The German Shepherd is a very smart, agile, and obedient companion. As the second most popular dog breed, GSDs have made many families happy in the past few years. These beautiful and energetic animals aren’t only good furry friends. They are also tireless workers that would love running around to have fun!
Usually known to work with the police, these high-energy dogs have many other talents than being good working buddies. I recently started some research on this dog breed because I would like to have one. I’ve found many things about their exercise needs, level of energy, and the best dog sports for them. As an active person, my favorite activity to enjoy with dogs is simply jogging. Therefore, let me share everything I’ve discovered about: Can you take your German Shepherd running?
Without any surprise, you can run with your German Shepherd. Moreover, this sport is normally something they are good at. That’s also an excellent way to exercise your high-energy dog. Well-trained, German Shepherds can be excellent running partners. With his good speed, stamina, and athletic characteristics, your canine will love to run!
Knowing that your dog breed is suitable to run isn’t enough to get started. Not all German Shepherds will be able to enjoy this intense sport. The breed isn’t the only element that makes your dog suitable to run. Therefore, continue reading to understand how you can enjoy this physical activity safely with your companion!
German Shepherd’s Personality And Qualities!
If you own one, you can understand why German Shepherds are so popular. These herding dogs can guide or help handicapped people, rescue and search, save lives in the police or military force, detect drugs, and do many other interesting things. That’s impressive to see how these furballs can be good at almost everything!
Their curiosity and courage make them very interesting adventure companions. German Shepherds enjoy almost any type of physical activity because of their intelligence, energy, and obedience. They have everything to improve the life of their owner with their loyal and fun personalities!
For active people, German Shepherds are perfect to exercise regularly and keep you busy. These buddies need daily exercise to stay happy and healthy. As smart dogs, you will need to make them play, learn, and work a lot. That’s why running with them could be an amazing way to keep them active, entertained, and happy!
Exercise Needs of Your German Shepherd.
Herding dogs are normally always full of energy to enjoy playtime, exercise, and sports. German Shepherds are always ready for action and willing to enjoy physical activity. These buddies also like intense sports that will make you work hard for a short period. A vigorous workout or long endurance training will bring a lot of joy to your dog!
If you’re the kind of person that likes to sit on your couch, high-energy buddies aren’t the best choice for you. German Shepherds need at least 1 or 2 hours of daily exercise. Therefore, you will need to be ready to play, run, and work out to provide this breed with enough physical activity. It doesn’t mean that you need to run for 1 hour every day, but you must be able to keep up with your dog’s energy!
1 or 2 hours of exercise should also include lower physical activity such as walking, off-leash fun time, training, and other activities. However, around 30 to 60 minutes of intense exercise is essential for your dog to stay fit and healthy. Thus, running is a great way to enjoy purposeful physical activity regularly!
With daily walks, playtime, dog sports, and other fun activities, your German Shepherd should be fully satisfied. It’s really important to give the exercise time your dog needs to avoid many problems. Without proper physical or mental stimulation, he could have behavior issues, get overweight, or become destructive because of boredom!
Learn More About How Much Exercise German Shepherd Needs!
Can You Take Your German Shepherd Running?
As herding dogs, these buddies had to run in the fields for a long time. Their athletic abilities make them excellent jogging companions. Most healthy German Shepherds will have no issue with running. However, some dogs can’t enjoy this intense sport safely. Luckily, there’s normally always a solution to adapt this activity for your buddy’s conditions!
What Makes Your Dog Suitable To Run?
Don’t pretend that your German Shepherd is a good running partner. Even if he’s fast, tough, and active, some conditions could restrict him from enjoying this sport. Your dog could suffer from serious injuries or problems because of intense dog sports. That’s why you need to make sure he’s suitable to run before you go on trails with him!
Breed.
The breed of your furball can make you learn a lot of things about your buddy. It’s very interesting to do some research on German Shepherds to discover useful information. As I already told you, your dog’s origin isn’t a problem for you, let’s pass to another factor!
Health.
