I took my dog for his first proper fell run yesterday as he turned 1 on the 12th of April. The initial part was “taxing” – 2300 feet up Whiteside from Crummock then a big loop round the ridges coming down at Rannerdale after another 800 feet of climbing. We did about 9.5 miles in just under 3 hours. We did stop a lot to admire the views when the clouds parted hence the time (nothing to do with my lack of fitness!).

He has been out for a few runs on the flat/off road but only short stuff up to 7 miles so I did wonder how he would cope. Well he loved it and still had loads of energy for the afternoon, chasing stones into the sea when we went for an ice-cream with the rest of the family.

So I was super pleased with Bobby. He is a Border Terrier cross Lakeland Terrier (red Lakeland not the show type) so I suppose you could say he was bred for this kind of stuff but you never know until you try. I was particularly impressed by his ability on the initial climb as it was VERY steep. He is big for a border but still only weighs about 9kg.

Awesome, I just asked somewhere else about running with dogs. I have a husky who only has 2 speeds: too fast and even faster lol, so far though he's enjoying hiking.

My mate who I run with has a Labradoodle - he has been running in the fells a few times as well but I don't think we could take them both at the moment up anything steep. His dog is a big unit - about 6 stone - and when the two get together they charge around which isn't ideal in some places.

Huskies should be an excellent breed to run with - I mean they are bred for it.

i think it would have to be a quite small dog to not be able to outrun/outlast a man.

the basic wolf can run for ever.

would a breed like a greyhound would have limited stamina for a very long run?

Greyhounds like a fast sprint then home for a lie down. Bit like me lol.
I think a husky is defintely a good running partner stamina wise, just have to get the training sorted.
Finbaar you seem to have a of made for running. I think we might stick o hiking for now and we are think about either bike joring or scootering but that's only exercise for the dog.

Have a friend that scooters with a husky and a shar pei, the shar pei is the lead dog lol

Once my sporty cocker spaniel dog ran after our car for about five/six miles when my dad was in it. He didn't know our dog was following the entire time, absolutely exhausted from the speed. But it was in a rural area so my dad wasn't going faster than his maximum speed. My dad took him in the car for the ride back.

When he came home I'd never seen him so tired, tongue still kind of hanging out and a bit wobbly on his legs. He ate and drank and then went to sleep for a few hours... he didn't spontaneously run after the car after that again!!!

Um..not to pick (sorry) but wolves tend to 'jog' or trot for a while, not run (usually just small bursts of speed).

Op you dog will probably build up stamina like we do - as long as he seems to be enjoying it, I can't see any negatives! It'll be good for you too

Humans are, when trained, very good at running long distances. In fact they should be better than any four legged animal as two legs are more efficient. Although I am not really in training this year due to doing work on my house I have done a number of ultra marathons. Last year it was the Lakeland 100 (a big 105 mile loop around the fells) and the year before it was the Lakeland 50 (starts at the half way point of the 100). Now dogs are allowed on the 50 but not on the 100 as they would not be capable of going 100 miles non stop. You are allowed up to 24 hours to complete the 50 and 40 to complete the 100. I don’t think it would be right to have a dog or any animal on its feet for up to 40 hours. Also have a google for “persistence hunting” – it is still practiced in the Kalahari desert. The huntsmen chase antelope for up to 30 miles until the animal can go no further. I wonder how far a wolf can go?

I think the main thing for any dog when exercising is that they enjoy doing it. Bobby gets very excited when he sees me in my running gear as he knows he is going to get a good amount of exercise. He did exceed my expectations on his first fell run mind you and it bodes for the future although I will have to make sure I don’t push him too far to early though.

I don't know about other breeds, but i am pretty sure a husky could run a 100 miles alongside a man with no trouble at all. I am pretty sure wolves can and do cover enormous distances

two legs better than 4? are you sure?

huskies: i can't find anything definitive, but this answer on yahoo
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/in...2155059AAFHBy8

wolves. this article reckons they may travel 50 miles plus a day looking for food, and are very efficient travellers

http://www.wolf.org/wolves/learn/basic/faqs/faq.asp

i think kangaroos are very efficient runners too, I can't find any stats on distance capabilities though.


with regard to two legged people, no doubt we are not talking any two legged person. we are talking trained athlete. in the same way, i expect working dogs, and pet dogs are rather different



[bit more on huskies

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1925_serum_run_to_Nome

674 miles in 5 and a half days. There is an excellent animated film Balto about this.

the iditarod varies in length, but appears to be about 1000 to 1100 miles. Record time 8 days and a bit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iditaro..._Sled_Dog_Race

obviously both of these in cold, snow conditions.

Huskies are awesome aren't they? I am pretty sure humans can out last most animals but I think wolves use the persistence hunting technique themselves. Most dogs are considerably further away from wolves than huskies!

yes wolves can travel large distances - but most don't go that far for food, and as i said they trot, not run. As for kangaroo's? they HOP on TWO legs.......

huskies have been bred for stamina, and are brilliant runners - but like humans, they train for it - you wouldn't pick a pet husky up and shove him into a race - it'd kill him.

When I used to dog walking, I'd love taking a big group of varying sized dogs (around 5 or 6 of them) to a deserted stretch of canal and just run with them all. I must have looked a wee bit mental, making high pitched out-of-breath noises with a lab, GS cross, westie and several mutts running with me. Those were the days!

I have a husky who I run with now but when he was much younger my boyfriend had to train him to slow down cause he was just too strong and excited. Now I rollerblade with him and he loves is as he can go alot faster, i where a helmet ofcourse