Can my mini daschund walk 20k?

[Chinnychinnychinnychib]

My 2 year old mini comes running with me, I run about 30k a week. Tomorrow I am walking 20k, is that too far for her? She always keeps up (usually far ahead!) on a run but that’s 10k max at a time.

[LolaSmiles]

My dogs aren't that small and I would be very wary of doubling long distance exercise without building up to it.

[vanillandhoney]

I wouldn't take my beagle that far without building up to it. Going from 10k to 20k is a huge, huge jump.

I think you risk doing serious damage.

[Honeyroar]

My terrier cross regularly walks three or four hilly miles a day, but if we go over 10k or 7 miles she gets tired. I’d not ask her to do 20.

[Chinnychinnychinnychib]

Good, thanks everyone, that’s what I thought but DH thought she might be able for it.

[Iamblossom]

Sooooo weird i just posted the exact same question, except my sausage is 3....🙄🙄🙄

I won't take mine with me tomorrow either then...

[AvocadosBeforeMortgages]

I've got a sausage cross, only a little older, and I don't think he'd cope with 20km to be honest.

Mind you, last time I asked myself a similar question, I landed myself in hospital during the hike, while the dog was fine

[DahliaDay]

It’s just under a half marathon!!!

No way

[Schmoozer]

I have shitz zhus and I say no way !!

[Ihaventgottimeforthis]

Can you take a carrier?

[Elieza]

You have good running shoes presumably? Because without them you will have shin splints and joint pains (if not now, later in life)

Your dogs don’t.

I can’t help but think these walks are too long, certainly if in hard surfaces other than grass. Your animals will be in pain in later life?

Perhaps you should speak to the vet and see what she recommends you do? Would you recognise shin splints if your dog had them?

[Elieza]

I said walks I meant runs!

[Chinnychinnychinnychib]

I asked the vet a while back about how much exercise my dog could/should do and he was a bit vague. I only run on the forest, i think she’d get very sore paws in the roads.

[Motorina]

I have beagles. Tomorrow we start a 100 mile in a week challenge. They’ll be doing it all with me.

Yes, your dog can do 20k.

[LolaSmiles]

Chinnychinnychinnychib
Dogs can run on roads but it's important to make sure that it's not at an awkward pace for them.

Dog A has a comfy trot along pace that is a steady easy run for me, so if I fancy going for a gentle run then they come with me quite a lot.
Dog B's preferred running pace is faster than I can manage to sustain and she doesn't have a comfy trot so she doesn't come running as much and I'll tend to go out with her if I want to do walk and speed work intervals. Most of my runs are mixed terrain and trail is my preference with them.

[Covidpolice]

I have a chihuahua so same sort of size. This would kill her. I took her 5km and she was exhausted for days after. I wouldn't even attempt this.

[vanillandhoney]

Yes, your dog can do 20k.

Yes, but you should build up to such long walks or runs. Just because a dog CAN do the kind of distance, doesn't mean they should.

I have a beagle too and I wouldn't expect him to do 100 miles in a week without massively building him up to it first. They might be hunting dogs but that doesn't mean they're designed to run huge distances each day without a break.

[Mydoglicksplates]

I'd be worried about the heat tomorrow but not the distance if dog is used to doing 30km a week especially as walking instead. Take breaks and watch the dog and carry if needed.

[InkogKneeToe]

I wouldn't suddenly double her max length especially on what's probably going to be a hot day.

It also depends on the kind of walk. I've taken my dogs on 15-20 mile walks but they've taken all day, the dogs have been able to mooch about at their own pace, several rest stops for water/snacks to keep their energy up and been generally on much cooler days (last one was in October). One still asks for her evening walk after a hike too!

[vanillandhoney]

I'd be worried about the heat tomorrow but not the distance if dog is used to doing 30km a week especially as walking instead.

30km across seven days (so broken down to 7km a day) is very different to 20km in one day.

In the former situation, the dog has 24h rest time or so in between - an opportunity to sleep, eat a meal or two and rest adequately. The latter, not so much.

Dogs will often go and go even when they shouldn't. It's why there's limits on the distances puppies should walk - because they won't stop on their own, they need someone stop them for their own health.

[Mollymalone123]

Just please be aware of the heat and humidity- personally I think that is too far for your dog.