Run, Don't Walk

Photo: Mary Vogt

When Dogs Love To Run!

Dog running services are becoming more common these days. With many urban professionals working long hours, they come home too tired to walk let alone run their dogs. One of the oldest existing dog running services called Running Paws started in New York City in 2002. It started when one of the owners took a friend's yellow lab for a run in Central Park. Amber the lab loved it, and jogging with the dog, broke up the monotony in his exercise routine.

How Dog Running Works

Most dog walking companies will offer dog running as a service. Other places offer dog running exclusively. It costs about twice as much as a regular walk (even though prices vary). Dog runners will run a dog for 4 to 7 miles (6.5 to 11km). The one bright side is that a client will only need this done two to three times a week compared to walking dogs every day.

Many of the running programs are customized to accommodate the weight, size and age of a dog. Some of the benefits of doing this is that it decreases separation anxiety, helps to keep destructive behavior at bay and calms aggression.

Dog Running Services Reference

Here is a list of places that have dog running websites. Most of these are in America but you will find a couple abroad.

Company Name	Website Link	Location
Abby Loves Dogs	abbylovesdogs.com	Austin, TX
Atlanta Dog Runner	atlantadogrunner.com	Atlanta, GA
Austin Dog Runners	austindogrunners.com	Austin, TX
Bark, Get Set, Go	barkgetsetgo.com	Boulder, CO
Brooklyn Dog Runners	brooklyndogrunners.com	Brooklyn, NY
Cape K-9 Cardio	capek9cardio.com	Cape Cod, MA
Chicago Dog Runners	chicagodogrunners.com	Chicago, IL
Dash Dog Running	dashdogrunning.com	Buffalo, NY
DC Dog Care	dcdogcare.com	Washington, DC
D Jog	djogmydog.com	Seattle, WA
Dog And Runner	www.dogandrunner.com	Chicago, IL
Dogs On The Run	dogsontherun.com	Phoenix, AZ San Diego, CA Orange County, CA Palm Springs, CA Temecula, CA Fort Collins, CO Nashville, TN Seattle, WA
DogStar	dogstarcharleston.com	Charleston, SC
Donna's Dog Walking	donnasdogwalking.co.uk	Grantham, Lincolnshire, UK
Green Bay Dog Runner	greenbaydogrunner.com	Green Bay, WI
Happy Trails Dog Running	happytrailspdx.com	Portland, OR
KC Dog Runners	kcdogrunners.com	Kansas City, MO
Mainline Dog Runners	mainlinedogrunners.com	Philadelphia, PA
Marathon Dogs	marathondogs.com	Flagstaff, AZ
NYC Dog Runners	nycdogrunners.com	New York, NY
Paw Joggers	pawjoggers.com	Cincinnati, OH
Run That Mutt	runthatmutt.com	Fargo, ND
Running Paws	runningpaws.com	New York, NY
Running The Pack	runningthepack.com	Boston, MA
Santa Barbara Dog Runner	sbdogrunner.com	Santa Barbara, CA
Trailblazing Tails	trailblazingtails.com	Los Angeles, CA
Walks With Zara	walkswithzara.com	Chicago, IL
We Run Spot	werunspot.com	Dallas, TX
Zoot	zootpets.com	Georgetown, TX (north of Austin)

Let's Discuss!

Do you use dog running services or prefer a simple walk?

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Oh No! How I Found A Dogwalker On Short Notice

Photo: Monique Pouzet

Hello Everyone!

This weekend, I'll be house sitting and will be away from the dogs for four days. As many of you know, Homer, has quite a bit of energy and would be needing time for walks. When I tried my regular dog sitter, it turned out he wasn't available.

The Search Begins

The first place I checked was Google. You can find anything on Google and I thought since I lived in the greater Chicagoland area, it would be a piece of cake. It turned out not to be the case.

I found a place that was less than five miles away. I thought this would be perfect. But it turned out, I was out of the service area. I looked at other places on the website, and after looking up six more places, none of them came out to my neighborhood.

My mom then suggested the telephone book. Part of me was incredulous that I didn't think of this sooner. It seems like I've become so dependent on the internet, I missed what was lying right under my nose.

Sure enough, I called the places that I thought would be able to take me as a customer. One place I left a message and never heard back. Another, the phone was disconnected. Starting to panic, I scoured the book for any places that would be willing to take a new client on short notice.

A New Discovery!

Finally, after reaching all dead ends, I noticed a local pet store in the phone book. I always had seen the place driving to and from school but never had made it over there to visit. I called the owner and asked her if there was anyone she could recommend as a dog walker. As it turned out, she did have a name and since they were a new business, they weren't listed in the phone book. It also turned out that I knew the dog walkers because they worked at the animal hospital where I took my animals.

They were able to come the next morning and would be able to accommodate my specific requirements of taking the dogs out on two half-hour walks per day.

The Lesson Learned

Sometimes, you find what you need in the more unusual methods. It helps to contact other businesses if you're having difficulties finding a service for your dogs.

Let's Discuss!

What are some ways you found a service in a atypical fashion? Was it a success or a major mishap?

Thank you all for stopping in. Hope you have a great day.

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