Running with your dog is often presented as a natural or universally beneficial activity.

However, running represents a significant training load. As with a human athlete, this load must be adapted to the dog's fitness level, size, age, lifestyle, and individual capabilities.

Available scientific data remains limited, but it already shows that shared exercise leads to measurable physiological and bodily changes.

What available studies show

The pilot study by Smedberg and colleagues, published in 2024, followed 22 owners and their dogs for eight weeks.

The program included two weekly two-kilometer runs.

Among owners, several quality of life indicators improved.

In dogs, the authors observed a significant decrease in body condition score without dietary changes.

These results show that a relatively modest program can already lead to measurable effects in dogs.

The study by Erjavec and colleagues, conducted on trained canicross dogs, provides additional information.

After two acute exercise sessions, several biological parameters varied significantly. Rectal temperature also increased after exercise, while remaining within physiological values and returning to resting values after recovery.

These results concern trained dogs. They do not allow for direct extrapolation of these workloads to sedentary or insufficiently prepared dogs.

Not all dogs have the same aptitudes

Dogs selected for work, endurance, or sports activities generally possess characteristics favorable to regular running.

Light to moderate-sized dogs, well-muscled and built for prolonged effort, often have a mechanical advantage.

Brachycephalic dogs have particular limitations related to their respiratory anatomy and thermoregulation capacities.

Large, heavy breeds, overweight dogs, dogs in pain or suffering from osteoarthritis, as well as young dogs whose growth is not complete, also require a more cautious approach.

These recommendations are based primarily on widely established physiological and clinical knowledge.

Load progression

Adaptation to effort relies primarily on gradual progression.

Available studies show that a trained dog generally tolerates moderate endurance efforts.

They do not allow for the conclusion that an inactive dog can immediately withstand the same stresses.

Gradual increase in distances, alternation of effort and recovery days, and gradual resumption after an interruption remain important principles.

Abnormally long recovery, persistent stiffness, a change in gait, or a decrease in enthusiasm may indicate that the training load is too high.

Temperature, terrain, and recovery

Exercise leads to an increase in body temperature, even in trained dogs.

Climatic conditions, humidity, and the dog's ability to dissipate heat must therefore be taken into account.

Available studies do not define a universal outdoor temperature beyond which all activity should systematically cease.

In practice, the timing, intensity, duration of effort, and recovery must be adapted to the conditions.

The type of terrain also deserves special attention.

Available work does not directly compare different surfaces, but repeated mechanical stresses can vary depending on the hardness of the ground, speed, or duration of effort.

Finally, recovery is an integral part of training.

Calmer days, observation of gait, and gradual return to rest contribute to adaptation to effort.

Key takeaways

Running with your dog can be a beneficial physical activity for both the dog and its owner.

Available data shows that a regular program can modify body condition and that trained dogs show good physiological adaptation to effort.

However, the benefit of this activity depends on several factors:

• the dog's health status;
• its physical condition;
• its age;
• its size;
• its morphology;
• load progression;
• recovery.

The dog should be considered a true training partner, with its own capacities, limitations, and needs.

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Sources 

1. Smedberg K. et al., A pilot study of a joint outdoor exercise program for dog owners and dogs, 2024, PMID: 38906904

2. Erjavec V. et al., The Effect of Two Acute Bouts of Exercise on Oxidative Stress, Hematological, and Biochemical Parameters, and Rectal Temperature in Trained Canicross Dogs, 2022, PMID: 35359677