how many miles can a old english sheep dog run a day?
I need to exercise a lot for medical reasons and i felt that he would benefit from it too being that he is like 80 lbs and needs exercise.... |
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| I'm not sure there's an actual mileage or time answer since it would depend on the dog's structure (sound or orthopedic problems), hair mass, air temperature, running surface and of course condition.
This was a droving/herding breed.......pushing the cattle to market so originally they were very strong. If your dog comes from a reputable breeder who truly cared for the breed's soundness, then with training the dog should do quite well along side your bike. However, if the dog has some issues, then extreme exercise may not be a good idea. Please note I said extreme, exercise is great and building up his muscle and endurance over time is what you want to do. Also plan your routes to include shaded areas where the pup can stop, rest and cool off. Have water available. Know the signs of heat , exhaustion in dogs and maybe even carry a therometer in a doggie emergency pouch just in case. Great the dog is 2 starting this "road work". Like performing horses who have to mature before they can start leaping and dancing, dogs need to have reached their adult maturity for intense workouts. |
| thank you for your fast comment, i actually shave him so he will be a little cooler.... |
| My Marley loves to bike - we have done 5 miles, but she doesn't run. I have been told to keep her to a fast trot and not a run.
A lot depends on the dog's personal athleticism and structure etc. |
Good question. 
There are so many variables to take into consideration. I would start with making sure the dog has had a recent physical - and mentioning you are planning some serious exercise wouldn't hurt. Is the dog athletic? things like structure play into it as much for a dog as a human athlete. Any previous injuries or surgeries that you know of? Then proper preparation is needed. Easing into the exercise, gradually increasing the distance and time, just like a human athlete. I have a young (just turned 3) OES. He was actually picked by his breeder(s) as the one who would best suit my needs when we were looking at the puppies. I wanted to do a variety of sports and he best fit the bill.
For example, we do carting and mushing.( Like a sled dog )
He and another same aged Samoyed have been working as a team of 2 at this since they were 18 months old. We condition them just like any other athlete in the fall (Too hot in the summer months). The most they have pulled is about 5.5 miles in one time, and that is two adult people riding, and pulling on either gravel or snow. They also backpack - the dogs - and that also requires conditioning to increase the weight of the pack, the distance travelled and the terrain (hills vs flat land). We also NEVER work them on pavement - too much potential for impact damage, especially over time. And the sun makes pavement a safety concern when it's warm out. 
Mine is in full coat, so heat and humidity are a huge factor. If your dog is shaved and used to the heat, you have a little more leeway. Of course, you always want to avoid working them or you in the hottest parts of the day and skipping it on the really bad days. Maybe swimming on the hot days? As far as pace - my guy has big energy bursts that are short lived - he can easily run for a mile without slowing, but then needs to drop into a trot that conserves energy and covers the ground more efficiently. Above all, know your dog and use common sense with the exercise. They are a working breed, and hopefully you have one that is up to being out and enjoying it with you. |
I had to laugh when I read this topic.  If we're using Beaureguard as a guide, I'd say 500 yards, max. He hates exercise for the sake of exercise. Now if you wanted him to chase some squirrels for you, he would go at it for hours.
I think it's great that you want to bike with your dog. As Susan, Kerry and Dawn have said, you have to be sure he's up to it and build up his stamina gradually. But once he's fit, you can bike with him at a slow pace for a few miles and he'll probably love it. |
Beaureguard's Mom wrote: I had to laugh when I read this topic.
