Somewhat OT: Dogs and running
Beccajo2004
Posts: 29 Member
At what age would it be ok for a dog to be going longer distances with running/walking? Ive taken my German Shepherd 5+ miles and she loves it but shes 2 1/2. We have a lab puppy thats about 4 1/2 months. When would be a good time to start bringing her along? I always bring them water.
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Everything I've been told about long distance running with dogs is NOT to do it. Very bad on most breeds!
Only a few are capable of it. We're not talking about a few km's here, that won't hurt them, but unless you have a husky or some other long distance breed it's apparently very hard on them, at least jogging or running.
Walking though... I have a lab, I started taking mine out at about 6 months with no issues. Walks of any length won't bother them much though, just make sure they have access to water if it's pretty hot out.0 -
Yeah breed makes a big difference. My german shepherd likes to walk and will do a little jogging. But my husky will run ALL day if I could let her. Mostly I just walk them or take them to the dog park for exercise though which they both like.Everything I've been told about long distance running with dogs is NOT to do it. Very bad on most breeds! Only a few are capable of it. We're not talking about a few km's here, that won't hurt them, but unless you have a husky or some other long distance breed it's apparently very hard on them, at least jogging or running.
Walking though... I have a lab, I started taking mine out at about 6 months with no issues. Walks of any length won't bother them much though, just make sure they have access to water if it's pretty hot out.0 -
Limit running with a puppy until they are fully grown (1-2yrs) as the extra pressure is not good for their joints. This is the reason many dog clubs (including my local one) do not allow dogs under 18mths to do agility classes due to the jumping involved. Larger dogs need to wait longer. Train the puppy so they are use to walking correctly with you but I personally would recommend waiting to do any more than brief little runs with the puppy. Talk to your vet the next time you visit to get personalised advice for you dog. I'm sure you have with your GS but ensure you build up distance slowly so the dog builds stamina.
Have fun
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definitely ask your vet. most people here are no veterinary professionals, thus cannot give professional advice. 0
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4 1/2 months is young to run at steady pace for a dog. Generally, one year is the rule, especially for bigger dogs who have a lot of growing to do. But ask your vet, they are the experts!0
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Ha! I just bookmarked this article a little while ago:
http://www.runnersworld.com/running-with-dogs/make-your-dog-your-running-partner?cm_mmc=Facebook-_-RunnersWorld-_-Content-Training-_-HowToRunWithDog
They recommend 18 months as well.0 -
definitely ask your vet. most people here are no veterinary professionals, thus cannot give professional advice.
QFT
And to add, I've trained 4 agility dogs and we never do anything at height or strenuous until their growth plates are closed, which can only be verified with an x-ray.0 -
Everything I've been told about long distance running with dogs is NOT to do it.
^^ sounds like good advice
I don't know about specific breeds of dogs, but based on what I know about biology, humans are fairly unusual among mammals in our ability to withstand long distance running. Most mammals are sprinters and not cut out for long distance running. Humans have a mostly hairless body and we sweat over our whole body, and our running gait is particularly efficient for long distance running. It's thought that our early ancestors did persistence hunting, which is where they hunted other mammals by running after them repeatedly, tracking them down each time they got away, never letting them rest until they died of heat exhaustion - exploiting our ability to lose heat much more easily... other mammals are covered in fur and only lose much heat through their mouths (which is why dogs pant when hot).
As such you can't expect another mammal species - especially not one covered in fur that pants when hot - to be able to cope with long distance running in the way a human can... it doesn't surprise me that there'd be some variation in terms of the breed as humans have bred certain dogs as hunting dogs, but even in breeds like husky that have been bred to run long distances, bear in mind that they were bred for running in a very cold climate as a sled dog, so that needs to be kept in mind when it comes to the issue of dogs staying cool on long runs.
A vet would know far far more about this than me, I'm a jack-of-all-trades biology/evolution enthusiast who doesn't know that much about dogs specifically. But in terms of human evolution, we have a number of specific adaptations for long distance running that other mammals don't have, and we're unusual among mammals in that respect.0 -
Everything I've been told about long distance running with dogs is NOT to do it.
