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Running with a 6 month old

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19K views 26 replies 16 participants last post by  Prism Goldens 
#1 ·
hello all,

this is my first post but i have been lurking on this site for a long time. with the help of a few threads on this forum, i found yukon goldens in millis ma where i got my amazing puppy, ryder. so first and foremost, i have to thank the wonderful people on this site for leading me to yukon because i couldn't ask for a better dog. ryder is not only stunning, but his temperament is truly "golden" in every way. i feel lucky to have him as a part of my growing family.

Anyway, I just took him on his first run and he was amazing. i've barely had to train this dog--he walks/runs on a leash like he was born to do it. he never tripped me up or tried to stop, even with other dogs passing us on the way! it was almost too good to be true! anyway, we ran a slowish 9 mm pace for only 1.5 miles before ryder started to slow down. as soon as he lagged behind me, i let him walk. i'd like to have a 5k running buddy and maybe even go up to 5 or 6 miles with him but i'm curious about a golden's hardiness for running. my puppy is very VERY calm and more a couch potato than a sporting dog. if others could give me advice on how to build up his running skills or lead me to the section of this forum, that would be great! i'm new at running with a "partner" :D

thanks all!!
 
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#3 ·
i don't want to harm his growing bones in any way!
You should not take him running on concrete until he is at least 18 months old. Repetitive movements on a leash is not good for them at this age, especially on hard surfaces. It is too hard on his joints right now. When he is older you can start building distance, but I wouldn't start off with 1.5 miles on the first go.
 
#4 ·
Most vets would tell you not to do that before they are at least a year old, as they are still doing a good bit of growing at 6 months. Also, you have to have them build up to running just like us Humans do. No more than 1/4 mile at first, and then build up from there. Running a golden is GREAT exercise for them, and I will run Tucker only occasionally, as he prefers retrieving more to running. Just go slow and build up and you may have a great running partner.
 
#6 ·
i ran at his pace and watched him for signs of getting tired. he was running just ahead of me until we hit 1.5 miles and that's when i stopped him. i also put him on the grass, next to the sidewalk so he wasn't pounding the pavement. i realize he won't run a 5k anytime soon but that's why i'm asking--to see how to get there and how old he should be before i up the mileage. i worry that he aims to please me too much and he might not show any signs of getting tired until he's REALLY tired so again, that's why i'm asking. we're home now and he's not acting overly tired so i think 1.5 was good. but maybe if people are suggesting he's too young for that, then i won't do it again until he's older. i plan to talk to my vet too, who also owns a golden puppy and is a runner too.
thanks for the advice all!
 
#7 ·
Can you trail run off leash? Then the puppy sets the pace at what they can do. I think 5k at a 9 min pace is ok if off leash on dirt trails. Hard surfaces is bad for them. You will have to work up to the 9 min pace and the 5k distance. I normally get my pup out 4 times a week for 3 to 5 miles on only dirt trails. I walk, she runs with my adult dogs the whole time. My husband trail runs 1 or 2 times a week at a 10 min pace for 3 miles (5k). She does just fine. She is totally off leash the whole time. He does occasionally have to wait for her to catch up but she's only 5 months. Oh and it's totally flat, no hills.

My point is dirt, off leash, and no hill running are the key. Are you able to have that type of running in your area? Goldens are great fun to run with. If you can mix in some swimming on the runs - all the better.
 
#8 ·
I wouldn't run with any puppy at all on any surface. I would wait until a year old at the earliest, 18 months being the best. As far as them setting the pace, they just want to keep up with you and will push themselves beyond what is healthy for them. They're just babies, they don't know any better yet. I'm ultra conservative when joints and bone issues can arise. I, personally, would never take that chance with a puppy that young.
 
#24 ·
I would agree with kwhit and with what some of the others have said. I would not run AT ALL with a puppy on any surface. Their bones and muscles need to develop more fully. You are seriously running the risk of causing your golden to develop hip issues down the road that could cripple him and make life very painful. Walking is great exercise for a puppy. A little fetch and running short distances in a fenced in area is great too. I checked out Yukon Goldens but the timing of their litter did not work for me, so I went to another MA breeder. I live in Framingham, MA and have a good sized yard. I arrange puppy play dates for Lacie with other Golden Retrievers and we have a ball. I have met some wonderful and caring golden owners and some truly awesome golden puppies. Also, Ashland State Park is a GREAT GREAT GREAT place to take your dog. My wife and I get over there as much as we can with Lacie. We have met some truly nice people and very friendly dogs there. It is great for puppy socialization.
 
#9 ·
Their bones are not fully developed until two years. I would not want any puppy I bred jogging that young. As others have said if they can run where they have the option or not is safest. Running on a leash is too much in my opinion.
 
#10 ·
The concern has nothing to do with whether he gets tired or not.

Your concern needs to be the UNSEEN damage being done to the bones, growth plates, and joints. On leash running should never be done before at least 18 months of age. Chasing a ball in the yard, or toys around the house is fine.
 
