Dogs love to run. If running is your hobby or your passion, it makes sense to think about exercising alongside your dog. Running with a canine partner provides companionship and protection if you are nervous of being out and about alone. It’s also motivating to have a partner who is as enthusiastic as your dog will be at the prospect of exercising with her loved owner. But not every dog is an ideal running-mate.
There are some facts you should bear in mind before you set off.
1. Not a lapdog or a greyhound
Your companion should be from a breed that enjoys and can endure the sustained effort of running. Although dogs are keen to exercise, and to be with the person they love, they don’t always know what’s best for them.
Many breeds are more suited to intense bursts of exercise than going for a long distance jog. Surprising as it may seem, you may be better adapted for a 10 mile jog than your energetic hound.
Choosing the right breed means that not only are tiny lapdogs out of the question, but the famously fast greyhound is not suitable either. Greyhounds can run fantastically fast over short distances but don’t like or need long runs.
2. Only run with a dog that’s fully grown
Don’t take a very young dog on your runs with you. Young dogs love exercise and they need it too. But it takes about 18 months for your puppy’s bones to be fully grown.
If you take him for a long run before he reaches that age, you risk damaging his joints. That could be a serious problem for the over-enthusiastic young dog and his owner, leading to such painful and debilitating conditions as arthritis in later years.
So it’s your job to protect your young dog from his own joyful and loving nature. Give him time to develop fully before you start going out on long runs with him.
3. Don’t run with a dog that’s too heavy for its joints
Large and heavy dogs may experience problems with sustained running, just as much as small dogs or young dogs. Dogs as a species have been created by man to suit his tastes and needs, and some of the breeds come with inherent disadvantages.
Nature’s dog is a wolf, and the less wolfish your dog is in appearance and size, the more you may have to think about his special needs. Very large dogs look amazing, and it’s easy to appreciate their amiable, bear-like appeal. But they can be too heavy for their own joints to support on a long or even medium distance run.
So the pony-sized Newfoundland isn’t the ideal choice for someone looking for a running mate.
4. A dog that’s sociable and obedient
You need to think about your dog’s personality as well as her physical aptitudes. If your running territory is in a town, you don’t want a dog that hates or fears children or one that can’t resist running after every cat or squirrel that they see. You don’t want one that tugs on the lead every time an intriguing smell is detected.
You don’t want to be aggressively protected by a dog who sees it as her duty to keep everyone else at a safe distance, or to be herded by a dog who was bred to do just that. You need a breed that’s obedient and non-aggressive. A Labrador in her prime would be fine, or a nice-natured mutt of no particular breed.
5. The Jack Russell terrier for short runs
Think about what sort of runner you are. You don’t necessarily have to avoid smaller dogs: some of them have what it takes. If you only want to run up to about three miles, then a smaller but energetic dog may suit you.
The Jack Russell Terrier fits the bill, being strong and full of natural energy. The sturdy, compact build means that joint problems are less likely to arise than with some larger breeds. A Jack Russell should be able to handle a run of about three miles, which is plenty for a lot of casual runners.
6. A Husky for long distance runs
If you are in it for the long haul then you will need to think more carefully about getting a dog that is capable of real endurance. The breed that comes to mind immediately is the Husky.
Bred as long-distance sled dogs, there is no dog more suited to a long run, but not so much on hot summer days when they can overheat with their thick coats. Allow your Husky frequent stops to drink (every 20 minutes) and check with your vet that she is in good enough condition. Don’t run more than 40/50 miles in total during any week.
And a word of caution: huskies are pack dogs by nature and they need to know that you are the leader of the pack, so don’t get a husky unless you are comfortable with asserting your authority.
7. African all-rounder
Consider the effect of hot weather. If you live in an area with scorching summer temperatures, then that will affect your dog even more than you.
Dogs can’t regulate their temperature by sweating like you can, and they can’t take their coats off. So don’t be cruel in hot weather. And if you live somewhere hot and want to run with your dog year-round, then bear the climate in mind when you choose the breed.
You want one with a long nose to help with breathing in the heat, and a short coat to minimize overheating. Rhodesian Ridgebacks are good runners and can go decent distances. They aren’t over heat-sensitive, as witnessed in their historic job of hunting lions in Africa, and they are affectionate pets.
8. Pointers can be needy
You should ask yourself whether you have enough time to devote to a highly strung dog. Some of the breeds that have been created to meet a need for dogs to help with hunting or farming are great natural runners.
For example, Pointers possess the capacity for both endurance and speed: they can be capable of running with you for 10 miles or so. But the favourable physical traits come with a very sensitive nature. Pointers can suffer badly from separation anxiety.
A fit and active person who is able to give a Pointer enough exercise may not be able to give enough time to his emotional needs.
9. Avoid short nosed dogs
Another problem with highly bred dogs can be their facial structure. Bulldogs and Boxers look like the sort of well-built muscular dog that might be able to run well for a distance.
In fact, they do not make good running companions. They have been bred to have very short noses and that can cause them breathing difficulties, even when they are relaxing.
Any exercise makes that problem much worse, and could even prove dangerous to your Bulldog. Her problems with breathing can easily lead to over-heating if she is taken for a long run. If you want a running companion, avoid short-nosed dogs and look for those with longer faces.
10. Consider a mongrel
Left to themselves without human intervention in the breeding process, dogs would probably revert to something more like their original wolf prototype.
A good-natured dog of medium size that is not a pure breed is likely to be at least as good a general-purpose running dog as many pure breeds. Breeding dogs for specific characteristics notoriously leads to unintended effects on their general health and well-being.
Some thoroughbred dogs that are good for running, like Border Collies for example, may have other qualities that need to be taken into account. For example, they may be inclined to herding behavior, and like to snap at heels. A mongrel with just a bit of Border Collie is less likely to suffer from this trait.