Blue is ready for the Canine Crawl!

Hi, I’m Blue. I’m a pitt bull / terrier mix. When I first came to HSEC I was illegally abandoned with some major injuries. I had a broken humerus – which isn’t funny – and my tail had to be amputated. I’m all healed now though, thanks to the wonderful staff here. I spent some of my recovery with a part-time mommy who taught me a lot of things. My favorite thing to do is chase a that little yellow ball you humans call a tennis ball. I may end up tearing it to a million little pieces if it doesn’t run away first.

Around the facility I keep hearing the staff and volunteers talk about this big event this weekend. The Canine Crawl is our biggest fundraiser of the year, or so I’ve heard. I don’t know the worth of a dollar, but I’m guessing the money we raise can buy me and the other dogs a lot of treats and toys. I guess if there’s some leftover we can share with those fluffy chew-toys – I mean the cats. People keep talking about a 5K, not quite sure what a “K” is but if it involves running, sign me up. I enjoy running – after squirrels or balls, or even just to use up some of my extra energy.

If you haven’t signed up for the 5K yet, make sure to bring your cash or check on Sunday to Town Common. I’ve also heard people saying there’s going to be vendors and other family-fun activities for this St PAWtrick’s Day, including a mile walk, a costume contest and a owner/dog lookalike contest. Boy does it sound like a great way to spend a Sunday. I hope it will be a sunny Sunday, because that’s something else I like to do, just lay out in the sun’s rays. Makes me all toasty and warm. Mark your calendars and bring your dog. Sunday March 17 at Town Common, the 13th annual Canine Crawl – you won’t want to miss it!

Visit Blue's Petfinder page for more information about this adoptable dog!

Catnap with Casey

Want to support the HSEC and get a t-shirt and a goody bag, but don't want to run in the 5k? Our buddy Casey has a suggestion for you!

Hey there. My name is Casey. I’m a Retriever / Corgi mix available for adoption at HSEC. I’m a very cute dog, especially with my short Corgi legs and I’m always really happy. One of the things that makes me the happiest is when volunteers take me for walks. I am great on a leash and will prance around at your feet.

I normally would like to go for a run, but I recently injured one of my legs. Currently, I’m recovering from a partially torn cruciate and making great progress. I’ve started putting weight back on all four legs, but I still need to take it easy. While I continue on the road to recovery I’ll enjoy watching my some of my fellow dog friends get ready to run in the 5K at this year’s Canine Crawl. I’ll sit this one out and train for next year’s race.

But I still wanted to be part of the fun - luckily, I learned I can register as a catnapper, and you can too! A catnapper gets a shirt and goody bag, but you can sleep in. You don't have to run in the race! All the perks without any of the work. You can sign up to be a fundraiser too and raise money to help out me and my other HSEC pals. This will be the best St PAWtrick’s Day ever!

See this post to learn how you can sign up for the race, either as a participant or as a catnapper!

Tips on running with a high-energy dog

Have you signed up for the Canine Crawl 5k? Want to get some tips on running with your dog? In this post we'll look at how to exercise with a high energy dog, and meet Clara, an HSEC adoptable animal! ADOPTED!! Stay tuned in the future to learn about running with other types of dogs.

Clara

Hi, I’m Clara. I am a year old Pitt Bull Terrier mix. Like many other Pitt Terriers I’m very energetic and I have a natural eagerness to please those who take care of me. That’s why I want to be your future running partner. Running is a great way for me to use up some energy and to get some exercise. I’m great on a leash, but sometimes I get overly excited and I tend to pull. Once I get started running, I like to continually increase my speed. Caution though, I stop for random sniff breaks. With some proper training from a dedicated owner I’d be the perfect running partner.

When training a high energy dog, like myself, there’s some things you should keep in mind. If you want me to pay attention while you’re teaching me new tricks, you’re going to have tire me out a bit first. FYI, I love to play with chew toys. Clicker training may be the best tactic. Start with conditioning; click and immediately offer me a treat. Repeat this 20 times. On the 21st time I should recognize that a click is followed by a treat so you’ll have to test me by not offering a treat right away. Click and wait for my response. If I look for a treat then we’re good to move on to the first trick. Otherwise, repeat the process.

