running with the dog (any vets out there?)
-
No new posts
Moderators: k9car363, the bear, DerekL, alicefoeller | Reply |
![]() |
molto veloce mama ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() when i started running last winter, i brought my dog along for my early runs. add in my other workouts (swimming, cycling, pulling the girls in the burley or pushing them in the jogger, yoga), i eventually wanted to go faster than my poor dog was able to. since i was training, i ended up leaving her behind all summer. she still had walks, but no running. well, now i am not training for anything. i took the last two weeks off as a little 'vacation' from training, but i've been itching to get out and run. so, today my 111 lb chesapeake bay retriever greta out for a run. she did really well today, which surprised me. we only went about a mile and a half, but she was able to run most of the time and overall (including a few blocks of brisk walking) kept a sub 12 min mile pace. i'm committed now to running with her 3 times a week, even if its just to work up to a few miles. does anyone else run with their dogs? anyone try and get a dog back into shape with running? she's very strong and has a lot of endurance when hiking or playing in the water, but is overweight and doesn't have the cardio she needs (pretty much me a year ago ![]() (27.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 27.jpg (53KB - 37 downloads) |
|
![]() ![]() |
Master ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I'm not a vet, but my guess is the same principles you use should work for your dog. try putting her on a reduced calorie dog food cut back on her snacks and start a run walk program. I had a 125Lb Lab and I can assure you he was not overweight at all. Just a big muscular boy. He could run for miles and look at me like why are you stopping you slacker! when I was done. It takes a while for themto build endurance but most dogs are naturally exuberant and want to do whatever youre doing i would just take it easy with her and her fitness will come... |
![]() ![]() |
New user![]() | ![]() I am not a vet either, but I have experience with training and showing dogs. I agree with piggpen35 in that you should put him on a reduced calorie diet and do the whole run/walk thing to help build up his endurance. You don't want to over exercise a large breed and do too much too soon or you could possible cause damage to their hips and joints. I put all of my large breeds and senior dogs on glucosomine and condroitin. It helps our joints, helps theirs too. My eight year old Greyhound was cracking and dealing with arthritis at the age of five. I put him on a senior diet the that already had glucosomine in it and give him extra doses as well. Now he is running almost full speed like he is a puppy again! Yay! But if you ease him back into the exercise routine and watch his diet, he should be fine. :-) |
![]() ![]() |
Master ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I run my my black lab 3x a week about 3.5-3 miles each time - more if the husband gets home on my off days and takes him. I have noticed that he is having some problems with his back legs and going out - not that he minds, he too looks at me when I finish as "that's all you got?". he is a strong healthy dog but labs are proned to have hip dysplasa (sp?). It is now time for his yearly check up and I am sure the doctor will put him on some form of medication to help with his hind legs. he loves to run - at 1 1/2 he's still a pup - and I try to get him out and exercised if only to get him to behave when in the house with the kids. good luck exercising him and have fun. |
![]() ![]() |
Pro ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() Dogs are awesome running partners! Especially retrievers! I run with my 7 year old black lab. From what I've read about it, dogs have almost precisely the same principles as humans. So act as if you are trying to start running with an out-of-shape buddy. I would talk to my vet about how long of runs you can reasonably work Greta up to, depending on her age and health and all. I'll be taking Barry in soon for a check-up and to ask about this exact stuff, so I'll let you know what I find out! |
![]() ![]() |
Member ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I love running with my dogs. In fact, I don't go running without one of them (and I would get in trouble if I did!). One is only good for short distances but the other can handle longer distances. Maybe that's what you need...another dog for longer runs! I do agree with Kim about talking to your vet first. He/She can give you some advice about how to get Greta back into shape without doing a lot of harm to her hips. On a bit of a side note, if you start Greta on a diet and she acts like she is STARVING, you can feed her a can of green beans or carrots. I had a trainer tell me once that it's a good filler for dogs....puts something in their stomach without adding a lot of calories. |
|
![]() ![]() |
molto veloce mama ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() do you get a special dog formula of gluc/cond? |
![]() ![]() |
molto veloce mama ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ah, if i got a second dog i might lose a husband! ![]() thanks for all the advice. i did talk with her vet when i started running with her last spring. she said many of the same things you all are saying - mainly, take it slow. greta is almost 4 years old. she had her hips x-rayed 2 years ago (the x-ray was actually to check for bladder stones since she had a bladder inflection, but the checked her hips at the same time), and her hips looked great. i still would consider gluc/chond for her joints though. she is on a reduced calorie diet, but its hard with two kids in the house - greta almost always ends up with extras thanks to the kids! i may try the green bean thing with her and see what she does. again, thanks! |
![]() ![]() |
Elite Veteran ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() last summer I ran with Rudi, a 4 year old English Pointer, on a regular basis. Never when it was to hot (above 80) or when I was going more than 5 miles. My pace was always faster with him than without, which made me wish I could use him at races:-) Rudi got sick in September after my last race and hasn't run with me since, however, he's recouped' to where he's just about ready to go again on a limited schedule. Our two older dogs, (non-runners) get gluc/cond. every morning. In can be a bit pricey so we watch for it to go on sale at Walgreen's 2 for 1. |
![]() ![]() |
New user![]() | ![]() autumn, I feed all of my dogs Nutro Natural Choice. All of their adult and senior formulas have gluc. and chond. in it. The large breed adult and large breed senior formulas have a lot of it. I show my dogs and have been very happy with this brand of dog food, really good for skin and coat too. I also use "Missing Link Plus" which is a powder to put in their food. It has all kinds of good stuff for them, including glucosomine and it helps with their immune system. You can get it at any pet store. Petedge.com has a lot of nutritional dog stuff for cheaper than most pet stores though. I t hink I take better care of my dogs than I do myself!!! But they don't talk back or hold grudges, so they deserve to be spoiled. Meghan |
![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() This user's post has been ignored. |
|
![]() ![]() |
molto veloce mama![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() i'll check it out the next time we need to buy food. she needs to be on a weight control formula and is on iams now. seems like most foods have a weight control formula these days. |
![]() ![]() |
Champion![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() I am not a vet, but i met the researcher from Finland (I think) who was doing work on articular cartilage and he had these dogs that he ran a marathon on a treadmill nearly everyday!!! he said the dogs got used to it and looked forward to their runs. |