EP:2 Dog Adventures, Running With Your Dog

00:00:00:06 - 00:00:05:23
Jennifer
Looking to get out of the house with your very best friend, but not sure what to do. How about going on a jog together?

00:00:06:02 - 00:00:23:18
Steve
It's a great way to get some exercise, soak up the sun and enjoy nature. Plus, your pup will love all that fresh air. Never taking your dog on a run before. No worries. We got you covered.

00:00:23:20 - 00:00:31:19
Steve
Welcome to Fetch the Sun, the podcast for dogs and humans who love adventure. We're here to help you make the most of your outdoor experiences with your furry friend.

00:00:31:21 - 00:00:39:02
Jennifer
From choosing the right gear and preparing for your adventure to expert advice on how to train your pup safely, we'll cover it all.

00:00:39:04 - 00:00:51:23
Steve
Plus, we'll be discussing our current animal rescue efforts along the way. So join us as we explore this exciting journey together. Now let's get ready to set out on our next amazing Catch the Sun Adventure.

00:00:52:01 - 00:01:16:21
Jennifer
Welcome back to this episode of Fetch the Sun, where we'll be talking about the many benefits of running with your dog as well as covering proper preparation. Some recommended equipment. And we'll also be giving you some fun training tips and techniques to make the most out of your run together. Today, we are joined by Kate Lee. She went to school for animal behavior and she has owned dogs nearly her whole life.

00:01:16:23 - 00:01:18:21
Jennifer
Thanks for being with us today, Kate Lee.

00:01:19:02 - 00:01:20:18
Kate Lee
Hey, guys. It's great to be here today.

00:01:21:00 - 00:01:42:23
Steve
Hey, Kate Lee, thanks for joining us. And we've also got another very special guest on the line. As you know, Fetch the Sun donates 10% of every matching dog in owner shirt, hoodie and hat sale to animal rescue organizations across the United States and Mexico. This month will be donating to the Frosted Faces Foundation. It's an amazing dog rescue that's located in our hometown of San Diego.

00:01:43:01 - 00:01:46:16
Steve
And we've been joined by their founder and president, Kelly Smyth.

00:01:46:18 - 00:01:59:23
Jennifer
Hi, Kelly. It's so awesome to have you on our show. And thanks again for having us. At your first annual Stroll for Seniors event earlier this month. Can you please tell our listeners a little about how and why you founded Frosted Faces?

00:02:00:01 - 00:02:26:06
Kelly
Hi, guys. Thanks for having me. So we started Frosted Faces Foundation because we saw that there was a need for placement of senior animals after they've been abandoned later in life. A lot of times senior animals need new families because they have medical that the family can't afford. Or maybe their owner passed away and. And we needed a solution for this.

00:02:26:06 - 00:02:56:10
Kelly
And there really is a crowd out there who want to adopt senior animals. So another way that we can help is by providing medical care for those families that are interested in seniors. And we can keep them safe at our facility until that placement is found. We focus on senior cats and dogs who are aged eight and older and generally ones that have a lot of medical conditions because we specialize in covering medical for families.

00:02:56:10 - 00:03:03:02
Kelly
So we want to use that to its greatest extent to place the ones that are in the most need.

00:03:03:04 - 00:03:13:09
Jennifer
Wow. What an incredible mission, Kelly. It's wonderful that you guys are giving these older dogs a chance to live out the best possible life that they can with the years they have left.

00:03:13:11 - 00:03:23:02
Steve
Since you founded Frosted Faces, about how many senior dogs have come through your door, and out of those, how many have found their forever homes?

00:03:23:04 - 00:03:44:00
Kelly
Well, we have placed almost 2500 frosted faces, and every dog we rescue ends up getting placed. That's kind of the ebb and flow of the rescue world. So I'd say that we've rescued about 2500 and we have placed about 2500 senior cats and dogs in the last nine years of operation.

00:03:44:02 - 00:03:52:13
Steve
Wow. That's just incredible. And, you know, definitely hats off to you and all the amazing volunteers you have there for us to faces.