I was adopted last weekend! But check out my buddies at HSEC, from 2:00 to 5:00 every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday or by appointment only during the week. They can't wait to begin training together for the first ever HSEC 5K at this year’s Canine Crawl on St. PAWtrick’s Day. Your first step to getting ready for the race is to sign up. Don’t procrastinate! Then you'll be committed and can begin training. Your dog is even allowed to join you during the race! Let your best friend be your biggest motivator!

Running With Your Dog

Just as the percentage of overweight Americans increases, so does the percentage of overweight dogs. It is estimated that 40-45% of all U.S. dogs are either overweight or obese – that’s about 35 million dogs! Similarly to humans, the best way for dogs to lose weight is to focus on diet and exercise. So what better way to get your dog in shape than to focus on getting yourself fit as well. Find an activity that you both enjoy and can benefit from – such as running.

Dogs love to run, it is in their bones. And they make a great running partner. They won’t care about the number of calories burned, or how fast/far you run, or what the weather is like. They’ll just be happy to get outside with you and be active. If you’ve been running for a while or are just looking to start, getting your dog involved is one of the best motivators. Once you get into a routine, you’ll feel obligated to not let your partner down, even if you’re not in the mood – the guilt of depriving your best friend of a favorite activity will make you never want to skip out.

Running with your dog should start with some basic training. The first step is to have your pooch trained and comfortable on a leash. It is recommended that you have a four-foot to six-foot leash and a snugly fitting flat collar to keep your dog safe at your side (a harness is also an option, but may cause chafing on longer runs). When running with your dog you’ll want to keep a few things in mind: you should be able to hold the leash while keeping your arm bent at your side in a normal running position and unlike a normal walk, you’ll want your dog’s front feet to be even with or slightly behind yours. Avoid straightening your arm and allowing your dog to get ahead of you.

When starting out, slower is better. If you or your dog (or both of you) are new to running gradually ease into a running program and begin with alternating walking and running for brief periods. Try walking for 2 minutes followed by jogging for 2 minutes throughout the entirety of your normal walk. The generally accepted guideline for increasing your running mileage is not to exceed a 10% increase (in either time or distance) a week.

As with any kind of exercise, there are a few things to be mindful of. If you need water during a run, you should provide your dog with same number of water breaks. Monitor your dog closely during the run. Watch out for signs of fatigue, pain, or overheating. If your dog begins to pant excessively, slows down, or refuses to continue, stop running. NEVER put your running goals ahead of your dog’s well-being.

Think about the terrain you are running on. Paved roads will toughen your dog’s pads and should be broken up with dirt roads or trails (which are better on your joints as well). Try finding locations where you can run in the street or on the pavement, while your dog can run mostly on grass. The Green Mill Run Greenway, South Tar River Greenway, and River Park North are great local places to take your pooch for a run.

It is suggested that all dogs should be a year or older (with closed bone growth plates) before any rigorous activity. Older dogs and overweight dogs will need different training programs than younger healthy dog. Check with your veterinarian for more details.

On March 17, HSEC will sponsor a 5K in conjunction with the annual Canine Crawl. Dogs are welcome to run in the 5K, but we have some rules:

1. Do NOT bring your dog if he/she is younger than SIX months of age and/or is not fully vaccinated.
2. Do NOT bring your dog if she is in HEAT.
3. Have your dog wear current ID and rabies tag (or bring rabies certificate)
4. Even if you are not thirsty, be sure to let your dog have plenty of access to water. Water will be provided.
5. Keep your dog on a 6-foot or shorter leash at all times. No dragging dogs during the race.
6. Please make sure your dog has been conditioned to run the 5k. If your dog does not run regularly, the 1 mile walk may be a better option for you and your dog.

Check back to receive some 5K training tips and see why some of our own HSEC dogs could be your prefect running partner.