shop for 50% off anyways.

 

yeah motor oil is not something you want to put on your dogs paws it will do nothing to toughen them but it will make your dog dirty and sick. burnt motor oil especially has all sorts of nasty chemicals in it. I work for a dealership. Putting that on your dog can kill it, cause cancer, dirty your floors lol, or just out and out make it sick.

 

At first I wasnxious about having to drive and hold the dog at the same time. The secret is to drive in first gear all the way and to find a large road where you ncan carrefully watch the dog and the road. Someone said the dog couldn't stop urinate, its wrong I'm very carefull so if I see him start smelling something I just slow down, when he urinates I just stop. But most of the time he doesn't stop, he is conce'ntratyed on running. I was surprised the first time, he seemed to have done that all his life. Don't be affraid to run over your dog, give him enough rope to run two meters away from you. For his pads I use a greasy cream for babies called MITOSIL, maybe it is named differently in the States. I use this cream after the run because it is very greasy and so it makes the dog slip.