Editor's note: Going for a run with your dog is one of those ideas that sounds great… in theory. In practice, it can turn into a frustrating stop-and-go tug-of-war, unless your pooch is extremely well behaved (and whose dog is?). Mary, however, has figured out the secret to effortless runs with her golden retriever Winnie. And that secret boils down to six tips, one of which is below. – Judy
My dog, Winnie, is a puller on the leash. We have tried so many different approaches, and found our perfect solution. The gentle leader is the only one that will work for us, and let me tell you – it works wonders. I used to get back from walks and have an aching arm and hand, just from attempting to control her. The gentle leader is completely different. She isn’t able to pull from the strongest part of her body (her chest), and can be very easily corrected, by just the flick of the wrist. I know it sounds dramatic, but this leash has changed my life when it comes to her. I wouldn’t be able to run with her, let alone comfortably walk, without the leash. Seriously.
Image: Mary Baum