• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Mosman Vet

Where Pets and Their Families Come First

Header Right

02 9960 2856 - 9 Canrobert Street, Mosman NSW 2088

Book an Appointment

Mobile Menu

02 9960 2856 – 9 Canrobert Street, Mosman NSW 2088

Book appointment

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Mosman Vet
    • Meet Our Team
    • Awards and Achievements
    • In The Community
    • Referral Rewards
    • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Services
    • Services at Mosman Vet
    • Annual Health Checks
    • Vaccinations
    • Microchipping & Registration
    • Worming
    • Heartworm
    • Flea Control
    • Tick Control
    • Grooming
    • Nutrition
    • Tick Alert Map
  • New Clients
  • Pet Care
    • Puppy Care
    • Kitten Care
    • Senior Pet Care
    • Pre-Operative Information
      • Before Your Pet Has Surgery
      • Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Tests
      • Intravenous Fluids During Surgery
    • Tick Alert Map
    • Chocolate Toxicity Calculator
    • Interesting Cases
    • Pet Behaviour
    • Dog Care
    • Cat Care
    • Special Offers
  • Puppy School
  • Boarding & Day Care
  • Contact Us
  • Photos
    • The Face of Mosman Vet
    • FOMV Winners Gallery
  • Search

Follow Us

  • Home
  • About Us
    • About Mosman Vet
    • Meet Our Team
    • Awards and Achievements
    • In The Community
    • Referral Rewards
    • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Services
    • Services at Mosman Vet
    • Annual Health Checks
    • Vaccinations
    • Microchipping & Registration
    • Worming
    • Heartworm
    • Flea Control
    • Tick Control
    • Grooming
    • Nutrition
    • Tick Alert Map
  • New Clients
  • Pet Care
    • Puppy Care
    • Kitten Care
    • Senior Pet Care
    • Pre-Operative Information
      • Before Your Pet Has Surgery
      • Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Tests
      • Intravenous Fluids During Surgery
    • Tick Alert Map
    • Chocolate Toxicity Calculator
    • Interesting Cases
    • Pet Behaviour
    • Dog Care
    • Cat Care
    • Special Offers
  • Puppy School
  • Boarding & Day Care
  • Contact Us
  • Photos
    • The Face of Mosman Vet
    • FOMV Winners Gallery
  • Search

The rules for running with dogs

Dr Rachele Lowe shares some tips for running with your dog.

You are here: Home / Pet Care / Dog Care / The rules for running with dogs

By Pip Coates, 20 May 2014

  • The rules for running with dogs 1
  • The rules for running with dogs 2

Running with a friend can be fun, and running with your best furry friend can be even better. Not to mention time-efficient.

Unfortunately for both of us, she is an Australian bulldog and therefore a totally useless running partner. So after my morning run, I have to take her to the dog park for her own training, if that’s what you call rumbling with Raffi, her vizsla best friend. When on a lead, she goes on strike after 1km by simply lying on the ground and refusing to budge.

I love seeing people running with their dogs, because both seem to be in an endorphin-infused state of synchronicity. But it’s not always as easy as it looks.

There’s a lot to be mindful of before your dog can achieve running buddy status, says Rachele Lowe, a runner and vet at Sydney’s Mosman Veterinary Hospital. Here are a few pointers.

Breeds

“If you really want to pound the pavements for a long-distance run, the more athletic breeds like border collies and kelpies and poodles, greyhounds and some labradors are ideal,” Lowe says.

“Some breeds have a predisposition for hip dysplasia and other genetic defects as a result of over-breeding that can be exacerbated through extensive running.

“Border collies, dalmatians, and German shepherds excel because they thrive on one-on-one time with their owners. Running gives them a task to focus on that helps to mitigate some of their anxieties and obsessive-compulsive behaviours that often arise.

“The dogs that can’t run very far are pugs, shih tzus, bulldogs – breeds that have a compromised upper respiratory tract. We call them brachycephalic breeds. They have squashed faces and a thick area in the back of their throat where the airways are compromised.

“Overweight dogs will have trouble, and short-legged breeds aren’t going to be able to run as far.

“Every dog that has basic training from puppy classes should be able to manage going for a run with you. And every dog should have basic training. If it doesn’t understand what you’re telling it, you can’t communicate with each other.”

Age

Lowe says dogs that are fit and young generally can run as far as we can run, and anything over 5km is long distance. Once a dog gets to eight years of age, they are considered senior.