Dogs with any kind of health problem shouldn’t run without vet authorization. Even if you think your buddy is healthy enough to enjoy dog sport, you can’t be sure at 100%. That’s why it’s highly recommended to visit your veterinarian before you change anything to his exercise routine!
For example, your German Shepherd could suffer from hip/elbow dysplasia. This hereditary disease is enough to restrict him from running. Neglecting his health could cause him unnecessary injuries or pain!
Don’t Run With These Dogs!
- Overweight Companions.
- Injured Dogs.
- Pooches With Fragile Structures.
- Etc.
Energy/Desire.
Generally, this should be a problem for your situation. High-energy dogs are craving for physical stimulation and intense activities! However, your German Shepherd could have no desire to run with you. This would be very surprising, but you need to respect your dog’s limits and preferences!
Is Running With You Good For Your German Shepherd?
Some people are wondering if running can be bad for their dogs. Unfortunately, some furry pets could get hurt or suffer because of too intense exercise. Normally, nearly all German Shepherds should only benefit from regular jogs. Nonetheless, running can only be good for your dog if he’s suitable for it and you respect his conditions!
Physical activity has a lot of advantages both for humans and dogs. Therefore, running is something that could improve both your life and happiness. Here are some benefits of this awesome sport for your canine!
Great Source of Exercise!
As you know, German Shepherds need a minimum of 1 or 2 hours of physical stimulation. Running with your dog could be the best way to spend his energy. Moreover, this sport will strengthen both your muscles, regulate your weight, and improve your general health!
Mental Stimulation and Well-Being!
As a smart dog, your furball’s brain needs some entertainment. Jogging will indeed stimulate him mentally. On the other hand, he might need more brainwork to avoid boredom and be satisfied. For more mental stimulation, you could try fun brain games to improve your buddy’s happiness and health!
Strengthen Your Bond!
Having a good relationship with your companion isn’t always easy. German Shepherds are very loyal and protective buddies that make them amazing furry friends. Who doesn’t want a better relationship with his dog? With activities like running, your bond with your companion will improve and that can be very nice!
Enjoy The Outdoors!
Morning runs are very interesting to start the day well. Enjoying fresh air, good exercise, and the outdoors is awesome to start the day off on the right foot! If you like nature, jogging in the forest will allow you to enjoy this revitalizing place. There are so many benefits to enjoying the outdoors with your dog, don’t neglect them!
Some Benefits For The Runner!
Running with your German Shepherd isn’t only interesting for him. To be honest, you will probably benefit from more advantages than your dog would. For example, your jogging partner is an excellent motivation to get more active and healthy! Besides, there are many benefits of running such as reducing stress, preventing health issues, controlling your weight, etc. As you can understand, regular runs are excellent both for dogs and humans!
Are German Shepherds Good Running Partners?
These talented dogs are very interesting to run with. Strong, tough, and fast, they can keep up the pace with experienced runners or beginners. As herding dogs, they also crave work and need a lot of exercise. Therefore, German Shepherds are very good as running partners. I’m sure that your active pooch will love to work out with you!
With their energy, stamina, and impressive athletic capacities, they can be amazing both for long jogs or fast sprints. Easy to train, agile, and loyal, GSDs are very likely to enjoy running. Furthermore, these companions will also be interesting for other dog sports like canicross or agility training!
What makes them good jogging buddies? Their medium size, strength, speed, stamina, and intelligence, make them ideal furry friends for runners. Overall, the German Shepherd is among the best running dog breeds!
How Far (or Fast) Can German Shepherds Run?
High-energy and athletic dogs have some potential to run long distances. Well prepared, German Shepherds are capable of running up to 20 miles (32 km)!
Some very healthy and athletic buddies can jog a little bit longer distance. Take note that not every furball can run so long distances safely. Normally, this dog breed should be able to jog at least 5 miles (8 km). The ideal running distance for your German Shepherd could be anywhere between 3 and 10 miles (5-16 km) and could increase with some practice!
How Long Should You Run With Your Dog?
Depending on many things such as your goals and the conditions of your dog, the best running time could be anywhere from 10 minutes to 2 hours. Make sure that your workout partner is well trained before doing intense physical activity for a long time. This will allow him to build good strength and stamina!
