Is it Safe to Run Alot With My Newfoundland Dog?

nikki: Is it safe to run alot with my Newfoundland?
I have a three-year-old Newfoundland male. I run around 3 miles a day. I want to know if running will hurt his joints, seeing as he is such a big dog. He hasn't shown any pain, but I'm worried about the long-term effects.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Wil
It is not safe to run miles per day with a Newfoundland. Once they're fully grown, long walks are fine, but running should be in relatively short spurts. Jumping is also to be kept at a minimum.

Our adult Newfie Max can easily jump in and out of our SUV, but we make him use the ramp because over time this will damage his joints. Short jogs or playing chasing games at the park are great fun and much better than jogging miles.

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Answer by torbaynewfs
NO!!!!!!!! Newfoundlands are not meant for hard pounding on the joints!!!! They are a giant breed that is predisposed to joint problems and running, especially on hard surfaces, is a BAD idea!!!! I have seen Newfies that have been kept on hard surfaces and they suffer a lot more joint problems than do Newfies kept on soft surfaces.

A lot of running, in general, is not a great thing for the breed. They were bred for SLOW and STEADY work. Newfies also overheat fast and a day that feels cool for you would be too hot for a running Newf.

If you will not see immediate effects for constant running unless there are already joint issues, but the long-term effects can be devastating!!!!!!
Please get another dog the is good for running, but DO NOT run a Newf!!!!!!

And are you aware that Newfies can still be maturing until 5 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you are going to X-ray first, you have to do hips, elbows, shoulders, and knees. They are prone to problems in ALL the joints!!!!!!!! OCD and DJD can occur in joints that have repeated insults.
Consult your vet first at the very least!!!

Answer by suzieshowdogz
It will be fine, it is only young puppies that you should not run so hard because they are still growing and damage can be done to the growth platelets, causing problems like arthritis, HD, etc. later in life.

As your dog is already full-grown it is good exercise. Enjoy your runs.

Torbay, give me a slap, I stand corrected.

Answer by walkinglady
Running with him daily is a wonderful exercise for a newfie! The large breeds need to keep their hearts healthy with lots of exercises. Bet he'd love it if you got him a harness and trained him to pull. My newfie used to love pulling kids around on a sled in the wintertime.

If you're concerned about his joints, talk to your vet next time you go about putting him on a preventative dosage of glucosamine.

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Answer by tom l
It really isn't very expensive to have his hips x-rayed just to be sure. It could be really expensive to have a hip repaired should there be an unknown problem with dysplasia.

Answer by north
Absolutely. As long as your Newfoundland is doing the run with you and shows no ill effects, by all means, continue including him on your runs.

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