^^ sounds like good advice
I don't know about specific breeds of dogs, but based on what I know about biology, humans are fairly unusual among mammals in our ability to withstand long distance running. Most mammals are sprinters and not cut out for long distance running. Humans have a mostly hairless body and we sweat over our whole body, and our running gait is particularly efficient for long distance running. It's thought that our early ancestors did persistence hunting, which is where they hunted other mammals by running after them repeatedly, tracking them down each time they got away, never letting them rest until they died of heat exhaustion - exploiting our ability to lose heat much more easily... other mammals are covered in fur and only lose much heat through their mouths (which is why dogs pant when hot).
As such you can't expect another mammal species - especially not one covered in fur that pants when hot - to be able to cope with long distance running in the way a human can... it doesn't surprise me that there'd be some variation in terms of the breed as humans have bred certain dogs as hunting dogs, but even in breeds like husky that have been bred to run long distances, bear in mind that they were bred for running in a very cold climate as a sled dog, so that needs to be kept in mind when it comes to the issue of dogs staying cool on long runs.
A vet would know far far more about this than me, I'm a jack-of-all-trades biology/evolution enthusiast who doesn't know that much about dogs specifically. But in terms of human evolution, we have a number of specific adaptations for long distance running that other mammals don't have, and we're unusual among mammals in that respect.
^ This. Talk to your vet. Most dogs really aren't adapted to distance running.0 -
Don't run with them until they're at least a year old.
Build up their stamina gradually, but dont expect them to be able to run really long distances.
And always check their paws and pads carefully afterwards.0 -
I've jogged with my dog who is now 14 months since she was about 6-7 months with our vets ok. Granted I jog pretty slow (10-11 min miles ) and she's not even working hard. I never jog her more than 3 miles, but will walk her up to 5. She's very active and without a walk or jog causes more trouble. She loves it. She's a mixed unknown breed so not sure if she's made to run but loves it. She's 28 lb with long legs.0
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Everything I've been told about long distance running with dogs is NOT to do it.
^^ sounds like good advice
I don't know about specific breeds of dogs, but based on what I know about biology, humans are fairly unusual among mammals in our ability to withstand long distance running. Most mammals are sprinters and not cut out for long distance running. Humans have a mostly hairless body and we sweat over our whole body, and our running gait is particularly efficient for long distance running. It's thought that our early ancestors did persistence hunting, which is where they hunted other mammals by running after them repeatedly, tracking them down each time they got away, never letting them rest until they died of heat exhaustion - exploiting our ability to lose heat much more easily... other mammals are covered in fur and only lose much heat through their mouths (which is why dogs pant when hot).
As such you can't expect another mammal species - especially not one covered in fur that pants when hot - to be able to cope with long distance running in the way a human can... it doesn't surprise me that there'd be some variation in terms of the breed as humans have bred certain dogs as hunting dogs, but even in breeds like husky that have been bred to run long distances, bear in mind that they were bred for running in a very cold climate as a sled dog, so that needs to be kept in mind when it comes to the issue of dogs staying cool on long runs.
A vet would know far far more about this than me, I'm a jack-of-all-trades biology/evolution enthusiast who doesn't know that much about dogs specifically. But in terms of human evolution, we have a number of specific adaptations for long distance running that other mammals don't have, and we're unusual among mammals in that respect.
I love how many truly intelligent responses I get to read in these forums, and all the new and different perspectives!
You guys are the best. Love MFP! 0 -
Puppies, which your younger dog is should be walked for 5 minutes per month in age so a 4 month dog should only be doing a 20 minute walk.
However, people are talking about long distance running as if you are doing marathon training. I would think once your pup is fully grown and fit (ie you would need to build it up) she should be able to cope with your 5 mile runs easily enough.0 -
Limit running with a puppy until they are fully grown (1-2yrs) as the extra pressure is not good for their joints. This is the reason many dog clubs (including my local one) do not allow dogs under 18mths to do agility classes due to the jumping involved. Larger dogs need to wait longer. Train the puppy so they are use to walking correctly with you but I personally would recommend waiting to do any more than brief little runs with the puppy. Talk to your vet the next time you visit to get personalised advice for you dog. I'm sure you have with your GS but ensure you build up distance slowly so the dog builds stamina.
