| Most foot-races -- 5K races and so on -- forbid | | | | - Rescue shelters |
| dogs on the race course, just as many of them | | | | The second group of organizers can be subdivided |
| forbid baby strollers, non-registered pacers, and | | | | along these lines: |
| other non-competitors. | | | | - Charities |
| The reason given for this kind of prohibition | | | | - Child- and family-oriented groups |
| ranges from insurance limitations to legal | | | | - Dog-friendly-specific race-series organizers |
| constraints. | | | | Dog-food companies know that it is good business |
| You see, every race has an entry form that | | | | to organize dog-friendly races, as do kennels. |
| requires the entrant to hold the organizer | | | | Rescue shelters use a special emotional appeal |
| harmless in the event of a problem. Organizers | | | | when organizing dog-friendly races -- along the |
| typically see dogs, baby strollers, and the like as | | | | lines of "You love dogs. We rescue dogs. You can |
| increased risk. And they do not want to increase | | | | raise awareness for us while having a good time |
| the likelihood that a runner, walker, or spectator | | | | with your dog in our race." And this special |
| will be get hurt from, say, a dog bite or a trip | | | | emotional appeal can easily draw hundreds or |
| over a baby stroller. | | | | thousands of dog lovers to register for and |
| But you can find dog-friendly races, if you know | | | | participate in their races. |
| how to look for them. To do this, you almost | | | | Many charities have learned that they can get |
| have to put yourself into the mindset or spirit of | | | | more participants in a foot-race by allowing |
| the organizer. | | | | families with dogs and baby strollers on the |
| The trick to doing this is to think about why an | | | | course. They recognize that many families |
| organizer would hold a dog-friendly race. | | | | consider dogs as additional members of the family |
| There are two common answers to this "Why?" | | | | and that children in their races will have more fun |
| question: | | | | when their dogs participate, too. |
| | | | This is the same realization to which many child- |
| 1. The organizer is directly associated with dogs. | | | | and family-oriented groups have come, too. |
| 2. The organizer wants to make the race | | | | Finally, there are savvy race-series organizers |
| appealing to dog owners. | | | | who have identified dog lovers as an underserved |
| The first group of organizers can be subdivided | | | | niche in the racing population. |
| into these camps: | | | | So, the next time that you want to race with |
| - Dog-food companies | | | | your dog, put yourself in the spirit or mindset of |
| - Kennels | | | | the organizer when looking for a dog-friendly race. |