When is it safe for your young dog to start running with you? For most dogs turning a year old is the magic number. It really makes my mom sad when we see people out jogging with young puppies because we know about the damage that can happen with pups who run too early in life.
A young dog has so much energy!
It’s true. Young dogs are full of energy, but they also expend a lot of energy growing and learning. Small humans also have a lot of energy, but they don’t go out jogging with their parents unless they are riding in a stroller! There are many ways to keep your puppy’s energy in check without taking them for runs or long walks. Play with toys, attend puppy playgroups, mental stimulation games, and classes specifically for puppies are the safest ways to burn off some of that boundless energy.
Why are growth plates so important?
Age four to eight months is a critical time in puppy growth, because of their growth plates. Growth plates are are easily injured and have the potential to fracture because they are the last portion of the bone to harden. Injuries to the puppy’s legs during this time may cause permanent damage and the potential for deformity. Growth plates are soft areas of developing cartilage tissue found by the ends of a puppy’s long bones. When a puppy is born, the growth plates are mainly made of cartilage, but as a puppy grows and matures, the cartilage calcifies and turns into denser bone. As the growth plates close, they turn into hard, solid bone.
When can a young dog start running?
It is not easy to wait to run with a young energetic puppy, but it is the responsible thing to do. The general rule of thumb is to wait until a puppy turns one. Some breeds have growth plates that close sooner, some later, so please check with your veterinarian before running with your young dog. My sisters and I all waited until we were about a year old to start our running careers. Madison just started her running career with Mom and Bailie a week after turning one.
Remember to start slowly!
Now you have the okay to start running with your pup, but remember, they are not machines! Just as humans start slow, dogs need to work into longer runs. Start running short distances, or do run/walk drills. Slowly work your way up to the mileage you want to be running. Remember to take your dog’s size and breed into account. A Yorkie isn’t cut out for marathon training, but a Lab might be. Know your dog or ask your veterinarian for advice on distance!
Use the proper gear!
As a human, you most likely have running shoes, running clothes, etc. Your dog also needs proper running gear. Unless your dog is an awesome loose leash type, always run with a harness. Pulling and tugging on a collar can cause serious damage to a dog’s neck. Watch out for hot surfaces in the summer, and ice balls between the paw pads in the winter. Dog boots may be necessary. Try running hands free, you and your dog will love it. Even the biggest pullers run reasonably as your core puts the brakes on pulling. Your core is so much stronger than your arms will ever be!
Most of all, have fun! Mom says nothing is better than running with dogs! See how happy Bailie and Madison are on Madison’s first run with the team!
thanks for a great post!!! we start now, but slowly… maybe we will become a good running team…the mama hopes so… there is still the bink bants what screams for a smaller butt of the mama :O)
As long as your vet clears you, go for it. Running with humans is fun!
I wish I’d been smarter about Callie’s playtime when she was still a puppy. If I had been, maybe she wouldn’t have developed hip dysphasia at such a young age. By the time Shadow came along, I was smarter; and she had Callie to play with instead of just us dumb humans. Yes, she has arthritis now – and “a touch of” lumbar-sacral disease – but it’s from the aging process.
It’s all a learning curve. It seems so many humans don’t know about the growth plates and being careful with puppies. You did what you thought was best at the time and that is all one can do.
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Thank you for this informative post, I too cringe when I see small puppies out there running.
Thank you. It kills us to see it and every spring it is rampant!
I’m with you! growth plates are really important!
It is very important, but so many puppy parents have no idea.
I’m glad that Madison is old enough to start running! I know what a big part of your family’s life that is!
Mom is a definite runner and running with us all is what she really loves. I’ve retired, but now she has the wild ones on her team and loves it.
Have fun and be careful starting out sweet Madison!
She is still learning about pacing herself but it will come.
This is such great advice! So many people think just because puppies have so much energy they can do anything; but you have to be careful.
Bailie and Madison look so happy – what fun!
They are super happy girls and they are enjoying running with Mom too.
I started running with Remy for about 5 minutes at a time when he was 6 months old and then gradually increased it to 2-3 miles a few times per week when he was about 9 months old. Once he turned a year I upped it to 5-6 miles and now that he’s 18 months I let him go as long as he wants which so far has been 7 miles. I know our approach is not as conservative as yours but that is what I was comfortable doing. My running is slow and he basically pranced next to me no different than if we were walking. I’ve been very careful not to throw the ball for Remy hard over and over like I did with Ace. Unfortunately I think all the fetch playing is the main reason Ace has stiff and sore back legs today – all that stopping from full speed and turning so hard on his joints all those years. What was I thinking? I’m excited Madison is running with you now! I hope she likes it!
So far Madison is having a blast! Mom waits longer to start with us, and then increases mileage a bit faster. We also have the short legs and long backs we are so careful about always, but especially as puppies which is why it is really important to know your breed. Every dog is different. I’m sure Remy will be fine as he is more of a running type breed.
I was very cautious when Bentley was under a year old because a Basset Hound’s short legs and long back can be easily damaged. He is still not allowed on our bed because I don’t want him jumping off of it. Great information and happy running!
Mom is always super careful with us because of the same reasons. I’ve never gotten on the furniture, but wild Bailie always has and Madison does what Bailie does. Thankfully, she does not jump in and out of bed. Mom lifts her.
Great post! Mom loves to hike with us and it was a serious learning curve for her to understand what we could do when. Great information in your post! The cutest thing in the running video is Bailie looking at her little sister. She seems to give her some looks! Hope it all continues to progress well! have a good day, your doodle friend Dash
Bailie has been running for three years alone with Mom, so it is all new for her too. They are figuring it all out together and it is fun for all of them.
Great tips! When I got my first puppy, Linus I wanted to take him on runs (back in my running days). I decided to wait until he was 1 years old for the reasons you mentioned. Linus is going to turn 13 soon and neither one of us are much for running anymore 🙁
So glad you waited to start running with Linus. I retired from running a while back when Mom was marathon training. With my short legs, my distance was limited. Sometimes we do a run walk thing when I’m feeling energetic and that is fun too.
Very informative post! Looks like Madison truly enjoys running too! Have fun!
At Madison’s age, she loves almost everything! Mom is having fun running with both of them together.
Since I don’t run the problem is usually me going too slow and them looking at me to get moving. I tell them it’s not going to happen. Usually they get enough exercise in the woods. Newfs froth plates don’t harden until 18 months to 2 years, however trying to stop jumping, etc just gets ignored and they are too strong for me. So far I have been lucky:)
Jumping is one thing Mom tries to control with us all our lives because of our long backs, but Bailie loves to be naughty and jump on things. She taught Madison to do the same which was a bad thing. One can only do so much to try to stop behaviors.
I wish I could run, but these Forrest Gump knees just don’t move. I know Delilah would really enjoy this. Thanks for writing this post, I see too many people run with puppies or walk them too far. My thought is always to check with my vet when I’m doing something new with my dog.
Most humans just see the energy and think they need to burn it off with crazy exercise, which is totally wrong. On the other paw, if you have knee issues, there is some great stem cell therapy out there to help rather than knee replacement. We know a few folks who have tried it and had huge success 🙂 Luckily, our knees are all fine here.
Great article!
They say that slow and steady wins the race. As with all things concerning our pups we must be patient and take it one step at a time.
Thank you. We take it all one paw at a time, not a lot of speed here.