good running dog?

Labs are great runners and very "people friendly" They tend to have "puppy energy" for a good 3-4 years before they settle down. Consider adopting from your local animal control. You'll get lots of running in with a dog!

I've got a lab, and they're most definitely the nicest people friendly dogs. He loves going for walks and running with me!

If you want a really good running dog, may I suggest a Siberian Husky? The only thing with these dogs is they're very very very active and they need constant regular exercise otherwise they become very destructive.

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Be careful about large breed dogs & running. My lab ended up with hip dysplacia (sp?) and now it's so bad she can't walk without being on meds. It's a hereditary thing very common in labs & boxers, as well as some other large breeds. I used to take her running 4 to 5 days a week though, and she loved it. If you're really going to stick with running though I say Weimeriner or Bird dogs or Vislas. Just know that if you get a dog who needs to run, they usually need lots of attention & can be ill-bahaved if they don't get their regular runs in. (Digging, chewing stuff up, etc.) You might consider a retired Greyhound. They like to run one time, then are pretty happy lazing around the rest of the day. They're very fast though.

Just make sure you're not running the dog too early at risk of structural damage, growing puppies with growing bones need time before they can go on extended runs! Look up athletic breeds if you want a running partner, but be sure you're going to keep up with running with them or else they'll be miserable without the exercise.

Pumpkin has a good point. It's best to wait until a puppy grows up before you start them on your running program. Until their growth plates close, generally between twelve and eighteen months, you risk some pretty serious damage to your growing puppies joints. If you go to a breed rescue or shelter you can adopt a dog and have it examined for hip and elbow dysplasia.

Some large breeds have very low incidence of hip and elbow dysplasia, other have very high risk. You can go to OFA and check the statistics. The general good health of Belgians was one of the reasons I went with that breed.

Oh yeah, and as for pulling, try canicross! You wear a hip belt, harness your dog, and let them tow you. No fighting over pulling since it's actually part of the game. My boy and I ran our first race last week. My goal was 25 minutes for the very hilly 2.5 mile course. My dog was so amped to run that we did it in 19 minutes. Not exactly front of the pack, but much better than I'd dared to hope. Plus we lapped everyone sitting on their *kitten* at home.

Any big dogs would do. My white german shepherd/husky mix can run with my bicycle.
My little maltese would run too and he is so fast except he can't handle the summer heat and can't run for a long time.

Try a hungarian vizsla - tons of energy and oh so cute!!!

If your neighbors don't have enough money to buy or adopt a dog, they don't have enough money to KEEP a dog. I just had to pay $1300 to get my dog's TOOTH removed. I pay $40 a month vet insurance and $90 a month food, not to mention routine vet care, vaccines, heartworm preventative, training classes, treats, toys ... Do your neighbors know the full cost of getting a dog--for that matter, do you? Especially one which may have any one of the dozens of medical conditions bulldogs are known for, which may grow up to be aggressive and require special medication/behavior modification (which gets freakin' expensive for the good stuff let me tell you) to adapt him to society?

Are you prepared to find homes for 5 puppies because your neighbor may or may not be able and willing to keep a puppy, and then take them back without question no matter what their health or behavior status is, for the rest of their life? Are you prepared to get your dog tested for congenital defects--which I find hard to believe you've done, considering your puppy is still a puppy? Or are you counting on the dame's owner (if you can find one) to do all the work?


As for a running dog, if you think you have enough time and energy to care for two, I would strongly suggest adopting an older dog as well (and I would suggest lighter dogs over heavier ones, so get a dobe rather than a rottie). If you buy a large-breed puppy you shouldn't run him for at least a year and a half. If you find you absolutely cannot possibly buy a mixed-breed, their are breed-specific rescues all over the USA.

shirt = short! :-)