00:03:52:15 - 00:03:59:14
Jennifer
For our listeners out there. How can people get involved in animal rescue, in their own communities?

00:03:59:16 - 00:04:27:21
Kelly
Oh, there's lots of ways to get involved in the animal welfare world. Firstly, volunteering. We're really lucky to have a facility so we always need people to walk our dogs, bathe them, feed them, help give medication. We also ask people to help hand out fliers in the community or take our dogs to meet other prospective adopters or other prospective donors and volunteers that can help our mission.

00:04:27:23 - 00:04:58:23
Kelly
Sometimes people bring their entire work group and have a little lunch out here with our dogs, and that's really a way of helping because it spreads the word and brings awareness. And so volunteering is a great way to help animal welfare. But, you know, not everybody has a lot of time on their hands to do this. So we'd encourage donating a little bit of every week's every month income a check out if your employer has a matching program.

00:04:59:00 - 00:05:22:02
Kelly
That's a that's a really big way that people help us here. And then, of course, is fostering getting dogs out of the kennels and making room for more dogs that we need to help. So then at least one dog can live in your home for a temporary amount of time and have a nice environment and you can help market that dog for adoption while it's and foster too.

00:05:22:04 - 00:05:33:07
Kelly
So I'm sure a lot of animal welfare programs across the board have similar ways to get involved, and they make it pretty easy because they need you.

00:05:33:09 - 00:05:38:17
Jennifer
Yeah, those are all really great ideas. You know, there are so many ways that people can help.

00:05:38:19 - 00:05:47:06
Steve
Yeah, for sure. Lots of ways to get involved in animal rescue. And Kelly, is there anything else you'd like to share about Frosted Faces while we have you on.

00:05:47:08 - 00:06:18:15
Kelly
Some of the other programs that we have here at Frosted Faces Foundation are programs that help prevent senior animals from ending up in the shelter system. So we help to provide financial aid to families who run into a medical crisis with their dog and maybe can't afford it. And we have a final wish, a program which is for people whose loved one has passed away or can no longer live independently or even for yourself.

00:06:18:15 - 00:06:44:22
Kelly
If you are planning for your future, you can write us into your will so that we can take responsibility of your pet. And it doesn't end up in the shelter system. And we also offer emergency boarding. So when someone is in the hospital, a lot of times our animal has to go to the local shelter and instead we can board at someone's dog until they get out of the hospital or through treatment, and then they can reunite.

00:06:44:22 - 00:07:14:22
Kelly
And that dog obviously knows nothing but love and care here at Frosted Faces, and then it gets to go home. So there there's some cool intervention programs that we have. Other things that I like to talk about our program, the foster programs that we have here at Frosted Faces. So we have something that's called a frosted falling, where someone can take one of our dogs home for just two weeks and profile it and then bring it back.

00:07:15:00 - 00:07:50:15
Kelly
So it's a short term commitment. Sometimes people are cereal slingers, so they'll fling multiple dogs, profiling one after another every two weeks. And their home. So that's pretty fun. We also have a Seniors for Seniors program. So we have a liaison that gets assigned to a senior person and they help them take care of the dog anywhere from picking up medication, ordering medications online, getting them to vet appointments and just checking in on them and making sure that the dog is doing well and the senior is doing well.

00:07:50:17 - 00:08:05:06
Kelly
And at least we see a lot of people taking advantage of this lately. So I'm really proud of that program. And then we also have the Malian knee project. Sorry, there's a lot of barking. I work at a dog shelter, by the way.

00:08:05:08 - 00:08:24:08
Steve
Yeah, no worries at all. Kelly. We record out of our living rooms, so we pretty much have a zoo here as well. So all our dogs and cats, you'll often hear them pitter patting in the background and chewing on their kibble, and you will get the occasional bark too. So not a problem. But yeah, I'm sorry, Marley me.

00:08:24:08 - 00:08:26:17
Steve
Please tell us about the Marley Me program.