If we're using Beaureguard as a guide, I'd say 500 yards, max. He hates exercise for the sake of exercise. Now if you wanted him to chase some squirrels for you, he would go at it for hours. That's so true about Yuki too!!! She's so excited to go for walks but then starts looking back at the house when she realizes we're going for a walk walk ...and not chasing sheep or going to the park to just sit and watch the children she nannies. |
Joahaeyo wrote: Beaureguard's Mom wrote: I had to laugh when I read this topic. If we're using Beaureguard as a guide, I'd say 500 yards, max. He hates exercise for the sake of exercise. Now if you wanted him to chase some squirrels for you, he would go at it for hours. That's so true about Yuki too!!! She's so excited to go for walks but then starts looking back at the house when she realizes we're going for a walk walk ...and not chasing sheep or going to the park to just sit and watch the children she nannies.They are so different aren't they? Morgan is ready to go home after half a block. |
| When looking at structure remember to look took at the amount of bone the dog carries compared to it's overall body size. Most OES out there don't carry as much bone as a lot of our dogs do. And the amount can vary within our own line of dogs too. I have one girl who weighs in at 82# & is, to look at overall, quite a bit smaller than one of my 88# males. She carries a lot of bone & muscles. Good for exercising but also a lot more weight to be lugging around for long distances.
Depending on the overall build of your dog, 80# is not all that heavy for an OES............male or female. |
ChSheepdogs wrote: When looking at structure remember to look took at the amount of bone the dog carries compared to it's overall body size. Most OES out there don't carry as much bone as a lot of our dogs do. And the amount can vary within our own line of dogs too. I have one girl who weighs in at 82# & is, to look at overall, quite a bit smaller than one of my 88# males. She carries a lot of bone & muscles. Good for exercising but also a lot more weight to be lugging around for long distances.
Depending on the overall build of your dog, 80# is not all that heavy for an OES............male or female. yes - I have that exact case of body and bone comparisons here. Chewie is 24 " and weighs about 73 pounds. Otis the foster is 25" and 55 pounds. However, both are lean and carring the same amount of conditioning. Otis is just real light boned. |
thank you for all the replies!  i just found this site today and am so glad to talk to others with a oes. He is pretty lanky looking as he is shaved right now... but i think he is starting to put on some muscle now that we have been jogging for about 3 weeks. |
Welcome to the forum! I am beginning to bike with my boy, but I'm having trouble training him. He just wants to go full speed as soon as I sit on the saddle and he tries to chew the front tyre while we are moving 
It's a slow process, I'm just walking him next to the bike for now, which he is fine with. Given the chance he pulls with all he's got until his tongue goes blue, which is about 5 seconds 
Keep us updated on how you get on and if you come across any problems. |
Hint of Mischief wrote: It's a slow process, I'm just walking him next to the bike for now, which he is fine with. Given the chance he pulls with all he's got until his tongue goes blue, which is about 5 seconds
You need to use a halter when you bike with him, not a collar. |
kerry wrote: Hint of Mischief wrote: It's a slow process, I'm just walking him next to the bike for now, which he is fine with. Given the chance he pulls with all he's got until his tongue goes blue, which is about 5 seconds You need to use a halter when you bike with him, not a collar. Not a halter - perhaps you meant a harness?? And there is a whole post on this Ru/blue tongue problem ...somewhere...  |
| yeah yeah harness - for some reason I think one word and my fingers type another |
kerry wrote: yeah yeah harness - for some reason I think one word and my fingers type another
LOL lucky this time it was you, not me |
| well i bike with the 'walkydog' from thedogoutdoors.com. it is really cool it attaches under your seat with a short post sticking out which you attached to the collar or harness. they can't reach the tire and it helps give you distance from him while on the bike. Herbie just loves it. He has pulled a few times trying to get at squarels around and cats, but it has 3 springs inside that help take some of the shock off you and the bike.
He even did a dead stop because he decided he need to potty at that moment, and i was still able to control the bike and myself with out flying off. lol.... |
mklager06 wrote: well i bike with the 'walkydog' from thedogoutdoors.com. it is really cool it attaches under your seat with a short post sticking out which you attached to the collar or harness. they can't reach the tire and it helps give you distance from him while on the bike. Herbie just loves it.