Have fun
^^ the dog should be fully grown and then it s breed dependend. Some dogs are prone to joint and hip problems. Therefore, ask you vet. Also, it depends how fast and far you run. I do a combination of running/walking when out with the dogs (Wheaten terriers) and this gives them time to rest, but then...mine seems to be running non stop and mich faster than I can...
Stef.0 -
I think this is a question that has a lot of variables...
How far do you run?
How fast do you run?
How hot is it where you are?
Does your pup have any health issues or special concerns (I might be concerned with exacerbating pre-disposed hip dysplasia in a lab.)
I would discuss all of these issues with your pup's vet and see what they think.
I run with my 2-1/2 year old pit bull, and it is great, but a) usually don't run more than 5K; b) run very slowly; c) live in AZ so it is way too hot to run now (heat stroke and burned paws from hot pavement); d) my dog doesn't have any health issues that would be exacerbated by running.
If you do decide to start running, make sure you give your pup the benefit of a walk/run interval program to get going and build his endurance.0 -
Agree with everyone on not till at least a year old. I saw a young girl jogging yesterday with a very young puppy looked like a lab ,of course he looked like it was fun and was willing but im sure she was unaware of how much potential damage she was causing.0
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Thanks everyone! I loved all the great answers. So far all Ive done with her is training walks a few blocks around working on the leash training. Stop, sit, etc. Mostly for the leash training and distractions. We do go to the dog park for exercise. My GSD has been going on runs with me but it is run/walk intervals bc I struggle to go far myself without stopping for a walk usually its about a 5k distance but I am trying to convince myself to up my distances lol. I very much appreciate everyones responses I will definitely keep my little Remi (the pup) home for the runs and give her a good walk afterwards.0
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Everything I've been told about long distance running with dogs is NOT to do it.
^^ sounds like good advice
I don't know about specific breeds of dogs, but based on what I know about biology, humans are fairly unusual among mammals in our ability to withstand long distance running. Most mammals are sprinters and not cut out for long distance running. Humans have a mostly hairless body and we sweat over our whole body, and our running gait is particularly efficient for long distance running. It's thought that our early ancestors did persistence hunting, which is where they hunted other mammals by running after them repeatedly, tracking them down each time they got away, never letting them rest until they died of heat exhaustion - exploiting our ability to lose heat much more easily... other mammals are covered in fur and only lose much heat through their mouths (which is why dogs pant when hot).
As such you can't expect another mammal species - especially not one covered in fur that pants when hot - to be able to cope with long distance running in the way a human can... it doesn't surprise me that there'd be some variation in terms of the breed as humans have bred certain dogs as hunting dogs, but even in breeds like husky that have been bred to run long distances, bear in mind that they were bred for running in a very cold climate as a sled dog, so that needs to be kept in mind when it comes to the issue of dogs staying cool on long runs.
A vet would know far far more about this than me, I'm a jack-of-all-trades biology/evolution enthusiast who doesn't know that much about dogs specifically. But in terms of human evolution, we have a number of specific adaptations for long distance running that other mammals don't have, and we're unusual among mammals in that respect.
^ This. Talk to your vet. Most dogs really aren't adapted to distance running.
This does make a lot of sense. My question is....what is defined as 'long distance running' serious question here lol. Im new to running hence the walk/run pattern.0 -
I run regularly with my fiche spaniel at 5 km. my weim is more built for longer distances, and I've done the I'd 10k with him.0
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Everything I've been told about long distance running with dogs is NOT to do it.
