Running with you dood...

[Kim, Abby & Beckett]

Do any of you run with your doodle pup? How did you begin the process. My Abby LOVES to run, but I don't know if I could do it with her on a leash. She tends to switch sides a lot when we are walking and hasn't quite mastered the loose leash technique. I am sure that has a lot to do with her age (ah, the crazy puppy teenage phase). Suggestions?

[Karen Kramer]

We roller blade with our labradoodle Zoey....but we first had to perfect walking on a leash.  Zoey loves to run as well...and when we were teaching her to walk on a leash, she would always want to walk faster than me.  As soon as she understood that the person walking is in command, we tried roller blading and she loves it!  I would say it wasn't until about 1-1.5 years old when she finally calmed down enough and was trained well enough to begin running next to us on roller blades.  So, be patient, take the time to properly train her on a leash with no pulling--understanding basic commands like "leave it" and "stop" and then try running with her.  Good luck!  Let us know how it goes  :)    

[Kim, Abby & Beckett]

Thanks for the info. Thankfully Abby has been through AKC star puppy and AKC good canine citizen class. So when we are walking she knows leave it, stop, sit, etc. Of course, when she sees another dog or person it is difficult to get her attention right now. I think I will wait before I introduce running or roller blading into the mix... but I am definitely looking forward to it.

[Karen Kramer]

sounds like you are on the right track....You won't know if she's ready until you try....I would say get her better with "leaving" other dogs and people and then you are set.  :)  You both will love it if you can run/roller blade together  :)  Have fun!

[Amber (with Maggie)]

How old is your pup? My vet told me not to run or strenuously excersize my pup until after 1.5 years as her muscles will not have developed properly until then. Perhaps check with your vet about timing for this?

[Kim, Abby & Beckett]

I had never thought about that. Abby is 6 months old and I probably wouldn't think about starting this with her until she was at least 8 or 9 months. I am taking her to get spayed in a couple weeks and I know she isn't suppose to do a lot of running or exercising for a while after that. I will be sure to ask my vet when I go though. For right now, Abby and I just play fetch a lot. She loves running after the ball when I throw it. I even got one of those chuck-it things to make it go farther.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Yes, the dog's bones need to be fully mature....about one year for the large breeds.  Murph roller blades with our trainer, but we didn't start until he was over a year.  I would definitely check with your vet.

[Lauren & Buddy]

My vet told me the same thing - no running until they are 1.5 years old...too bad since I am a runner and cannot wait to start running with Buddy!

[Dos Doodles--Sam & Luke]

Yep the vet told me the same thing.  Sam's bones would not have matured and I think would have possibly even damaged joints (need to check that for accuracy) if he did running that was other than just the kind that happens with play.  I had to wait until he was 18 months old.  But Sam is so big, I don't take him on long runs...I really want to protect his joints.  And now I have Luke, who is about 11 months old.  So I have to wait to really take him running, but they both really really love to go!  :-)

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Yep...I'm a runner too and my vet (and breeder) said not to take the dog running until a year and a half due to bones, joints, etc. not having time to develop any earlier than that.  I am dying to run with Bexter, but I am trying to be patient.  I finally will be able to do that (with vet's permission) in October!  I would spend the time until you can run by training your puppy to walk properly on a leash.  That is what I am doing with Bexter...if he can walk well on a leash first, then he'll be able to run with me later.