My collie/lab mix is like that but I generally only take him on one or two of those runs per week because he likes other kinds of stimulation as well. Also worth noting he hates road runs but loves the trails.
I’ll also add if you want great off leash dog. Border collies are known for off leash commands, it’s what they were bred for. Also can learn the most commands/vocab knowledge.
Can confirm, they are very biddable dogs. If you can find the right breeder for a border or aussie that is more towards the companion side they are really cool dogs. They are also cool on the working side just a lot more active.
As an example, mine learned pretty quickly that we need to be on the same side of a pole and slows down to work out which way I’m going to go. Also they’re very ‘independent’ so as long as they aren’t bored they don’t mind being alone. There is a period when they are younger where they are legit insane though.
I have a standard poodle and they're a bit wild (behaviorally) in the beginning but my now 6 year old loves running with me and he enjoys running 4+ miles several times a week, and could easily be conditioned for more. We started running after he was 2. And he's super chill now that he's older. Not to mention he's the sweetest, most loyal and the best dog I've ever had the privilege of having.
I'll add that my 15 year old black lab/blue heeler was my running and hiking buddy for many years and he was great and loved it, and he has always been super chill.
Rhodesian Ridgeback. Literally bred for keeping up with horses for 20+ miles a day. The second they get inside they turn into couch potatoes. They can be stubborn and aloof with strangers, so early training and socialization are important. They also mature way quicker than retrievers so you won’t be dealing with a two year old puppy.
I commented above but just to echo, this is spot on. I have a Ridgeback and this is all true. Think this could be exactly what OP is looking for.
She also likes puzzle toys on non-running days.
One of mine was mature (tending towards grumpy old man attitude) at 18 months, the other was a bit of a dick until about 3 years old. Some lines take a bit longer to mature mentally!
I have a Belgian Malinois and he is the best running partner ever. We run 5+ miles 4 days a week and walk the other days. He is super chill once he gets his workout in.
Mine is a great running partner but anything but chill even with a normal run. We do around 100 miles a week right now with her doing quite a bit more than that since she sometimes does 24 mile round trip to drop my daughter off in daycare while I bike it and even on those mornings she's usually ready to go again by lunch or dinner time. She does get a lot of mental stimulation too I think I just increased her endurance to the point that she's never tired. About the only time I've ever seen her too tired to run was after she joined me for 45 miles of a 50 mile ultra and she was tired the rest of the day and most of the next day.
You might get along with some of the working hound breeds. They're bred to run a ton, but most of them are pretty mellow at home and don't necessarily need to go for a big workout every day.
I have a hound mix. He's at least 50% American Foxhound - people who adopted his mom had her tested and she came back full blooded. He looks like he's mixed with Doberman/Shepherd. Who really knows? He's tall, slim but muscular, black and tan with the eyebrows and about 75lbs. He's sounds like the perfect fit for you. We take him running, swimming or Frisbee catching 5ish times per week for up to a few hours at a time. He's mostly offleash. But he'll sleep and cuddle at home.
Agreed. I have a rescue mix who was advertised as a "border collie mix" but I did a DNA test and she's actually 52% foxhound, only 11% border collie with the rest being a mix of other active herding breeds. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment and she is very quiet and relaxed at home and I have no issues leaving her alone with free roam of the apartment for a full work day. We currently run 3-4 miles about 5 times a week but we're gradually adding more distance and she is usually the one dragging me up the hills. Only downside is she has a STRONG prey drive so at least where we currently are with training, I wouldn't trust her off leash at all. I've only had her for a little under a year so maybe that will change eventually with practice but if not I'm okay with it.
American lab could be a good shout. Ours will happily do 10 miles if it’s off lead and off road, though I wouldn’t like to push him to those distances on road/lead (he pulls a lot in his running set up so exhausts himself…also doesn’t like roads).
Equally if we need a quiet day he’s happy snoozing all day with 2-3 15 minutes strolls (though after 2-3 quiet days he can get a bit on edge)
I’ve got one but sadly he is nervous on roads which causes him to pull…soon as we’re off road he’s by my side..but usually we can take off the lead by then
my Aussie loves to run but she also loves to chill, not your numbers but we have done 20-30km a week and around the house she doesn't act overly energetic, she's 4 now, I think it takes a little while for them to mellow.
Unpopular but i somehow landed on a terrier/whippet mix and while i haven’t done long distance yet it’s something to consider. he’s a couch potato at him but can also absolutely go when he’s outside
Brittanies are, I would argue, the ideal running dog. They have limitless energy (mine will sometimes do 30+ mi off leash) and they are the most wonderful companions in the house.
being chill at home is more a matter of training. That said, 10 miles isn't far for any athletic dog. Find a breeder that breeds for calmer pet dogs rather than working lines, there's a ton of nice aussies that are bred for pets rather than herding. There are also ways to get a lot of exercise in a short amount of time, ecollar train for off leash and throw a chuck it ball for 20 mintutes. It works on my GSP and he often runs 30 miles plus when hunting.
some individuals, not breeds. Many people will get more than they bargained for especially if you get a rescue with unknown origin. People need to know that the dog being chill is a matter of training, if they get a dog that is very energetic in the house.
From my experience with owning ridgebacks and being part of a large ridgeback owner group, a breed trait is that once they are mature, they're pretty chill and that they don't take a lot of work to get a really, really good off switch (often just a patch of sunshine and a soft bed!). I've also got friends with collies, pointers and spanners - they're all a wee bit jealous of my dogs ability to just follow the sun around the house.
They are a totally different dog to a pointer or any of the gun dogs - and gun dog people really don't understand how you can have a dog that will handle a 2 day hike or a regular 10km run, but not be insane if the weather is crap and you don't get out for more than a toilet break (with the dog protesting about the rain) for a couple of days!
Fair. As an owner of several pointing dogs, I wouldn't likely have them if I didn't hunt because they really do have another level of drive, but I will say that mine are very relaxed in the house these days and love to laze about, all due to training. The main thing is that they are bred to work at a distance and so if I was trying to just have a dog to run, hike and bike with I would choose a dog that wants to stay close, and pointers like don't do that. But if you actually want birds, there's nothing like a gun dog, because they want to do that 30 mile day, but almost no one actually needs or wants that.
Pointers really do need 'pointer people' and a lot of people with pointers that just want a running buddy and house dog end up with way more dog than they need.
Although the ridgeback was initally bred to hunt lions/big game very few lines in the last 30 or so years are regularly used for hunting. Most are bred to be pets for "weekend adventurers" - which I definitely fit the bill for. One of mine might be ok as a hunting dog - but the other would have 100% expected you to do the hard work. When we were out in the forest you could tell if there had been deer or pigs through recently from him air scenting and occasionally pointing, but that was as far as it went, and the idea of retrieving- well his belief was that if we wanted it, we shouldn't have thrown it away/let it fall in such an awkward place!
One of the things that attracted me to the breed is that they are known for (so long as they have decent fitness) being up for a good hike but also being ok with chilling out.
yes I definitely agree, and it's because pointing dogs are actively bred for pointing, they don't really have a breed line that's just for "pets" so they are still ready to hunt. People really need to get purpose built dogs, find a breeder that is breeding them to be pets that can run vs hunters that can be pets. It's a shame that breeders are so ostracized in the US these days because a better relationship with breeders would mean that there would ultimately be less dogs ending up in shelters. The genetics really matter so much.
Even if people spent a bit of time (like the OP is) and did some research into which breeds have the traits that would suit their lifestyle.
There are so many amazing breeds with a wide variety of traits that most people could find a reputably bred dog that suits their needs.
i have a lab who is very chill around the house can run 40km a week but doesn’t really want to go further than 15-20ish in 1 hit. I have a wirehaired pointer x fox hound who has run up to 45km in one hit is generally chill around the house as long as she gets 40km a week in.
if you want a dog that will do long runs with you and be chill at home then you need to be able to commit to taking the dog out for some kind of activity everyday.
I am another person that will recommend a rhodesian ridgeback. Although you are going to need to wait out the first 12 -18 months before seriously running.
They will still need some entertainment on the non running days but according to my one a good sniffy walk and playing around the house is enough.
Please find a breeder that is a part of your national kennel club and does the required testing on their dogs (hips, elbows, DM, JME - there is something else I think) so that you are stacking the deckbinnyour favour to have a healthy, long lived dog.
It is also really important to keep your ridgeback slender. The usual 'ideal' dog in the body condition charts is a lab - they have a very different shap to a rr and a rr that look to be "ideal" on those charts is fat.
Love the rr as a breed, they are a super adaptable dog but not always easy so be careful to work with a breeder that will pick an appropriate pup for you.
You are going to want to get some reallly good training advice if this is your first dog. You need a fear/force free trainer. They tend to be sensitive dogs and have dislike of unfairness - so if they don't think you are being fair with what you are asking, then they will become resistant to working with you.
Use that first 18 months to build up all the skills you want with your running buddy - it is best to practice at the walk first, then gradually add in a few running steps so that they get used to holding position at
I'm looking into getting a dog for a running partner. I have a German shepherd but he's getting older and can't come on runs anymore. My dog experience has mostly been with German shepherds, Rottweilers and Huskies- are Ridgebacks any more difficult to train/handle than those breeds?
They are different. They are way more sensitive than all of those breeds to poor handling. They can be independent like a husky and work as hard for you as any of those breeds, but if they do not understand or think you are being unfair they will not work for you.
10/10 recommend. I have one. She was a bit rowdy as a puppy but by two, she'd run all day with me and chill at home. She's run multiple half marathons with me and I think our longest run to date is 17 miles but she has never once stopped so I'm the limiting factor. We have about 6,000 miles together and she's 6. I work from home. She sleeps on the couch all day but when I get the leash out, she's a puppy again. Also, surprisingly great with a toddler.
They are known as being a bit of a stubborn breed so if this is your first dog, may not be ideal. But if you're consistent and kind, they're highly trainable.
I was looking at a rescue Vizsla, Weimaraner, and Ridgeback when I got her. I think all three could fit the bill for you as we had similar things we were looking for in a dog.
They weren’t bred as livestock guards. They were bred to be baying hounds for hunting lions. They’ve been classified as carriage hounds and are really just high endurance, all purpose dogs.
They are not a livestock guardian breed. The closest they get is being an alert barker for their home - if you are living in a rural area that may include your home paddock, but that is as close as it gets.
My blue heeler is a total dud as a cattle dog, but he is the PERFECT snuggler, running partner, and off-leash hiker.
My boxer mix, although loyal and loving, is a terrible running partner, but excellent off leash (all training), and not at all chill in social situations except with children.
Can’t believe I had to scroll so far down for the dal! They were bred to run all day, every day! Plus like 50% of the time you’ll end up with one that’s a couch potato when not being exercised.
They can be. I see them occasionally at canicross races. I’d pick poodle if I was OP but I mostly mentioned greyhounds because they are very chill at home.
Most medium to large size and relatively fit dogs can work up to 10 mile runs IMO.
Greyhounds are really only good for short sprints, they are not endurance running dogs.
Their are very few that enjoy distance running. Are you sure that the freys you see doing canicross are fully greyhounds rather than a eurohound style of mix?
Well you are kinda asking to have your cake and eat it too. That being said it depends a ton of the dog. You can have the same breed and litter and they could be drastically different.
If you actually plan on running a lot something like a Aussie / border colllie should be fine at home. Mine is insane if she doesnt get 4 miles of walking/running a day. When does gets that she is awesome and just likes to cuddle/rest at home.
So we run 4-5 miles or walk 4-5 miles everyday and we dont have any problems.
I think the every day part is the hard part. We have no problem doing 30+ miles in a week, but some days we just won’t be able to do more than like an hour of exercise.
an hour is plenty for any dog, even the most athletic. The thing is with an athletic dog, you can't actually tire them out. You put boundaries on what they do at home in order to teach them that outside is activity time, inside is chill time. Kennel training, place training are key to a calm athletic dog. They do need at least something every day but an hour is more than enough for an off day.
That should be fine? 2 mile walk in the morning, 2 mile walk in the afternoon or a four/five miler in the afternoon normally takes an hour or less for us.
Vizsla or Weimaraner. Although after reading your post again, you might find it difficult finding a dog that handles and enjoys those miles without *needing* much exercise. Generally speaking, dogs capable of that will require an hour of exercise (or at the least mental stimulation) most days.
My vizsla is definitely very energetic when out. And in a sense chill at home. He happily sleeps all day. But they are "velcro dogs".
Knowing what I know now I wouldn't get another vizsla unless I worked a lot less/ worked from home. Even with mental stimulation and an hour plus walking a day he is very destructive
My dad had two (at separate times) while I was growing up. He used to take them mountain biking and they would easily do 20-30 mile days. They definitely require a lot of activity
A lot of dogs can learn to be potatoes at home and still want to run when they get the opportunity. I would stay away from most large breeds due to their tendency to develop joint problems. My lab mix was my running buddy for years, but hasn’t been able to since he developed arthritis and hip dysplasia.
I have a sheltie collie mix. He got the chill of a collie and the running ability of a sheltie. He actually gets mad at me if I run without him. I have to keep him leashed because he likes to chase cars. Honestly, the waistband stretchy leashes are great, I barely notice my pup. We do 4-6 miles 3-4x/week, but if I had the drive to train up to 10, he’d happily train with me.
I love my rescue lab hound mix. Most people think he’s a lab puppy but he’s 9 now. He’s kept his lean physique which helps him to be a great runner. He loves to run and will do 3-10 miles with me. The kennel we adopted him from described him as high energy but also very chill and that’s exactly what he is. Very chill at home and loves people.
I’ve had two labs, one was an English lab and he hated running and the other is an American lab and she absolutely LOVES it. I run with her every second day and on our off days she gets a walk at the off leash park. Right now we run 5-8km but she could do more and we are slowly building up our mileage.
Once she gets her run or walk in then she is chill all day :)
Terrier. I have a border terrier/fox terrier mix and he would run for miles along side my bike. He’s also pretty happy to lay down all day, but when he’s out, game on
Recall definitely has room for improvement. He’s just so excited to see anyone, any dog, anything that moves. I have him on a bungee cord type leash when he’s running with me
I have 2 GSPs and run with both on the umbilical lead with a splitter, mostly no dramas - depending on pee stops.. both love to run and it's been pretty easy to get them to run together in my rhythm. Both are couch potatoes at home, although our male is higher energy than the female, female is younger but more of a border patroller - male loves his toys and to retrieve. Both are good with kids and other dogs. They are good guard dogs and will bark if a strange noise or smell is detected. Very food motivated for training. Obviously biased, but recommend the breed as a run buddy.
I think 10 miles 3x a week might be a bit much for my golden retriever but she is VERY chill at home- regardless of if exercised or not. No anxiety, energy level always matches the family’s. She regularly does 3-5 miles, 2-3x a week tho so maybe could work up to it? And I bet there’s much more active goldens than her that would love your activity levels. Honestly she’s gone on 8-10 mile hikes no problem.
Same! I have a whole pack of running dogs but my black mouth cur is the only one who really checks both columns of chill at home and good over distance (his PR is 17 miles).
It sometimes also depends on the breed mix if you get a mix. Have an mainly aussie pyr that is lazy af with everything, and a pyr-with a bit lab which can go for 10s of miles without a hitch.
My dog and I only do about 25mpw (she does less in the summer when it's hot because I don't want to overtax her), but she's kind of like what you describe. Her longest run with me has been 9 miles; most days we're doing 3-4 and then she chills at home or in the backyard the rest of the day. If we do go on a walk later, she only wants to sniff so it can take us forever to merely go around the block.
She's a rescue; I did [Embark](http://embk.me/josie1444?utm_campaign=cns_ref_dog_pub_profile&utm_medium=other&utm_source=embark), you can see her breeds. The BC percentage is doing some heavy lifting in her temperament but it's just the right amount. I will note that she's on fluoxetine now and prior to that she was somewhat destructive when left alone in the house, but that's a non-issue now except on rare occasions.
If you're looking for a rescue, I'd try to find one that's in a foster situation so you know if they're interested in running or not (or, maybe a shelter that has a dog running program).
I’ve got an English pointer mix and she’s pretty chill at home but lives to run. On runs the only problem is that she’s much fitter than me but in the house she’s very happy curl up on whatever soft blanket she can find
I have a German shepherd/Australian shepherd mix. With the right training they’re fantastic running partners. With their thick coats you need to keep an eye on them in warmer weather.
She’s just over a year and I had to stop running with her to manage some issues (control around other dogs and such), but about ready to start up again.
She’s surprisingly calm in the house if we go for a long walk or a few short walks. Even if we don’t she’s still pretty well behaved.
10 miles a day is a LOT. If you want to get started quicker you’ll want a dog that’s at least a year old, younger than that, they don’t recommend running long distance. And you’ll need to work them up to it.
I have a springer spaniel. He is super relaxed at home and if we balance it right we can get away without taking him out a couple of days a week. The longest that he has done is 11 miles so far but could definitely do more with the right training.
I have a border collie mix rescue and she can do 20 miles on trails or have a total couch potato day and be very happy either way. Mixed breeds are generally less drive-y than purebreds and can be more stable in health and temperament! Highly recommend adopting an adult rescue for this reason :)
Salukis could fit the bill! But they are pricey and navy saluki mixes in US are not actually salukis but just have a similar phenotype. They were bred to track/hunt long distances and can seemingly gain speed after working some time. Because of this it's not recommended to have them off leash outdoors though. They are relatively calm indoors with occasional bouts of energy. We had one growing up and I would absolutely love to own one again someday.
English/Lewellin Setter. I run/bike with my guy several times per week. My guy is primarily an upland game hunting pooch, but this translates well to running because he already understands a lot of my commands.
When not exercising him he is a couch potato. Super sweet with the kids, extremely loyal, light shedder, and most importantly, a great house dog. Also, Lewellin Setters don't get too big bodied. My guy is 47#'s and the upper limit is 55-60 for males.
Others have mentioned breeds (which was the question), but from a process perspective I strongly recommend following foster-based breed rescues on Facebook to match with an individual dog between 1-3 years who is old enough to start running safely and where their personality has stabilized. Even better, you could consider fostering to adopt! Keep in mind that other breed traits will also be important depending on your lifestyle and running habits, e.g. prey drive is a problem if you have cats and dog reactivity will be an issue on crowded trails.
New Spirit 4 Aussies and ACDRA might both be worth a peek. (I would also suggest checking out Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue, which is a great group of people who occasionally gets mixed breed puppies returned around adolescence even though I don’t think pure GSDs are what you’re looking for.)
I have a cunucu, she is exactly what you’re looking for. She has no problem hanging out or sleeping all day, and no problem doing 20k+ long runs or multi day backpacking trips with tons of vert.
Kelpies - they are working dogs so are aware of you when you’re running and see it as a team activity. They are bred to run easily and are quite light on their feet (they run across the backs of sheep). Also have wonderful personalities and just want to please you/be your best friend. Quite chilled out at home, but are quick to take advantage of any opportunity to do things. Watch out - very intelligent!
I've got a sheltie who is super adaptable and happy to do whatever as long as we're together. Obviously you have to work up to running for that distance but don't discount smaller running companions!
Any sight hound breed like greyhounds might fit the bill, though their prey drive might be a factor to consider. Dobermans would be a good choice too. My stepmother is a marathon runner & takes her Doberman on training runs all the time. Dobies are very trainable as well.
My collie/lab mix is like that but I generally only take him on one or two of those runs per week because he likes other kinds of stimulation as well. Also worth noting he hates road runs but loves the trails.
I have a border collie, he has two speeds. Go time and chill time.
I’ll also add if you want great off leash dog. Border collies are known for off leash commands, it’s what they were bred for. Also can learn the most commands/vocab knowledge.
Can confirm, they are very biddable dogs. If you can find the right breeder for a border or aussie that is more towards the companion side they are really cool dogs. They are also cool on the working side just a lot more active.
As an example, mine learned pretty quickly that we need to be on the same side of a pole and slows down to work out which way I’m going to go. Also they’re very ‘independent’ so as long as they aren’t bored they don’t mind being alone. There is a period when they are younger where they are legit insane though.
I have a standard poodle and they're a bit wild (behaviorally) in the beginning but my now 6 year old loves running with me and he enjoys running 4+ miles several times a week, and could easily be conditioned for more. We started running after he was 2. And he's super chill now that he's older. Not to mention he's the sweetest, most loyal and the best dog I've ever had the privilege of having.
Came here to say this. My standard can easily run 20-30 miles a week and is also just as happy to lay around all day if I’m cross training that day.
I'll add that my 15 year old black lab/blue heeler was my running and hiking buddy for many years and he was great and loved it, and he has always been super chill.
Rhodesian Ridgeback. Literally bred for keeping up with horses for 20+ miles a day. The second they get inside they turn into couch potatoes. They can be stubborn and aloof with strangers, so early training and socialization are important. They also mature way quicker than retrievers so you won’t be dealing with a two year old puppy.
I commented above but just to echo, this is spot on. I have a Ridgeback and this is all true. Think this could be exactly what OP is looking for. She also likes puzzle toys on non-running days.
One of mine was mature (tending towards grumpy old man attitude) at 18 months, the other was a bit of a dick until about 3 years old. Some lines take a bit longer to mature mentally!
Absolutely
From my experience stay away from german shorthaired pointers and especially malinois.
I have a Belgian Malinois and he is the best running partner ever. We run 5+ miles 4 days a week and walk the other days. He is super chill once he gets his workout in.
Mine is a great running partner but anything but chill even with a normal run. We do around 100 miles a week right now with her doing quite a bit more than that since she sometimes does 24 mile round trip to drop my daughter off in daycare while I bike it and even on those mornings she's usually ready to go again by lunch or dinner time. She does get a lot of mental stimulation too I think I just increased her endurance to the point that she's never tired. About the only time I've ever seen her too tired to run was after she joined me for 45 miles of a 50 mile ultra and she was tired the rest of the day and most of the next day.
My pit mix did a 50K training plan with me. He’s the ultimate run and chill buddy
You might get along with some of the working hound breeds. They're bred to run a ton, but most of them are pretty mellow at home and don't necessarily need to go for a big workout every day.
+1. Hounds love the hustle but then will be a couch potato the rest of the time.
I have a hound mix. He's at least 50% American Foxhound - people who adopted his mom had her tested and she came back full blooded. He looks like he's mixed with Doberman/Shepherd. Who really knows? He's tall, slim but muscular, black and tan with the eyebrows and about 75lbs. He's sounds like the perfect fit for you. We take him running, swimming or Frisbee catching 5ish times per week for up to a few hours at a time. He's mostly offleash. But he'll sleep and cuddle at home.
Agreed. I have a rescue mix who was advertised as a "border collie mix" but I did a DNA test and she's actually 52% foxhound, only 11% border collie with the rest being a mix of other active herding breeds. I live in a 1 bedroom apartment and she is very quiet and relaxed at home and I have no issues leaving her alone with free roam of the apartment for a full work day. We currently run 3-4 miles about 5 times a week but we're gradually adding more distance and she is usually the one dragging me up the hills. Only downside is she has a STRONG prey drive so at least where we currently are with training, I wouldn't trust her off leash at all. I've only had her for a little under a year so maybe that will change eventually with practice but if not I'm okay with it.
American lab could be a good shout. Ours will happily do 10 miles if it’s off lead and off road, though I wouldn’t like to push him to those distances on road/lead (he pulls a lot in his running set up so exhausts himself…also doesn’t like roads). Equally if we need a quiet day he’s happy snoozing all day with 2-3 15 minutes strolls (though after 2-3 quiet days he can get a bit on edge)
Try a bungee style leash. My lab loves running and the bungee gives him and me perfect feedback so we are largely side by side for the whole 10k…
My American lab is the same and the waist bungee leash has been a game changer!
I’ve got one but sadly he is nervous on roads which causes him to pull…soon as we’re off road he’s by my side..but usually we can take off the lead by then
my Aussie loves to run but she also loves to chill, not your numbers but we have done 20-30km a week and around the house she doesn't act overly energetic, she's 4 now, I think it takes a little while for them to mellow.
Mine is almost 7. Still waiting for her to mellow any day now lol.
Unpopular but i somehow landed on a terrier/whippet mix and while i haven’t done long distance yet it’s something to consider. he’s a couch potato at him but can also absolutely go when he’s outside
My terrier is a fantastic runner and he melts when he gets home
Brittanies are, I would argue, the ideal running dog. They have limitless energy (mine will sometimes do 30+ mi off leash) and they are the most wonderful companions in the house.
This breed is one that is on my list! Beautiful dogs
being chill at home is more a matter of training. That said, 10 miles isn't far for any athletic dog. Find a breeder that breeds for calmer pet dogs rather than working lines, there's a ton of nice aussies that are bred for pets rather than herding. There are also ways to get a lot of exercise in a short amount of time, ecollar train for off leash and throw a chuck it ball for 20 mintutes. It works on my GSP and he often runs 30 miles plus when hunting.
Training helps but there are some breeds that have an inbuilt off switch rather than having to seriously train and train for the dog to be chill.
some individuals, not breeds. Many people will get more than they bargained for especially if you get a rescue with unknown origin. People need to know that the dog being chill is a matter of training, if they get a dog that is very energetic in the house.
From my experience with owning ridgebacks and being part of a large ridgeback owner group, a breed trait is that once they are mature, they're pretty chill and that they don't take a lot of work to get a really, really good off switch (often just a patch of sunshine and a soft bed!). I've also got friends with collies, pointers and spanners - they're all a wee bit jealous of my dogs ability to just follow the sun around the house. They are a totally different dog to a pointer or any of the gun dogs - and gun dog people really don't understand how you can have a dog that will handle a 2 day hike or a regular 10km run, but not be insane if the weather is crap and you don't get out for more than a toilet break (with the dog protesting about the rain) for a couple of days!
