What is the best running dog that's also a good family pet?

I'm sure a lot of dogs would fit your needs. I have an old coonhound who showed up as a starving stray and ran 20 miles behind me that first day. I didn't need or even want another dog but how could I not take him? He's a wonderful dog - pure joy to run with, and about the calmest animal with little kids you could ever wish for. I live in a rural area where I can let him run free, and he probably runs twice as far as I do but never goes too far away.

I also have a blue heeler who loves to run but I wouldn't leave him with little kids.

All my dogs are strays and I'd never buy a dog with so many others needing homes but that's just me.

Best wishes to you.

Australian Shepherd!! Extremely active, won't find a smarter dog!

My family has two viszlas ... they are VERY hyper even if you run them and run them ... but they are also very affectionate and loyal. I would completely suggest them to you IF you have the time to train him/her properly. Final note: they do not handle yelling or being hit well ... I have seen other vizslas whose owner didn't have the patience for them ... they become neurotic. The bottom line is, if you treat them right and give them the time they deserve they are an excellent family pet.

Border collies. They love to run and are very smart and affectionate. They can be a little high-maintenance in that their intelligence means they need stimulation, but that can vary.

I have an english springer spaniel (the field breed) who loves to go on long runs with me and he is a great family dog.

My husband and I adopted a german shorthair pointer in April. She was a stray, so we think she has a bit of lab in her (some facial characteristics of a lab, but the body of a shorthair). She absolutely LOVES to run. It's her favorite thing by far, except for eating, so we make a good pair!

Anyway, she was about one year old when we got her from the agency in Illinois, and they have such a good foster system for their dogs. She is completely housebroken, and they really test them to determine if they are child-friendly.

I'm a little over 5 months pregnant now, and we aren't worried about having problems with the dog being around the baby. I hardly run with her at this point, so she does get a bit squirrely from time to time, but is still content to curl up and nap with me for hours at a time. I had her up to 55 miles per week during the summer easily, with long runs up to 12. She even joined me on a few track workouts.

I looked into getting a Ridgeback too, and I'm very, very pleased with my decision. I would also recommend going the adoption route. There are so many fabulous young dogs out there that need good running homes.

I have 7 month old standard size Poodle / Australian Shepherd cross [an Aussie-Doodle]. She is very calm but also very active ... loves to run. She has the spring in her legs of the Poodle and the endurance of the Australian Shepherd.

Huskies are both excellent runners and great family dogs. How old are your children? There have been some incidents with Huskies and very young babies while unattended. But if your kids are over 2 years then there should be no problem. Super friendly.

Ok, they shed a lot. And not necessarily the best in warm conditions.

I would go with a Labrador but wait on heavier running until it is a fully mature and you should make sure to get its hips checked.

Runners World actually did an article on this a few months back. Here are their recommendations.

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-527--13611-0,00.html

Golden retriever

During the summer you need to shave their fur.

My neighbor has a Brittany. What a stupid dog. He barks constantly, still chews up things in the house (they have to keep a muzzzle on him) and has failed many sessions of obedience school. Their kids virtually ignore him. He can run all day, though. I second Border collie or Australian shepherd.

SC2NJ wrote:

I've been researching the crap out of this question, but I'm one of those guys who can never get enough information before making a major decision - like buying a dog. Does anyone have a recommendation for a great running dog that's also a great family pet? I'm looking for a dog that can run a marathon with me, handle technical trails and will be safe with my young children. So far I'm looking at German Shorthaired Pointers, Vizslas, Brittanys and Rhodesian Ridgebacks (okay, I really want an RR, but I'm kind of worried about my wife and kids being able to handle it while I'm at work, even though I can bring a dog into my office). THANKS!

you might as well have just asked 'what kind of dog do you have?'

I have a Brittany that I ran with for 5 years, got him as a rescue when he was 4. Great dog, very quite inside the house, and also very affectionate. Follows me everywhere. He cant really run anymore due to a knee problem but he still loves to walk. As with all active dogs you need to give them enough exercise, when he was younger I would run with him for an hour in the morning, have someone take him out at lunch for a half hour, and then take him out when I got home from work for another hour. Be prepared for that type of commitment if you want a dog that you will run with. Otherwise just get a greyhound.

goaussiesgo wrote:

Australian Shepherd!! Extremely active, won't find a smarter dog!

Just realize, extremely active means even when you stop, it doesn't. The same will be true of any dog that is listed as high energy. Unless you have kids that will play with it all the time it will be more annoying than fun. Only get one of these if you have a decent sized yard.

Agree about the Aussie shepherds and Border collies being TOO high energy. They are very smart and very high energy and need to be put to work. If not they get bored and find ways to mess shot up in your life. Also, these dogs are notoriously bad about herding children. Your kids will run around and the dog will outflank them, nip at them, and steer them like they are a herd animal. I've seen it so much among friends' dogs.

The Stache wrote:

Agree about the Aussie shepherds and Border collies being TOO high energy. They are very smart and very high energy and need to be put to work. If not they get bored and find ways to mess shot up in your life.

Pretty much all dogs need to be put to work. For the Golden and Lab retriever that is usually - Retrieving. Throw a ball. For the herding dog that is usually a bit more difficult. But running can be a good "burner" exercise for many dogs. Yhe Border Collie won't herd anyone after 5 miles of running.

A rule of thumb here about HD - the bigger the dog the bigger the potential risk. Goldens, Labs, German Shepard. The other rule of thumb is the more mixed/mutt the dog is, the healthier he will be. Also pay attention to elbows. After breeders are looking out for hips, this is another potential risk...

We have an 18 month old Aussie, and that boy is born to run. He'll settle in next to me after an enthusiastic first mile, and is just happy to be out and on the go. A real athlete, lot of personality. Ours is a black tri, take a look online, there are several distinctly different colorations.

Now that he is out of "puppy-hood", he's content to lay on the hearth, or follow us around the large living area that we've cordoned off with fences. But he's always ready to go, and we try to get him out for at least an hour a day.

Herding and nipping? I've heard that, and early on we saw some of that behavior, but not any longer.

The one doubt I'd express is, depending on how young your kids are, this is not a golden or lab... they will pull on a leash, tend to jump up to greet you, etc. Older than 6-7, I'd think not a problem. Really young, not so much.

Finally, we had a golden retriever for over 11 years, he was a very healthy dog, but the aussie would run rings around him.

Good luck with your choice.

I have a three year old female vizsla. She is a fabulous running partner. As long as she gets a good 5-6 miles in a day she is golden. She can go farther... But that's all she really needs. She is great around the house, loves kids and was very easy to train. These are people pleasers. They are called Velcro dogs because they want to be with you all the time. I will never own another breed of dog.

Mag wrote:

vizsla. .

This, they are amazingly loyal and energenic. They could run forever with you.