Recommended age for running

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

I searched through the older posts and I have seen many age recommendations for when my doodle should be allowed to run two miles and I see a lot of different ages. I'm curious how old your doodle was when you had her run. My Charley is just shy of one year, and boy does she love to run. As I'm walking her she is trying so hard to pick up my pace and get me to jog and when I finally do, she just settles in and loves it. I have only jogged one mile with her so far and I've only done that about 3 times, but my son wants to run 2 miles with her and I want to make sure I'm not putting Charley in harms way.

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

You will see a lot of different ages and my best guess is because there isn't really a set time. Several vets have said to wait at least a year, some 18 months. I agreed with waiting until they stopped growing, and when it wasn't a too hot time of year and always carried lots of water for them. I started both of mine around one year old. Their weight and height had stabilized for a few months by then. One hated it and one was born to run like you describe Charley.
My advice would be to start slow and low mileage, build slowly like when you were a beginner runner and see how he does. I have not seen any ill affects of having had them run at that age and they are 3 and 4.7 yrs old now.

[Lori, Quincy & Frankie]

I agree with Sue- that is also what my vet told us, and her advice seems sound.  

We have not run Quincy-my DH is the runner and he has an injury that prevents him right now.  Plus it has been too hot!  

Good luck with your boy!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

I would consider the dog, not the age. Was this pup from parents who were genetically hip and knee tested? What age was the pup neutered? Neutering at an early age has an effect on the bones.
Some dogs mature faster than others. Spud, who I thought was grown, at 2.5 really filled in his weight and muscle tone.
My personal opinion is 2

[Bonnie and Kona]

I think it depends if she is on a leash. At one year she can run with you if she is off-leash and you are in a fenced area running a track. That way she can stop when she wants to and rest while you continue. A year-old pup needs to be running... but at her own pace.  

[Adina P]

It's all about the closing of the growth plates, right?  I've only seen 18 months listed for large breed dogs like standard sized doodles.  It's not the running itself, pups do that constantly, but the continuousness of the running.  When dogs play and run they do sprints and stop a lot. 

[Wendy and Myla]

This is funny because we just took Myla in for her shots and I asked our vet if we could take Myla biking with us and if it would hurt her joints and how far could she go.  Myla is an F-1 and 16 months old.  She checked Myla over and said she was very muscular (Myla loves going for walks and did a lot of snowshoeing this past winter) and that she was full grown and that running (in a trot) was one of the best forms of exercise for a dog because it is uniform.  She told us that Myla would let us know when she's had enough but that they can go for a long time.  I asked how far approx. as when we're biking, we have to go back also and she figured that she could do 15km quite easily now (but not all at once) and to go from there.  She advised us not to do uphill and downhill at first, just do a level bike ride and not to let her gallop.  She also told us that playing fetch with a dog hurts the joints way more than a continuous trot as they stop suddenly and turn around suddenly.  It was interesting. We did take Myla biking with us last week - we went on an old railroad bed along a river so we stopped frequently for swims, had a picnic and returned.  It was around 15 km that she did and she was fine!  She never lagged behind and we did a lot of "leave it" commands as there were lots of marmots on the trail - we were proud of the way she listened.  She did sleep for the rest of the evening though!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Wendy~ :LIKE!

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I am a runner and I was very interested in this also and did some research about it.  Is your doodle a standard or mini?  The bigger the dog, the longer you should wait based on growth plates closing.  I have heard anywhere from 18 months to two years.  I wanted to play it safe, so I wanted to wait two years.  Since you are already running with her a little, I would keep it to just what you are doing for now and very slowly and gradually increase it.  However, make sure that there is water available maybe during a break on the run.  Also, I would consider the surface.  For example, if you are running on the road, will she be on the road or in the grass or sidewalk?  Since it is summer, I would make sure the surface is not too hot for her paw pads.  It is great that she shows such an interest!  You will enjoy that running companionship for years to come!  Have fun and happy trails!