From: liza@pangea.Stanford.EDU (Liza Miller)
Subject: Re: Dogs and Jogging
Organization: Stanford Univ. Earth Sciences
Distribution: usa
Date: Tue, 1 Sep 1992 21:56:37 GMT

In article <1992Sep1.131115.26377@fns-nc1.fns.com> vib@fns-nc1.fns.com (Victor Bur) writes:
>
>In article <47004@shamash.cdc.com> smp@aquarius1.Berkeley.EDU (Susan M Painter) writes:
>>In article <1992Aug31.182814.260@eos.arc.nasa.gov>, dencisco@eos.arc.nasa.gov (David Paul Encisco) writes:
>>|> Should one wait until their dog is a certain age
>>|> before one takes them jogging? Maybe I should be
>>|> more specific since different breeds develop at
>>|> different rates. But it would seem to me that not
>>|> all breeds are suited for jogging (actually I run,
>>|> not jog). Which brings me to my second question. 
>>|> What breeds like to run with their owners?
>>|> 
>>|> Again (if you didn't read my previous post) a Bernese
>>|> Mountain Dog owner told me that this breed was not a 
>>|> good breed for jogging. That's odd I thought, looks like
>>|> it would love to get out there on the trails; it certainly
>>|> appears to have the vitality for it.
>>|> 
>>|> Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
>>|> Dave
>>
>>I own a Bernese Mountain Dog and I would also agree that the breed is not
>>a good breed for jogging.  But, it IS a good breed for LONG walks, if the
>>dog is conditioned.  I have found that with my dog he loves long walks
>>especially in the snow.  The breed was originally bred for pulling carts
>>and at a comfortable speed (probably a good walking speed), they appear to
>>be able to walk forever (or at least as long as I have needed him to walk)
>>without complaining.  They do not have the stamina for lasting long at a
>>jogging pace but do have plenty of stamina for keeping a walking pace.  I have
>>often told people that their dog could probably out run my dog but that my dog
>>could probably walk longer.  I hope this makes sense.  But remember, the
>>dog must be conditioned.  We walk our dog several miles a day and he loves it.
>>He gets very upset if we miss a day.  So yes, Bernese Mountain Dogs LOVE the
>>trails and do have the necessary stamina just at a slower pace then a jog.
>>
>>Sue Painter
>>Minnesota
>
>My opinion: if you are experienced jogger/runner, NO dog is suitable for
>you.  By "design", canines can deliver high speed for a short distance
>(during the pray chaise, for example), but they are not built for a long,
>steady running.  If you want to do that, watch for the damage you may
>inflict on dog's hips, and also have an emergency kit ready for injuries
>and/or overheating.
>
	I would have to disagree with this.  Most of the Northern breeds
were bred for exactly this purpose -- running for long distances.  In fact,
they were pulling weight while doing it.  I would think a Northern breed
would be ideal to run with -- except, as someone pointed out earlier, *YOU*
may have trouble keeping up with them. 

	Otherwise, I know that lots of people run with their labs with no
difficulty.  My lab, Kash, has gone running with my extremely athletic
step-father for 8 miles and come back ready for more.  But, I would
recommend a) that the dog be over 18 months (2 years would be better, imho)
and b) that the dog be conditioned.  Just as you need to start out slowly
and build up to a longer endurance, so does the dog!



--
Liza Lee Miller         My dogs are labradorable!     liza@pangea.stanford.edu
Cibola Labradors            Field * Show * Fun                    415/326-5309
Cibola's Misty Mountain Hop--Hopper                   Mistypoint Kashmir--Kash
Talimar All-Pro At Delby--Niner          Campbellcroft Cibola Rosette -- Rosie
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