Canine cardio

SIR – I disagree with Chris King’s claim (Letters, March 17) that dogs do not enjoy jogging with their owners, and that such dogs are not well socialised. In quests to improve my fitness I have jogged with several different dogs over the years, and they all appeared to enjoy it greatly, learning to recognise the signs of going out for a jog as opposed to a walk and showing their excitement at the prospect. Mr King says he dislikes seeing dogs “pounding along to keep up with their owners”. In my experience, larger dogs – like the one Jeremy Hunt was photographed jogging with – have a natural trotting pace not dissimilar to our jogging pace, and frequently choose to move at this speed when unrestrained. Jo Hunt Petersfield, Hampshire SIR – Jeremy Hunt has gone up in my estimation as someone who enjoys exercising with his dog. Our dogs have swum, sailed in our yacht, Munro-bagged, mountain-biked alongside us and broken trail in heavy snow. Our family joke, whenever we go to collect a new dog, is that they will cower behind the nearest sofa, paw over faces, muttering: “Oh no – it’s a Royal Marine.” Lt Col Roger Armstrong RM (retd) Hambledon, Hampshire SIR – I am so grateful to Dr Chris Topping for his letter (March 11) regarding my late mother, Barbara Woodhouse. A repeat of her series, Training Dogs the Woodhouse Way, would do so much good in the dog world. How about it, BBC? Judith Walpole Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire