If you like dogs and you like to run, you might like the idea of running with a dog. Running with your dog can be a lot of fun and a great way to spend time together. A runner in the house might also be good for a breed that needs a lot of exercises but has a lot of energy and is active.
1. Weimaraner
Weimaraners are players by nature because they are part of the sports group. Because they are fast and can run for a long time, they are great running partners for both short and long routes. They can handle heat pretty well and like to move around a lot. Weimaraners that don’t get enough training and movement may even get anxious or act out.
Overview of the Breed
- GROUP: Sporting (AKC)
- 24 to 26 inches tall
- 70 to 85 pounds
- COAT AND COLOR: Short, smooth, mouse gray or silver-gray hair; strong head with ears that hang down.
- EXPECTED LIFESPAN: 11 to 13 years
2. Vizsla
The Vizsla is an active hunting dog that loves to work. This dog from the sporty group is very fast and has a lot of stamina. The vizsla does well in hot weather and usually stays close to its owner. Some people call this type of dog “the Velcro dog.” It’s a great running partner and a reliable friend.
Overview of the Breed
- GROUP: Sporting (AKC)
- HEAD TO BOTTOM: 22 to 23 inches
- 45 to 50 pounds
- COAT AND COLOR: Short, smooth, thick, and rust-colored coat
- EXPECTED LIFESPAN: 12 to 14 years
3. Dalmatians
Dalmatians are in the group of dogs that don’t do sports, but they are natural athletes who need a lot of exercises to be healthy. The history of this breed is not well known, but Dalmatians need to be busy and energetic. They used to run alongside horse-drawn vehicles or coaches as carriage or coach dogs. People also call them “firehouse dogs.” Before there were loud sounds, dogs would run in front of horse-drawn fire wagons and bark loudly to get people out of the way.
Summary of the Breed
- GROUP: Non-Sporting (AKC)
- 19 to 23 inches tall
- 45 to 60 pounds
- COAT AND COLOR: The coat is short and thick and white, with brown or black spots.
- EXPECTED LIFESPAN: 11 to 13 years
4 . Border Collies
One of the smartest dog breeds is the border collie. As a part of the group of dogs used to herd, this breed likes to move around. Border collies are very quick and can keep running fast for a long time. These dogs need to stay busy or they will get bored. If you want to make running with your border collie a bit more difficult, you could try running on paths that are a bit narrow and windy. This breed can handle the heat, but it does much better in cold weather.
Breed Overview
- GROUP: Herding (AKC)
- 18 to 22 inches tall
- WEIGHT: Between 28 and 48 pounds
- COAT AND COLOR: Medium-length double coat that can be rough or smooth, with a rough top coat and a soft undercoat. It can be a solid color, a bicolor, a tricolor, a merle, or a sable.
- EXPECTED LIFESPAN: 10 to 17 years
5 . Australian Shepherds
The agile, athletic Aussie is another smart member of the herding group. It likes long, difficult runs. This breed needs both mental and physical activities to be happy. Don’t go for long runs on hot days, because their longer clothes work better in cooler weather. Aussies are smart, loyal, and full of energy, which makes them great running partners and friends.
Breed Overview
- GROUP: Herding (AKC)
- 18 to 23 inches tall
- 40 to 65 pounds
- COAT AND COLOR: Blue merle, red merle, black, or red medium-to-long coat.
- EXPECTED LIFESPAN: 13 to 15 years
6. Rhodesian Ridgebacks
The Rhodesian ridgeback is a hound, but it looks more like a hunting dog than a hound. This big, strong dog was first used to hunt lions in Africa. Even now, the breed has kept its speed and stamina. Most Rhodesian ridgebacks can run for a while and stay comfortable in warmer weather. Don’t run with this big dog breed until he or she is fully grown, which usually happens around 2 years of age.
Overview of the Breed
- GROUP: Hound (AKC)
- 25 to 26 inches tall
- 65 to 90 pounds
- COAT AND COLOR: The coat is light wheaten to red wheaten and has a ridge of hair that grows in the opposite way of the rest of the coat.
- EXPECTED LIFESPAN: 10 to 12 years
7. Siberian Husky
The Siberian husky is a working dog breed that was made to pull sleds over long lengths in the snow. This breed seems to have a lot of energy and loves to run. If you live somewhere cool, this dog can be your running partner every day. Husky dogs are not good for long runs in warm weather, though.
Breed Overview
- GROUP: Working (AKC)
- HEAD TO BOTTOM: 21 to 23 inches
- 35 to 50 pounds
- COAT AND COLOR: It has a thick, plush double coat that can be black, white, or another color. Its eyes can be brown, blue, or both.
- EXPECTED LIFESPAN: 12 to 15 years
8. Terriers
Several small, active terriers enjoy long runs. These breeds are tough and don’t give up easily. They were made to find and kill rodents and join fox hunts. Consider a Jack Russell, a Parson Russell, a rat terrier, or a wire fox terrier if you want a smaller dog to run with. If you want a bigger terrier to run with, you could get an Airedale terrier.
9. Pointers
Several pointers like to work out and are strong, fast, and have a lot of stamina, so they make great running buddies. The pointer, the German shorthaired pointer, and the German wirehaired pointer are all in this group. These dogs do well in both hot and cold weather, and they enjoy a long run
10. Greyhound
If you like short, fast runs, a sighthound, such as a greyhound, whippet, borzoi, Saluki, Scottish deerhound, or Sloughi, could be the right running partner for you. Their slim bodies are great for sprinting, which they love to do. But in the end, most sighthounds are more like couch potatoes than they are sports. In general, sighthounds don’t have much fat and don’t do well in cold weather.
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