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3/16/13 10:41 P

I carry water on a Amphipod belt, which also works beautifully for holding the collapsible bowl that is attached by a caribiner to the loop that the velcro buckle goes through. I bought an extra bottle for it for the puppy!

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3/14/13 11:10 P

You can get a small collapsible bowl at Pet Smart or REI. Just make sure you carry enough water for him AND you.

And on race day? Leave him home.

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3/14/13 9:36 P

I use a camelback for my water on my long runs.

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3/14/13 4:21 P

Thank you everyone for such great advice! We have a doggie backpack, but I've never used it with my current 4-legged running partner, so I'll start off gradual with using it. In the meantime, I like the idea of taking a collapsible water dish and using my water for him as well.

Speaking of taking water for me - that is new for me too, since my runs have always been less than 5 miles. Now that I'm doing longer runs and the weather is warming up, I know I need to start taking water with me... Any advice on how to take water on long runs? I feel like I'll need a few extra hands!!!

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3/14/13 11:08 A

Hi Vickie:
The dog pack is a good idea. Just make sure it is properly fitted to sit as far forward on the dogs shoulders as possible and watch for chafing. I'm a fan of RuffWear www.ruffwear.com/ but here are several good brands. You also need to gradually acclimate your dog to the additional weight. Start w/just the empty pack and gradually add weight. There are soft-sided collapsible water bottles you can get that work really well w/the dog packs.

Another option, depending on how much water you need, you can carry a hydration pack, clip a small, collapsible dog bowl to your belt and fill it from your pack.

Enjoy running w/your pooch. It is always more fun having a buddy.

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3/14/13 9:56 A

Hi MomVicki!!!

Welcome to the team! I'm so glad you joined!!!

I can't answer the dog question because we don't have one, but sounds like good advice.

Hope you are doing well my friend!

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3/14/13 9:54 A

Definitely invest in a doggy backpack so you can bring water and snacks along for your pooch. With a larger breed, be sure to follow your vet's guidelines to avoid bloat.

The most important thing to remember is to watch for signs of exhaustion and give puppy rest breaks. My dog will keep running just to keep me happy -- she's a sweetie! -- and this led to a stress fracture last year. I keep a close eye on her gait now!

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3/14/13 9:46 A

That's right - my dog has a question for our fellow HM trainers! For those of you that run with your pooches, how do you make sure he stays hydrated during the long runs? Does he carry his own water, if so, how?

I am training for my first half-marathon in May which is a trail run. Since a lot of my training is taking me onto remote 4WD hilly roads, I feel much safer having my 175lb pup with me, but I want to make sure he is well taken care off. Any suggestions/recommendations for training with your dog? So far, he's handled 6 mile runs just fine, but our 7 mile run yesterday REALLY did him in :(

Thank you!

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