Is a Labrador a Good Running Partner?

Bill Eamick wrote:

"Bullshit on f***in' steroids to you pissyclits!" say I, middle fingers aloft, eyes blazing with the fury of a hundred crackrabid knobgobbling gashf***ers.

You're a real case study, Bill. The world's only known case of text-based Tourette's. Don't be so scarce. I for one need a good wicked laugh now and then.

We may be getting a yellow lab soon. Anyone out there have one and bring it along on training runs? What are the issues with leashes? Any other issues about running with the dog?

Hudzik wrote:

We may be getting a yellow lab soon. Anyone out there have one and bring it along on training runs? What are the issues with leashes? Any other issues about running with the dog?

1. Pee stops. The dog will want to stop a lot more often than you will.

2. Squirrels/rabbits/cats/skunks and other wildlife. The dog may decide that they are far more interesting than just running alongside you.

3. Signs. You and the dog may decide to run on opposite sides of a sign post, with comical results (for those watching).

Labs are great running partners, although swimming is really their bag.

If you run off-road, you'll not only benefit yourself and the dog in terms of wear and tear, but often be able to forgo the leash altogether (although I would advise against doing this until he or she is fully trained). In fact, you really should try to avoid asphalt altogether if you plan to do any significant mileage. The pup's paws can become cracked and damaged, especially on hot days.

Yes, they will chase all manner of wildlife. Avoid going over 30 minutes on hot days, have him/her preload on water (you can encourage this by tainting the H2O with something sweet) and realize that he or she will jump in every available mud puddle on hot days.

If your vet tells you to wait 18 months before starting running, say "No wonder everyone in this country is so goddamned fat, inlcuding the domestic animals!" and wait six months instead. Build up gradually, starting with prolonged games of fetch and eay 10-minute runs.

If the dog pees and pinches a loaf before you get started, you shouldn't have to stop often, if at all, during your run.

If you do it right, your Lab will be the best training partner you'll ever have.

Thanks, I am very close to a large preserve with lots of trails so we can avoid the asphalt. I will need to keep the dog on a leash to comply with the rules and to not piss off fellow runners. I like your bit on what the vets might say - I was thinking that they would probably be conservative. Good info, most appreciated.

I have trained my black lab since she was a 8 week old pup and she is a stud running and all the time actually. She even will run with some of my athletes if she needs a run and I am too busy.

Tips:

1. Start them on lead first while very young

2. Off Road/Trails is so much better for them then roads

3. To get them to follow you no matter what they are want to chase is easy, my dog could see a big juicy cat to catch and she will stop in her tracks if I say so - I just took her everywhere in the first year of her life! I gave her so much attention that first year (well and still do) that she was so eager to please. Then when you run with them, they don't want to let you out of their sight. So they can stop and pee, you can keep running and they will just catch back up to you. If you don't stop, they will learn and you never have to break stride and they will catch up to you

4. Just like a human, build up their mileage over time, a 6 month puppy and a 5 year old dog cant do the same amount. A half an hour would have been enough to send my dog into a 3 hour nap when she was a pup, now it is like a warmup.

5. Get their hips Xrayed when they are older to make sure they do not have displaysia or anything, and check out the breeder too. Most GOOD breeders will have Xrays of their own dogs hips and have had them checked out. It is genetic, so get a good breeder and you should be fine.

Great info, thanks a lot.

Labs come in two varieties, an Eglish and an American stock. The American variety tend to be taller and skinnier, with more narrow faces. Other people would know better than me, but from my experience, having one of each, the american stock is a better dog for a running companion, while the english stock is better in the water. You should also be aware that labs are prone to hip and other joint problems and are not going to be much of a running partner in anything warmer than 60 or so.

Thanks for the great information everybody. It looks like we may actually pick our boy up this weekend and I will slowly bring him along on the running.

I adopted a lab a while back and found they make excellent running partners. The day I got him, he was extremely out of shape-we went for a walk across our farm, perhaps 3/4 of a mile, and he couldn't make it without stopping for a breather. Two weeks later, he was kicking my ass on runs. It is amazing how quick they can get into shape.

My black lab definitely does better off the leash in the woods. That little cantor on the leash seems to exhaust him when I run about 8 minute miles but he can run full out for an hour or more off the leash. We have limited his leash runs to 20 minutes or so 3 times per week at about 10 minutes per mile with my wife as he ages(He turned 8 today). The asphalt is not good for the hip and joint health. Keep the dog's weight down throughout his/her lifetime. They are eating machines and will poach from kids like pickpockets.