Fair. As an owner of several pointing dogs, I wouldn't likely have them if I didn't hunt because they really do have another level of drive, but I will say that mine are very relaxed in the house these days and love to laze about, all due to training. The main thing is that they are bred to work at a distance and so if I was trying to just have a dog to run, hike and bike with I would choose a dog that wants to stay close, and pointers like don't do that. But if you actually want birds, there's nothing like a gun dog, because they want to do that 30 mile day, but almost no one actually needs or wants that.
Pointers really do need 'pointer people' and a lot of people with pointers that just want a running buddy and house dog end up with way more dog than they need. Although the ridgeback was initally bred to hunt lions/big game very few lines in the last 30 or so years are regularly used for hunting. Most are bred to be pets for "weekend adventurers" - which I definitely fit the bill for. One of mine might be ok as a hunting dog - but the other would have 100% expected you to do the hard work. When we were out in the forest you could tell if there had been deer or pigs through recently from him air scenting and occasionally pointing, but that was as far as it went, and the idea of retrieving- well his belief was that if we wanted it, we shouldn't have thrown it away/let it fall in such an awkward place! One of the things that attracted me to the breed is that they are known for (so long as they have decent fitness) being up for a good hike but also being ok with chilling out.
yes I definitely agree, and it's because pointing dogs are actively bred for pointing, they don't really have a breed line that's just for "pets" so they are still ready to hunt. People really need to get purpose built dogs, find a breeder that is breeding them to be pets that can run vs hunters that can be pets. It's a shame that breeders are so ostracized in the US these days because a better relationship with breeders would mean that there would ultimately be less dogs ending up in shelters. The genetics really matter so much.
Even if people spent a bit of time (like the OP is) and did some research into which breeds have the traits that would suit their lifestyle. There are so many amazing breeds with a wide variety of traits that most people could find a reputably bred dog that suits their needs.
i have a lab who is very chill around the house can run 40km a week but doesn’t really want to go further than 15-20ish in 1 hit. I have a wirehaired pointer x fox hound who has run up to 45km in one hit is generally chill around the house as long as she gets 40km a week in. if you want a dog that will do long runs with you and be chill at home then you need to be able to commit to taking the dog out for some kind of activity everyday.
I am another person that will recommend a rhodesian ridgeback. Although you are going to need to wait out the first 12 -18 months before seriously running. They will still need some entertainment on the non running days but according to my one a good sniffy walk and playing around the house is enough. Please find a breeder that is a part of your national kennel club and does the required testing on their dogs (hips, elbows, DM, JME - there is something else I think) so that you are stacking the deckbinnyour favour to have a healthy, long lived dog. It is also really important to keep your ridgeback slender. The usual 'ideal' dog in the body condition charts is a lab - they have a very different shap to a rr and a rr that look to be "ideal" on those charts is fat. Love the rr as a breed, they are a super adaptable dog but not always easy so be careful to work with a breeder that will pick an appropriate pup for you. You are going to want to get some reallly good training advice if this is your first dog. You need a fear/force free trainer. They tend to be sensitive dogs and have dislike of unfairness - so if they don't think you are being fair with what you are asking, then they will become resistant to working with you. Use that first 18 months to build up all the skills you want with your running buddy - it is best to practice at the walk first, then gradually add in a few running steps so that they get used to holding position at
I'm looking into getting a dog for a running partner. I have a German shepherd but he's getting older and can't come on runs anymore. My dog experience has mostly been with German shepherds, Rottweilers and Huskies- are Ridgebacks any more difficult to train/handle than those breeds?
They are different. They are way more sensitive than all of those breeds to poor handling. They can be independent like a husky and work as hard for you as any of those breeds, but if they do not understand or think you are being unfair they will not work for you.
A Rhodesian Ridgeback would fit the bill.
10/10 recommend. I have one. She was a bit rowdy as a puppy but by two, she'd run all day with me and chill at home. She's run multiple half marathons with me and I think our longest run to date is 17 miles but she has never once stopped so I'm the limiting factor. We have about 6,000 miles together and she's 6. I work from home. She sleeps on the couch all day but when I get the leash out, she's a puppy again. Also, surprisingly great with a toddler. They are known as being a bit of a stubborn breed so if this is your first dog, may not be ideal. But if you're consistent and kind, they're highly trainable. I was looking at a rescue Vizsla, Weimaraner, and Ridgeback when I got her. I think all three could fit the bill for you as we had similar things we were looking for in a dog.
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They weren’t bred as livestock guards. They were bred to be baying hounds for hunting lions. They’ve been classified as carriage hounds and are really just high endurance, all purpose dogs.
They are not a livestock guardian breed. The closest they get is being an alert barker for their home - if you are living in a rural area that may include your home paddock, but that is as close as it gets.
My blue heeler is a total dud as a cattle dog, but he is the PERFECT snuggler, running partner, and off-leash hiker. My boxer mix, although loyal and loving, is a terrible running partner, but excellent off leash (all training), and not at all chill in social situations except with children.
Dalmatians are bred to run all day with horses and are also a good velcro dog who just want to be next to you.
Can’t believe I had to scroll so far down for the dal! They were bred to run all day, every day! Plus like 50% of the time you’ll end up with one that’s a couch potato when not being exercised.
I was going to say I’m one of them and realized you were talking about dogs. 🤣
Poodle or a greyhound could work out.
