It’s already well recognised that families with a dog will average at least half an hour more exercise a day than families without a dog. So, there’s already a plus to having a dog in your household.

Are there any advantages to running, compared to walking with your dog? Sure! From your perspective, you will get a better cardiovascular workout, and burn more calories. For your dog, it’s also a high energy workout and depending on the breed, it is almost essential to burn off that energy for them to be happy in suburbia. Examples of such breeds are Australian Cattle Dog, Border Collie and other working dogs.

Running with your dog is safe. Start by having your dog checked by your veterinarian to make sure he’s physically mature enough, and not overweight. Both will result in potential joint injury when you start running. Choose where you run carefully; I like to avoid high traffic areas, and stick to well lit areas with plenty of houses. Having said that, with company, there’s nothing better than a run through the trails with your dog. Lastly, keep your dog on a lead. This may mean you need to do some obedience training to teach your dog to stay close, but it’s by far the best way of preventing unexpected loss or injury.