Have you ever thought about taking your dog jogging? With an active four-legged friend, you can motivate yourself to run. However, you should consider a few things so that jogging is fun for you and your dog and is good for you because not every breed of dog is the ideal running partner. We have summarized everything you need to know about jogging with a dog.
Health, age & physique – is my dog suitable for jogging?
Not every dog enjoys playing sports together with its master or has the right physical requirements. The top requirement for jogging with a dog is that the dog is physically healthy and has no joint or heart problems. Other complaints should also be ruled out before such a running training session.
Caution is also required with puppies: muscles and bones are not yet stable enough in puppies to withstand the increased stress during jogging. You should therefore definitely wait until your four-legged friend is fully grown.
Now we come to the breeds: Not all breeds are equally suitable as running partners. While dogs that like to exercise, such as the Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Golden Retriever, or Jack Russell Terrier naturally have a lot of fun with sports, the Pug, the Dachshund, and Saint Bernard are typically not long-distance runners. Breeds with very short noses often have trouble breathing on long runs, while dachshunds can experience spinal damage. Joint disease should be ruled out for large dog breeds before jogging, as large dogs are particularly prone to HD, ED, and osteoarthritis.
How long can I jog with a dog?
This depends on the breed, age, and health of the dog. Also from the weather and the temperatures.
Dogs that are or are not suitable for jogging
Dogs that are good for jogging and dogs that probably don’t enjoy it as much:
Dog breeds that naturally love to run include:
- Siberian husky
- German shepherd dog
- Australian Shepherd
- Border collie
- Sheltie
- Greyhounds
- Dalmatian
- Poodle
- Jack Russell Terrier
- German shorthaired pointer
- Weimaraner
- Hungarian pointers
Dog breeds that are not suitable for jogging are, for example:
- Pug
- French bulldogs
- Bulldogs
- Boxer
- Saint Bernard
- Shih Tzus
- Corgi
- Dachshund
Before running – what should my dog ​​be able to do?
Even if you should avoid demanding runs when you are a puppy, you can get your young dog used to trotting next to you. During your walk, you can start jogging for short sections in between. Once your dog has learned to walk alongside you, the sections can be slowly lengthened.
Important: Before you set off with your four-legged friend for his first jog, he should know the basic commands and follow them safely. Good leash guidance and composure are very important for your joint jogging round. Otherwise, such a run can cause a lot of stress for you if the dog runs in front of you or does not obey you while you are out of breath from running.
If you let your dog run off a leash, it should be available at all times and be able to withstand stimuli such as other dogs, other people, or wild animals. Good preparation and obedience training can make a lot of things easier for you later while jogging.
While running – what do I have to pay attention to?
If you haven’t taken your dog for a run before, you should start with small laps. In this way, your dog can slowly build up condition and does not lose the fun of jogging together. Especially at the beginning you should put your sporting ambitions on the back burner and be considerate of your furry friend.
Furthermore, you should never walk your dog immediately after eating. This applies to your faithful companion as well as to you. Excessive exercise with a full stomach can cause life-threatening stomach torsion in dogs. Treats should also be given sparingly or not at all during your run.
If possible, you could schedule a few short breaks during your run together. Dogs are used to sniffing everything from normal walks. For this purpose, you could schedule a few short breaks that you can use for stretching exercises, for example. In addition, your dog should be able to be supplied with water in between on longer distances.
Since dogs cope much worse with the heat than us humans, you should make sure to run in the shade when the temperatures are warmer in summer or to use the cooler morning or evening hours for jogging. Running in the blazing sun can cause heatstroke, so avoid it at all costs.
At what age can I jog with my dog?
You should not start jogging together before the dog is fully grown and its bone structure is stable. You can start slow, short jogging training at around the age of one.
When can I go jogging with my dog?
Before your dog can go jogging with you, it must of course be fully grown. To ensure that your four-legged friend does not develop any health problems and that your dog does not suffer any permanent damage from running, its skeleton must be fully grown and its bones strong. After about a year your dog can then slowly start jogging with you. Puppies and young dogs are not suitable jogging partners because they are still too young. Even dogs can’t run long distances from the start. It is therefore advisable to start with short and leisurely running sessions.
