Did you ever wonder why your Cockapoo keeps running around all day long? Cockapoos (or Spoodles) are adorable small dogs very popular for their fun and affectionate personality. Who could guess that a mix between the Cocker Spaniel and the Poodle would make an amazing hybrid dog? These cute furballs have the stable and sweet attitude of Cocker Spaniels. They also have some poodle qualities such as being people-oriented and having a lot of energy!
So Cockapoos will love to play some interactive games with you because of their playfulness. As relatively high-energy buddies, they will need plenty of exercise time! Running with your dog could be very fun for active people. Here’s the subject of my recent reflection: Can you take your Cockapoo running?
Yes, you can absolutely take your Cockapoo running. Actually, this dog can make an excellent running partner. These active dogs will love to run a few miles (or km)! Like Poodles and Cockers, your dog will need regular athletic workouts. Cockapoos are resilient, smart, and have good stamina, essential qualities for a good jogging companion!
Be aware that not all dogs can enjoy running safely. After your reading, you will be able to know if your buddy is suitable to run. Let’s start by giving you more information about your companion’s physical activity requirements!
How Much Exercise Does Your Cockapoo Need?
Spoodles were originally bred as hunter companions or as utility dogs. This can explain why they are so people-oriented and close to their owner. These furry friends are able to hike long distances, swim in the water, and spend a lot of time outdoors!
To do these things, Cockapoos need to have a good energy level and stamina. Luckily for active people, these furballs are smart, energetic, and extremely playful. However, they aren’t excessively active dogs that have limitless energy!
Your Cockapoo could need anywhere from 30 to 120 minutes of exercise every day. Most resources say that 30 to 60 minutes is enough for your buddy. However, you will see that some high-energy Spoodles will need around 1 to 2 hours of daily physical activity!
Find how much exercise your Cockapoo needs!
Low-energy activities such as walking, fetch or other fun games can be awesome to exercise a Cockapoo. For more active owners, dog sports such as running, swimming, biking, and other more intense canine sports could be better options! Jogging with your Cockapoo is a great way to exercise you both on a regular basis. Continue reading to make sure your buddy is well-suited for this physical activity!
Can You Take Your Cockapoo Running?
As I found out recently, Cockapoos are normally suitable to run. With their medium size, intelligence, and superb energy, they are good jogging buddies. Even if this dog breed requires plenty of exercise, that doesn’t mean it’s good to run! Most Spoodle will be able to go on trails safely for regular training. Nevertheless, some active dogs can have issues with running!
What Makes Your Cockapoo Suitable To Run?
Now that you know the dog breed isn’t a problem, there are other elements to analyze. Normally, it’s possible to observe some signs that confirm your buddy can’t jog safely. Nonetheless, some issues aren’t obvious and need a professional eye. That’s why it’s highly recommended to visit your vet before starting to run with your Spoodle!
Health.
That’s the most important element to be suitable to enjoy intense sports. Like humans, dogs can suffer from health issues. Some medical conditions could prevent them from running! Cockapoos are generally healthy dogs, but there are always some exceptions. Your dog could suffer from painful defects of the knees and hips, heart problems, or other serious issues. Make sure your buddy’s health condition doesn’t restrict them to jog with you!
Energy/Desire.
As moderate-energy dogs, some rare Spoodles could be too lazy to run. Normally, energy shouldn’t be a problem for these buddies. Your Cockapoo will love to jog with you and spend his energy outside! Please don’t pretend your companion is an enthusiastic runner. It’s essential to respect your friend’s desire. Some dogs don’t like purposeful running, and that’s totally OK!
Weight.
It could seem like an excellent idea to start running with your overweight dog. However, intense physical activity can have bad repercussions on obese buddies. Their few extra pounds (or kg), put extra strain on their joints and bones! This pressure will increase the risks of injury and hurt your companion. Make sure your Cockapoo has a healthy weight (around 12 to 24 pounds or 5.4 to 10.9 kg) before considering running with him!
Injured Dogs.
Obviously, injured dogs aren’t suitable to run. It’s crucial for their safety to wait until their full recovery before restarting their exercise routine. Moreover, you need to begin with very low-intensity activities to let an injured buddy regain their athletic qualities!
Do Cockapoos Like Running?
Not only do dogs require regular exercise, but they also enjoy it. With their hunting instinct, Cockapoos will love to run around in your backyard. Their playfulness is awesome to try new activities and games regularly!
Your furry companion will happily enjoy more serious running with you. This sport is very interesting for active Cockapoo owners that want to be more active with their furballs. However, even if your dog likes to jog, it doesn’t mean that’s good for him! For example, your companion could suffer from a structural issue and enjoy running anyway. This health problem could perhaps cause him serious or permanent injuries or pain!
In short, yes Cockapoos like running with their owner for a few miles or kilometers! As a good jogging companion, regular jogs could be very good for both your health, well-being, and happiness. Nonetheless, the desire to jog isn’t the only element to be suitable for this intense activity. Make sure your buddy is suitable and enjoys running to start exercising him that way!
Are Cockapoos Good Running Partners?
Poodles are very interesting running partners for long and short distances. Cocker Spaniels are well suited to enjoy regular jogs. With the mix of these two breeds, it’s not surprising that Cockapoos are excellent running companions!
Some dogs are natural runners such as Huskies, Vizslas, or Weimaraners. Their athletic characteristics are very impressive and developed to be fast, strong, and tough. The best dog breeds to run with have a lot of elements in common. Let’s see what makes a good jogging partner!
Size.
Medium-sized dogs are generally more likely to be good runners. Ultra-small buddies will have difficulty keeping a good pace on long distances. Giant or super large furry pets could hurt themselves doing too intense dog sport!
