Golden Retrievers are awesome active companions for families. As sporting dogs, they will need plenty of daily intense exercise. That’s why working out with your buddy could be an awesome idea!
Running with your dog is perfect to keep you both healthy, in shape, and happy. Fortunately, Goldens are excellent jogging partners. They can run very fast, but you might wonder: Can Golden Retrievers run long distances safely?
Golden Retrievers can run long distances rather easily. With some training and preparation, they will be suitable for endurance running anywhere from 2 to 15 miles! This breed has good stamina, speed, and athletic qualities to enjoy intense sports. Smart, tough, and easy to train, Goldens can make excellent long-distance running partners!
Exercise Needs of Golden Retrievers!
Retriever dog breeds are generally very active companions that need a lot of exercise. As high energy buddies, you can’t let your Golden on the couch all day long. Physical activity like running, swimming, or other fun sports are great ways to exercise your dog!
Just to give you an idea, they are among the most active breeds in the world. Just like humans, dogs require both physical and mental stimulation for their well-being. Thus, let see how much exercise your Golden Retriever needs!
Originally bred to work or assist hunters, Goldens will love to exercise outdoors. These active buddies require plenty of opportunities to exercise, play, and get mentally entertained. In general, Golden Retrievers will need at least 1 to 2 hours of exercise per day. It can include daily walks, running, swimming, games, and other canine sports or activities!
Walking your dog is the minimum you can do to spend his energy daily. However, it’s not enough for high-energy breeds such as the Golden Retriever. Therefore, more intense sports are excellent to keep your buddy healthy, happy, and fit. That’s why running is such a good source of exercise for an active companion like yours!
What If You Don’t Give Enough Exercise To Your Dog?
Without enough physical activity, your buddy could find a way to entertain himself. Especially with high-energy dogs like Retrievers, it’s essential to keep them active and busy with plenty of playtime!
The most frequent consequences of a lack of exercise are boredom and behavioral issues. In other words, your Golden could become destructive and start digging, chewing, or barking for no reason!
Moreover, this breed might be prone to overweight without enough exercise because these furballs are voracious food lovers. An excess of weight could cause more serious health problems such as joints damages, heart disease, etc. That’s why it’s crucial to make sure your Golden Retriever has enough playtime to improve both you and your dog’s life!
Is It OK To Run With Your Golden Retriever?
Unfortunately, not all dogs are suitable to enjoy running safely. The breed isn’t the only characteristic to look at before you consider changing your buddy’s exercise routine. Many other elements can restrict your Golden from doing intense sports!
The most simple and efficient way to know if your dog is suitable to run is to ask your vet. However, it’s always interesting to do your own research on the topic. Here are some conditions to analyze to see if your dog can run safely!
Health.
This is the most important thing to take into consideration before running. Like humans, dogs need to be in good health to do intense physical activity safely!
Goldens are generally healthy, but they are prone to specific health conditions like all pets. Their most common problem is probably hip or elbow dysplasia. This type of structural issue is very dangerous and painful for furry runners. Thus, make sure your companion is healthy enough to bring him with you on running trails!
Overweight.
As you probably know, Goldens are voracious eaters that can easily gain weight. If your dog is obese, it might seem like an excellent idea to start running with him. However, running isn’t the safest way to lose weight for dogs!
This intense activity has more risk to hurt or injure them than to improve their health. If your buddy has some extra pounds (or kg), the best solution is probably to put him on a diet and try low-intensity with him activities such as walking or swimming!
The ideal weight for Golden Retrievers:
- Males should weigh between 65 and 75 pounds (30 to 34 kg).
- Females should weigh between 55 and 65 pounds (25 to 30 kg).
How to know if your Golden is overweight? Touch your dog’s belly with your hands and try to feel his ribs. If you can’t touch each of his ribs using gentle pressure, your buddy is probably overweight!
Recent Injuries.
Has your Golden had a recent injury? If it’s the case, don’t run with him. Intense sports for injured dogs can make the pain worse or injure them permanently!
It’s crucial to let your Golden fully recover from any kind of injury. After your vet gives you the OK to restart exercising, you must begin very slowly. Just make sure your companion is top shape before you run with him again!
Athletic Qualities.
This is probably the one element that most people don’t analyze properly. Bad athletic characteristics won’t restrict most dogs from running. Every dog breed can be suitable to run, you just need to adapt the intensity, distance, and speed for your partner’s conditions!
For Golden Retrievers, this shouldn’t be a problem at all. They have good stamina, speed, and physical qualities to enjoy jogging. Their strength, intelligence, running endurance, and agility make them ideal running partners for short and long distances!
Energy/Desire.
As one of the most active dog breeds, energy isn’t a problem at all. Most Goldens will love to go on regular jogs with their owner!