^^ sounds like good advice
I don't know about specific breeds of dogs, but based on what I know about biology, humans are fairly unusual among mammals in our ability to withstand long distance running. Most mammals are sprinters and not cut out for long distance running. Humans have a mostly hairless body and we sweat over our whole body, and our running gait is particularly efficient for long distance running. It's thought that our early ancestors did persistence hunting, which is where they hunted other mammals by running after them repeatedly, tracking them down each time they got away, never letting them rest until they died of heat exhaustion - exploiting our ability to lose heat much more easily... other mammals are covered in fur and only lose much heat through their mouths (which is why dogs pant when hot).
As such you can't expect another mammal species - especially not one covered in fur that pants when hot - to be able to cope with long distance running in the way a human can... it doesn't surprise me that there'd be some variation in terms of the breed as humans have bred certain dogs as hunting dogs, but even in breeds like husky that have been bred to run long distances, bear in mind that they were bred for running in a very cold climate as a sled dog, so that needs to be kept in mind when it comes to the issue of dogs staying cool on long runs.
A vet would know far far more about this than me, I'm a jack-of-all-trades biology/evolution enthusiast who doesn't know that much about dogs specifically. But in terms of human evolution, we have a number of specific adaptations for long distance running that other mammals don't have, and we're unusual among mammals in that respect.
^ This. Talk to your vet. Most dogs really aren't adapted to distance running.
This does make a lot of sense. My question is....what is defined as 'long distance running' serious question here lol. Im new to running hence the walk/run pattern.
modern hunter-gatherer tribes that practice this form of hunting generally run for several hours at a time, and at least one such tribe has a ritual where they dance for literally 24 hours straight or even longer, until they hallucinate. Humans really have a remarkable capacity for endurance......... (this of course requires a lot of training, bearing in mind that unfit sedentary humans can barely climb a staircase without getting exhausted!! but in the absence of medical issues/disability, pretty much any human can train themselves to run marathons if they have the will and determination to do so)...... but in an evolutionary context persistence hunting and adaptation to long distance running you're talking about marathons and even longer runs.
regarding what kind of distances dogs can run, AFAIK it varies by breed, and it's something you'd need to check with a vet about. And I'm sure it's also true that dogs would need to be trained and conditioned to be able to cope with longer distances, just like humans, but the maximum dogs can manage even when used to running will be limited by their biology. Other factors like climate need to be taken into account too, as a dog has a greater risk of overheating than a human. I'm not a vet and I really don't know very much about dogs specifically... just mammals generally. Most of my knowledge of biology comes from humans and closely related primate species. So a vet is the best person to advise how far each breed of dog is able to run safely, and how to build up your dog's stamina, what age they can start running, etc.0 -
I will admit up front that I am somewhat biased against the idea of people running with their dogs. I know there are exceptions to that but, from my observation, the average person doesn't use the brains they were born with, doesn't know much about the dogs they own, and doesn't know much about exercise. The combination is usually bad for the dogs.
Again, I know there are dog owners who are knowlegeable, conscientious, and thoughtful on this topic, and there are some breeds that are "born to run". But my viewpoint is colored by the far greater number of selfish, ignorant, aholes I see all the time.
At first I wasn't going to reply to this topic, but I just saw another one. I was driving home from errands and here is some dbag guy in his 20s running with a maltese--at noon on a day where it is already 80+ degrees. He was using a retractable leash (another sign you are a total dumbass), and the poor dog was trailing about 8 feet behind. His tshirt was soaked with sweat. I yelled at him out the open window, but we were probably going too fast for him hear (plus he was wearing headphones--the better to be totally out of touch with how your dog is suffering).
My position when people ask is to actively discourage them from running with their dogs at all. While that may be unfair to a few dog owners, I feel it's better in general, since most people are just too f*@king selfish and stupid to do the right thing.0 -
In that circumstance it is definitely selfish on his part. In some breeds it benefits them quite well as long as youre paying attention to your dog and its needs. My older dog is a German Shepherd. Shepherds are known to become quite destructive if they are not exercised quite extensively or given a job. I personally can't even run to the point she would be exhausted. She can outrun me any day. So it think the generalized statement is quite unfair. There are more breeds than there are not that are not suitable for running but a responsible owner knows their dogs limits. Hence why I haven't yet taken my puppy on an actual run yet. And yes I will be checking with my vet before I do. The blanket statement is just insane though really.I will admit up front that I am somewhat biased against the idea of people running with their dogs. I know there are exceptions to that but, from my observation, the average person doesn't use the brains they were born with, doesn't know much about the dogs they own, and doesn't know much about exercise. The combination is usually bad for the dogs.
