Hello German shepherd puppies lovers:
I would like to just jot some thoughts down about running with your dog. First of all never jog your German shepherd puppy. Wait until they are at least one year old to begin any serious long distance running. At this point the hip will have seated well into the socket, the growth plates will be set and the dog will have reached its maximum height.
But, please remember that you must matriculate your dog to running, a little at a time. One reason is the tender pads of the feet. These need to toughen up and callous over. If you do not heed this advice and overdo the running too soon, you dog can get nasty cracks in the pads which can take a good deal of time to heal. Of course it is best to run on grass as opposed to cement. But if you will be running on a hard abrasive surface, build up the callous incrementally over time.
Also, it is best to build up their cardiovascular starting with 1/2 mile for a few days, then to one mile for a few days, etc. Also, be very sensitive to your dog when running in heat as German shepherds can suffer heat prostration. Make certain to have a bowl of cool clean water ready when they return. If you are going on a long run on a hot day, bring water and watch for signs of heat prostration.
As I know that a dog’s joints don’t last as long as a humans, I think that it is best to max out running at 5 miles a time and then drop your buddy home for a rest while you continue on. I know that dogs can run long distances with proper training and that people do run longer distances with their dogs. But I worry about the constant trauma running on hard pavement. We have well engineered shoes which cushion the shock. Just my feeling. Even we humans do get excessive and joint replacements are on the increase related to sometimes excessive exercise regimens.
Click on the link to read about the Banffy Method and how we develop our German shepherd puppies.