Running with Dogs

If You Enjoy Running with Your Dog, Here Are Several Ways in the USA to Have Your Dog Running with You in a 5K or Other Race

Running with Dogs: Dog-Friendly Races in the USA Running with a dog can be very rewarding. You get exercise. Your dog gets exercise. You bond with and learn more about one another. You become a happier runner. Plus, a running dog is usually healthier than a sedentary dog.

So, have you ever wanted to have your dog run with you in a 5K or other race?

What? Dogs Running in 5Ks?

Running dogs, like human runners, enjoy competition. So, has your dog looked at you longingly as you’ve headed out the door for yet another race that prohibits dogs? Have you tried to find a dog-friendly race and failed? It’s not your fault! There has been no resource to find them … until now.

Running with Dogs is the most comprehensive resource for finding dog-friendly races — from New York to California, and from one mile to half marathon.

Can You Relate to These Emotions?

When it comes to racing with your dog, have you ever been…

Afraid that you will show up at a race that supposedly is dog-friendly but is not?
Angry about races that have dog-related sponsors but are not dog-friendly?
Frustrated by how hard it is to separate dog-friendly races from dog-friendly non-competitive events?
Afraid that what you thought was a dog-friendly race is actually a non-competitive event?
Angry at race organizers for prohibiting dogs on the course?
Frustrated that dog-related race sponsors don’t pressure race organizers to make their races dog-friendly?
Angry at organizers of dog-friendly races for presenting their race details in confusing or hidden ways?
Frustrated that dog-friendly race details follow no industry standard on the Web?

If you have felt any of this anger, fear, or frustration, then take a deep breath, and relax! Running with Dogs is for you!

Real Dog-Friendly Races, Not Non-Competitive Events

There are many non-competitive events held year-round for runners and walkers who want their dogs to participate. Many of these wonderful events raise money for worthwhile, dog-related causes.

The focus of Running with Dogs is specifically away from these non-competitive events and instead on real races, with real competition.

Plus, when you register for one of these races, you can be sure that it is dog-friendly.

Can’t I Simply Look for These Races on the Web?

Yes, and you will see that the information is disorganized, inconsistent, and sometimes hidden in PDFs of race flyers and registration forms. For a modest price and in less than 60 seconds, you can have the information in an organized, consistent, and complete presentation — all in one place.

You Have Questions? This Book Has Answers!

Running with Dogs answers popular questions like these from runners who want to race with their dogs:

I want to take my dog to Florida on vacation. Are there any dog-friendly races there?
I don’t want my male dog getting distracted during the race. Do the organizers prohibit female dogs in heat?
I care where my registration money goes. Who is the beneficiary of the race?
I have two dogs. May I race with both of them?
I want to race with my dog in March. What’s available?
I have a small dog. Will we be competing against runners with large dogs for the same award?
I would hate to be turned away from a race because I don’t have the right papers for my dog. What are the vaccination requirements?
I want to keep my dog hydrated well. Does the race have dog-friendly water stations?
I am looking for a 5K race. What’s available at that distance?
I don’t think it’s fair to compete against runners without dogs. Are we competing for the same awards?

How Disorganization Made Me Write this Book

The truth be told, although I had a dog when I was a boy, I don’t have one today, and I’ve never participated in a dog-friendly race. But, I believe that happiness is a moral obligation, that happiness affects performance, and that dog owners are some of the happiest runners I know.

And, when I began to write an update for a brief report about dog-friendly races that I originally wrote three years earlier, I realized:

Not all dog-friendly events are races.
Runners did not have a single place to go to find dog-friendly races.
What was available on the Web was a disorganized mess.
You deserved more than a brief report.

So, I dove back into my research. Some of this information was — and still is — buried in downloadable PDFs of race flyers and registration forms. Other information I had to get by emailing back and forth with race organizers, some of whom even pointed me to other races that were so new that they were barely documented anywhere else. When all was said and done, I had written this complete book for happy runners who want to race with their dogs.

Health/Gratitude/Happiness,

Kirk Mahoney
Author, SpryFeet.com

Get It Now

Get Running with Dogs: Dog-Friendly Races in the USA here:

Review It at Goodreads

What about Paperback?

Sorry, but dog-friendly races come, change, and go, so it does not make sense for me to publish this as a paperback. Get the ebook, for which you can get updates at no charge. You’ll be glad that you did!