00:08:26:19 - 00:08:54:17
Kelly
We have the Malia Me project and that is for dogs that are not socialized with other dogs but are great with people. And so we find families who have no other pets, and then we place our dog with that family and we pay them $200 a month to foster the dog. So that dog ends up not having to live in a shelter long term or here long term, and they can still help market them for adoption.

00:08:54:19 - 00:09:13:21
Kelly
And nine times out of ten, our Marley and Me project families end up keeping the dog and asking for a no more payment because they've decided that they're already in their forever home with them. So yeah, those are those are some neat things I love to talk about and they are all on our website in greater detail.

00:09:13:23 - 00:09:35:08
Steve
Well, Kelly, that's that's just amazing. I mean, you're really, truly helping out the community as a whole. So, you know, you're doing amazing work with with dogs, for sure, but you're also helping out people as well. And that's that we just find that so amazing. And for our listeners out there, their website is Frosted Faces Foundation dot org.

00:09:35:10 - 00:09:39:06
Steve
And you know, check out the show notes. It'll be listed in there as well.

00:09:39:08 - 00:09:44:23
Jennifer
Thanks so much for joining us today, Kelly. And we hope to catch up with you and your amazing team again soon.

00:09:45:01 - 00:09:46:06
Steve
Thanks, Kelly.

00:09:46:08 - 00:09:50:17
Kelly
Thank you for your interest in choosing to interview me. I really appreciate it, guys.

00:09:50:19 - 00:10:05:08
Steve
Okay. So getting back to our main topic of running, you know, before beginning any physical activity with your dog for the first time, always consult your physician and your dog's veterinarian before any strenuous and or high risk activities.

00:10:05:10 - 00:10:29:16
Jennifer
That's right. And also, please make sure if you have puppies that are under 18 months, that you can sort the veterinarian, especially because I do know that puppies bones are still fuzing and that it could cause them lifelong damage if you begin a strenuous running tivity too soon. So please ask your vet. And on when is the right time to start running safely?

00:10:29:21 - 00:10:36:09
Jennifer
It can vary based on the size of the dog and the breed of the dog, so it's always best to consult a professional first.

00:10:36:11 - 00:11:01:10
Steve
So let's talk about the benefits and you know why. Why run with your dog? And there's just so many great benefits to running with your pup, both for you and your dog. One is getting in better physical shape. And for the both of you know, we all could stand to lose a couple of pounds every now and then, me included, you know, and you and your dog and look better, be less chunky and improve your overall health.

00:11:01:12 - 00:11:07:14
Steve
Running is just great for boosting your mood and increasing energy levels while tiring out your dog at the same time.

00:11:07:16 - 00:11:21:20
Jennifer
So Kelly was telling me that she's just getting into jogging with her Huskies. She has three Huskies, so she jogs with two of her three Huskies. What can you tell us about some of the benefits you've been noticing?

00:11:21:22 - 00:11:40:11
Kate Lee
Well, for our two younger Huskies that I'm starting the jogging with Aiko and Freya, they are a lot more calm when we get back from jogging. Obviously, Huskies have high energy, so they definitely need to get their runs in.

00:11:40:16 - 00:11:41:22
Jennifer
Oh, yeah, for sure.

00:11:41:23 - 00:11:45:22
Kate Lee
And I'm not there yet, so jogging is what I can do.

00:11:46:00 - 00:11:52:05
Jennifer
Yeah, I understand that for sure. So what are some benefits that you see from for you?

00:11:52:07 - 00:12:05:00
Kate Lee
For me, You know, I definitely the endorphins, it's always good after jogging, you know. And yeah, I definitely feel more calm, ready to go, ready to rock and roll and the rest of the day.

00:12:05:02 - 00:12:27:13
Jennifer
That is. And we all know that tired dog is a good dog. So the physical benefits are clear, but running can also help improve the mental health for all involved. I know whenever I'm out on a jog, it really helps me to clear my head and focus my thoughts for the day. It's a great way to start the days on a nice jog with your dog.

