I have a Shepherd/Husky "Raven." She's great. I do have a couple of problems with her but I will not waste your time with them as I have found the answers already addressed at your site.
I "run" Newt in our field which is roughly 40 acres, she is either in front of the four wheeler or behind it, running as fast as she can. I stop when she slows down and we take a short break usually for 10 minutes. Each time we stop, I watch her closely and try to decide if she's had enough. Lately it's been me who has had enough (she wants to keep running, and running) and I tell her to get on the back of the ATV. My question is: Should I limit the time or distance she runs (for her own good) and can it be too cold for a long run?
Regards,
Jennifer.
Dear Jennifer:
Thank you for the question.
To be honest... I don't know.
Normally my advice is to always let common sense rule. But to be specific, it's really more of a health question that you should speak with your veterinarian about before beginning any extensive exercise program with your dog.
As a general rule, you will need to build up your dog's endurance, just as you would your own if you were running. I usually start a dog with a 10 to 15 minute jog, and over the course of several (5) weeks, gradually build up the duration to between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on your dog and her health.
By the way... you should be running your dog on dirt, gravel, sand or grass. Running your dog on concrete is a bad idea and should be avoided if possible.
