How do you start running with your dog?

A dog is the most enthusiastic running partner you will ever have. They never cancel, they never check their watch, and they think every lamp post is fascinating. They also cannot tell you when something hurts, which is why starting well matters more than starting fast.

Is your dog ready?

The UK vet charity PDSA, in its guide to running with your dog, makes a few points worth taking seriously:

• Wait until your puppy is fully grown. Running before their body has matured can do harm. Until then, puppies are better off with walks, play and training.
• Breed and health matter. PDSA notes that flat-faced breeds and dogs with medical issues are likely to struggle, and may be happier exercising another way.
• Personality matters too. Some dogs love a steady jog. Others prefer sniffing, ambling and making friends. Both are fine.
• Ask your vet first. A quick check before you start is the sensible way in, especially for older dogs.

When a puppy counts as fully grown varies a lot between small and giant breeds, so this is a question for your vet rather than a calendar.

The right kit

• A comfortable harness. PDSA recommends a secure harness that fits well and doesn't rub, tried out before the first run. Avoid anything that restricts the shoulders.
• A lead that leaves your hands free, or a normal one. Many runners like a waist belt with a short bungee lead; others prefer to hold a standard lead. Pick whatever keeps the dog close and you balanced.
• Water and a bowl. Carry water for both of you, and stop when your dog wants a drink.
• Poo bags. Non-negotiable.

Start with walk-jog outings

Your dog's first runs should be shorter than your usual walks together. PDSA suggests starting at around half your normal walk length, walking the route first, then mixing in short spells of jogging, and gradually running more as the weeks go by, always working at the dog's pace.

That last part is the key. If your dog wants to stop and sniff, that is part of the deal. If they are panting hard or dropping behind, slow down or walk. You are going out together, not testing them.

Good habits to build early:

• Teach "with me". A dog running beside you rather than weaving across your feet is safer for both of you.
• Choose soft ground when you can. Grass, park paths and quiet trails are kinder than long stretches of pavement.
• Watch the paws. Check pads after runs, particularly on rough ground.

Heat is the big one

Dogs overheat much more easily than people. PDSA is clear: never run with your dog in the heat. In its advice on exercising dogs in hot weather, it recommends going out early in the morning or in the evening, keeping a slow pace for flat-faced breeds, and testing the pavement with your bare hand or foot for five seconds. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for paws.

PDSA lists signs of heatstroke including heavy panting that won't stop, weakness or collapse, confusion and vomiting, and describes heatstroke as a life-threatening emergency. If you see them, stop, get the dog into shade, offer water and call your vet straight away. On hot days, a slow walk in the shade is a perfectly good outing; our guide to exercising in the heat covers the human side.

Etiquette on the move

Keep your dog on a lead around people, other dogs, cyclists and livestock, and follow local rules for parks and beaches. Pass other walkers wide. A dog bounding up to a stranger at speed is charming only to the dog.