With the exception of when Daughter was in a stroller, I have always trained on my own. Now generally speaking this is because I Power Walk and I don’t know anyone local that can walk my pace. Fitness walkers are slower, runners are faster, and while run/walkers may average the same pace, they travel at a different rhythm. That said, the truth is also very much influenced by the fact that walking has long been my refuge from the noise of the world. I put my headphones on and off I go, mind whirling over decisions that must be made, ideas for moving forward, problem solving, and sometimes to just be completely mindless and enjoy the scenery. I have never felt a loneliness in my solitary past time. Walking is my time for me. There is plenty of time in the rest of the day to be social.
I must admit though that for the past year I have been contemplating looking for a training partner. I see runners out together, enjoying the rhythm that they establish together, sharing the satisfaction of success at the ends of their runs, and I think, I would like this. Of course thinking I might like a training partner and actually inviting one into my life are two different things. I must be willing to sharing this time. I must be committed to maintaining the training partnership.
It is one thing to train runners and walkers and be on the course with them. I am the coach. I check in. I observe form, measure improvements, encourage through the down times, teach technique and form, and (lucky me), get to share in the big moments. But this relationship is not the same as that you have a with a training partner. With a training partner, as in coaching, there is a shared desire and goal that is worked toward together. With a training partner, as in coaching, there is a bond that helps the relationship persevere. But also with a training partner, there is an implication that I am willing to give up my me time, my one-on-one, in my head, enjoy some peace time. An implication of having a training partner is that while out training, as in coaching, I will be thinking about someone else, not just what is happening with my body and motion. That is a HUGE commitment.
And yet as I see these training partners each morning, I envy them their camaraderie. I want this companionship. So just over a week ago I made the plunge!
Husband was on the deck speaking to his sister, on the phone. I sat next to him, laptop open, suddenly in the mindset to look for my training partner. I have no idea why at that time I suddenly fixated on the search, but I did. I had no conscious thought as to what I was looking for. And I certainly had no idea that before the day was out I would have committed to this decision that would change my training and my life. Several times I shoved my laptop across to him to show him a picture. I am sure that he was a bit perplexed.
When he got off the phone I moved in for the sell. I knew it would be an easy sell. I showed picture after picture of potential training partners – faces that you could not resist. But he seemed to be resisting, but gave me an “OK, give them a call.” I could tell he was humouring me – not really expecting me to make this commitment. I sent out two emails and left one phone message. It was 11:30am. Then I headed out to the grocery store. On my return I knew that Husband on on board – the phone call had been returned and he had spoken with Lena. By 2:15pm we were on our way to a farm outside Toronto to meet a group of four girls – one of whom I knew would become my future training partner.
I am very excited to introduce to you my new training partner – Bentley. She is a Golden Doodle. Her mom is a Golden Retriever, her dad is a Standard Poodle. 
Bentley is now 9 weeks old and I am over the moon at the prospect of having her out training with me every day. I am so pleased with this decision that the work ahead does not phase me. Next year at this time, I will have a beautifully trained running and walking partner who will share my excitement at getting out the door to train.
Now the key to finding a dog that will make a good training partner is not about going to look at a litter and picking the first one that slobbers all over you. There are many steps to finding and creating a dog that will make a successful training partner and the least of them is the emotional pull you have toward a cute little face. So if you too would like to find a training partner here are some tips to help you make your selection:
1. Pick a breed. I am very familiar with the Retrievers – my favourite the Labrador Retriever and the Golden Retriever. Husband is partial to Goldens. They both have great temperaments good with adults, children, and other animals. Overall, both breeds are laid back, easy going, and strong; all keys to a good training partner.
I have also long admired the grace of the Standard Poodle. They are such a large, stately, elegant, even tempered breed and like the retriever have great muscle tone. So when looking for a dog, and not willing to invest thousands in the purebred of either breed, the less expensive cross of a retriever and a poodle seemed a good option.
2. Observe the whole litter. It is optimal to make a selection of a puppy when they are a bit older. Watch how they interact with their litter mates and how they react to human newcomers. Bentley was one of 5 girls. When we went to see her, we were lucky to have the whole litter present. One had a red ribbon indicating that she had owners already. This ribboned puppy was yappy and aggressive. She was the first to run to me. She climbed over her sisters and nipped constantly to try to get my attention. Another three puppies held their ground against her, fighting for some attention from me. Wherever I moved, these 4 puppies followed. At the back of the pen, largely disinterested in the clamour of her sisters was the largest puppy of of the litter. She had large paws, was a beautiful golden colour and calmly lay in the back, seemly oblivious to the fuss my arrival had created.
3. Select a temperment you can live with. As I played with the very social four, I watched this other puppy (who would soon be called Bentley) assessing her temperment. I knew instinctively that the yappy four had no qualities that I was looking for; they were too easily reactive to new people coming in to their space. I knew that training them to be unreactive to others when out on a training session with me would be a lot of work. Pushing the other puppies aside, I tried to get closer to the “timid” puppy (as her human family referred to her). Thing is I knew she wasn’t timid. She just didn’t over react to her environment. As I rubbed her ears, her head relaxed into my hand in pleasure. She calmly moved out of the way when her sisters became a nuisance.
I have never been partial to dogs that insist on being front and center, constantly demanding attention. And for the purpose of finding a dog to train with, this quality would create so much more work to overcome. I am very much a path of least resistance person and I didn’t want the training of a puppy to be more about controlling a personality trait rather than training a puppy to run or trot next to me.
I was sold on Bentley! She was calm and politely social at 8 weeks of age. She had large paws indicating that she would be a large, strong dog capable of handling long training days with ease. She had a pretty face. And when I held her in my arms, she nestled against my chest totally relaxed and trusting.
So Bentley came home with us and life in our household changed forever. Cat still isn’t so happy about the newest addition, but we are maintaining a comfortable space, free from the puppy, for her. As for Husband and I, a week and a half later, we are still a bit tired, but so happy with our new family member. After a few days of learning her potty rhythm, and a few sleepless nights as we introduced her to a kennel, everything seems to have quietly worked out. Bentley is now house trained, barking to go out when it is potty time. She sleeps happily in her kennel each night. AND, most importantly, Bentley is very quickly learning how to walk on her lead.
We have months of training ahead as I prepare Bentley to road train with me. I am researching techniques and tools to optimize this experience for us both. I will keep you appraised of our progress as the months pass. And this time next year, I am confident that Bentley and I will have great training days together. I am very excited that I have joined the ranks of those runners who I have been envying – the ones that are training with their dog running joyously by their side. Training days have just taken on a whole new outlook!
If you have tips to pass on from your own experiences training a dog to run or walk with you during training, I would love to hear your words of wisdom.