running the dog

[Capt'nMorgan]

My dog loves to run with me on the bicycle, when I put on her leash and go for the bike she goes nuts, She'll pull down the road for 4-6 blocks and I won't even have to pedal. My question is, is it bad for the joints to run the dog down the paved roads?

[LightningBG]

Yeah, its not great for their joints. Can also cause issues with their pads.

I'd try to avoid it. You're better off on gravel. But 4-6 blocks isn't all that far, so if that's the extent of it, I wouldn't worry too much. If its 5 miles of pavement, that would be another story.

[Capt'nMorgan]

No its much more than 4 blocks, its usually a 5-10 mile run.

[bottomdweller]

I think that is too much

[lenny7]

My lab loves running when I bike as well. I don't have him run all out, but he goes at a pretty good trot, and we'll go for 3 miles at a time, on our paved road. I just asked our vet the same question. He said that as long as the dog isn't overweight, and you're not running the dog when the pavement will burn his pads, 3 miles is fine but he wouldn't recommend going any further.

Our vet is a hunter, runs and judges hunt tests, and breeds labs, so I feel pretty confident he knows his stuff.

[gspman]

I wouldn't run a big, heavy dog on pavement too much. That will eventually break them down.