Dog Forum banner

Jogging with the pups

1.2K views 7 replies 7 participants last post by  patronizingrabbits  
#1 ·
So over the last month my girlfriend and I have been taking the dogs on a 1 mile jog every night. I know its good for us and the route that I found for us is only a quarter mile of sidewalk (and both dogs prefer to run in the grass along that stretch anyway). I don't think our routine is going to adversely affect (effect? i never remember which is right :( ) there joints or growth but I wanted to pose the question to DF and get some other opinions.

Sully is 8 months 60 lbs and Boo is 5 months 57 lbs.

I've noticed that both seem to sleep better and are more calm at night even though they both run around like speed freaks in the backyard throughout the day. (They have unfettered access to the yard all day) They did this before and after we started jogging regularly.

All opinions are appreciated!
 
#2 ·
Exercise is a great for dogs it is not only physically strenuous but it is mentally stimulating as well. It will make for tired happy puppies. As long as your monitoring their feet and the pads of their feet you should not have any problems with them.
 
#4 ·
I'd be careful to watch them and take breaks at the first sign of fatigue...any little thing would deserve a quick walk break due to their age, but I'm a bit paranoid. You could always call your vet and ask, too, they normally take questions like that via phone and are fine. If it's mostly on grass as you say I would guess it's fine.
 
#5 ·
It's probably fine, especially since it's mostly on grass. I would be a bit more careful with Boo though just because we know she's going to be on the large to giant side given her current size. Her growth plates are going to closer more slowly than Sully's and her already large size means more stress on her joints.
 
#7 ·
Thanks for all the responses, my major concern is the impact on their joints and bones and I actually got on mapmyrun to figure out the route that had the least amount of concrete and I figured out if I walk that first .25 mile I can make the entire jog on grass which makes me feel better.

I'll just think of it as a warm up and cool down :)