If your dog has a few kilos too much on its ribs, the weight should be reduced first. The circulation, bones, and joints can otherwise be overloaded. This can lead to serious health problems and result in expensive vet and/or physical therapy bills.
If you have an older dog, you also need to be considerate of the senior’s needs. Long distances, fast running, or high temperatures are much more stressful for an older dog and must be avoided.
How long can I jog with my dog?
As a responsible dog owner, you should always keep a watchful eye on your four-legged running partner when jogging with your dog. Not only his health but also the external circumstances are decisive, whether and how long you should jog with the dog. Every dog ​​has its individual physique, which must be taken into account in order not to damage its health. A preliminary check at the vet should therefore be mandatory for anyone who wants to take their dog jogging.
Dogs can hardly sweat and are not able to cool themselves sufficiently. You should therefore already do without the dog at your side when jogging at 20 degrees. It is better to go running together in the early morning hours or late in the evening in summer. It is not uncommon for dogs to suffer heatstroke because their cardiovascular system fails when exposed to stress in the heat.
How can I learn to jog with a dog?
More and more personal and fitness trainers are also offering running training with dogs.
Jogging with a dog – A step-by-step guide
A brief summary of the most important steps to be able to enjoy a nice and relaxed jog with your dog:
- The four-legged running partner should be at least one year old and healthy.
- Basic Commands should be 100% solid.
- Other joggers, skaters, walkers, prams, cars, or cyclists leave him cold.
- A running harness for the dog with an elastic leash attached to your waist belt.
- For the darkness reflectors for you and your dog.
- Take fresh, cool water with you on the go.
- Choose a run with as few distractions as possible and on soft ground.
- You adapt your running speed to the natural pace of your dog – not the other way around.
- Take breaks while jogging so your dog can catch his breath and have time to unwind.
- Cooldown: Slowly slow down after the jog and do not stop abruptly.
- After every jog, check your dog’s paws and treat them with balm.
How can I protect my dog’s paws?
Dogs are toe walkers and their paws are very sensitive. You should therefore pay attention to a paw-friendly and soft surface when jogging. Forest and sandy paths are particularly suitable. Not only the paws, but also the joints of your dog are less stressed on these soft surfaces. Asphalt and gravel, on the other hand, put a lot of strain on your dog’s paws and joints.
In summer, before you and your dog want to start walking, you should feel the temperature of the ground with the palm of your hand. One is sometimes surprised at how uncomfortably warm or even hot it can be there late in the evening. Asphalt or stone slabs in particular can heat up extremely and even burn your dog’s paws. Ice, snow, and salt also take their toll on their paws in winter.
After every jog, you should check the paws for injuries such as cuts or stones. You can do something good for your dog’s paws with paw balm from the pet shop or with milking fat from the drugstore. Massaged in regularly, they remain soft and elastic. Regularly massaging the toes can also prevent osteoarthritis in the paws. Basically, you should include the paws in the regular care program for your dog anyway.
Dog shoes or paw protectors are a good thing to protect sensitive dog paws from ice, salt, or hot surfaces during normal walks. But do they make sense for jogging? We tend not to think. Sometimes it’s just better to run a lap without your animal companion instead of mistreating him unnecessarily.
Is Jogging Good for Dogs?
There is no blanket answer to that. It always depends on the individual dog. A health check at the vet should always be done beforehand.
An overview of tips for jogging with a dog
- Clarify whether the dog is suitable as a running partner at all.
- Hire a running coach who specializes in jogging with dogs.
- Build up the running training slowly.
- Don’t overwhelm the dog and give him the opportunity to relax.
- Wait at least two hours after eating before going jogging.
- Make sure it’s not over 20 degrees when jogging.
- Choose a soft surface for running.
- Check if the floor is too hot for the sensitive paws.
- Always have enough fresh, cold water for the dog.
- Check and care for your paws after jogging.
