Can Golden Retrievers Run With You? [6 Important Factors To Consider!]

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So, you’re dying to know “Can Golden Retrievers Run With You?”

Whether you’re an avid runner or a novice, you’ve probably asked yourself this very question.

Every runner needs a good running partner, and what better partner to keep you motivated than your four-legged best friend?

Certain breeds, including Golden Retrievers, make fantastic running partners.

But, before you put on your running shoes and hit the pavement with your Golden Retriever, there are important factors to consider first!

Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about running with your Golden Retriever.

Can Golden Retrievers Run With You?

Yes, Golden Retrievers can run with you! Whether you’re running short or long distances, Golden Retrievers will happily keep pace with you. Running is a great form of exercise for this high-energy breed. But, before you start running with your Golden Retriever, you need to ensure they are the right age, and of good health.

Golden Retrievers Make Great Running Partners, Here’s Why!

Not all dogs are built for running, but, Golden Retrievers are!

This breed has certain characteristics that make them great at running right along with you, no matter the distance.

Let’s look at the qualities that make Golden Retrievers great running partners.

Sporting Breed

Part of the sporting breed of dogs, Golden Retrievers are naturally athletic, active and strong, and require regular invigorating exercise, such as running.

Their well-balanced, athletic body and muscular legs make Golden Retrievers perfect for running, plus they love to run!

Bred To Retrieve

Golden Retrievers were first developed in Scotland to assist hunters by retrieving fallen game on both land and water.

Hunters required a dog to be obedient, have plenty of stamina, and be able to handle any terrain, which included lakes and streams.

The result was a dog that was capable of working alongside hunters, with the physical ability to run, hike and swim for most of the day.

The retrieval instincts of a Golden Retriever, make them great at running, and their strength and stamina make them great running partners.

Eager To Please Their Owners

Golden Retrievers love nothing more than to please their owners. This characteristic makes them easier to handle than other dogs.

They are extremely loyal, which means they will stay by your side while running rather than venture off. This is of course once they have been trained.

Easy To Train

Because of their willingness to please you, along with their love of food, Golden Retrievers are easy to train.

High-quality treats along with plenty of praise will make training your Golden to run with you a much easier task.

RELATED ===> Best Treats For Golden Retrievers.

Love The Outdoors

Golden Retrievers love the outdoors, and they were designed to handle rugged conditions.

Their double coats protect them from the elements and their webbed feet make them excellent swimmers.

They are happy to take part in any activity with you. Swimming is what they love the most, but they are quite content to run or jog along with you.

When Can You Run With A Golden Retriever?

You can start running with your Golden Retriever once they have reached their full maturity at 18 to 24 months of age.

This ensures that your Golden Retriever has fully grown and that their growth plates are closed.

If you run with your Golden before they are finished growing, there is a potential for long-term damage and soft tissue injuries.

Repetitive motion like running, especially on hard surfaces like sidewalks and asphalt, is very damaging to your dog’s joints.

Soft surfaces like grass or forest trails are much better for your Golden Retriever.

6 Important Factors To Consider Before Running With Your Golden Retriever

As we’ve established, your Golden Retriever can be a great running buddy for you!

But, it’s not just as simple as throwing on your sneakers and expecting your Golden to match your stride.

First, you need to take these factors into consideration:

1. Age

The age of your Golden Retriever is a crucial factor that will influence how far and how fast he can run.

As mentioned earlier, you can safely take your Golden Retriever running once they are fully grown, which is around 18-24 months.

You’ll want to start off slow and go on shorter runs with your adult Golden until he can build up his stamina.

What About Puppies?

Golden Retriever puppies are super energetic, but, vigorous exercise like running is too damaging to their growing bodies.

You can safely take your puppy for short walks, a good rule of thumb is 5 minutes of exercise, twice a day for each month of age.

So, if your puppy is 3 months old, 15 minutes of exercise twice a day is sufficient.

How About Running With A Senior Golden Retriever?

It’s no surprise that as dog’s age, they start to slow down.

However, their love of running and playing doesn’t go away.

As long as your senior Golden Retriever is still active and healthy, he can accommodate you on runs.

Just make sure you don’t overdo it. Only take your senior on shorter runs, and watch out for any signs of tiredness, and overheating.

2. Health

Before you run with your Golden Retriever, it’s imperative that they are in good health.

Golden Retrievers are prone to many health issues, including hip and elbow dysplasia.

Running is considered a high-impact exercise, and running for long distances frequently, can be very strenuous on your dog’s muscles, bones and joints.

Golden Retrievers who have hip or elbow dysplasia, will find running difficult and painful. A low-impact activity such as swimming is the best form of exercise for these dogs.

Running might seem like a great idea for your Golden to lose some weight. However, overweight Golden Retrievers should not be taken on long-distance or intense runs.

It is always best to start your overweight Golden Retriever on slower and shorter runs. Long-distance running, and fast runs are much too strenuous and can cause health issues, such as trouble breathing and exhaustion.

Always consult your vet to ensure your Golden Retriever gets a clean bill of health, and that he can accompany you on regular runs.

3. Physical Stamina

A Golden Retriever that doesn’t get much exercise in a day will have less stamina than a Golden that gets 1 to 2 hours of daily exercise.

Physical stamina takes time to build up. You shouldn’t expect an unfit Golden to be able to run long distances with you.

Just as humans build up their stamina with daily exercise, so do our dogs.

Start off slow by adding small stretches of running into your daily walks, then gradually increase the amount of running.

This will allow your Golden to build up his endurance.

4. Leash Training

It’s important to master leash training before you take your Golden running with you.

Ensure that your Golden can walk properly while on a leash.

The last thing you want is to run with a leash attached to your Golden Retriever that is pulling you in all directions. Or, biting and jumping up at the leash.

