Great Danes are well known for their giant size. These dogs are very useful to protect small dogs or kids from the sun. Although their instinct is to play, they make very good companions for families. This dog breed isn’t always lazy, but a Great Dane could stay a day long on your couch!
With some motivation, active dog owners can have a lot of fun with these gentle giants. Many sporty people like to jog regularly with their dogs. I recently questioned myself to know if you can go running with a Great Dane? You could be surprised by all the interesting information I’ve found on this topic!
Great Danes can be good running partners! With their relatively high level of energy and good physical capacity, they can easily handle short jogs! These giants can run really fast, but not for a long time. It’s always possible to train your dog and build stamina for longer runs. Overall, you can go running short distances with your Great Dane!
How much exercise Great Dane needs?
In general, these gentle giants don’t require excessive exercise. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean you can let your dog be bored on the couch all day long. Like almost every dog, Danes should have daily walks to spend their energy. They also need good mental stimulation, some fresh air, socialization, and an active routine!
This breed shouldn’t exercise intensely or seriously before they are considered adults. I will share with you why puppies can’t run a little bit later on. Let’s see how much exercise your Great Dane needs every day!
On average these giant companions require between 30 to 60 minutes of daily exercise. This number can vary a lot with their age, size, and personality. Every dog has different needs, that’s why you should take the time to know your buddy better!
This exercise time should include walking (or running) and additional free time to play some games or enjoy activities. Entertain mentally your dog with puzzle games, or interactive activities is just as important as physical activity. Over-exercising your Great Dane could cause him issues such as joint pain, paw injuries, etc. Make sure your large furry friend receives enough exercise without exaggerating!
What Makes a Good Jogging Companion?
Now that you know how much exercise your dog needs, let’s see what makes a good dog for running. Many people will tell you that the breed is very important. That’s true, dogs like Weimaraners are better runners than Bulldogs. However, every dog has different limits and conditions. That’s why sometimes the dog breed of your companion isn’t very important. Let’s dive into the most influential things you should look at! (That concern Great Danes.)
Size.
These ultra-tall dogs are not the perfect size to run. Medium-sized dogs like huskies are usually better for jogging. The Great Dane is the tallest dog breed in the world! Their big size and large structure aren’t ideal to run with, but it’s OK. Their musculature and physical aspects make them, not bad runners at all!
Health Problems.
The health of your companion is the most important thing to analyze before running. Even if your dog seems in good shape, he could have some health issues. That’s why I highly recommend you to visit your vet to consider jogging with your buddy!
Here are some more specific medical problems your Great Dane is susceptible to suffering from. For example, heart disease can cause the death of your giant friend. If your dog develops difficulty breathing, bring him as soon as possible to the veterinarian. He could suffer from heart disease that could cause his death. Hip dysplasia is a malformation that often occurs in large dogs. You could hurt your Dane with running if he has any kind of joint problem!
Overweight Dogs.
Your dog has some extra pounds to lose, and you consider running as a solution? This is definitely not the right sport to start exercising your dog. Overweight Danes will have difficulty keeping up with you because of their heavy body. Lower exercise such as walking and putting him on a diet could be a better idea. Once your Dane is now more active, fit, and healthy, you can start introducing him to jogging!
Structure.
This is simply how your dog’s skeleton and tissues are put together. Your buddy needs a solid structure to run with you. Any kind of elbow, hip, or back issues can injure your Dane while jogging! It’s also important to look at your dog’s joints. Larger breeds can have joint issues because of their heavy body. An evaluation could be an excellent idea to make sure your dog is suitable to run!
Overall.
There are many other characteristics and conditions to start running with your Great Dane. Nonetheless, I will have another article that will explain in detail if your dog is suitable to run or canicross. Let’s continue to help you understand how you can run with your companion!
Can You Go Running With a Great Dane?
Yes, but you need to know many things before getting started. Not every Great Dane will be able to keep up with you while running. Some will have health issues, others won’t have enough energy or desire to run. Here’s a resume of what your dog needs to be suitable for jogging!
If your dog is in good health and enjoys his daily walks without any difficulty, it should be OK to run with him. However, a deeper analysis is highly recommended to make sure your furry friend can run safely!
How Fast Can Your A Great Dane Run?
Great Danes were originally used as hunting dogs. That’s a good sign that you shouldn’t have problems making them run. These gentle giants can be awesome running partners especially for short to medium distances! Principally because of their ultra-large and tall structure, Danes can run up to 30 miles per hour (48 km/h). This fact can give you an idea of how good sprinters they can be!
It doesn’t mean you need to run that fast with your dog every time you’re going out. A good furry running partner will be able to adjust their pace and follow his owner. Your Great Dane will copy your pace, but you can always let him enjoy fast sprints to improve your running skills. It’s very interesting to take your time and find the perfect pace for you and your buddy!
Here Are Some Ideas For Great Danes That Can’t Run Safely!
For dog owners that aren’t sure if their companion is suitable to run, there are many other lower-intensity things to try with him. Even if your buddy can be a couch potato sometimes, he needs daily exercise.
- Nature Research.
- Hiking.
- Walking.
- Fetch.
- Obstacle Training.
- Sniffing Games.
- Scavenger Hunt.
- Dog training.
- Etc.
