Small dog running next to bike

[Angrymum202]

I have a King Charles, she is VERY active. I lead a very active lifestyle, we walk 3/4 time in the week extensively in the forest (around 2 hours) and I also take her with me on runs 3 times a week (45 min run) we have gradually built up to this level over the sat two years. Our usual ‘big’ walk is is a 40 min walk (just under 4K) - some days I have been taking my bike for this route, it’s all grass and she runs through the vineyard without a lead. I drive slow and of course she has no lead so can choose the pace, however, she runs ahead of me (as in, I’m never in front) she is free to run as slow as I cycle which is a fast walk for her at best. She does however seem to choose to run and i worry it’s too much for her? We stop regularly to greet other dogs and she doesn’t give me the impression that it’s too much but I worry for the long term impacts and because I don’t usually see other people biking with a small dog. Should I do this? I only do it because on the days I don’t run, I notice that our usual 40 min walk + the 25 min mini route is not enough and she still has loads of energy .. any advice ?

I have considered cycling with our pup. Im not sure she has the sense not to run in front of me is my main concern (and possibly why others maybe dont ) i am going to try it though as she is sooo active it will be good for her.

I can't see it being too much for your dog. Im sure it would let you know if it was.

our usual routine;

mon: 25 min morning walk + 40 min afternoon walk/ run
tues: 15 min morning walk + 1.5-2 hour Forest walk
weds: 15 min morning walk + 45 min run
thurs: 25 min morning walk + 40 min afternoon walk
friday: 1-2 hour Forest walk + 45 min Run
saturday: 25 min morning walk + 45 min run
sunday: 1-2 hour Forest walk + 40 min walk

as per question, I’ve been subbing the 40 min walk of (4K) for a cycle. Max 2x per week

Mine seemingly loves it! She’s three and we have been practising over short distances for about two years. She’s great and watches me and the wheels so I don’t worry I’ll run her over or anything. Does take a bit of practice tho. I started off just doing 5 mins round the block. I’m lucky I have extensive vineyards around us so she has a lot of space to run free. I also have a lead attachment for my bike though, which she also manages very well. We both love it! I do have a bike trailer that I use if we are going longer than half an hour though and she absolutely loves that too! :) good luck!!

She needs rest days just like a human. Rest is important for recovery. I would give her 1 day of full rest at least a week (slow sniff walk)

I do canicross with my dog and rest is a very important part of training. Just like with humans.

That sounds like a lot.

While it's good that she's fit and active, I think it's important that she has some rest days too.

How long of a walk would you suggest for our rest days then? I do find she’s just a live wire if we don’t have at least one long walk a day 🙈

Cavaliers are historically bred to be lap dogs. They are known as being quite lazy, but they also have energy and can run fast.

I think if she has a yearly vet check and is a good weight it's probably ok. Mine has 2x20minutes a day, but a day at the beach, or very active day out and about and she is absolutely shattered when she gets in and just sleeps constantly.

Does she ever seem to heavily pant, cough or hiccup after running?

Rest doesn't necessarily mean a really short walk.

You can still go out for an hour, but just make it a walk focused on mental stimulation and enrichment, not getting her to run all the time.

Dogs need time to sniff and explore their surroundings - they can't do that if they're running beside you at your pace.

Sniff walks are very important to dogs and often can tire a dog way more than miles and miles. I just let my dog sniff at everything for as long as he wants. I'm out for 30/40 minutes and probably only walk 0.5-1 mile. Using their brains like this is good mental stimulation .

He has two days a week minimum doing this. But as a gevrral rule it's one day on running followed by one day off (sniff walk x 2 per day)

He also swims weekly at a canine hydropool.

I read this about the breed too, but I’ve seemingly got one that is way more spaniel than king Charles 😅 she has her yearly vet checks (and so far all good (no heart issues) .. I did tell the vet about our activity levels and she just said to make sure she is not running for extended periods on hard floor/ gravel and to just judge things by her signs. She does pant on our runs / cycles, but not excessively and recovers within 2-5 mins(I’ve been timing it) when we slow down or stop. She doesn’t otherwise cough / hiccup or show any signs that it’s too much. My main concern is arthritis later in life .. I don’t want to cause her long term damage. Just hard to know how much she really needs to be happy as if I do less than my usual routine she just bounces off the walls despite regular mental stimulation as we do alot of trick training and just general playing in the garden with the kids etc 😰

See, thing is, I would say out Forest walks are just this. I take my 4, 2 and 7 month old on these walks and only my baby is in my jogging pushchair, so distance wise it isn’t that long but I actively try and keep us out for at least a good 1.5 hours as we are lucky to have a lot of forest and child friendly walks on our doorstep. Under the pushchair is a little basket designated for my dog and on the rare occasion she has had enough she will jump in and I’ll push her with my son. I just worry that the biking is too much as a few people have said how shocked they are to see a small dog biking with me!!

