I’m thinking of getting a Vizsla for a running companion. A question I have for all the people who run with dogs is about their paws. If most of your running is on the street/sidewalk or paved trails is this a concern. Thanks
Dennis
I ( used to) run with my Australian sheppard/poodle cross, but he is getting smarter and hides when he sees my running shoes.
His paws are like your feet in new shoes - go slow and short distances early and they toughen up. He was running 1/2 mara distance every weekend with me with no paw troubles.
Yes, start them out easy. Also, be aware of the heat with them and keep them well hydrated. I live in Texas and have a dobi (named cadence) that I can run up to about 15mi as long as its not to hot. I am sure trail running would be much better.
2 Siberian Huskys and no issues with either. For the heat, I have a small kid’s pool that they love to splash around in after a run. Also, most pet stores sell portable water dishes that you can fold up and take with you on a run - makes it easy to keep them hydrated.
Any dog can run with you. Some will need more “base training” than others.
As an example, I have a GSD (german shepherd dog)/Lab mix that can run 7:00min/mile pace all day long. Her genetics, weight, life style, etc. are such that she can run all day long. At the end of 6 miles she will be telling me to go faster.
I also have a GSD working dog that has a 6 to 10 mile limit depending on the availability of water for him. He is heavier, more muscular, and generally wants to go 5:30min/mile all the time. He is a much more anerobic guy, so long running sessions are not his favorite. By the end of a 6 mile run he will be slowing me down. I can watch him overheat on long runs. He would much rather do 10x400m at 75 seconds. That is his gig.
I have also fostered dogs of many breads. Some of the ones you would think of as runners just were not runners.
So, I guess what I am saying is that dogs, like people, are individuals. Give them the training and nutrition, they can do just about anything. Some will just do it better than others.
I’m thinking of getting a Vizsla for a running companion. A question I have for all the people who run with dogs is about their paws. If most of your running is on the street/sidewalk or paved trails is this a concern. Thanks
Dennis
I have a 7 year old Vizsla and used to run with him on every run. Now he is starting to not be able to go on the long or fast runs with me. Anything over 10 miles or 7:00 min pace is too much for him now. When I take him now I try to go on trails so I can let him off the leash. Like other people have said ease him into the running and he will be fine. I have never put anything on his paws and this includes running in the winter in Chicago. I taught my dog to drink from a water fountain because I hate carrying stuff with me.
Vizslas are great dogs if you want some more information on them or some breeders let me know.
Vizslas are great and have lots of energy. I run with two dogs, a black lab and a german shorthaired pointer. The pavement is good to keep their nails in check. Depending on the weather in Texas and the time I run (am v. pm)they are usually good for 45 minutes right now. Its hot both times. I will then drop them off at home and continue. Like others have said, go slowly. Especially in the spring. March is the worst month in my region for heat exhaustion/stroke and other heat related issues for dogs. Their owners tend to take it easy in the winter/run indoors and then have their dogs try to do too much when the weather finally turns. Good luck.
Have run with my German Shepherd a fair amount - although mostly on trails and rarely more than 6-7 miles.
As others have said, start slow - and if you get him as a puppy I’d wait until he’s at least a year old before you really start training with him.
Finally, please be very careful about running with him when it’s hot. Dogs do not have as efficient cooling systems as we do and can easily overheat. Most dogs absolutely love running, so if you take him out when it’s hot and he starts “dogging” it, you need to get him out of the heat immediately.
Dogs are excellent running partners as you obviously already know.
Others have already noted:
(1) they have to be conditioned, including feet, same as you. On the other hand, most dogs that are not lifetime couch potatoes quickly progress past human runners in their running ability.
(2) cooling is definitely an issue. We all need to take this seriously.
(3) Personally I think pavement is hard on legs of humans and dogs, and can be hard on pads - heat and abrasion. Pads will toughen up, but I run with dogs only on unpaved trails (but then I have easy access to many miles of dirt farm roads). Somebody already mentioned musher’s secret, which we use a lot (mostly to inhibit ice/snow buildup in winter). You can also try booties used by mushers, but abrasion will quickly wear them out and some dogs resist footwear (it ain’t natural afterall).
Have fun!