He has pulled a few times trying to get at squarels around and cats, but it has 3 springs inside that help take some of the shock off you and the bike. He even did a dead stop because he decided he need to potty at that moment, and i was still able to control the bike and myself with out flying off. lol....I use the walky dog too ( I love it!!) and Marley also does the poop is imminent stop. Haven't fallen yet - probably too timid in my approach |
| I use the Walkydog and a harness, he pulls so hard the whole thing turns on the central bike post (not the saddle post) no matter how tightly I have it on. In fact it's taken the paint off, I tried a strip of rubber underneath but it won't stay put -until I train him not to pull so hard!
I was thinking about getting a Halti, why would that be bad Dawn? Could I use a halti and a harness? Sorry I didn't mean to hijack the thread  |
Hint of Mischief wrote: I use the Walkydog and a harness, he pulls so hard the whole thing turns on the central bike post (not the saddle post) no matter how tightly I have it on. In fact it's taken the paint off, I tried a strip of rubber underneath but it won't stay put -until I train him not to pull so hard!
I was thinking about getting a Halti, why would that be bad Dawn? Could I use a halti and a harness? Sorry I didn't mean to hijack the thread Well I cna answer this - had a lot of discussion about it hne i started. you can cause a serious injury if you use a halti (at any time, but especially when the dog is likely to pull to the side on a bike). Have you tried to out run him on the bike? Actually, he sounds like a perfect candidate fro bikjoring. check this out: http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/DogsLovetoRun/ |
| If I grab his collar and leash say, lets go for a walk. He lays down. Lets go for a ride and walk some where different, he is waiting at the truck to load up.
Or put collar and leash down and head to the woods for a romp (unleashed) ready in the blink of an eye. As for the squirrels, (favorite) he will chase all day, hours at a time. We only walk early morning or late in the evening, due to him being in full coat year round. |
| Does the Walky Dog give any recommendation about using a collar or harness with their product?
If i was using it, (not that I have ever used one, but I have seen them) I think I would try a harness, but not a regular one, but one that corrects if they pull. My reasoning is more to prevent an injury, both to my dog and myself. If your dog was calm and well trained with the bike, I would even use a regular buckle collar. And assuming I was a good bike rider! Otherwise, I would be afraid of a sudden jerk, stop, swerve or even crash - bad with a collar, but horrible if a gentle leader or halti was on the dog.
On the other hand, a regular harness does encourage pulling - it is positioned over the strongest point of the dog and they can really pull without any discomfort to the dog.... And in our case, Chewie knows a harness means PULL (and he has perfect -nearly - leash manners with a plain collar) and I would be in danger with him and a harness with a Walky Dog on a bike!! And if I corrected him for pulling, I would be untraining him at the least and for sure hopelessly confusing him! The other option (correctable harness) would offer the best safety to the dog in case of loss of control with the bike and rider, but still be safe for the human if the dog wanted to pull or lunge at something on the ride. Did that make sense??? |
| I have an attachment love it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOXS-du9h4s http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbuPcC85ViM Now that I have two dogs skijorning and dog sledding will be really fun! In this videos I have a harness that is made for pulling; just like dogs sled teams. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBTi84OyQmI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM_Osav0Spk |
| Obviously a lot of people much more co-ordinated & talented than me! Now I am not a smoker but I have always been amazed at the people at the dog shows who can walk their dog, smoke & clean up poop all at the same time! I can't imagine putting me on my bike with one of my dogs in tow! Well, yes, I can imagine it. NOT a pretty site! |
ChSheepdogs wrote: Obviously a lot of people much more co-ordinated & talented than me! Now I am not a smoker but I have always been amazed at the people at the dog shows who can walk their dog, smoke & clean up poop all at the same time!
I wonder if they ever forget which is the dirty hand and which is the clean hand..... |
Quote: Does the Walky Dog give any recommendation about using a collar or harness with their product? I don't think so, not on the literature anyway. Quote: I think I would try a harness, but not a regular one, but one that corrects if they pull.
Sounds great, I've never seen one though, how do they work? It's really all or nothing with Ru. I think he could pull a truck. I wish he would just take it easy and trot along nicely like Laika, but it's the second I get on the bike he's like a bullet leaving the barrel. |
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