#15 ·
Thanks for the advice all. I have a call into my vet and will talk to my breeder and I'm considering all the great advice here so I can make the best choices for my wonderful dog.
I think off leash trail running will be something we consider instead--and never more than 1.5 miles until he's 18mos/2yr old. We already take long off leash walks, with retrieving and swimming incorporated so I'm sure if I jog on the trail, it won't be much different.
It's not like I went and ran my dog into the ground today or did any damage to him today! Sheesh!
 
#17 ·
I think off leash trail running will be something we consider instead--and never more than 1.5 miles until he's 18mos/2yr old. We already take long off leash walks, with retrieving and swimming incorporated so I'm sure if I jog on the trail, it won't be much different.
I still wouldn't run or jog...the off leash walking should be enough for right now. Why push it? Wait for the running until your pup's older.
 
#16 ·
"If you have ever been a serious athlete you would know the dangers of repetition."

Not sure the necessity for a comment like this. I'm running the Boston Marathon in 2013, ski competitively and played soccer for 18 years so I know all about keeping my body from injury. I'm lucky that I don't get many injuries--if any at all. So that is why I came to this site--to ask advice for running with my golden without hurting him. I got some constructive feedback, which I really appreciate. I didn't think I would get snarky comments like this though...but you never know what you'll get in an online forum...
 
#19 ·
I never implied you weren't a serious athlete....you'll have to not read between the lines. I ran division I track and cross country, and I tried often to over-run myself, often getting near 70mpw my freshmen year, when I only ran 45mpw in high school. I ended up getting injured. Many of my friends got stress fractures and shin splints. It all was from over-use from repetition. If we ran those miles, with a perfect stride and always used every muscle correctly we probably wouldn't have gotten injured. But of course no one's stride is perfect, thus you must allow your muslces to adapt to the increase in work. Puppies do not run correctly when they are growing, they often are out of proportion, and thus can be compensating for strength they don't have yet and put much more stress on their joints than they will when they are full grown. Just trying to help. Trust me, I didn't make my comment towards you, just a general sentiment.
 
#22 ·
Just sayin... Feeding my dogs like I do and exercising them like I do, I am sitting in a room with four girls with clear hips and elbows. The mom to this girls also had clear hips and elbows. If you want a dog to run with get a GSP or a Weim.....
 
#23 ·
I've got a quick question: could someone break this down for me by age? In terms of exercise schedules depending on age?

Such as 2-3 months: Play in backyard, 3-10 months: off leash walking, 10-18 months: on leash walks, 18 months + : Jogging slowly working way up (starting from 1/4 mi and working up 1/4 mi every 2 weeks).

Thanks! (I don't have a pup, but this is some good info!)
 
#25 ·
I've got a quick question: could someone break this down for me by age? In terms of exercise schedules depending on age?

Such as 2-3 months: Play in backyard, 3-10 months: off leash walking, 10-18 months: on leash walks, 18 months + : Jogging slowly working way up (starting from 1/4 mi and working up 1/4 mi every 2 weeks).

Thanks! (I don't have a pup, but this is some good info!)
There is no standard breakdown. We started walking on the leash as soon as they had all their shots. Once we knew they could honor their recall we took them trail jogging off leash. Our jog is barely a fast dog walk. They would run ahead play, sniff until we caught up and repeat. We would also play "chuck it" at the school where they would run 100 miles an hour LOL! As long as you don't slap a leash on them and make them keep up with your pace you will be fine. You also don't want to confuse them. You need to teach them to walk nicely on a leash first. If you slap it on them and run, this will confuse them when they are young.

Honestly I am more worried they will get injured during zoomies than jogging trails. JMHO. Just learn to read your dog and use common sense.
 
#26 ·
But...isn't playing catch essentially like doing 200m sprint repeats for <insert time>, non-stop? I mean, how is that effectively different than running a fair distance? If anything it would be higher impact than a steady pace with less acceleration. I get the whole thing with the dog setting its own pace, but I mean most energetic puppies will go for quite some time without deciding to stop – should we also judge this as unhealthy, since we're pushing the dog to please us by retrieving something over and over? How is this effectively different than a leash (assuming we're not physically yanking the dog along..)

Furthermore, why is developing bones necessarily a strong criterion for no intense exercise? I mean, didn't every athlete ever start becoming one when they still had "developing bones"? What's the science on that?

I'm not saying it's good, but I'm really not buying any of the reasons given for why it's not.
 
#27 ·
It's completely different. Humans run at one pace, a dog chasing a ball another. If on leash, running w human the dog is compelled to run at a pace he did not decide for longer than he chooses to. A puppy will not continue to retrieve or will not bring the ball back when the puppy is done. If you've ever seen puppies radiographs, you would realize all their parts are not connected by more than soft tissue for months. Humans' joints are fairly well formed by the time humans can run in any fashion. Dogs not so.
 
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