Under the pushchair is a little basket designated for my dog and on the rare occasion she has had enough she will jump in and I’ll push her with my son.

I find this quite concerning - a young dog shouldn't be so exhausted it can't walk slowly for a couple of hours through forest without needing to jump in and be pushed home.

Has she been checked by a vet to make sure her heart is healthy?

We go yearly for a full health check. We are sadly also often by the vet because in the summer she often gets grass seeds in her ears. I know the vet personally and ask her everytime we are there to check for heart murmurs as I am so worried about that!! When I say had enough, I do not mean that she is so physically exhausted that she can’t walk.. like I say, im walking with a 2 and 4 year old, but she is not the most social dog and finds meeting new dogs quite mentally tiring I think. And if she sees another dog approaching and she is not up for it she will get in there to keep away. I appreciate your concern but I did already mention she was health checked yearly. Because we are otherwise so active, I don’t have an issue pushing her in the pushchair when she wants to be there :)

Personally I think you are over exercising your little dog.
The dog may keep up with you and looking like they enjoy themselves. Dogs are good at hiding things!
There is also a difference between "forced exercise" (=keeping up with you) and natural exercise (=dog running around without you)
Your dog is a small breed and not a very energetic breed. If you keep this up, you'll definitely shorten the dogs life.

I wouldn't cycle with a small dog like yours. As for the walking, that depends on a lot of things...

A 40 minute dog walk is not a long walk!

If your dog is used to a level of walking and it is consistent that is way better than people who suddenly do a long one off walk at the weekend with their dog.

I would not be doing a 2 hour walk and then a 45 min run though on the same day - leave your dog behind for the run.

Get out there enjoy the fresh air and have a fit healthy contented dog!

However do think of the other needs of your dog apart from exercise so do put in some relevant activities eg sniffing, (controlled) hunting etc to the mix

A 40 minute dog walk is not a long walk!

That depends on what you're doing on the walk, how fit your dog is, their age and whether they have any health issues.

I appreciate your concern but I did already mention she was health checked yearly. Because we are otherwise so active, I don’t have an issue pushing her in the pushchair when she wants to be there :)

Fair enough - I just thought it was worth mentioning as not all annual checks will look at their heart properly, and cavaliers are particularly prone. But I'm glad she's okay 😊

Personally I would look at why you're so keen to do lots and lots of intense aerobic exercise with a lap breed like a cavalier. It's not necessarily in her best interests to be doing lots of intense running - and as you're seeing, it won't necessarily tire her out either.

For a spaniel breed I would be focusing more on scent work than long runs. Hiding treats in long grass for her to find, hiding her ball and doing similar. Lots of trick work and mental stimulation too.

Obviously!

However nearly all young healthy dogs should be able to walk 40 mins. I cant think of a breed that should not be fit enough to walk 40 mins.

No wonder we have such overweight dogs if 40 mins is thought to be a lot of exercise for a dog.

The OP was not talking about old dogs - their dog is a fit dog

@ShouldIknowthisalready

I don't think anyone apart from you has said anything about a 40 minute walk being too long, though? Unless I've missed a post somewhere.

People are saying that adding in a 40 minute intense run alongside a bike is a lot for a lap breed like a cavalier, especially on top of all the other exercise she's getting.

It could also explain why the dog is often a bit energetic - as sometimes too much exercise can lead them to be physically fit but not mentally tired.

Hi I ride a mobility scooter I guess not as fast as a cycle but it can be quite fast as it goes to 8 mph anyways I have two dogs. One is now 11 will be 12 in feb, one is 13 will be 14 in June. Both terrier type dogs they always pull vry hard and yes are in front of my scooter. Now I don’t go out every day but I know they would be up for this if I did because when I let them off leads in field on my full pelt they are always in front charging like lunatics. One really chases squirrels and if they lagged behind my scooter I would be very slow but they never do when on lead on way home I go slower but even then they pull so hard to be in front.
I honestly think that dogs love to do this I don’t think just walking on the path is ever enough I love seeing my dogs run mad around fields etc

Brain work is important too.

Running on a lead alongside a bike isnt good for dogs' hearts. It's continous running which is the problem. Since yours is off lead she can pace herself. If she's not spayed, I'd give her a break when she's in season. Otherwise, if she's resting the rest of the day, it sounds ok for a young dog.

I was going to come and say this, what’s she getting mental stimulation wise?