I adopted a black lab mix when she was about 18 months and started her jogging soon after. Now a year later the dog goes absolutely crazy when she sees me putting on running clothes. Pulling is the main problem, it was so bad in the beginning that I was afraid she was going to damage her throat. Invested in a 'Halti' and that helped the problem. Now I don't even use it anymore because I've gotten her to run at my pace (I've found what helps is giving the dog a moderate slap on the back by whipping the leash when she starts pulling). Second is the chasing of small animals. Again, this was the worst in the beginning and with training your dog will be better about it (I haven't gotten mine to stop completely, but she obeys when I give her a stern 'no'). There is a small problem with the dog relieving herself on runs. Peeing isn't so bad because it's relatively quick and I never take her on workout days. When she takes a dump, it sucks carrying around a bag of crap until I find the nearest garbage can but generally the places I run her have waste recepticles well spaced.

The best is finding a secluded trail and running her off the leash. She can go at her own pace, stop to smell the roses, etc and it doesn't affect me in the slightest. She is a great running partner, whips into shape really fast. I don't reccomend running a dog every day though. I did that for a while and she got into such good shape that she was way too hyper if I didn't take her for a run. 3-4 times a week is good enough for exercise.

I adopted a choclate lab when she was 2. She used to be a great running partner till she got bit by a tick on the trails and caught lyme disease. Even afterwards she would do a workout, like 6x800 with me (2 miles to and from the track too), and she stills looks at me with that face whenever I put running clothes on. They do get a bit lame when thy get older, but when they are younger thew whip right into shape. Great dogs too.

must depend on the dog. my yellow lab really doesn't like running with me. he loves going off and running in the woods on his own, but seems to hate having to come along on a normal run, though. Awesome dog, though. I would still get another, even if he/she won't run with me.

I had a 1/2 black lab 1/2 rhodesian ridgeback that lived to be 11 years and 3 months.

He was a great dog and (after much training) would run right by my side on a leash.

The thing is he was fast, but not very enduring. His fastest mile was just over 7 minutes, but most of the time he was good for 4 miles at a 10 minute pace. The farthest he ran was 11 miles at 11 minute pace, where I was waiting and going his pace the whole time. These were the fastest paces he could go and he was fine at the starts but was dragging by the ends.

I have heard yellow labs are lazy compared to others but haven't had one of my own.

I don't why the one I had didn't run any faster but he was an otherwise absolutely fantastic dog.

Now I have a short hair border collie mix (might be part whippet) that is fast and can run all day long.

What are your dogs' PR's?

My dog, Louie, ran a 4:28 mile and split 38.6 in a 4x4.

get a Vischla, they can run forever. my boss's vischla runs over 90 mpw with him, not counting the fact that the thing runs back and forth while we run. not only that but he plays fetch with it forever too. that thing can run like the wind man.

Yes, I have a lab, and they\'re great training partners, but it will take some tips and training.

1. DOUBLES ARE KEY.

2. Have a long run that is approx 20% of the dogs weekly mileage each week.

3. Don\'t worry about doggy shoes, Dogs are great mininmalistic runners.

4. I suggest no more of an increase of 10% mileage or your dog WILL suffer stress fractures and burn-out.

5. Weekly Massages are encouraged

6. If you can get ahold of an underwater treadmill, that will help the pounding on the legs.

7. Ventelus uppers with Jasari plates will help optimize performance.

8. Expect your dog to be beat by black labs, they are genetically superior.

9. Training at altitude will help the dog salivate more, then his VO2 max will kick in, and more antibodies in the blood will be formed into lactic acid which will produce natural EPO that will help your dog aerobically.

And MOST importantly.......

8. If your dog ever has a sub-par performance, be sure to insult, criticize, and tell him that his career is over.

I have a yellow lab who is 11 months old. We take him for a shorter runs (of 30-40min), but he always struggles at the end- no matter how fast or slow we go, regardless of the weather. I think it's because we have to keep him on the leash for the first 10-15min until we get to trails and he pulls like crazy, almost chokes himself every time. Those first 2 miles costs him 70% of energy (he gallops almost on the spot) and then at the end it's reversed :)

Until he gets older, we will stick with 3-4x per week runs with him, and I hope he will become an excellent running pal later on.

Make sure to train him, because ours just disappears in distance, once off the leash and the rest of the trail run I shout at him endlessly to come back.