Running With Your Dog: A Vet’s Guide to Training, Fueling, and Heat Safety

I’ve been running with a golden retriever since 2009, the year I did my first sprint triathlon. As a woman who heads out at 5 a.m., I always feel a little safer with a dog by my side, and there’s nothing like a training partner who’s already waiting at the door.

So for episode 29 of the Endurance Eats Podcast, I sat down with Katie, a veterinarian who lives off the grid near the Canadian border and spends her days around some of the most athletic dogs out there: sled dogs.

Here are the biggest takeaways for anyone who wants a dog as a running partner.

Pick a Dog That Wants to Run

Katie’s number-one point: breed aside, look for an individual dog who loves being outside with you. If you’re adopting, ask the shelter staff or foster family about the dog’s energy and personality.
Athletic hunting and herding breeds like Labs, Goldens, Pointers, Vizslas, Border Collies, and Aussies tend to thrive. Dogs with very smushed faces or thick double coats can struggle with breathing and heat on long runs.

Build Their Base Like You Build Your Own

Easing a dog into running looks a lot like our own base building. Start easy and gradually increase duration, heat, and terrain difficulty.
Base building is also the time to teach your dog its job. When my dog Marley was 8 or 9 months old, I started short jogs with one rule: stay on my left side and don’t trip me.
For puppies, Katie recommends holding off on serious mileage until growth plates close, which occurs between about 8 and 18 months, depending on size.

Fueling and Feeding Timing

If your dog comes on every run and racks up high mileage, a performance dog food can help. These foods are higher in protein and fat, because dogs are much better than we are at using fat for energy.
Timing matters for safety. Katie recommends a small meal 1 to 2 hours before a run and waiting at least an hour after hard activity before a full meal to lower the risk of bloat (a life-threatening condition in which the stomach twists).

For runs of about 5 miles or more, bring a snack for a fit dog. And if your dog is off-leash and roaming, assume they’re covering about twice your distance.

Hydration and Hot Weather

Plan routes with water when you can. If there isn’t any, bring your dog about as much water as you’d bring for yourself, and always over-prepare.
Dogs don’t sweat as we do, so they don’t need electrolyte drinks during exercise. They cool by panting, which makes heat and humidity a big deal. Don’t take your dog for a run at noon on a 90-degree day.

Signs of heat exhaustion

• Hard, open-mouth panting they can’t relax out of
• A wide, flat “spatula” tongue
• A glassy look or trouble listening to you
  If you see those signs, stop, soak their coat with water, and get them to the vet.

Their Experience Matters as Much as Yours

This was my favorite point from Katie. If your workout has zero flexibility and you couldn’t stop if your dog struggled, leave them home.

Trail etiquette counts too. Have a solid recall or keep your dog leashed, and never let them run up to people or other dogs, even friendly ones.

Follow Katie and Her Sled Dogs

Katie and her husband share their off-grid life and mushing adventures on YouTube at North Star Off Grid and on Instagram at @northstaroffgrid and @northstarmutts.

Listen to the full conversation on episode 29 of the Endurance Eats Podcast.