When can puppies start gentle running?

[TooExtraImmatureCheddar]

I have a 5.5 month Border collie and I'd quite like to start running with her at some point. I don't run at the moment so it would be starting with Couch 2 5k, so she'd be eased into it gradually. I know she's not old enough yet (although she runs like a mad thing in the woods!) but I just wondered at what age it would be feasible. Over 1?

I have another stupid question - I often see people on here say that some dogs need a job. What does that mean if you aren't a farmer?

Collies particularly need something to focus their mind, try hoopers to start with, you could then maybe do agility or scurry (more for gun dogs but mine loves it). You could also try scent work and maybe treiball which is great for collies as is sheep herding without the sheep.

I think if I tried canicross with mine I’d end up in the canal after a bloody duck, it might be worth starting to train her to walk to a canicross harness and lead first and I wish you luck.

Thank you - I’ve never heard of hoopers or scurry! Will look them up.

Hoopers is really good for collies and I think you can start it earlier as there is no high jumping apparatus. Scurry is gun dog agility, fetching dummies either hidden or over obstacles.

I would say with collies that brain games are as good, if not better than physical games, if you are not working them. You need to be careful not to train them to need too much exciting activity or you will be making a rod for your own back. Teaching a dog to settle is equally important.

Turns out canicross is what I had in mind without knowing it - the waist belts etc! I’ll see if there are any hoopers/scurry/treiball classes when lockdown stops.

@Sprig1

I would say with collies that brain games are as good, if not better than physical games, if you are not working them. You need to be careful not to train them to need too much exciting activity or you will be making a rod for your own back. Teaching a dog to settle is equally important.

Yes definitely, I should have mentioned that. We tend to do a class a week, try and find areas to walk where she doesn’t get too excited (not easy).

We now do a lot of long line work as she gets too overwhelmed and her recall goes to pot.

I believe that canicross isn't recommended until 1yr to 18 months. For normal jogging I've read 6-8 months. and then limit to a couple of miles.

Thanks, Frenchfancy, it definitely won’t be that long! I need to build up the running too.

I'd say 18 months for things like agility and canicross. Lots of those classes won't let you participate if your dog is under 12 months anyway.

Like PP said, there are tons of brain works activities you could do in the meantime!

I've known agility to be open to dogs younger - they remove the jumps (just leaving the wings in place that the dog walks through), remove the see-saw and leave the a-frame pretty much flat to the ground and focus instead on walking round the course, learning hand and shoulder movements. The focus is (perhaps obviously) on having fun and it's provides some really great learning opps for a young dog, if done right - e.g. how not to be distracted by other dogs, how it can be rewarding to keep focus on owner etc. All without being overly physically taxing.

It's all a bit rubbish right now, but worth looking for classes like that if and when the world turns back upright. If that kind of thing interests you, of course

Thanks guys - she’s a bit young just now anyway, so I’ll have a look in the spring and summer (hopefully they’ll be back on by then!).

I would advise 18 month old before running and build his distance up slowly due to your dog still growing. One of mine is fully grown and I go scooter joring but hes a malamute. There are plenty of other activities you can do with your dog in between like teaching your dog the commands for canicross which some use mushing commands.

There's actually no evidence to support the 'advice' for restricting exercise in puppies. Working collies would be working out in the hills before 12m

There is a difference between a dog running of its own volition and having to go at your speed and for the distance you choose. I wouldn't run in the way you are thinking until the dog is twelve months old. Many working dogs (both herding breeds and gundogs) don't make old bones because they have had too much strenuous exercise too soon.