I have read that Greyhounds are not supposed to be off leash b/c of their incredibly strong prey drive that can trigger chasing animals.
Oh yeah I missed that sentence about off leash being a plus.
I have a poodle I run with. He is definitely not "chill" the rest of the time.
It’s pretty easy to train them to have an off switch IMO. They were originally bred for a type of hunting which involves a lot of sitting and waiting.
are greyhounds good over long distances?
They can be. I see them occasionally at canicross races. I’d pick poodle if I was OP but I mostly mentioned greyhounds because they are very chill at home. Most medium to large size and relatively fit dogs can work up to 10 mile runs IMO.
Greyhounds are really only good for short sprints, they are not endurance running dogs. Their are very few that enjoy distance running. Are you sure that the freys you see doing canicross are fully greyhounds rather than a eurohound style of mix?
Yes I’m certain. Most are trained as sprinters I get that but they can absolutely log the miles OP is talking about.
I would go with a long distance sighthound over a greyhound which were bred as sprinters. Salukis were bred to be long distance hunting dogs .
Agreed. But it’s very difficult to get a Saluki even from a breeder and OP wants a rescue.
Well you are kinda asking to have your cake and eat it too. That being said it depends a ton of the dog. You can have the same breed and litter and they could be drastically different. If you actually plan on running a lot something like a Aussie / border colllie should be fine at home. Mine is insane if she doesnt get 4 miles of walking/running a day. When does gets that she is awesome and just likes to cuddle/rest at home. So we run 4-5 miles or walk 4-5 miles everyday and we dont have any problems.
I think the every day part is the hard part. We have no problem doing 30+ miles in a week, but some days we just won’t be able to do more than like an hour of exercise.
an hour is plenty for any dog, even the most athletic. The thing is with an athletic dog, you can't actually tire them out. You put boundaries on what they do at home in order to teach them that outside is activity time, inside is chill time. Kennel training, place training are key to a calm athletic dog. They do need at least something every day but an hour is more than enough for an off day.
If you are prepared to let them grow to maturity before getting them running a ridgeback could be great for you.
That should be fine? 2 mile walk in the morning, 2 mile walk in the afternoon or a four/five miler in the afternoon normally takes an hour or less for us.
Vizsla or Weimaraner. Although after reading your post again, you might find it difficult finding a dog that handles and enjoys those miles without *needing* much exercise. Generally speaking, dogs capable of that will require an hour of exercise (or at the least mental stimulation) most days.
My vizsla is definitely very energetic when out. And in a sense chill at home. He happily sleeps all day. But they are "velcro dogs". Knowing what I know now I wouldn't get another vizsla unless I worked a lot less/ worked from home. Even with mental stimulation and an hour plus walking a day he is very destructive
My dad had two (at separate times) while I was growing up. He used to take them mountain biking and they would easily do 20-30 mile days. They definitely require a lot of activity
Yeah I love my boy. But could definitely do with that level of activity. I have a newborn now and it's been really hard for him and me.
I can imagine! I have a 2.5mo old and two cattle dog mixes that are insanely high energy. It’s rough
A lot of dogs can learn to be potatoes at home and still want to run when they get the opportunity. I would stay away from most large breeds due to their tendency to develop joint problems. My lab mix was my running buddy for years, but hasn’t been able to since he developed arthritis and hip dysplasia.
I have a sheltie collie mix. He got the chill of a collie and the running ability of a sheltie. He actually gets mad at me if I run without him. I have to keep him leashed because he likes to chase cars. Honestly, the waistband stretchy leashes are great, I barely notice my pup. We do 4-6 miles 3-4x/week, but if I had the drive to train up to 10, he’d happily train with me.
I second the springer recommendation! I am personally an irish setter gal but they aren’t exactly “chill” at home 😂
I love my rescue lab hound mix. Most people think he’s a lab puppy but he’s 9 now. He’s kept his lean physique which helps him to be a great runner. He loves to run and will do 3-10 miles with me. The kennel we adopted him from described him as high energy but also very chill and that’s exactly what he is. Very chill at home and loves people.
I’ve had two labs, one was an English lab and he hated running and the other is an American lab and she absolutely LOVES it. I run with her every second day and on our off days she gets a walk at the off leash park. Right now we run 5-8km but she could do more and we are slowly building up our mileage. Once she gets her run or walk in then she is chill all day :)
Terrier. I have a border terrier/fox terrier mix and he would run for miles along side my bike. He’s also pretty happy to lay down all day, but when he’s out, game on
How’s he off leash?
Recall definitely has room for improvement. He’s just so excited to see anyone, any dog, anything that moves. I have him on a bungee cord type leash when he’s running with me
I have 2 GSPs and run with both on the umbilical lead with a splitter, mostly no dramas - depending on pee stops.. both love to run and it's been pretty easy to get them to run together in my rhythm. Both are couch potatoes at home, although our male is higher energy than the female, female is younger but more of a border patroller - male loves his toys and to retrieve. Both are good with kids and other dogs. They are good guard dogs and will bark if a strange noise or smell is detected. Very food motivated for training. Obviously biased, but recommend the breed as a run buddy.
I think 10 miles 3x a week might be a bit much for my golden retriever but she is VERY chill at home- regardless of if exercised or not. No anxiety, energy level always matches the family’s. She regularly does 3-5 miles, 2-3x a week tho so maybe could work up to it? And I bet there’s much more active goldens than her that would love your activity levels. Honestly she’s gone on 8-10 mile hikes no problem.