However, sometimes maybe they won’t have any desire to run. That’s OK, and you should always respect your dog’s preferences/limits. Personally, my Golden and Labrador Mutt craves for more physical activity almost all the time!
Overall, it’s more than OK to run with Golden Retrievers. Active breeds like this one will rarely have issues with intense sports. If your buddy can run while you’re playing together in your backyard, he should be alright with more serious running!
However, it’s always safer to confirm your dog’s suitability to run with an expert opinion. That’s why I highly recommend you to visit your veterinarian before to start running with your Golden!
Can Golden Retrievers Run Long Distances?
Natural furry runners such as Huskies or Vizslas can jog for a very long time. Hunting breeds are also well known to be awesome endurance running partners. With that said, it’s not surprising that Goldens can run long distances quite easily!
These buddies aren’t only good family dogs. They are also very athletic companions. What makes them capable of running longer than most other breeds and people? Here are the main reasons why Golden Retrievers can run long distances!
Golden Retrievers’ History.
As working or hunting dogs, they were originally bred to achieve difficult tasks. This breed had to hike long distances in the mountains, retrieve in the water, and run most of the time!
With his ancestor’s background, your dog should be suitable for intense physical activity. In other words, the Golden Retriever has been conditioned to run long distances rather easily!
Stamina.
Running endurance is one of the most important qualities to be suitable for long jogs. In general, most dogs can run anywhere from 2 to 5 miles. Luckily for you, Goldens have excellent stamina that allows them to enjoy canicross, half-marathon, or other endurance running types!
Speed.
Normally, dogs can run way faster than humans. If you think your dog is too slow, it’s probably a problem of endurance rather than speed. For example, small dogs such as Whippets or Greyhounds can sprint very fast (up to 45 mph or 72 km/h), but only for short bursts!
Your buddy shouldn’t have difficulty to overtake you while running. In general, dogs run around 15-20 miles per hour (24-32 km/h), while Golden Retrievers can reach speed up to 35 mph (56 km/h)!
Agility.
Agile dogs have a balance between their strength and control. This quality is very useful to run long distances, especially in wild trails. In general, most Golden Retrievers are very agile!
Personally, I love running (or hiking) in the forest with my Golden and Lab mix buddy. This type of activity requires good agility to avoid injuries and to keep up with advanced cross country runners. Nonetheless, it doesn’t really matter if your Golden isn’t very agile. He can still be suitable for long runs without this quality!
Trainability.
As smart and obedient dogs, you won’t have any issue training your Golden. For cross country, canicross, or long-distance races, running cues can be very useful!
That’s why it’s useful to have a dog that’s easy to train. Teaching the basics of how to run to your dog will be more simple for Golden Retriever owners!
With all these qualities, your dog will love to jog longer distances with you. Not a lot of dogs have enough stamina to run 5 miles, 10 miles, or more. We’re lucky that Golden Retrievers have that running endurance!
Are Goldens Good Short & Long-distance Running Partners?
Indeed, they are good running partners for any distance. Golden Retrievers can enjoy both short bursts and endurance jogging!
However, your dog will probably enjoy more long and steady running than sprinting. With their impressive stamina, Golden Retrievers are awesome long-distance running partners!
How Many Miles (Or Km) Can Golden Retrievers Run?
Even if this breed is well-suited for long-distance jogs, not every dog can run a marathon. How long a dog can run will vary depending on many factors. With some training, a Golden Retriever should be suitable for running between 2 to 5 miles (3 to 8 km) quite easily if he’s healthy!
Some very athletic Goldens could even run more than 10-15 miles (16-24 km). Here are some elements that will influence if your energetic companion can run such long distances or not!
Experience.
Like humans, dogs need some preparation to run long distances. Whatever how active your Golden is, some physical preparation is required to jog safely!
That’s why it’s not recommended to do ultra-long distances with your unexperimented pup. After some practice, your buddy will improve his stamina and be ready to enjoy endurance running!
Health.
The healthier your companion is, the better jogging buddy he will be. Thus, some dogs can benefit from healthy habits to run longer than others. Happily, it’s not complicated to change your Golden bad habits into healthy ones. Eating well, doing physical activity regularly, and many other simple things can help him to improve his health!
Shape.
Strong running companions will be able to keep up more easily on longer distances. With the right amount of regular exercise, your dog will build strength and stamina. He could also improve his agility, endurance, and other athletic qualities with proper physical activity!
To keep it simple, Golden Retrievers will be suitable to run anywhere from 2 to 5 miles (3 to 8 km) quite easily and up to 15 miles (24 km) for excellent running dogs. Thus, they are good running partners for nearly every type of runner! (short or long distances, beginner or advanced, etc.)
How To Train And Prepare Your Golden Retriever To Run Long Distances?