00:12:27:15 - 00:12:54:04
Jennifer
Also, your your doggy running partner is also getting mental stimulation as he or she takes in all the sights and sounds and smells of the outdoors. The combination of the physical and mental stimulation can really help your dog stay more calm and it may even help pre or prevent some problems that might arise, such as excessive barking or destructive chewing or rowdy indoor play throughout the day.

00:12:54:04 - 00:12:55:02
Jennifer
For them to.

00:12:55:02 - 00:13:12:05
Steve
And you know, when you run with your dog, you'll be building a stronger bond. So spending that time together while having fun can create a stronger pack like feeling of belonging and having a running partner looking at you with those puppy dog eyes asking, When are we going to go out on our run? Dad? It will always help you stick to a routine.

00:13:12:07 - 00:13:19:09
Steve
If you skip a day, you're not only letting yourself down, but also your dog. And who can resist those puppy dog eyes? I know I can't.

00:13:19:11 - 00:13:35:19
Jennifer
So now that we know some of the great benefits of running with your dog, let's talk about the best way to get prepared before you go running out the door on your first run or jog. There are a few tips that we'd like to share to ensure that the running experience is safe and enjoyable for you and your dog.

00:13:35:20 - 00:13:55:14
Steve
Absolutely. First off, you want to make sure you have all the right supplies you might need on a running adventure. This would include water bottles for you and your dog, you know? Absolutely. You want to make sure you bring plenty of water, the poop bags, because we all know what happens and treats. And you also probably want to have a small backpack or running belt to hold all of that stuff.

00:13:55:14 - 00:14:04:04
Steve
So you're not trying to juggle it in your hands as you're running. And you definitely want to have the right harness and leash. Those are very important to have when you're running with your dog.

00:14:04:06 - 00:14:34:06
Kate Lee
Oh yeah, I definitely agree with you on that. Steve. We there's actually a story when we started harness training and we put the harnesses on Archewell and Iko and they just, like, stopped moving quickly is the best way to describe it. Yeah, we went on our standard walk and out the door, out of the house. They're just like one small step after the other, and they were dragging behind us the whole time.

00:14:34:06 - 00:14:35:04
Kate Lee
It was hilarious.

00:14:35:06 - 00:14:37:04
Steve
Definitely creatures of habit like us.

00:14:37:04 - 00:15:05:07
Kate Lee
Oh, yeah, Yeah. So I realized, you know, with my education and animal behavior, I realize, oh, they need to be desensitized to this new stimulus, the harness. They're just not used to it. That's why right now, I've reverted when I do jog, it's with their collars because I haven't had enough time to get them used to their harness in a way that makes it a benefit to all of us when we jog together.

00:15:05:08 - 00:15:08:06
Steve
Yeah, it definitely, definitely takes time.

00:15:08:07 - 00:15:09:02
Kate Lee
For sure.

00:15:09:04 - 00:15:31:14
Jennifer
Absolutely. And also, if you're planning on doing jogging in the evening or nighttime, it's probably also best to invest in like a reflective vest or light up collars and leashes so that the drivers can see you. And it's always best to think about any safety items you might need whenever you prepare for any new outdoor adventure with your dog.

00:15:31:19 - 00:15:58:22
Jennifer
Once you have all your equipment ready to go, I would definitely recommend starting with shorter distances. If you're anything like me and maybe a little out of shape, it's great to start out slow for both you and your dog. When I first got back into jogging, I like to just kind of do a walk and then I'll do a little jog and then a walk, kind of alternate my pace a bit and kind of ease back into a jogging routine.

00:15:59:00 - 00:16:14:18
Jennifer
It's always good to start that way with your dog, too. If they're not used to doing runs or jogs that way, it will help build both you and your dogs endurance. And if you notice any any signs of distress or exhaustion, please take a break right away.

00:16:14:21 - 00:16:39:10
Steve
Exactly, Jennifer. And again, please be sure to consult with your vet to get their recommendations. You know, things like size, age and breed of our dogs may play a part in how long or fast your run should be. If you see any signs that your dog is getting too tired at any time, such as excessive panting or slowing down, you know, like Jennifer said, take a break or just end the run early.