I have a 6 yo Australian Shepard that I run with, but only my nice & easy pace runs. When he sees me pull out the running shoes he practically breaks the door down to make sure I take him, but after the first few kilometers he tries to veer off to the paths that take the short cut home. You’d think by now he would have realised what he’s signing up for when he demands to come 
No issues wih the paws, except in winter when you really have to watch keeping off any paths that have salt on the ground.
my boxer-ridgeback rocks! just ran 10 miles with her this AM…mixed on grass, dirt trail, and pavement. I think the key is to think about this…you wouldn’t start out running your long runs barefoot, would you? so break the new dog in easy…and like everyone said, I echo the same things–make sure you go when it’s not too hot, and also make sure you go where there’s access to water! she’s run 25 miles in the last two days (with the bf, and with me, combined)…kind of wish I could enter her in a long race… good luck! they make wonderful running companions.
Before I had knee surgery I was running with my dog (a 35lb lab/something mix) about 4-5 miles every day @ around 7:30/mile pace. We ran all winter and spring. Never had an issue with his pads and it did indeed help keep his nails in check. You do have to pay close attention though if it is hot out and if so accept the fact that you might have to cut some runs short. I never felt comfortable trying to run farther with him though because he has a tendency to pull a lot if there are ANY distractions and that clearly tired him out even more and also tended to disrupt my run.
Before I had knee surgery I was running with my dog (a 35lb lab/something mix) about 4-5 miles every day @ around 7:30/mile pace. We ran all winter and spring. Never had an issue with his pads and it did indeed help keep his nails in check. You do have to pay close attention though if it is hot out and if so accept the fact that you might have to cut some runs short. I never felt comfortable trying to run farther with him though because he has a tendency to pull a lot if there are ANY distractions and that clearly tired him out even more and also tended to disrupt my run.
Just an observation: I think many of us who run with dogs have all thought about this at least some, but I don’t think of runs with my dog as “my” run. If I really need to get a specific workout done (especially long runs on warmer days) - I either break it into the run with dog part of the run, and the run solo part, or don’t run with a dog at all. I used to get annoyed when a dog did not want to do my workout, but then I just decided that it was better for both of us to think of the run as our run, and always reconsider the plan depending on conditions and what the dog is comfortable doing. Could unintentionally risk the dog’s health, otherwise.
btw, this is not a shot at the person who I am quoting here, just a follow up thought.
I agree, that there is “my” run, and there is “our” run. In summer, our run is my warmup or cool down. Just to hot for him for an longer than that. Then, my wife says my dog waits by the door until I return. Sometimes he does not like to get to far from home (and will just stop, especially if it is a new route or road he is not familiar with).
Ah, a topic close to my heart! Pooch loves running possibly even more than I do. She turns 3 next month and has run with me since I got her (at about 9 months old). Started her out with 2-3 mile runs, and now the sky seems to be the limit. The longest so far was a fabulous 16 miler in the mountains south of Lake Tahoe (Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, anyone?). Actually, I ran 16; heaven knows how many Pooch ran, since she was off leash and effectively running circles around me. You can’t beat the sheer joy of a perky pup gamboling through the woods having a ball. Her first exposure to snow in a late spring patch of it on that particular adventure was hysterical.
Consensus is that she’s largely Pointer (but not GSH) mixed with something more muttly. She’s definitely a character, with more looks than brains (I frequently call her my little supermodel). When I first got her home from the shelter, I was dismayed to realize that, unlike my previous (and lifetime) dog, Pooch did not “fetch” or do the ball thing. So the only hope for effectively channeling the excessive energy of a hyperkinetic pup was to run her. She had no problem with this arrangement.
At this point she gets probably 2/3 of my run mileage most weeks. Her highest grossing week clocked in at 36 miles. Not bad for a 48-pound hairball. Unfortunately there’s virtually no place to run her off-leash near home, so except when she’s lucky enough to go to Tahoe with me, she has to be on leash for most of our outings. Our runs are probably 85% trail, 15% pavement, which I think is beneficial for both of us. No paw problems to speak of.
She definitely has grown to be more heat-sensitive as she’s matured, which is consistent with what the vet told me to expect. She still does reasonably well with heat, but I’m always very watchful and carry water for her when we run. This time of the year is tough because all of her regular watering holes on our routes have dried up (except for her very favorite one at the bottom of Windy Hill).
Anyway, I am certain a Vizsla would be a FANTASTIC running companion. Talk about a breed that needs exercise! Dalmatians, Pointers, and Weimaraners are also excellent runners. But allow me to put in a plug for mixed breeds over purebreds. There are SO many wonderful dogs in shelters who are in need of good homes, especially these days with so many folks losing their homes and having to give their dogs up. My best friend volunteers at a the local shelter and sees this regularly, so please give it a thought.