Walking a Golden Retriever that is untrained on a leash is frustrating, but, running at faster speeds can be dangerous.

5. Weather

Extreme temperatures are not only uncomfortable for your Golden Retriever, but they can be very dangerous as well.

Golden Retrievers do prefer cooler temperatures and enjoy running in the snow.

But, because of their long fur, they tend to get snowballs stuck on their legs and between their paws, which is very uncomfortable for them.

Sidewalks in the winter are also covered with chemical ice melts that can burn their paw pads, and cause them to lift their paws.

Boots or paw wax are important to keep their paws safe.

Running when it’s hot outside can be very dangerous to your Golden Retriever’s health.

Surfaces like sidewalks, asphalt, and sand can quickly heat up and burn your Golden Retriever’s paw pads.

Running during hot temperatures should be avoided, as Golden Retrievers quickly overheat.

6. Running Surface

The running surface can affect your Golden Retriever’s running ability.

Hard surfaces such as sidewalks and pavement cause more stress on your dog’s bones and joints.

Longer runs on these types of surfaces are not advisable, as they can be uncomfortable and cause pain for your Golden Retriever.

Running on softer surfaces such as grass, or dirt trails, are less strenuous, and much better on your Golden Retriever’s body.

How Fast Can Golden Retrievers Run?

Golden Retrievers certainly aren’t the fastest dog breed out there, that title belongs to the Greyhound, but, they’re pretty darn fast!

Golden Retrievers can reach speeds up to 30 to 35 miles per hour, which is faster than a human being.

That is of course taking into consideration their age, health, and fitness level.

Anyone who has played a game of fetch, or has witnessed their Golden do the zoomies, knows just how fast these dogs can be.

While sprinting at top speeds can be accomplished, Golden Retrievers are much better at running slowly for longer periods.

Just for fun here is a comparison of the fastest dog, and fastest human to that of a Golden Retriever:

Golden Retriever Top Speed: 30-35 mph.

Greyhound (Fastest Dog Breed): 45 mph.

Usain Bolt (World’s Fastest Human): 27.33 mph.

So, a healthy and fit Golden Retriever is a faster sprinter than a human being.

How Far Can Golden Retrievers Run With You?

Golden Retrievers that are fit and healthy are capable of running about 5 miles comfortably. Once they build up their endurance, they can run up to 10 miles.

This distance, however, will vary based on the individual dog.

Age, health, the weather and physical stamina all play a role in how far your Golden Retriever can run with you.

Keep in mind that running long distances should only be reserved for healthy adult Golden Retrievers.

Young puppies need to finish growing before they partake in a high-impact exercise like running.

Older Golden Retrievers don’t have the same stamina as they used to and should stick to running shorter distances.

It’s important to always start off slow, and consult your vet to make sure your Golden Retriever is in good health to accompany you on long excursions.

How Often Should You Run With Your Golden Retriever?

As we’ve established, healthy adult Golden Retrievers can keep pace with you for long-distance stretches.

However, it’s important to not overwork your Golden Retriever by running with them too often.

Don’t make running with your Golden Retriever a daily habit, instead opt for 2-3 runs per week.

This allows your dog’s muscles, and joints to recover and not be strained.

Training Your Golden Retriever To Run With You

If your Golden Retriever is anything like mine, they get distracted easily. I like to say that my Golden Retriever has attention deficit disorder! LOL!

My Ellie pulls me in all directions when we’re walking because she needs to sniff everything, and her prey drive kicks into gear when she sees a squirrel or chipmunk.

Don’t get me started on how stubborn she is! If she doesn’t want to walk in a certain direction, she will plop herself in a sitting position!

Obviously, this is problematic when running!

If this sounds like your Golden, rest assured you can train them to be focused and stay by your side while running.

Here are some helpful tips to follow:

Consult Your Vet First

Make sure your Golden is in good health. Your vet will be able to assess your dog’s fitness level.

Walk Before You Run

You want to make sure your Golden has excellent leash manners. Master walking on a leash first before trying to run.

Use Proper Gear

Here are some essential items for running with your Golden Retriever:

• Leash or Hands-Free Leash. A shorter leash gives you better control and keeps your Golden close to you. You may wish to use a hands-free leash instead.

• Collar or Harness. A harness is a better option to prevent strain on your Golden’s neck.

• Water Bottle & Collapsible Bowl. Both you and your dog will need to stay hydrated.

• Poop Bags. Always clean up after your dog.

• Treats. You’ll need treats to reward your dog for staying by your side.

• Dog Boots or Paw Wax. Boots or paw wax will protect your pup’s paws from snow and ice, as well as rugged terrain.

Start Off Slow

Start your Golden Retriever off slowly by incorporating some short jogs into your daily walks.

Walk a stretch then pick up the pace by jogging for a couple of minutes, then walk again.

Gradually increase the jogging time daily to build up your dog’s endurance.

Take Plenty Of Breaks

Be sure to take plenty of breaks when running with your Golden.

Monitor your dog for any signs of fatigue and over-exertion. If your dog shows any signs of distress, stop running and take a break.

Here are some more helpful tips to get you started on running with your dog:

Final Thoughts

Overall, Golden Retrievers can make great running partners! They are athletic, strong, and always eager to partake in any activity with their favourite human.

They are fast sprinters but are capable of running long distances with you.

However, it is important to consider their age, health, physical stamina and weather conditions before letting them join you on an extended run.

You also need to be aware of the potential health issues that could arise from running long distances with your Golden Retriever.

With the proper precautions, running can be a great form of exercise that both you and your Golden Retriever can enjoy!

Do you run with your Golden Retriever? Let us know in the comments below, plus any tips and advice you may have. I would love to hear from you!