[gridopooh814]

Good morning everyone! I've been itching to get Holly out for some runs. We go out for a few 15-20 min walks everyday, but I wanted to start taking her for some jogs...probably about 30-40 min in the morning and evening (3 miles each time). She LOVES going out for longer walks and sometimes breaks into running and seems to enjoy it. She is turning 12 weeks tomorrow, and I didn't know if she was too young to be doing such strenuous exercise. Is it true that if you start a puppy running too young, it can impede bone development?

 

[Spencer's Mum]

I think that she is still too young. That is a lot of activite for such a young pup. I have actually heard that you shouldn't run a dog until they are 6 months to a year, depending on the actual dog.

 

[Spencer's Mum]

This site actually says 18 months.

11) EXERCISE IS EXCELLENT. A tired puppy is a GOOD puppy. Forced exercise (running, jogging, conditioning) should be left until after 18 months of age and preliminary hip and elbow exrays, but your puppy needs plenty of time to play and be active.

http://www.animalforum.com/dpuppy101.htm

 

[BeagleBabe]

Don't dogs run all the time anyway?

I wouldn't run and run with her but she has plenty of puppy energy so I would say doing a walk/run with her for 15 minutes(following her lead) would be fine.

My concern would be her having all of her shots (especially the one for Parvo) if she will be in contact with other dogs.

 

[K & G]

I agree with Spencer's Mums second post. I've always heard 18 months too. At this age, she needs total control over when to run, when to walk, and when to take a break.

 

[ristau5741]

consider your stride and the puppies stride while running, using the number of strides the pup must have for every one of yours.

so if you've got a 3 foot stide, pup has a 1 foot stride, pup is expending 3 times more energy then you use just to keep up, using simple math, that is.

yes I know body mass and many other vairables come into play here.

 

[janna]

I also agree with Spencer's mom. I have always heard the 18 month rule as well. even though they run themselves.

 

[gvschmokes]

I've thought about taking Beasley out to run with me, but she crosses in front of me so much when we walk, I'd be afraid that I would trip and we would both tak a fall.

 

[Murphys Dad]

I don't know about 18 months, but agree that you should probably wait at least until she is a year old... I want to do the same thing with Chloe. The problem now is that she is still not a "stable walker" (she keeps crossing me and pulling sometimes, not good for me at all).
I would go with waiting until she is older... 40 minute run is just too much for her.....

 

[Jennifer]

Hi,

At 12 weeks your puppy is too young for anything more strenuous than 15 minutes of walking and playing twice a day. Their bones are still soft and growing and 3 miles of jogging could do some damage. It's ok to let Holly run around freely in a closed area like your yard if you have one because they don't normally run as much as you think. They soon get tired at that age and just have short spurts of running with loads of sniffing. But forced exercise such as jogging with them on a lead is not recommended until puppy is at least 8-9 months I think.

 

[gridopooh814]

wow! i'm so glad that i posted! i didn't know that it would be at least a year. ah, well, i will have to go jogging by myself and have my short walks for holly =(

 

[Joe Johnston]

Before I injured my knee, Beagle #1, Bama, used to run with me. He was about 6 months old. The problem was, he could keep up, he just would suddenly stop to smell something and bring me to a grinding halt.

If for no other reason than that, I would never run with a Beagle again. Their focus is not the run, its the exploration. This is what Beags do when they are on the hunt.

Hope this helps :wave:

 

[Jennifer]

I agree Joe. I tried jogging with Lilly but when she stopped to sniff she almost ripped my arm out the socket. I tried jogging with her off lead because she was well trained but she would not keep up.

The best jogging companion is a breed that's a natural heeler like the Border Collie or GSD.

I hope that when Holly gets older she is a good jogging companion but you may find that it's only fun jogs rather than serious stuff that you can do with her.

Having said that there is a man I see where I live who jogs with his Beagle but I've noticed a lot of the time is spent saying "come on Berty get a move on" with a fair amount of tugging going on :hi:

 

[Spencer's Mum]

I have actually been jogging with Spencer lately and he is doing awesome. We did 8km on Sunday and he could have kept going. I am going to take him out again tonight for my run with me, I figure it's a good way to get some of his energy out.