There are some exceptions such as the Jack Russell Terrier which is among the best running companions. Cockapoo is relatively small but perfect to keep pace with good runners!
Energy.
Animals with a lot of energy will love to go on long and tough runs. Breeds such as Poodles, Dalmatians, or Border Collies are tireless. Cockapoo has enough energy to jog regularly, but they could run all day long!
Speed.
Their speed shouldn’t be a problem like most dogs. Cockapoos can run up to 20-25 miles per hour (32-40 km/h). It’s really rare that your buddy won’t be able to run faster than you! If you think your companion is too slow for you, there’s probably a problem. Maybe your Spoodle isn’t suitable to run, healthy enough or something else is wrong!
Stamina.
Often, it’s the running endurance that restricts dogs to enjoy jogging. Somehow, that’s not bad news because there’s a solution to that! Stamina is something you can improve easily with training. Too many dog owners underestimate their furry friends. Almost every dog should be able to run 1 or 2 miles (1.5 or 3 km) with some practice. Cockapoos have good stamina that admits them to run long distances! You just need to take your time and let your buddy improve his running skills. That’s why it’s really important to introduce your dog to a jogging routine gradually and slowly!
Other Physical Features.
There are also some other physical characteristics that could make a dog a better running companion. Things like the nose, coat, and ears change a little bit your furball physical abilities. Overall, the Cockapoo has interesting physical and mental capacities to be awesome to run with!
Your Goals, Limits, and Conditions.
As humans, we are all unique just like dogs. Your perfect running partner won’t be the same as mine. Some people will like sprints, others will prefer long steady jogs! Taking your goals and conditions into consideration is important to determine how a good runner is your Cockapoo. Even if your buddy isn’t the ideal jogging companion, you can still enjoy this sport together!
How Many Miles (or Kilometers) Can Cockapoos Run?
Even if these dogs aren’t the best runners in the world, they can help you to improve your running skills. Spoodles have good speed and stamina, the main interesting athletic qualities. With good training, Cockapoos can jog around 3 to 5 miles (5 to 8 km) rather easily!
Preparation is the key to enjoying intense sports safely. The more you work out with your buddy, the better runners you will become. Super active, healthy, and athletic Cockapoos will be able to run up to 10 miles (16 km)! Honestly, that’s more than enough for most runners. These furballs are awesome to motivate you to get more active, fit, and healthy. Spoodles are well-suited for nearly all running types!
5 Things You Should Know Before Running With Your Dog!
Be Careful Running With Cockapoo Puppies or Senior Dogs!
Too young or old buddies can have issues with intense sports. Puppies are too fragile to run purposefully with their owner! As medium dogs, Cockapoos take around 8 to 12 months to be fully grown. After 9 months, you should be able to introduce your buddy to jogging! Senior dogs won’t be able to enjoy running safely all their life. You should be careful if you run with an old dog, lower-intensity activities could be safer!
The Weather Matters!
Extreme temperatures could cause serious injuries or pain to your buddy. Luckily for you, Cockapoos are very tolerant of both cold and hot weather! However, you should still be careful to run when it’s over 75-80 degrees Fahrenheit (24-27°C). For cold temperatures, they should be able to withstand cold temperatures up to 20-25°F (-7 to -4°C) or less for short runs!
What Gear Do You Need For Running With Your Cockapoo?
Running isn’t an expensive activity to start enjoying it. With good running shoes, some water, a leash, waste bags, and a healthy dog, you’re ready to get started!
For longer or more advanced runners, some other gear could be more than useful. Things like a dog harness, hand-free leash, running backpack, and many other running types of equipment are very interesting!
Investing in quality gear is essential to enjoy this sport safely and comfortably. For less than $100 you should be able to find everything you need to run as much as you want with your dog!
Pay Attention to Your Spoodle!
Have you ever seen a runner never taking a look at their buddy? Personally, I see that bad habit very too often in my opinion. Don’t be that person putting his dog in danger every time they run together!
Without taking regular quick looks at your furry friend, you can’t know if he’s alright. If you pay attention to your dog, you will know when he needs water, snacks, breaks, or anything else. It’s imperative to make sure your Cockapoo is fine before, during, and after running!
Have Fun!
The last, but not the least tip is to enjoy the physical activity you’re doing. Even if your buddy is suitable to run, don’t take part in something you don’t like! Happily, it’s extremely easy to enjoy running because it’s fun. Taking fresh air, spending time with your dog, and exercising feel so good! This is probably my favorite dog sport, and it’s accessible to every dog owner. Unfortunately, jogging isn’t fun for everybody. Nevertheless, there are plenty of other interesting dog activities to enjoy!
Bonus Doggie Sports for Cockapoos! (Other Than Running)
To thank you for your time, here’s a small bonus. Whether you like running or not, there are plenty of fun activities to do with your dog. Here are the best things to do with your Cockapoo! (Some top activities for your dog are well explained on Wag!)
- Obstacle Parkours.
- Treasure Hunt.
- Fetch or Frisbee.
- Swimming.
- Canicross.
- Agility Training.
- Hide and Seek.
- Tag.
- Hiking.
- Walking.
- Dog Puzzles.
- Tug of War.
- Backyard Play
- Etc.
Last Thoughts About Running With Your Cockapoo!
Finally, I think you have many options to exercise your buddy. Running is one of the best ways to keep your Cockapoo in good shape, healthy and happy! Your furry friend will love to go on trails for 3 or 5 miles (5 to 8 km) runs. Don’t forget to start slowly and learn your companion the right way to run. I really hope this reading helps you to understand that Spoodles are suitable to jog!
Therefore, good running companions like that shouldn’t be left at home while you work out. I wish you have a lot of fun during your exercise routine. Maybe I will have the pleasure to meet you running with your Cockapoo on trails!