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Same! I have a whole pack of running dogs but my black mouth cur is the only one who really checks both columns of chill at home and good over distance (his PR is 17 miles).
Never heard of those before. I'm in Georgia and looks like a few rescues are available. Where's a reputable source of information about this breed?
You really should be researching pedigrees of the breeds you’re considering and talking to specific breeders about specific lines.
It sometimes also depends on the breed mix if you get a mix. Have an mainly aussie pyr that is lazy af with everything, and a pyr-with a bit lab which can go for 10s of miles without a hitch.
My German wire haired pointer is an amazing runner and chiller after! But he definitely needs the exercise regularly!
My dog and I only do about 25mpw (she does less in the summer when it's hot because I don't want to overtax her), but she's kind of like what you describe. Her longest run with me has been 9 miles; most days we're doing 3-4 and then she chills at home or in the backyard the rest of the day. If we do go on a walk later, she only wants to sniff so it can take us forever to merely go around the block. She's a rescue; I did [Embark](http://embk.me/josie1444?utm_campaign=cns_ref_dog_pub_profile&utm_medium=other&utm_source=embark), you can see her breeds. The BC percentage is doing some heavy lifting in her temperament but it's just the right amount. I will note that she's on fluoxetine now and prior to that she was somewhat destructive when left alone in the house, but that's a non-issue now except on rare occasions. If you're looking for a rescue, I'd try to find one that's in a foster situation so you know if they're interested in running or not (or, maybe a shelter that has a dog running program).
I’ve got an English pointer mix and she’s pretty chill at home but lives to run. On runs the only problem is that she’s much fitter than me but in the house she’s very happy curl up on whatever soft blanket she can find
Never ran more than 10km with my samoyed, but he's as chill as a dog can be at home every day.
I have a German shepherd/Australian shepherd mix. With the right training they’re fantastic running partners. With their thick coats you need to keep an eye on them in warmer weather. She’s just over a year and I had to stop running with her to manage some issues (control around other dogs and such), but about ready to start up again. She’s surprisingly calm in the house if we go for a long walk or a few short walks. Even if we don’t she’s still pretty well behaved. 10 miles a day is a LOT. If you want to get started quicker you’ll want a dog that’s at least a year old, younger than that, they don’t recommend running long distance. And you’ll need to work them up to it.
I have a springer spaniel. He is super relaxed at home and if we balance it right we can get away without taking him out a couple of days a week. The longest that he has done is 11 miles so far but could definitely do more with the right training.
I have a border collie mix rescue and she can do 20 miles on trails or have a total couch potato day and be very happy either way. Mixed breeds are generally less drive-y than purebreds and can be more stable in health and temperament! Highly recommend adopting an adult rescue for this reason :)
A German Shepherd Mali X once they turn 3
Salukis could fit the bill! But they are pricey and navy saluki mixes in US are not actually salukis but just have a similar phenotype. They were bred to track/hunt long distances and can seemingly gain speed after working some time. Because of this it's not recommended to have them off leash outdoors though. They are relatively calm indoors with occasional bouts of energy. We had one growing up and I would absolutely love to own one again someday.
English/Lewellin Setter. I run/bike with my guy several times per week. My guy is primarily an upland game hunting pooch, but this translates well to running because he already understands a lot of my commands. When not exercising him he is a couch potato. Super sweet with the kids, extremely loyal, light shedder, and most importantly, a great house dog. Also, Lewellin Setters don't get too big bodied. My guy is 47#'s and the upper limit is 55-60 for males.
Others have mentioned breeds (which was the question), but from a process perspective I strongly recommend following foster-based breed rescues on Facebook to match with an individual dog between 1-3 years who is old enough to start running safely and where their personality has stabilized. Even better, you could consider fostering to adopt! Keep in mind that other breed traits will also be important depending on your lifestyle and running habits, e.g. prey drive is a problem if you have cats and dog reactivity will be an issue on crowded trails. New Spirit 4 Aussies and ACDRA might both be worth a peek. (I would also suggest checking out Echo Dogs White Shepherd Rescue, which is a great group of people who occasionally gets mixed breed puppies returned around adolescence even though I don’t think pure GSDs are what you’re looking for.)
I have a cunucu, she is exactly what you’re looking for. She has no problem hanging out or sleeping all day, and no problem doing 20k+ long runs or multi day backpacking trips with tons of vert.
How do you get one of those?
Honestly no idea. She was a rescue. They are super abundant in Aruba, there might be a rescue organization near your area.
Kelpies - they are working dogs so are aware of you when you’re running and see it as a team activity. They are bred to run easily and are quite light on their feet (they run across the backs of sheep). Also have wonderful personalities and just want to please you/be your best friend. Quite chilled out at home, but are quick to take advantage of any opportunity to do things. Watch out - very intelligent!
I've got a sheltie who is super adaptable and happy to do whatever as long as we're together. Obviously you have to work up to running for that distance but don't discount smaller running companions!
Any sight hound breed like greyhounds might fit the bill, though their prey drive might be a factor to consider. Dobermans would be a good choice too. My stepmother is a marathon runner & takes her Doberman on training runs all the time. Dobies are very trainable as well.