NEW YORK, New York: So you walk your dog every day? That's great. Now it's time to take the next step - dog running!!

Dog walkers may soon be out of a job, with dog runners fast 'running' them out of business. Dog-running is not only becoming the “'in'” thing but the healthier alternative, with more and more people realizing that their dogs need more exercise than just plain walking.

What’s more, according to Dr. Monica Clare, a critical care specialist at the Los Angeles Animal Surgical and Emergency Center, “"walking your dog is fine but some dogs, especially those large or highly-active ones, need more exercise".

Statistics show people are not the only ones becoming obese - even pets are joining in the heavy bandwagon.” One company in New York, Running Paws calls itself the world’'s very first dog-running service, literally leaving dog walkers in the dust. Mind you, their rates don’t come cheap. The company has been operating since 2002 and charges between $30-$40 for a 45-minute run!

Running Paws founder Seth Chodosh said “business is good, with growth running at 20 percent per year. "At an average, we already get 150 dog running clients a week. We have 24 marathoners, all with different backgrounds doing this on a part-time basis. Some are actors, novelists, students and singers. We even have a playwright with us,”" Chodosh said.

More and more dog-running services are popping up online, offering all sorts of different services from running to giving your pets a spa-like treatment.

Josh Schermer, owner and founder of Downtown Pets and nycdogrunners.com, said that in some cases, desk-bound dog owners let their dogs to run when they can’t do it themselves. "I guess it’s their excuse for not exercising. It’s better for my dog to exercise than me. They just leave their house keys somewhere so their dog runners can pick up their pets for their daily run,”" he said.

"It’s actually a very good part-time job especially for people who have extra time at night, people who regularly run and for people who basically love dogs. Better to go running with a dog rather than alone. This way you also earn some money."

Dog runners normally make around $20 to $35 per dog per run and it’s only for only 30 to 45 minutes," Schermer said.

As a safety precaution, dog runners are only allowed a maximum of two dogs per run. According to Running Paws dog runner Roy Scranton: "“I always have to watch out for other dogs and passers-by when I run. Just imagine if I’m running on full speed down the streets of New York with a bloodhound and a Weimaraner in tow. Accidents are bound to happen if I’m not careful.”"

But not all dogs are made for running, according to Dr. Clare. “"Some breeds like Labradors, Dalmatians and even Golden Retrievers never seem to get tired. They have a lot of energy and are really made for running. But you can’t expect the same of English Bulldogs. They a’re not made for that.

"In any case, dog owners should first have their dogs checked thoroughly. They may have orthopedic problems or airway diseases, such as Laryngeal Paralysis. Dogs with bad knees, bad backs and bad hips should also not be made to run. In addition, heatstroke is always a cause for concern, especially during warm weather. Dogs can also get their paws burned especially when they are made to run on hot asphalt," she said.

Dr. Clare further warned that pet owners should only send their dogs to runners who are properly trained to monitor the condition of their canine charges. Monitoring should be done before, during and after the run.

With most 'official' dog-running services, all runners are taught to look out for signs of overheating. They should also carry enough drinking water for the dogs. “

"We take every precaution to ensure that the dogs are well taken care of. We start out runs at a very slow rate. We check the dogs’ paws before, during and after runs if they are too hot, bruised or even, burned," Chodosh said.

"We don’t want our four-legged clients to come home ready to collapse. After all, we love them even more than the owners who we rarely even see,"” he said.