Running with your dog - how far?

J

JLav

Well-Known Member
Joined
7 December 2005
Messages
775
Location
Kent
Visit site
Earlier this year I got back into running again after not doing it for 12 years or so. Got to the stage where I was feeling rather old and blobby and starting to put on too much weight and I needed to do something about it before it got too out of hand so the running seemed like a good idea.

I've always had a hankering to run a marathon and so now am in training for the Brighton one next April.

I tend to run mostly on bridlepaths, byways footpaths and farmland so always take my dog with me which he loves but I just wondered how far is too far to expect him to go?

I do one long run a week which is increasing in mileage each time (just done 9 miles this morning) and will be building up to 22 miles or so in prepartion for the Marathon. This is all going to be over the Autumn and Winter so there's no issue with it being too hot and there are places on the routes where he can get drinks as we go.

These days I think lots of domestic dogs probably don't get enough exercise on a day to day basis but I don't want to do mine any harm by overdoing it.

He is a fit and healthy 4 year old Lab. He's a very athletic type of dog, not really a good example of the breed as he's 8cm over the breed standard max height and has long legs and a light body rather than being shorter and more chunky, so he looks the type to cope with covering distances fairly easily and he hasn't got an ounce of excess flesh on him at all.

He is of course building up the distances as I am so we are increasing the work load slowly but I just wondered what peoples opinions were on how far I could keep expecting him to run with me for.

Other than the long run I do 3 other days a week but much shorter distances (4/5) miles at the mo so we're not doing this every day.

Sorry it's long but really interested in everyones views.
 
Running on hard surfaces is as high impact for them as it is for us. I am a big believer in jogging/running/biking with dogs, particularly as mine are of a breed where the natural gait is a ground-covering, economical trot, indeed, it is how they were bred to move.
We have an endurance test which entails 12 miles on a bike at a steady pace with two rest stops so I think what you are doing now sounds fine for a mature, developed, fit dog of his breed.

If you were really worried about impact you could get his hips and elbows x-rayed before lengthening your times/distances (we have to do this before competing as slamming into A-frames/jumping 1m hurdles/running 12 miles on a hard surface could do real damage to a dog with bad joints) but if he seems to be coping I'd carry on doing what you're doing.
 
I'm really interested in this too. I have just got back into off road running and have been taking my 14month old long legged parsons jack russell with me. We did 8 miles yesterday, our longest yet and go out 2-3 times per week with one long run and the others at 3-5 miles. She loves it but I do wonder if I'm doing too much
 
To add, I would not run/jog/bike with a large breed dog until 12 months at minimum, 18-24 months preferably as they will not be fully mature. JMO and I have seen/heard of some scary x-rays which have made me think that way.
 
I run with my 2 and they love it (trip me up a lot too :rolleyes:) I think for the type and age of your chap, he'll cope fine with those distances.

I alternate between running and walking as i've an old knee injury that i'm trying to be careful on. We probably cover around 10-12 miles per day but only 1/3 of that would be faster than a walk.

Good luck for your marathon training! :)

The most beneficial thing about running with your dog, is a tired, happy heap at the end of the day :D
 
Thanks for the replies.

He definitely loves the exercise and copes with it better than me!!! He looks like he would happily keep going when I'm more than ready to stop. Having said that though now he is curled up on his bed fast asleep!

I'm not on the road much but mainly on trails etc a) because I just prefer running on scenic off road routes and b) to minimise the impact on my joints which are probably in a much worse state then the dogs!

I will have to start doing some more roadwork at some point as the race itself is on tarmac so I need to acclimatise but I won't be doing the long runs on the hard going.

I will continue to take him with me for the forseeable future and see how he's coping and enjoying it once the distances increase.
 
My big lurcher has only just retired from coming out hacking with me at 9 years old, I have always let him decide whether he wants to come or not and he has just lost interest over the last few months (probably because he is getting a bit arthritic) At one point I was working as a hunt groom and at first he would come out for one lot (walking and trotting for an hour off and on road) then crash out in the rug room but after a while he wanted to come out with the second lot too and by the end of the season he was out for all 3 lots.

Clearly he is a very brainy boy who takes his fitness training seriously lol but I reckon he was doing up to 15 miles per day routewise but covering half as much again checking out scents and doubling back when he got too far ahead. The only thing I would say is I wish I had started Oscar on a joint supplement earlier because I think that may have slowed the onset of the arthritis.
 
As mentioned dogs (some breeds more than others) are made for this, any healthy dog (without a deformed snout):rolleyes: should beable to out run a human with ease, as long as (CC suggests) you are not constantly pounding hard surfaces, I would also feed him the best diet you can afford to aid his body and better quality fuel to burn and add some extra oils for the joints.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top