Bryan Barrera - The Ultimate Guide to Running with Your Dog

Copyright 2021 by Bryan Barrera

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

Skyhorse Publishing books may be purchased in bulk at special discounts for sales promotion, corporate gifts, fund-raising, or educational purposes. Special editions can also be created to specifications. For details, contact the Special Sales Department, Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018 or .

Skyhorse and Skyhorse Publishing are registered trademarks of Skyhorse Publishing, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

Visit our website at www.skyhorsepublishing.com.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Tom Lau

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-5070-8

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-5877-3

Printed in China

Photo by Chris Roden

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thank you to my wife, Suzanne, for taking on an even heavier workload with our home, family, and company while I pursued this project. Without you, none of this is possible.

Thank you to my mother, Cynthia, for your words of encouragement and unwavering support on the many midnight calls.

Thank you to Chris Roden and Nick Wignall for the stunning photography that brought this book to life.

Thank you to all the runners who have helped DC Dog Runner. Your contributions, both large and small, have helped shape our culture. Thank you to the families that have allowed us to spend time with your dogs. It is because of you that I enjoy every day of work!

Thank you to the University of Dallas; you turned me into a writer after all!

And finally, thank you to the incredible team at Skyhorse Publishing. To editors Veronica Alvarado for approaching me about the project and helping me in the early stages of writing, to Yezanira Venecia for your patience and diligence, and to Julie Ganz for guiding me through the completion of this project.

The Barrera Family: Bryan, Suzanne, Owen, Phillip, Mary Eloise, Aoife, and Paul

For my grandpa, Pablo O. Barrera.

Thank you for the example of being a good man.

You excelled at being a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

I strive to be a little more like you every day.

Table of Contents

Bryan running with Seamus in Highland Park, Texas.

Photo by Nick Wignall

CHAPTER ONE:

You Do What?

W hen I tell people that I run dogs for a living, the response generally falls into one of two camps. The first is:

• Thats the most ridiculous thing Ive ever heard. Why would anyone hire someone to run their dog?
• Why would you get a dog if you cant run with them or spend the time exercising them?
• Cant you just throw them a ball?
• Do you actually run other peoples dogs?

The questions continue on and on to borderline insult level where I start to question myself!

The second camp being:

• Thats the coolest thing Ive ever heard! How do I sign up?
• Wait you spend your time running with other peoples dogs and get paid for it?
• I have a crazy dog who has so much energy; do you have a card?

What it seems to come down to is the following: either you have spent time with a dog that needs to run, or you have not. It really is that simple. If you have not owned a hyperactive dog, or have been fortunate enough to have a dog that is satisfied with their daily dog walks, then I get it; it seems absurd that you would outsource the exercise of your dog. But there is a segment of the population that is at its wits end trying to find a solution for their dog with endless amounts of energy, aggressiveness, or even destructive behaviors.

Ive spoken with families that have spent a lot of time and money trying to solve the problems that eventually lead them to our company. Theyll purchase harnesses, specialty collars, and leashes searching for peace of mind and a positive experience outside the home. Tools like those are definitely part of the solution, but like your own health, taking a holistic approach can yield different, and potentially better, results.

Ive been operating DC Dog Runner for six years now, with the sole intention of bringing happiness, as well as physical and mental stimulation, to our pets through long-distance running. To the exclusion of all other pet services we can offer, we have chosen to focus on running with dogs for half-hour- and hour-long runs, multiple times a week.

The majority of the dogs we run benefit from and are fully stimulated by the half-hour option. If a dog has not been doing any consistent exercise beyond being let out for the restroom, they can be built up to cover that time over a few weeks. Our approach is to begin with the half-hour-long run as the goal.

The hour-long runs are a bit more breed- or even dog-specific. If we are just filling in for a runner who routinely takes his dog on long-distance runs and we need to maintain the fitness for a dog to keep up, we offer the hour. If the dog is a specific breed like a Vizsla, Weimaraner, German Shorthaired Pointer, etc., with lean, muscular, athletic builds, we recommend the hour. Just like us, the benefits only begin with physical fitness for the dogs. The long-distance running gives them work to do and a sense of purpose.

While it started with me running with dogs in my spare time to have fun and pocket a little extra cash, it has now grown into a small army of fifteen runners. My wife, Suzanne, and I have been able to turn it into one of the best dog-running companies in America, as named by Runners World magazine!

My first appearance in Runners World magazine.

Photograph by Ryan Donnell

How to Use This Book

Consider this a reference guide to running with your dog. The idea is to deliver information I pulled from research and my personal experiences to help you better understand your dog and its needs. Can you read this book cover to cover? Yes, and please do, but you can also use it to look up helpful tips for the specific kind of running youre going to do that may be a little different than your normal routine. That is where this guide is going to be most helpful: whether you are a newbie who just adopted their first overactive dog, or a trail master who is looking for suggestions and solutions to help your current needs. I really hope this book and, more importantly, information can be shared in our running and dog communities to ensure that we are keeping in mind our four-legged friends turned road warriors!