Do your doodles jog/run with you?

[Lindsay n Archie]

So, I am not a runner by any means, but since I am getting married I decided its time get get up and do something! I have read that large dogs should not run until they are fullly grown due to their hips, bones, etc. 

 

Archie is 8 months, about 58 lbs, so he does have some more growing to do. I "ran" with him this morning, it was nice and cool, and it was more of a fast trot/walk/jog/walk. But he did great! Totally was not out of breathe or anything (as I was sweting like crazy and out of breathe!) And we went for about almost a mile and a half.

 

Quesion- Do any of you run with your dogs?  Do you think its ok if I am "running" with the pup even if he is not fullly grown? Ive asked te vet about it, and he says its totallly fine- but Im not sure! At most I would go 2 miles, so I think the problem is for long distances (5 miles or more)? Any thoughts?

 

Thanks!

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Well heck no I don't run - lol - but dh runs with Stuart.  Started when he was 1 and gradually added miles.  Stuart is a maniac and has run over 8 miles, ran a couple of races - the win was the "finish".  If you take it slow and don't over do you and Archie should have a great time - BUT he may get used to it and if you decide it isn't your cup of tea - Archie may have other ideas.

[Sara Blitman]

I actually asked this question to my vet today. He said that a run on the sand at the beach, or on grass is fine for a puppy. In his opinion, it is running on pavement that will do the damage. I thought that was interesting, though I'm not sure if you have access to run on the beach.

[Wendy and Myla]

Our vet had told us to wait with running with Myla until she was one year old and then she would evaluate her.  We took her in for shots at 15 months and she said that Myla's growth plates were complete and she could start running - we wanted to take her biking and asked how far we could take her and she told us that she should be able to do 15km (we live in Canada!) easily as long as it was level, no uphill or downhill and at a steady trot.  She said that trotting was the best exercise because every movement is consistent.  What I found interesting is that she said that running was way better than playing fetch because the constant stopping and turning around was way harder on  their joints. I knew that Myla would be able to do a long walk/run as far as stamina but I didn't want to risk having problems later in life with her joints.  We did take Myla biking and she loved it (we knew she would) and did the 15km no problem but we didn't go any further with her and will gradually increase the distance. 

[Lynda Kamrath]

Our dogs are not young (3 years and 7 years) but they have been walking and running with our bikes their entire lives.  We don't usually run, but they do.  Sometimes I take the dogs for a walk while my husband rides his bike up to where we are walking and then he rides to the top of the hill and the dogs run with him.  Other times, we take them on the BTL (bike tow leash) and they run along side us while we are riding our bikes.  Take a look at my photos and you can see the BTL.  I'm sure the dog can run as far as you can and basically it is finding an area that is safe enough for them to be running with you.

[Chelsie]

I am by no means a runner either, but Sam and I just started and we are loving it! Sam is 15 months old and my vet said all should be fine...just to start out slow and gradually increase the distance, but lets be honest Sam can go longer than me! We have access to an amazing beach and run there too! I

[Hailey and Oliver]

  When I try to run with Oliver, he looks at me for a second and stops, as to say, "were running? Sweet!" and then he takes off running faster than i ever will be able too. By this point he's dragging me along and my legs feel like jello.  So we gave up running and decided to stick to regular walks instead...  but we always play fetch for at least 20 min every day.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Jack used to "run" 5 K's with me several days a week after he was a year old.... When I say run I was doing about 12-14 minute miles so some people don't consider that running, but to Jack that was running he is little.

Now I am on a scooter for his walks and that sucker hauls it.... We are now doing about 2-3 miles a day... throughout the day and Jack is running by his choice  a good portion of the way... one of the walks he stops and smells and pees on everything but his nighttime walk.. He just gets out there and goes and I keep up with him as fast as I can... he sets the pace. but he is hauling it.

he needed to lose weight and he has lost it all now and back to a good weight.. but for us running, walking fast and changing my bad habit of treating him all the time has done wonders.... I don't know about bigger dogs and when it is safe to run though

[Seamus & Haidee]

Seamus loves to take long walks and runs but I was told by his breeder to not take him for runs/jogs until he was 18 months old and my vet agreed.  In the the dog park and on the beach, he loves to sprint and go all out but then he usually plops down and is wiped out. So I guess everything in moderation and slowly work your way up to higher distances.

[Kyle, Maggie & Jack]

I am a runner, but go solo so far (on the treadmill before work). If I were able to run at a reasonable hour, I would certainly take her with me. As a result, I put her on the treadmill so that she can get her excersize. She loves it! In the spring and summer, we take her with us on bike rides. Loves that too! I waited until she was a year old to do both.

[Breanna]

I love to run, but I am no marathon runner. In the summer I can run a mile and a half in about 9 minutes. In the winter I can go 3 miles. I was told by my breeder no running until she is 18 months!!! He said that as long as it is not far or fast it should be okay. When you look at full grown dogs with a jogger, they are often just fast walking alongside. For now I drive to my parent's house and take my family dogs running. I look forward to when I can take Crush running with me. 

[Sherri & Marabelle (Bear)]

Funny you mention this, I go for very long brisk walks and was wondering how far my new pup (10 months old) can walk now with me. So I did some research.

I found one statement about the best breeds for runners is the Standard Poodle for long distance and the Golden Retriever for most obedient...so that was good news. But almost everything I read stated it was hard on the joints among other things and to wait until they are fully grown (about 10-12 months) and then gently ease into it. I'm reading the larger dogs it could be 18 months. 

I wouldn't run with my dog yet, mostly because things could get out of control easily with her weight of 60lbs. and the tons of squirrels and lizards we have running across our pathway. 

[Megan]

I plan on trying in the next few weeks as my kids return to school and I need my jog. My doodle is three and I don't think she's been exposed to jogging as she was a breeding dog.