Run free with your dog, and get in good workout
Be sure to take precautions, bring enough water to keep you and your pet hydrated
This writer lives in a wonderful range: almost exactly halfway between the city of Salt Lake and the wild foothills and mountains that surround it. Dogs in the city are walked sedately, on a leash, along the concrete surfaces. In the wilderness of the foothills, they often run free. This gives canines a heart-thumping workout as they scramble up the trails of the resorts, along with their human companions.
But there are many caveats to keep in mind, especially along wilderness trails and meadows. The first, and most important, is that your voice should be an absolute magnet to your pet. Train your dog so that if you call, he or she will come immediately. This must be very strict training. But that’s only part one.
Part two is that you’re also there to get a workout. You are running with your dog. That means your heart is pounding as well. Your pooch should never be more than three feet away. If you can’t run fast enough to keep up, leash up the dog and run together. You’ll be pulled along by the leash, so you’ll easily run faster with less effort.
Part three: are you running up a meadow, like a wide run at a snow resort that has not yet opened for the season? Or are you running up a narrow trail with a hill on one side and a cliff, or steep drop-off, on the other? That’s a dangerous kind of trail to take with your furry best friend. Another dog may come along and start barking or acting aggressively. Your pooch may be frightened enough to run off the trail and fall over the cliff, leading to injuries or even death. The sad part is that you’ll have to find a way down to it and perhaps also find a way to carry your pet back to your vehicle if it’s injured.
Remember to carry a water bottle for you in your backpack and a foldable water bowl for your dog and enough water to fill it several times for your canine.
Running in the wilderness is a wonderful way to spend a day bonding with your dog, especially before the snows of winter make it hard to do. Afterwards, you’ll both love each other even more than you do now.