It always makes me happy to hear of dogs who have homes with runners. So many wonderful dogs are stuck in homes with sedentary people and have no chance to be the natural athletes that they are. A well-exercised pooch is a happy pooch, and a dog that goes home with a runner is a lucky pooch indeed!
I never felt comfortable trying to run farther with him though because he has a tendency to pull a lot if there are ANY distractions and that clearly tired him out even more and also tended to disrupt my run.
So what you’re saying is that you’re working really hard to train these negative tendencies out of him?
I’ll echo statements of everyone else in regard to heat / water / easing into it etc.
Additionally, wait a little while before you really start to run them, if you’re getting a pup. Spend lots of time on obediance and a strong recall, especially if you’ll be running them off leash. This makes a good partner who’ll have time to develop before they get the stress of running put on them.
Additionally, when in the winter or very rough surfaces and looking for booties, use what mushers use… the very basics
http://alpineoutfitters.net/Secure/Scripts/ProdList.asp?idCategory=21
I’ve tried ruffwear, muttlocks and granitegear, they aren’t worth it and seemed to make my dogs’ feet sore.
The basic ones might not be high tech, but they work well and they’re cheap… because you will lose booties.
I asked my vet, who’s a keen runner
Of the running dogs, like others have mentioned, no matter what, no more then an hour at a time and make sure there is water along the way if hot. Said half hour is good amount and no real need for more.
Dogs are not made for long runs. Sure they can run all day, but look at a farm dog, they do short bursts and long rest.
The joints, and paws are just not made for pounding the pavement
The worst thing is, people run their dogs selfishly. They take the dog with them for their own benefit not the dogs if running beyond the hour mark. They don’t like running as much as they like your company, so they’ll just keep running to be in your company.
Dogs never complain and some will just keep going no matter what.
Just consider the dog before you consider yourself and the dog will be fine.
Dogs are not made for long runs. Sure they can run all day, but look at a farm dog, they do short bursts and long rest.
There are many dogs that were bred to trot all day. They* trot* however, and their trotting pace is very similar to a human run/jog. It is not so much a breed thing as a body type. Your Setters, Pointers,Springers,Arctic sled dogs,Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Belgian Shepherds, Dalmations and he leggy Hounds all have trotting endurance. Of course, the dog must be sound and conditioned.
Dogs *run *only when they sprint and yes, they will wear out quickly if allowed to sprint very long. They have to learn to pace themselves and they can go great distances.
To OP, watch the hot pavement. Dogs can burn their pads. Trails are always better if you have a choice.
Support Crew already made this point, but to be clear, when I run with one of our dogs, I am running… the dog is in a comfortable trot. Even the smaller girls (35-40 lbs). Our dogs trot up to 9-10 mph or more before they start loping. They lope up to 11-12 mph *pulling" a sled with a person driving on a good trail. They can run faster than that but almost never do, because they are freight dogs. They NEVER need to gallop when I’m running (or I’d be body surfing - ouch! cuz I’m attached to them). Greyhounds can sprint much faster (> 30mph), but not for long distances at that kind of speed. So whether dogs can run more than an hour (or whatever) really depends on what you mean by run. Our dogs after we’ve gotten into fall training can go for hours at a fast trot if its cold enough and trail conditions are good. And they like it! The little Samoyed girl I run with hates to stop and and when we get home after a 1 hr run she wants to go again. Now. Pleeeeeease! She likes being with me ok, but she looooves to “run.” All of our dogs do, with or without me 
I have a Vizsla and he loves to run. One time at the beginning of summer I took him for a 6 mile run and it was about 80 degrees which I thought was not too hot. I almost killed my dog. He usually has lots of energy but at the 4.5 mile mark he was really lagging and we were out in the middle of nowhere with no shade. I was really worried about him. I even carried him part of the way back. Now I only run a max of 4 miles with him unless it is really cool out. On the paws, just make sure the ground is not too hot, (feel it with your hand.) Also check his paws after running to make sure he did not get a cut or injury. I do a lot of trail running with him as it’s easier to run at my own pace and get in a better workout without worrying about colliding with each other.
Enjoy your Vizsla they are great dogs but be prepared for a shadow that will want to be with you EVERY moment of the day. (Mine even follows me into the bathroom.) Also they can be overly energetic for some people and need outlets for that energy. I do AKC agility trials with mine and he LOVES it and he is also very good at it. (He won 3 1st place ribbons at his debut trial last month.) Anyway I LOVE Vizslas they are now my favorite dog but they are very high maintenance as far as attention required. They do not do well being put in a backyard alone. They NEED to be part of the family.