Do I need to run with my dog?

You do not have to run

If you are not a runner, you do not need to become one for your dog. VCA Animal Hospitals calls walking a cornerstone of canine fitness. A high-energy dog does need something faster than a lead walk, but it can get that from fetch, swimming, play with other dogs or a run around a safe open space while you stand still. See the best exercise for dogs.

If you do run, a dog can be a wonderful partner. The rest of this article is about doing it safely.

Which dogs suit running

Athletic, medium to large breeds with a long nose are the natural runners. PetMD lists the Labrador, Vizsla, Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Weimaraner and German Shorthaired Pointer among dogs that suit it.

Which dogs do not

• Flat-faced breeds. Pugs, Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Boston Terriers struggle to cool themselves by panting. Preventive Vet says these breeds are not suited to running, especially in warm weather.
• Toy breeds. Short legs have to work very hard to keep up with a jogging person.
• Giant breeds. PetMD notes that dogs such as Great Danes and Saint Bernards are prone to joint and skeletal problems.
• Puppies. Their bones are still growing. More on that below.
• Older, overweight or unwell dogs. Ask your vet first.

When is a dog old enough to run?

Not until the growth plates, the soft areas at the ends of young bones, have closed. The sources give slightly different ages.

• The American Kennel Club says running generally is not safe for puppies and that for most breeds you should wait until about 18 months.
• PetMD says at least a year old.
• VCA says dogs reach skeletal maturity between 7 and 20 months, with small breeds maturing faster than giant ones.

As a rough guide by size, the AKC suggests small breeds are mature at about 6 to 8 months, medium breeds at 12 months, large breeds at 12 to 18 months and giant breeds at 18 to 24 months. If you are unsure, your vet can tell you when your own dog is ready. Until then, see how much exercise a puppy needs.

How to start

A dog needs to build fitness as a person does. The PDSA suggests starting with short bursts of gentle jogging during your normal walk and building up gradually.

Preventive Vet offers a more detailed plan. Begin with one minute of running followed by two minutes of walking, for about a mile in total. Then increase the distance by no more than 10% to 20% every couple of weeks.

• Warm up with a few minutes of walking, and let your dog go to the toilet first.
• Choose grass or dirt paths where you can. They are kinder to joints and paws than concrete.
• Carry water for both of you.
• Build in rest days.

Heat is the big risk

Dogs cannot sweat as we do, and a running dog heats up fast. A UK study of more than 900,000 dogs found that exercise was the trigger in 74% of heat-related illness cases. Hot cars accounted for about 5%. Flat-faced dogs were at greater risk from every trigger.

• Run early in the morning or in the evening on warm days. On hot days, do not run.
• Test the pavement with your hand. The PDSA suggests holding your palm on it for seven seconds, and VCA says ten. If it is too hot for you, it is too hot for paws.
• Know the signs of heatstroke: heavy panting, drooling, vomiting, weakness or collapse. Stop, cool your dog and call a vet at once.

Signs to stop

Watch your dog and not your watch. The AKC lists excessive panting and lagging behind you as signs to stop, and PetMD adds exhaustion and limping. The AKC also makes a point worth remembering. Dogs may run to please their owner even when they want to stop. Your dog will not tell you it has had enough, so you have to notice.

If your dog is not a runner

Plenty of dogs get all they need without ever jogging. A brisk walk, a hill, a swim or a game does the job. Read is walking enough exercise for a dog to work out whether yours wants more than a walk, and look up a daily goal in the breed exercise guides.