Best Dog Breeds for Running Partners

For distance, lean sporting breeds with short coats are the usual pick: the Vizsla, German Shorthaired Pointer and Weimaraner all score 5 for energy on our scale and weigh 44-90 lbs between them. Herding breeds like the Border Collie and Australian Shepherd also cope well with distance. Build mileage slowly and watch for lagging or heavy panting.

The AKC advises waiting until bones and joints have matured: about 6 to 8 months for small breeds, 12 months for medium breeds, 12 to 18 months for large breeds and 18 to 24 months for giant breeds. Before that, free play and short walks are fine, but sustained running on pavement can damage growing joints. Ask your vet before you start.

It depends on the breed, age and fitness of your dog, so start the way you would start a new runner. The AKC suggests mixing short running stretches into your walks and increasing the running share each time. Bring water, stop when your dog lags behind or pants heavily, and add distance only when a run leaves your dog keen for the next one.

Dogs handle heat and humidity worse than people do, because they cool themselves mainly by panting. On warm days run early in the morning or late in the evening, choose grass or shaded trails over asphalt, and carry water. Short-nosed and thick-coated breeds such as the Boxer and Siberian Husky need extra care and shorter runs in summer.

The Jack Russell Terrier scores 5 for energy on our scale and weighs only 9-15 lbs, so it fits an apartment and still keeps up on shorter runs. The Brittany, at 30-40 lbs, is a mid-sized option with real endurance. Very small or flat-faced breeds are better walking partners than running partners.