We're not quite up to a full canicross type harness I wouldn't think, I hasten to add! But my hubby does 5K runs, and we thought it would be fun to train our youngest Cavalier Lottie (3 years old) as she is full of energy. At the weekend he took her out and did a 2K run (more of a jog really) and she seemed to get the hang of it after the first km. But we only have an ordinary short lead, which isn't ideal I wouldn't have thought, we don't want to use an extending lead, and the park runs he does would have to have the dog onlead, even if we trusted her to stick with him and not wander off. So I wondered what people might recommend along the lines of a longer lead. Should she wear a harness rather than just a collar, just in case of an unforeseen check to the lead, I wouldn't want her neck to be pulled accidentally!

Have you thought of using a walking belt when running with your dog? I don't run, but sometimes go walking using Nordic walking poles with the dog and on those occasions when she has to be on the lead, I use the walking belt with a one and a half metre adjustable lead (has a slider thingy on it to lengthen or shorten the lead). Apparently walking belts are popular with joggers that run with their dogs leaving them hands free unless needing to check their dog for some reason. Personally I would use with a harness.

Edited to add:
Here is a link to the belt I use, but there is plenty of choice

http://indi-dog.co.uk/index.php?route=product/product&path=64&product_id=117

Ooh thanks, that might be useful, as you say with a longer lead and a harness. Just need to find the lead now.....

Would a halti training lead be of use (it's the name of the make and doesn't have a head collar attached to it)?  I use one with one of my dogs and the lead is long enough to clip round my waist. It's double ended and has D-rings at various points on the lead so you can use it at several different lengths.

>Ooh thanks, that might be useful, as you say with a longer lead and a harness. Just need to find the lead now.....

Indi dog also do leads in various lengths or made to order

halti training leads are the only ones I use they are soft on the hands and have so many options. you could buy two and then as suggested fasten around you waist  any length you need then
http://www.yourdogsneeds.co.uk/halti-training-lead-large-p-47.html  ignore the bit about attaching to ahalti as you can see you have loads of options including harness and your waist.

Great, that looks ideal! Thanks all. :-)

Yep I've been running with the halti lead around my waist. It's a little large so I put a few twists in it to make it a bit smaller. It's cheaper than a harness and you can decide then if running with the dog is for you before you splash out.

I would just like to add that I actually put the halti lead around my hips rather than my waist as it doesn't jar your back then. If your dog takes off suddenly or turns in a direction you weren't ready for you are less likely to damage yourself than if it is around your waist. I learnt that the hard way.

Thanks, I'll let him know that. Our dog is only a Cavalier so it's more damage to the dog I was thinking than the husband haha!