00:16:39:12 - 00:16:43:04
Steve
You know, And also, please take your own health into consideration, too.

00:16:43:05 - 00:16:53:08
Jennifer
So, Kate Lee, I know earlier I mentioned that you dog with two of your three huskies. Can you tell us why you don't jog with all three?

00:16:53:10 - 00:17:15:03
Kate Lee
Well, ah, the reason we don't jog with all three is because actually our oldest, he is older and we are concerned about pain issues. So we just try to walk at his pace. And he does seem to be more walking now because he's 13. Wow. It's time flies.

00:17:15:05 - 00:17:17:10
Steve
That's that's that's old age for a husky.

00:17:17:12 - 00:17:36:05
Kate Lee
Yeah. So he's getting up there and we're just making sure he enjoys his walks instead of being worried about any pain from, like, his joints or anything like that. So, yeah, that's why we I've chosen not to jog with him and just let him have fun sniffing around.

00:17:36:07 - 00:18:13:22
Jennifer
Oh, yeah, that's. That's a great idea. Actually, just let him go at his speed. So. And even after you've built up your endurance and you know your and your dog's comfortable pace, it's always fun to kind of alternate routes and different pieces. This helps with mental stimulation as well. So it's not just the same old same old and they'll get it will also help kind of motivate you and you can even maybe try to add in some trail runs, which I like to do or if you have a track nearby, maybe go walking, jogging or running on a track once in a while.

00:18:13:22 - 00:18:16:02
Jennifer
I'll just keep it fun. New and adventurous.

00:18:16:02 - 00:18:45:22
Steve
Yeah, I've. I've noticed that our dogs have their own preferences. Our little Jack Russell Chihuahua mix. Snoopy here the he'll run anywhere Sidewalk trails Beach. He he's he's got no preferences but our golden retriever slash cocker spaniel she's very particular does not like to run on the sidewalk not a big fan of running in sand but we get on those trails and man she just she just goes off she hears this talking about her.

00:18:45:22 - 00:18:50:06
Steve
Now that was her shaking off. Oh, she's saying hi to everybody out there.

00:18:50:09 - 00:19:13:20
Jennifer
We recently got a new member of the pack. He's a two year old Pomeranian named Chewbacca. Yes, Chewy for sure. So we'll have to We haven't done any running or jogging routines with him yet, but I'm sure he is going to love it because he's got a lot of energy and he seems like he will be up for some fun outings.

00:19:13:20 - 00:19:37:14
Steve
Yeah. Jennifer, I definitely can't wait to take him jogging and I really think he's going to take to the water. So I think he's going to be our new surf dog. But there are some basic things we need to do before taking him out on these adventures. And you know, to everybody out there listening, I would definitely recommend teaching your dog some basic training before trying to incorporate jogging or a running routine with your dog.

00:19:37:16 - 00:19:46:03
Steve
It'll just make things that much easier if you encounter any surprises, and it'll just make it easier overall on your journey together.

00:19:46:05 - 00:19:53:12
Jennifer
That's so true. We always recommend using all positive training methods when teaching your dog new things.

00:19:53:14 - 00:20:01:20
Steve
Definitely that that's true, but saying, hey, he knows we're talking about on the background. Everybody say hi to Chewbacca.

00:20:01:22 - 00:20:31:17
Jennifer
So what I was saying is I would definitely start with some basic like set way and loose leash walking before you get into jogging and running. And then I would move into a little more complicated things that will really be useful on your run, such as heel and leave it so that way if you run by a half eaten Ryan baloney sandwich on the ground, you could tell your little buddy to just leave it and keep your pace instead of being brought to a jarring halt or your dog stops to check it out.

00:20:31:19 - 00:20:59:09
Kate Lee
I can definitely relate to that. Jennifer Yeah, the Huskies have a really strong prey drive, so they get distracted on her walks and jogs and they definitely take a side and go hunting basically in the bushes and I'm still working with them on Leave It. But the stronger the prey drive the you, the more you have to work with them.

