Hi!
JZJ here - runner, dog lover, veterinarian. Your dog is old enough to start training runs of short distances (build up to 1 to 2 miles max until a year old), unless he's a large/giant breed that needs a bit more time to mature. Try to do runs that are not on cement sidewalks, both for your joints and for his joints and footpads, and especially while he's still young. Every dog is a bit different in terms of what training methods work best. I've run with my dogs on halters and short leashes until they were trained and trustworthy enough to be off-leash (never near streets or other hazards, of course). Some people use haltis/gentle leaders which are great for basic leash training, but can prevent a dog from drinking and panting fully when hot so I don't recommend them for the actual runs. Never use choke or pinch collars, of course. Also, spool or retractable leashes are impossible to use while training. I use clicker training as an adjunct when halter-training for running. This helps to tie the rewards the dog gets to behaviors like stopping on command, heeling in response to command (usually given if the dog starts pulling), etc. Be sure to combine runs with free/play time, so that your dog gets used to the run as his "obedience time", not play time. You could start with a bit of playing or fetch to burn off a bit of his energy, then go out for a short training run after.
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running with dog
we definitely have plenty of dirt trails here in Maine, just need to find them!! Thank goodness for the internet!