Starting to run slowly is very important to give your dog the chance to keep up with your pace. This dog breed is very fast and can enjoy any type of running, so your German Shepherd shouldn’t have any problem following you. Nonetheless, he will still need time and preparation to improve his physical abilities like anybody else!
You can read this article on the Embora Pets site [Link Open In a New Tab] to know more information about the capacity of German Shepherds to run long distances!
How Fast Can German Shepherds Run?
In general, dogs can run about 15 to 20 miles per hour (24-32 km/h). Some fast breeds such as Greyhounds can run up to 45 mph (72 km/h) for short distances. That’s impressive for such small dogs to have that much speed. In comparison, German Shepherds’ running speed can reach up to 30 mph (48 km/h). Thus, your dog shouldn’t have any problem keeping up with your pace. However, that doesn’t mean you will need to be as fast as your companion to jog with him. He will love to follow your pace whatever your running speed is!
3 Things To Know Before Running With Your Dog!
Now that you understand if your German Shepherd is well-suited to run, you’re almost ready to start. If you’re still not sure that your buddy is suitable for this sport, you should probably visit your vet!
You may think that you know your furry companion well, but jogging safely is important. There is some specific information about your dog breed that is crucial to be aware of before you enjoy this intense activity. Here are 3 things you need to know to start running safely!
Don’t Run With Puppies (or Senior Dogs)!
Young dogs are still growing, so they are very fragile. Even if they seem to have a lot of energy, puppies can hurt themselves permanently with intense sports. That’s why you should consider low-impact activities for your puppy such as walking, tag, or other fun activities!
When Can You Start Running With Your Pup?
GSDs take around 2 to 3 years before they are fully grown. Fortunately, you’re not obligated to wait all this time to enjoy intense sports with your pup. Generally, your German Shepherd can start running safely around 12 to 18 months of age!
What About Senior Dogs?
Old German Shepherds can also have issues with intense activities. Therefore, make sure your senior buddy doesn’t suffer when he runs. At an elderly age, you should find another low-intensity favorite sport or activity to enjoy with your dog!
Be Careful With Extreme Temperatures!
Running when it’s too hot or cold can be very dangerous for your companion. Luckily for you, German Shepherds tolerate the heat and cold relatively well!
During hot days over 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24°C), it’s probably too hot to do intense physical activity safely. (When it’s too hot to run with your dog?) For their cold tolerance, these dogs can withstand temperatures up to -15°F (-26°C) for a short time. Therefore, you need to make sure the weather is safe to avoid heatstroke, frostbite, or even hypothermia!
Pay Attention To Your Companion!
My last advice is simply to take care of your running partner. That’s so obvious that many dog owners don’t even apply it. Too often, I see people jogging with their earphones without ever looking at their dogs!
That’s not only very irresponsible, but this can also be dangerous for your German Shepherd. Paying attention to him is essential to learn his language and notice warning signs. He could need water, rest, snacks, or even be injured!
It’s extremely important to know your dog well to run with him safely. You need to know his limits and conditions to respect them. Besides, simply looking at your German Shepherd regularly will be enough to assure his ability to keep up running!
Be Prepared!
There’s much more useful information you should know to jog safely with your buddy. The three things I just shared with you are probably the most important things to know. To sum up, this sport is awesome to keep you both healthy and happy when you take some precautions!
Here’s an interesting video to help you start jogging with your companion!
Are you serious about taking your German Shepherd running? In this case, I highly recommend you to read my article about the 21 dos and don’ts to run with your dog!
Last Thoughts About Running With German Shepherds!
Finally, I wish you to have a lot of fun while running with your German Shepherd. Starting to enjoy more physical activity can seriously change your life. Even if you’re not the best at it, you can still benefit from this awesome activity with your dog!
By the way, being faster or better at long distances than your friends isn’t the goal. I truly believe that the best runner out there is the one having more fun than others! Therefore, don’t forget to enjoy every sport that you’re doing with your buddy. I hope this article helps you understand that you can take your German Shepherd running. My Labrador and I would be extremely happy to meet you on trails with your furry jogging partner!
