Running with a Young Dog

[Ali]

I am sure I have asked this before. So far Lola and I have only been going on walks but would like to work up to running. At what age did you start running your dog? And how did you build up your distance etc. Basically, explain how you got your dog to their physical level, whether it is running or any other activity you do with your dog.

[Sandy]

I was told not to try anything like jogging until the dog was 18 months old. I believe it is hard on their joints and development to try before then.

[Jessica]

my dog is 6 months old. the breeder/vet also advised me no repetitive excessive running/walking bc of joint problems that could occur. BUT i was wondering if we started running 2 min/walk 1 for 30-40 min... do you thnk that would be ok?

[Ali]

I am not sure. I think it also depends on what size dog you have. Lola is 7 months and is done growing. I walk her for 40 to 70 minutes and maybe jog for 1 minute 2 or 3 times during the walk. I am doing this just to get her used to jogging on a leash because any time she runs right now she thinks it is a game and gets in play pose and starts jumping and sprinting. Her behavior when I jog makes me trip so I am getting her used to jogging for the time being.
What does your vet mean by repetitive exercise? Does she mean switch it up or only exercise every other day if you are going to jog with your dog?
I would suggest jog for 1 minute then walk for 5 minutes or something more along those lines then gradually increase the jogging. Try looking up how to run your first marathon or how to start running. I have found that these sites are useful to suggest good intervals to start you running. But I am going to use it for Lola.

[katherine willis]

I have an 8mo old mini doodle. I walk him very briskly 6 miles daily. When he was 6 months someone suggested that I shouldn't walk him that far so I asked my vet. He told me to watch him. If he limps, seems tired during the walk or when we get home, I should cut back. He, also, said that he worries a lot more about dogs who don't get exercised. So far, my doodle is thriving on the exercise.

Having said this, I used to be a runner and was told by my previous vet not to run my lab until he was a year old. The issue is joint problems later in life. Just like with a person, running puts more stress on a pup's joints than walking and the bone structure for a young dog is still developing. I would be conservative about running until Lola is a year.

[Ali]

Thanks for the tip! I will probably just keep working up the brisk walking. Right now we are at 4 miles, we don't do 4 miles every day, but we do at least 2.5 miles every day at a brisk pace. It seems to get the job done, but a lot of times right when we get home she gets a drinks of water and then starts getting the zoomies. I think I am going to need to start building the mileage up a lot faster. I think my problem is that I am the one that gets tired because where I walk her is very hilly.