Gun Dog Forum

I know you aren't supposed to jog with a puppy. I would never force my pup to jog along with me on a leash. However, I have been trail running with her off leash. She goes at her own pace (most of the time sprinting ahead then stopping and waiting for me or off in the woods hunting). We typically go for an hour. I started off just hiking with her for an hour, but when I realized that she was running pretty much the entire time anyway, I could run behind her and get my workout in the same time she did. Is this ok? I don't want to do any damage to her bones, tendons, and ligaments. She doesn't seem overly tired when we are done, but I know she is a pup and doesn't know when to quit! I forgot to mention that she is a 5 month old vizsla. Thanks for your input.

I surely don't see anything wrong with running the heck out of a 5 month old pup. I'm not familiar with visla's but it hasn't hurt the pointers, GSP's, setters, and britts that I have ran.

Where did you get your pup from?

It's ok to free run them, to where the pup can pace herself and run as she wants.

It's when you road them and road them hard that you can do damage to ligiments and joints at such a young age.

Thanks for the help guys. V-John, I got her from Shadow Creek Kennels in Waterford Michigan.

We have a 4 month old GSP and we go on long walks every other day for a few hours each time with our dogs..Jersey runs at her own pace and sometimes just walks and smells around, if you are not forcing exercise on her it will be fine just always watch for signs if she is too tired or make sure if she begins limping you back off the runs for a bit, always read your dog
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Equals this ...ruth

mudpuppy1299 wrote:I know you aren't supposed to jog with a puppy. I would never force my pup to jog along with me on a leash. However, I have been trail running with her off leash. She goes at her own pace (most of the time sprinting ahead then stopping and waiting for me or off in the woods hunting). We typically go for an hour. I started off just hiking with her for an hour, but when I realized that she was running pretty much the entire time anyway, I could run behind her and get my workout in the same time she did. Is this ok? I don't want to do any damage to her bones, tendons, and ligaments. She doesn't seem overly tired when we are done, but I know she is a pup and doesn't know when to quit! I forgot to mention that she is a 5 month old vizsla. Thanks for your input.

Too risky for me. She will overdo it just trying to keep up. The damage that is potentially done won't surface until adulthood.

They don't know any better. I would stop this.

I have been around vizsla pups that could and would run all day. At 4-5 months they would be running in front of the quad with the other dogs.
When my gsp was 11 weeks the vet told me to jog with her until she was tired hut as far as free running watch her and use your best judgement. The dogs do need exercise and there is nothing worse looking then a fat 4 month old pup.

I was told not to force run them and avoid running on pavement or concrete roads due to the jarring gorth plates till they mature

dam!!!!! i wish my spell check worked!!!!

Ron R wrote:I surely don't see anything wrong with running the heck out of a 5 month old pup. I'm not familiar with visla's but it hasn't hurt the pointers, GSP's, setters, and britts that I have ran.

Ditto.

Charlie

Hattrick wrote:I was told not to force run them and avoid running on pavement or concrete roads due to the jarring gorth plates till they mature

This is the advice I've been given. I would avoid letting the job jump in and out of vehicles and limit the intensive exercise until the growth plates close. There are a lot of issues with dogs as they mature if they are overworked as a pup. Same reasoning behind waiting to race horses (and still we do that too young and many break down).

Maybe this is a newbie question but at what age can you expect the growth plates to be closed and running to be safe? I have an 8 month old Brit that needs very, very long walks before she settles down. Unfortunately I don't always have 1-2 hours a day to walk around and I'm thinking about some easy biking with her.

Stiff Arm wrote:Maybe this is a newbie question but at what age can you expect the growth plates to be closed and running to be safe? I have an 8 month old Brit that needs very, very long walks before she settles down. Unfortunately I don't always have 1-2 hours a day to walk around and I'm thinking about some easy biking with her.

About 12-18 months...

Let the pup run as much as they want, let them explore whatever they want. It will be just fine. They could just as easily get hurt playing inside as they could running along side of you. I wouldn't stop running your dog. They need the excercise! They are dogs, not fine china.

There is nothing wrong with dogs free-running in the woods. If she is running and playing and having to stop to wait for you to catch up - then you're not doing anything that she physically can't handle. For that matter, YOU are the one having trouble keeping up. For the record, I'm in the same boat; I run 3 miles or so with my dogs a few times a week; I'm beat at the end of it, they're barely breathing heavy.

The risk is hard pavement. I would not run a puppy, especially on lead, on pavement. Lots of hard impact, which can affect their growth plates and joints and increase the risk of hip problems later in life. We typically tell people not to run their dogs on pavement until 18 months at the very earliest.
On a related note, I don't believe a dog can compete in agility before 18 months for the same reason.

I get out the golf cart and run them on jeep trails and logging roads around my camp..mainly dirt and some loose gravel...for a 5 month old 45-60 minutes at a moderate pace does it...then I'll crate the pups and give the older dogs another loop with more pace. Last six weeks of the summer, we step it up for the older dogs. I do think the softer surface is better. You can overdo it, but I don't like the idea of protecting pups...they should be able to take some brisk exercise within reason..I'd rather know that a young dog is unsound than find out later.

once I get them used to a 4 wheeler I take them running with it but not hooked on to it like roading just free running

I am just wondering if anyone actually thinks that the dog running beside you on the lead for an hour will get more strenuous exercise than if you run for an hour and it races pell mell anywhere and everywhere around you?

A well bred pointing dog at 6 mos. will outlast any but the most ardent human runner. If you aren't running on concrete or pavement you will do no harm jogging the dog beside you - for however far you care to jog (unless you are a serious marathoner/triathlete type).