“Bigger, more athletic dogs are often also prone to getting arthritis as they get older, so they will get less athletic over time. Similarly, young dogs in their rapid growth phase under 18 months should not be overworked.”

Warning signs

“If you are going to run long distances with your dog, you need to stop after 15-20 minutes and make sure it isn’t getting worn out. Signs include excessive panting and heaving to breathe, and lagging behind. Some dogs will go and go and go. I’d recommend stopping after 5km to check in and give them a drink.”

Hydration

Don’t feed your dog before you take it on a run,” Lowe says. “Afterwards they will be thirsty but if you’ve got a breed of dog that’s prone to bloat, don’t let it gulp too much water down or give it a big meal straight away because when when it lies down its stomach can twist. Give it an hour or two after strenuous exercise before you feed it. This can affect deep-chested breeds, like great danes, and standard poodles.”

When to run

Lowe says definitely don’t run with your dog between 10am and 2pm.

“If you are running on a hot day, the heat of the ground can injure their foot pads,” she says. “Give them a break by running on the grass. Mix it up. A little bit of road running keeps their nails nice and filed down.

“When running in the dark, be aware they aren’t as good with depth perception, so you might have to give them more time going down stairs, for example.”

Recovery

Lowe says it’s much better if you run with your dog regularly because it’s the same for them as it is for us: if we do nothing for a month and then run 10km, we are going to be sore the next day.

“It’s better to do the same amount on a regular basis. And remember, start slowly and work up to it,” she says. “For dogs, the signs of soreness are less obvious than they are for us humans: they just won’t be themselves; they might not get out of bed or come for their usual pat, or they might reject a meal. They just become a little less responsive.

“Some will have an obvious lameness. As they get older if there’s some underlying arthritis and you’ve suddenly taken them on a really long walk or run, the next day or two they might be really slow and might actually limp. But most of the time its more subtle, like just sitting in bed by themselves.”

How often

Lowe says it depends on how much they are running whether they need a rest, but all dogs should be out every day in their environment either walking or running, for their wellbeing.

Gear

“A short lead for control or a halter is good for dogs that pull. I’m not a big fan of choker chains. And it’s a good idea to carry a fold-up canvas water container.”

Common sense

Lowe recommends giving people right of way and plenty of space when running with your dog. “Not everyone in the community likes dogs, and when you’ve got a dog on the move that’s going quickly you need to be sure you’re in control of it all the time.”

Posted on 22 May 2014
Last updated on 11 December 2019
Tagged with: obesity, summer

 

Related pages

  • Nutrition
  • Nine Steps to Calm Your Dog in Thunder/Fireworks
  • Dogs and Thunderstorms
  • Animal obesity is a “growing” problem!
  • Keeping Your Pets Cool This Summer
Previous Post: « Doggie Community Service
Next Post: Dogs and Children »

Primary Sidebar

Latest news

Keep the Season Fun but Not too Festive for Your Furry Friends

16 December 2020

We all love to spoil our pets, especially during family celebrations like Christmas and New Year. Be warned though - so …

Leptospirosis Alert

25 August 2020

**There has been a confirmed case of Leptospirosis in Crows Nest** Mosman Vet strongly recommends that all dogs …

Dental Months at Mosman Vet

11 August 2020

At Mosman Vet, we are passionate about dental health for pets. Our aim is to raise awareness and promote prevention at …

Mosman Vet Blog

Facebook

Mosman Veterinary Hospital

Footer

Contact Us

Mosman Veterinary Hospital
9 Canrobert Street
Mosman NSW 2088
Get Directions

T 02 9960 2856
E mosmanvet@ mosmanvet.com.au

Book Online Send Us a Query

Consulting Hours

Monday - Friday8am - 8pm
Saturdays8am - 5pm
Sundays &
Public Holidays
10am - 12pm

Emergencies

!

Call us on 9960 2856 at any time for instructions.

After hours, you can call North Shore Vet Specialist & Emergency Centre on (02) 9436 4884 or Small Animal Specialist Hospital on (02) 9889 0289.

Follow Us

We Accept

© Mosman Veterinary Hospital Pty Ltd - ABN 21 122 360 436 | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Website by Provet
The brand name Mosman Vet™ is a trademark of Mosman Veterinary Hospital Pty Ltd.