What Type of Physical Activity Is Your Dane Suitable For?
Some active people would like to run long distances with a Great Dane. His history makes him better for short brisk runs than for long jogs. However, you shouldn’t run more than 3 miles with him to not hurt your Apollo dog!
It’s not that they can’t jog 4 to 5 miles, but he would risk hurting or injuring himself with too long distances. Once you introduce your buddy to this physical activity, you can train him to become faster and build stamina!
How To Train Your Dog Safely To Make The Perfect Running Partner?
That’s very simple, preparation and practice is the key. You will need to have a consistent training routine that is adapted to your Dane. You don’t need to pay an expensive dog-training plan or specialist to make your running schedule. Every dog owner that knows his companion well can create a safe exercise routine. Make sure you respect the conditions and limits of your furry running partner!
Before training your dog seriously, you will need a good diet plan for your dog. Improving your dog’s fitness is very similar to doing it for humans. Consistent training, proper nutrition, and patience will lead you to a better, healthier, and happier jogging companion!
How Do You Know If You’re Over-Exercising Your Dog?
If you push the limits of your Great Dane, there could be consequences. When your dog doesn’t feel well he will communicate with you.
Here are some signs that you should stop running and adjust your training!
- Heavy Panting.
- Sweating.
- Regular Stopping.
- Sluggishness.
- Paws Injuries.
- Sore Muscles.
- Confusion.
- Vomiting.
- Etc.
If your Great Dane is unable to keep up with your pace or has any unusual symptoms, it’s a sign to stop. Give them time to rest, drink fresh water, cool them down, and don’t continue any kind of physical activity!
Your dog could be exhausted, overheating, or simply want to stop. You could hurt him if you don’t respect your dog’s limits. For dog owners that like running, you should try other similar activities!
Here Are Some Fun Dog Sports or Activities to Spend Your Dog’s Energy!
- Dog agility.
- Obedience.
- Canicross.
- Hiking.
- Flyball.
- Frisbee
- Etc.
Important Things To Know About Great Danes!
Age.
As I already share with you, puppies aren’t suitable to run. Avoid any intense activity such as running before they are fully grown. The sooner your dog can reach its full height is around 18 months of age. Nonetheless, it’s not rare that a male takes around 3 to 4 years before he becomes mature physically!
That doesn’t mean you can start running before your Dane reaches 4 years old. You can start introducing slowly your companion to running between 18 to 24 months of age. This should be the earliest you should start jogging with your pup!
Training.
While your puppy Dane is too young to run, it’s the perfect time to train them. Like many dogs, the age of your companion will affect their ability to be well-trained. Even if Great Danes are relatively easy to train, it will be ideal to train him as a young pup!
Temperature.
Unfortunately, Great Danes don’t do well in cold climates or extreme heat. Their short coat and low body fat make them bad dogs to run with when it’s especially cold. These dogs with low cold tolerance need to stay inside and shouldn’t get out when it’s under 41 degrees Fahrenheit (5°C)!
You should also avoid any exercise during hot days. Great Danes enjoy taking naps in full sun, they can tolerate heat very well. With a temperature over 70°F (21°C) these gentle giants can be at risk of overheating or heat stroke while running!
What Do You Need To Be Aware of Before Running With Your Dane?
Pay Attention To Your Great Dane!
Too many runners don’t look enough for their dog. This can be very dangerous because your companion could hurt himself without you noticing it. If your jogging partner needs something like water, a break or some snacks, he will make you a sign. That’s why it’s so important to pay attention to your dog while exercising!
Start Slowly!
Your buddy won’t be able to keep up with you if you start too fast. The best way to introduce your dog to running is with a simple 3 steps process. First, become very good at dog walking. After, introduce your Dane to jogging with a run-walk cadence. Finally, improve your dog’s fitness and find the right pace for you and your companion!
Have The Essential Gear!
You don’t need many things to run with your dog. However, you can go jogging with almost nothing. A leash, good shoes, water, waste bags, and snacks could be very useful. For longer runs or canicross, you could need a small backpack, canicross gear, and other optional equipment!
How Often Should You Run With Your Great Dane?
The frequency of jogging with your companion will depend on plenty of elements. Their experience, energy, health, and many other conditions will change how often you should run with your Great Dane. At the start, one day per week could be safer and more efficient. After that, you can slowly increase the distance, frequency, and intensity of your runs. Always remember to don’t push your dog’s limits too hard!
Have Fun!
Don’t forget to enjoy every run or activity with your Great Dane. Exercising these giant dogs can be difficult sometimes, but you can always have fun. Every time you go out with your buddy is an opportunity to have fun!
Last Thoughts About Running With Great Danes!
Finally, most Great Danes can enjoy running safely. Although you still need to adapt this sport to your dog’s conditions. Not every dog is built for jogging, but they can all enjoy low-energy activities!
Exercising your Dane is very important to avoid any behavioral issues. You also need to make sure you’re not over-training your buddy. To get started, a complete guide to running with your companion could help. Therefore, your dog can help you be more motivated to run and get fit!
I wish you success to start being more active with your dog. Running with your Great Dane is an awesome way to improve your well-being, health, and happiness. There are many other benefits you and your buddy can enjoy. I hope you will enjoy regular runs as much as my Labrador and me!