Again, I know there are dog owners who are knowlegeable, conscientious, and thoughtful on this topic, and there are some breeds that are "born to run". But my viewpoint is colored by the far greater number of selfish, ignorant, aholes I see all the time.
At first I wasn't going to reply to this topic, but I just saw another one. I was driving home from errands and here is some dbag guy in his 20s running with a maltese--at noon on a day where it is already 80+ degrees. He was using a retractable leash (another sign you are a total dumbass), and the poor dog was trailing about 8 feet behind. His tshirt was soaked with sweat. I yelled at him out the open window, but we were probably going too fast for him hear (plus he was wearing headphones--the better to be totally out of touch with how your dog is suffering).
My position when people ask is to actively discourage them from running with their dogs at all. While that may be unfair to a few dog owners, I feel it's better in general, since most people are just too f*@king selfish and stupid to do the right thing.0 -
I will admit up front that I am somewhat biased against the idea of people running with their dogs. I know there are exceptions to that but, from my observation, the average person doesn't use the brains they were born with, doesn't know much about the dogs they own, and doesn't know much about exercise. The combination is usually bad for the dogs.
Again, I know there are dog owners who are knowlegeable, conscientious, and thoughtful on this topic, and there are some breeds that are "born to run". But my viewpoint is colored by the far greater number of selfish, ignorant, aholes I see all the time.
At first I wasn't going to reply to this topic, but I just saw another one. I was driving home from errands and here is some dbag guy in his 20s running with a maltese--at noon on a day where it is already 80+ degrees. He was using a retractable leash (another sign you are a total dumbass), and the poor dog was trailing about 8 feet behind. His tshirt was soaked with sweat. I yelled at him out the open window, but we were probably going too fast for him hear (plus he was wearing headphones--the better to be totally out of touch with how your dog is suffering).
My position when people ask is to actively discourage them from running with their dogs at all. While that may be unfair to a few dog owners, I feel it's better in general, since most people are just too f*@king selfish and stupid to do the right thing.
Per bolded:
Some people are irresponsible so no one should run with their dogs? I'm more about promoting knowledge and safe animal handling, not discouraging it entirely just because a few people don't act appropriately. That guy and his Maltese could benefit from good information. The more people hear about good practices, the more mainstream the knowledge can be and the more good dog owners will be made. How would the OP and all the lurkers with similar questions have benefited if everyone on these forums thought like you did?
Per OP:
You've gotten some great advice. I have a German short-hair pointer that loves to run. I walk/run 5-8 miles a day and my husband runs a few miles 3-4 times a week. Our dog winds up running/sprinting/pointing/digging/tracking/walking anywhere from 10-25 miles a day depending on how far he ranges. He's off leash and sets his own pace but I'm fortunate to live on large acreage that allows for this, along with having neighbor's permission for him to run on their property if he ranges that far. I'm only conveying this experience because of his need to cool off. I have a stock tank filled with water at the west end of our property, as do my closest neighbors to the south and I have a kiddie pool near the house. Each lap we do is about 1.5 miles and, depending on the temp, he routinely jumps in those tanks/pool to cool off and drink. This is the only reason he's able to go such distances almost every day. Having a cheap kiddie pool in your yard can really help your dog cool off at the end of a particularly hot run or to just cool off while outside at all on any hot day.
Just like others have said, it depends both on the breed, individual dog and conditioning as to how far their going to be able to run. GS, unfortunately, have a high incidence of hip dysplasia so you'd have to keep up with your vet to make sure that yours are still good to go. Their breeding line can have a big impact on this. Lines that come from Europe that haven't been bred to have the sloped back look are less likely to develop this condition (why most police and military working dogs are taken from those lines), the Americanized version suffer from it at a much larger rate.
