Fun with Fido

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Dogs. They are ideal running partners. Always ready to go with a smiling face and a wagging tail. Willing to run up hills, down hills, over mountains, along the flats. If only we could have their positive attitude every day.

But while most dogs will bound out the door and run or walk as long as you do, that does not necessarily mean they are prepared. We decided to check in with a local expert on the topic of training and running with dogs.

Robert Forto has been working with dogs since 1990 and is owner and training director of Denver Dog Works, a business that offers a wide range of services, including canine sports training, rehabilitation of aggressive dogs, guard- and service-dog training, and courses for aspiring dog trainers.

Forto holds a Ph.D. in communication, and his dissertation focused on human-canine communication and the sport of dog sledding. Before coming to Colorado, he ran a sled-dog business and kennel in Minnesota. So it’s safe to say that he knows dogs.

“An athletic dog should look like a marathon runner—lean and mean,” says Forto. He says sporting or herding breeds such as setters, spaniels, retrievers, Border collies and shepherds make great running dogs. Working breeds such as huskies, malamutes and Dobermans are also good runners.

“The longer the legs, the better for running with you,” says Forto. “Any dog that’s at least two feet tall should do well.” With dogs, height is usually measured at the withers (the top of the shoulders).

Forto offers the following tips on running with your pup.

First Steps. Just as people should get a check-up with a doctor before starting an exercise program, the same should be done for dogs. “Be sure that your vet does a thorough check-up of your dog, closely inspecting hips and elbow joints,” Forto says. He notes that many breeds, such as golden retrievers, German shepherd and Labrador retrievers, can have bad hips, and hip dysplasia can start as early as nine months of age.

Conditioning. If you have a puppy, start him slowly with brisk walks, 30 minutes at a time. If your dog—at any age—starts lagging, slow down. Slowly transition to a running routine. Remember that dogs will not tell you when they are ready to stop; they will keep going until you are done. Forto notes that Siberian huskies will stop for only two things: “Either they get run over or they fall over dead.” He says, “A lot of dogs are that way because they want to build up a bond with you, so they’ll do whatever it takes to please you.”

Nutrition. Forto gives his dogs glucosamine (1,000 mg) and vitamin C (500 mg) on a regular basis. He recommends buying premium dog food with a 30/20 blend of protein/fat. Timing of meals is important, he adds. “Do not feed your dog a big meal and then expect him to hit the ground running,” says Forto. Feed your dog a small meal before and after workouts so he has time to digest. 

Hydration. Dogs sweat only through their paw pads, and they keep cool through panting. So making sure your dog is hydrated, particularly while running, is very important. Forto always carries little bottles of water to share with his dogs. Some dogs, however, resist drinking from a bottle, so he suggests “baiting” the water by adding products such as Rehydrate or Peak Powder.

Equipment. When running with your dog on a leash, belt leashes work well. Froto prefers dogs wear harnesses as opposed to collars. “A dog’s whole structure is in his chest; the neck is actually one of his weakest muscles, so if he’s wearing a collar, you’re tugging on that weak muscle,” he says. Never use a retractable leash because they can get easily tangled around trees, bushes and other dogs.

Paw Care. Running on dirt and grass is best, but if you have to run on asphalt, keep this is mind: “If you can’t hold your hand on [the asphalt] more than 10 seconds, it’s too hot for your dog to run on,” says Forto. While you have shoes on, your dog only has paws, so treat them well. If any pads have a split in them, leave Fido at home. Running will only exacerbate the injury. Treat splits with Bag Balm.

Don’t Over-Train. We all need a day off, and so does your dog. So be sure to give your running and walking buddy a rest day each week.

Have more questions on your dog and training? Contact Robert Forto at Denver Dog Works at 303-752-2818 or visit Denverdogworks.com.

Comments & Feedback

kelley mondesire  - running with Fido |Posted on: 10.08.2008 I've been running with my Golden Retriever, Sooki for years. We used to run a pretty fast 5 miles every morning with one day off. She's now over 12.5 years old and can still do a mean 2 miles with me...we don't run so fast anymore, and we only run a few days per week, but we still have lots of fun! Plenty of marrow bones (the marrow is great for their bones and joints), fruits and veggies to supplement the diet!

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