00:20:59:09 - 00:21:02:19
Kate Lee
That's what I found. And I'm still working with mine.

00:21:02:21 - 00:21:14:04
Jennifer
Oh yeah, I bet I can see that being you sometimes. So yeah, it's really important to work on stuff when you're not out on your dog before you leave. Yeah. To kind of get them ready to go.

00:21:14:07 - 00:21:40:05
Kate Lee
Yeah. And that actually reminds me of another story. I was. I was jogging with Echo and Freya, and they saw a rabbit on a lawn and took after this rabbit. And I had each hand, had a leash and they were running around a tree, almost face planted. But I was able to dig my feet in and time and then get them back under control.

00:21:40:05 - 00:21:41:11
Kate Lee
And then they were listening to me.

00:21:41:11 - 00:21:52:23
Steve
But who I really see is like half the size of one of your dogs. And when she goes after rabbits, it is like, hold on for dear life because you're going for a ride. So I could imagine, Oh yeah.

00:21:53:01 - 00:21:55:23
Kate Lee
It was definitely a ride right there.

00:21:56:01 - 00:21:57:05
Jennifer
Like a sled ride.

00:21:57:07 - 00:22:11:03
Kate Lee
Yeah. Yeah. Which is what inspired us about me wanting to do the jogging to begin with. You know, like, help them get that energy out, because that's what they're bred for. Pulling sleds. Right? Move in.

00:22:11:05 - 00:22:35:07
Jennifer
Yeah. So I would definitely recommend bringing some treats for reinforcement with you. Maybe when you're out in the dog that way, your dog will understand exactly what's expected on runs and make the experience more enjoyable for both of you. I really like to carry trees with me also whenever I'm out on a walk or run, because you never know when a loose dog may come up to you and you don't know if that dog is friendly or not.

00:22:35:09 - 00:22:55:05
Jennifer
So if some dog got out and comes up to you and your dogs and it's actually very handy to have treats with you to toss away from you, to redirect the loose dog to those treats so that you and your dog could quickly move away to safety. It's just something I tend to do, just in case you never know.

00:22:55:07 - 00:23:13:11
Steve
Yeah. Now that's that's a great, great tip, Jennifer And okay, so, you know, ready, set, go unleash that running adventure with your pup and you know, by taking your pup on a run, you're not only be providing them with the physical and mental exercise they need, but you're also be offering yourself an opportunity to bond while getting fit together.

00:23:13:13 - 00:23:26:11
Steve
So with the right preparation, gear and training, you and your pup will be ready for an enjoyable run. And there's nothing better than having the right running partner. So you know what are you waiting for? Grab your furry friend and hit the track. Happy running.

00:23:26:13 - 00:23:33:09
Jennifer
So thanks so much, Kayla, for being here with us today on our podcast and sharing your stories about jogging with your Huskies.

00:23:33:11 - 00:23:42:02
Kate Lee
Well, thanks for having me. It's really inspired me to continue pushing forward because sometimes it's a little hard to get through the training, but it's worth it.

00:23:42:04 - 00:23:43:18
Jennifer
All right. Yeah. Thank you so much.

00:23:43:19 - 00:23:58:01
Steve
Awesome. Thanks, Kate. We will see you soon. Hey, and thanks so much again. Kelly from Frosted Faces. Can't wait to work with you guys again and again. Their website is Frosted Faces Foundation dot org and you can find that in the show notes.

00:23:58:03 - 00:24:22:18
Lydia
Be sure to check out Fetch the Suns apparel that's made for dogs and humans who love adventure. Go to fetch the sun dot com and use coupon code FTC podcast ten to save 10% off your purchase. And right now all orders are being delivered within the United States. Qualify for free shipping.

00:24:22:20 - 00:24:27:22
Steve
Thanks for listening. Be sure to subscribe and tune in for our future. The Sun Channel wherever you get your podcasts from.

00:24:28:02 - 00:24:31:15
Jennifer
Until next time, let's keep those tales waggin