One thing I do for my dog is messages. He gets one each night before I turn in and he gets one after walk/run I take. My husband isn't as diligent about this. I know a lot of people don't do this but, just as it's good for humans (foam rolling, general message, etc) and their muscles, it's good for your dog.
Okay, this post seems disjointed and rambley to me, I hope something useful comes from it because I just don't have it in me to rework it or delete it all together.
So I'll end with: Cheers, responsible pet owners! :drinker:0 -
Sorry for being the one to have disrupted the thread. I should have made it clear that my remarks were not directed to any individual who was posting in this topic. I let my emotions get the best of me, which is always a bad idea in a public forum.0
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Sorry for being the one to have disrupted the thread. I should have made it clear that my remarks were not directed to any individual who was posting in this topic. I let my emotions get the best of me, which is always a bad idea in a public forum.
I understand where you're coming from I really do. Small breeds just aren't cut out for it and its just cruel. It was the generalized statement of all dogs shouldn't run that got me. I would never take a chihuahua out on a 10 mile run. Thats animal cruelty. But for a conditioned husky in Alaska that has plenty of water and rest/walk breaks if needed its not. I think theres a huge difference.0 -
I think this is a question that has a lot of variables...
How far do you run?
How fast do you run?
How hot is it where you are?
Does your pup have any health issues or special concerns (I might be concerned with exacerbating pre-disposed hip dysplasia in a lab.)
I would discuss all of these issues with your pup's vet and see what they think.
I run with my 2-1/2 year old pit bull, and it is great, but a) usually don't run more than 5K; b) run very slowly; c) live in AZ so it is way too hot to run now (heat stroke and burned paws from hot pavement); d) my dog doesn't have any health issues that would be exacerbated by running.
If you do decide to start running, make sure you give your pup the benefit of a walk/run interval program to get going and build his endurance.
I missed this somehow. I am a beginner runner so I use the term loosely. We usually (my GSD and I) go around a 5K currently, wanting to try upping my distance. This is not non stop running. Its walk/run intervals. Still working on running the full thing bc well I suck at running lol. I guess I should have put more detail into this post considering my ability at running. I "run" very slowly bc of the intervals. I live in Wyoming so it doesnt get horribly hot but I still won't take them during our hottest parts of the day as it does get to around 80-85. Neither dogs have any health problems at the time. Both breeds (lab and GSD) have known hip dysplasia so I will be keeping an eye on that with my vet throughout their lives. I will most definitely be waiting until she gets older to do any running with her and when I feel like she grown Ill get xrays to confirm her growth plates are closed enough so thanks so much for the great info on this thread!
ETA: I originally asked this question bc I wanted to started bringing her along with us on our runs0 -
what about those of us with dogs that love to run and can outrun us any day? We should keep them in the house going stir crazy all day???? Runs and walks are the highlight of my dogs day.I will admit up front that I am somewhat biased against the idea of people running with their dogs. I know there are exceptions to that but, from my observation, the average person doesn't use the brains they were born with, doesn't know much about the dogs they own, and doesn't know much about exercise. The combination is usually bad for the dogs.
Again, I know there are dog owners who are knowlegeable, conscientious, and thoughtful on this topic, and there are some breeds that are "born to run". But my viewpoint is colored by the far greater number of selfish, ignorant, aholes I see all the time.
At first I wasn't going to reply to this topic, but I just saw another one. I was driving home from errands and here is some dbag guy in his 20s running with a maltese--at noon on a day where it is already 80+ degrees. He was using a retractable leash (another sign you are a total dumbass), and the poor dog was trailing about 8 feet behind. His tshirt was soaked with sweat. I yelled at him out the open window, but we were probably going too fast for him hear (plus he was wearing headphones--the better to be totally out of touch with how your dog is suffering).
My position when people ask is to actively discourage them from running with their dogs at all. While that may be unfair to a few dog owners, I feel it's better in general, since most people are just too f*@king selfish and stupid to do the right thing.0
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