Preparation is the key to jog with your dog safely. It’s very good to train your buddy when he’s still young. However, you must be very careful with puppies because they are fragile!
Socialization.
However, you can begin to socialize your Golden very young. Bring him outside to explore the world. Expose him to loud noises, other animals, people, water, etc. This will prevent him from being anxious or uncomfortable while running on trails!
Physical Preparation
Your doggie also needs to be athletic enough to run long distances. Once he’s an adult, you can start conditioning your furball physically. Simple daily walks, more intense exercise, and fun active games are great ways to improve his ability to run with you!
Obedience Training.
Normally easy to train, you shouldn’t have behavioral problems with Golden Retrievers. However, it’s important to master basic training commands to keep control over your buddy while running!
5 Things to Know Before Running With Your Golden!
Now that you know if your dog can run long distances, you’re almost ready to go on trails with. Before you start running together, there’s still some more information you must understand. Here are my 5 best tips to run with your Golden Retriever safely!
Don’t Run With Too Young Goldens!
Puppies aren’t suitable to enjoy intense sports safely. Therefore, you should wait until your buddy is fully grown before considering running with him!
Goldens take around 12 to 18 months before they stop growing. Therefore, the sooner you could run seriously with your buddy is around one year of age!
Be Careful With Senior Dogs!
Your dog’s age matters. With time, he will become more fragile and less active. Thus, your Golden Retriever will eventually be too old to run without hurting himself!
That’s why it’s important to reduce the running intensity for senior dogs. Furthermore, your buddy might have to try lower energy activities such as walking, fetch, or other fun games at his golden age!
Don’t Run In Extreme Heat or Cold!
Not every weather is safe to run with your Golden. This dog breed will generally be comfortable with temperatures anywhere from 50°F to 80°F (10 to 27°C)!
While running, most Golden Retrievers should be able to tolerate cold temperatures up to 40F° (4°C). For hot days, you should be very careful if you decide to run (or do an intense activity) with your dog when it’s over 75°F (24°C)!
Have The Right Running Gear!
Jogging with your dog isn’t an expensive sport. However, you should consider investing in quality gear to run long distances safely and comfortably!
You must have the essential running equipment that includes water, snacks, good running shoes, waste bags, a leash, and a big smile for everyone’s safety. Moreover, specific gear such as a running or hand-free leash, dog harness, jogging backpack, collapsible bowl, and other accessories for runners could be very useful especially for long distances!
Pay Attention To Your Golden Retrievers!
My last tip is to regularly look at your dog to know if he’s alright. It’s essential to make sure your buddy is top shape before, during, and after running!
Too many runners completely ignore their furry companion while running. That’s very irresponsible and dangerous, so don’t make that mistake. You should check your Golden at least every 1 or 2 minutes. This simple habit could prevent him from unnecessary pain or injuries!
Other Resources About Running Long Distances With Golden Retrievers!
I’ve written another blog post that presents 21 dos and don’ts to run with your dog safely!
Here’s an excellent article [Link Open In a New Tab] on the Easy Retriever Training website you might want to read for extra information about running with your Golden Retriever!
Other Similar Dogs Well-Suited To Run Long Distances!
You’re looking for the best breed to run with? Golden Retrievers is definitely in the top companions for endurance running. Here are some dogs with excellent stamina, speed, and other running qualities for long distances!
- Labrador Retrievers.
- German Shepherds.
- Border Collies.
- Australian Shepherds.
- Siberian Huskies.
- Vizslas.
- Weimaraners.
- Mixed Breeds! (Of Athletic Dogs)
- Etc.
Some Fun Activities To Try With Golden Retrievers!
By the way, running with your dog isn’t the only thing you can enjoy to spend some energy together. There are plenty of fun canine activities or sports that are great for active companions. Let me share with you some of the coolest things you can do with your Golden Retriever!
- Play Fetch or Frisbee.
- Canicross.
- Hiking.
- Hunting.
- Agility Parkour.
- Obedience Training.
- Teaching Fun Tricks.
- Swimming.
- Dock Diving.
- Play in the Water (or Sprinkler), Leaves, or Snow.
- Hide and Seek.
- Tag.
- Etc.
Last Thoughts About Running Long Distances With Golden Retrievers!
Finally, Goldens aren’t only suitable to run long distances, but they are actually good at it. However, make sure to begin slowly and gradually while teaching him the proper running techniques. Getting started with this dog sport isn’t always easy although it can be very fun!
Another important thing to keep in mind is that jogging should be something that both you and your dog enjoy. So, don’t only run to reap its numerous benefits, try to have fun while doing it!
Take your time to improve your dog’s running skills, and you will become more active together. I truly hope to see you on running trails with your Golden Retriever in the next months or even years!