Jogging (at a snail's pace) with my 8 mo old pup?

[ollie_leyna]

Hi guys,

My pup is 8 months old now, and I was looking for opinions on taking him jogging with me. I am a very slow jogger, even more so now, since I haven't been out in months--I'd probably be at like a 9 min mile pace. I was thinking I wouldn't go more than 3 miles with him, but I wondered what you guys thought.

I am super paranoid about HD problems, so he gets walks every day, and he only gets free reign to run once a week at the most (when we visit my parents--they actually have a yard where he can run).

Is jogging with him a bad idea? Again, he'd be at a trot, not a full out run, but I want to make sure it wouldn't be bad for his hips.

Thanks for your input!

[Msmart]

I'm no expert by any means however that is about the age I started jogging with my pup. I'm the same as you snails pace. I would keep an eye on my dog and we always be at trot never more. He enjoyed it a lot but I never went more than 2 miles. I would work him up to a 3 mile distance.

[meldleistikow]

I think a couple miles would be fine at that age. I always waited till my dogs were about 18 months before I started doing anything more than 2-3 miles of jogging (3-4 days a week). I think a dog will do more than that on there own just playing in the backyard.

By the way, pretty sure that a 9 min. mile is not a snails pace . You would kick my butt

[PaddyD]

I agree with the above. Also agree with the 9 minute pace not being snail's pace (for some of us). Actually, I think that a 9 minute pace is ideal for GSDs. That is the pace I jog at (for me that is an all-out sprint) .... and my dog is very comfortable with it. Back when I was actually a runner, my GSDs could not keep up with me for very long. So, 8,9,10 minute pace is good for a long distance once your dog is phased into it.

[Wild Wolf]

The problem lies in prolonged, forced exercise. Damage can be done because those joints and bones are still growing. I would not exercise an eight month old pup like that.

[PaddyD]

Originally Posted by Wild Wolf

The problem lies in prolonged, forced exercise. Damage can be done because those joints and bones are still growing. I would not exercise an eight month old pup like that.

I agree. I should have said in my post to phase your dog in very slowly. I was very conservative with my dog. I also used the amount of tongue hanging out and even if there was a little I would stop.

[RocketDog]

I'm a runner, have been for looooong time. I have run (he trots) with him on our walks, up to a quarter mile at a time, sometimes a couple times a walk. He has done one half mile constant twice. I actually agree with wild wolf--trail running where he can be off leash is different, but repetitive on-the-road is another animal altogether. I would work him up much more slowly, if it were me. That's what I'm doing.

I figure by spring, we can start some trail running of a couple miles, and then move a bit to the roads. He'll be a year in June (he's 7+ months right now). BTW, we run at about the same--8-9 mins for my regular runs.