How old should my Rottie be before she goes for runs?

by Kristy
(Sutherland, Australia)

Hi, I am the adoring mum of 6 month old Matilda. We are lucky enough to live on a beach/coastal reserve, so she gets walked approx 2-4 km a day, both on and off lead.

I want to start taking her on runs with me (4 km beach tracks), but I am worried about the impact on her growing bones. Can I run with her?







Hi Kristy
Rottweilers are a slow-growing breed and their bones and ligaments aren't going to be mature until they're around 18 months to 2 years old.

It sounds as though she's getting plenty of exercise right now, and you don't want to overdo it or there could be long-term problems. I'd personally recommend that you wait until she's around 18 months old before you begin to jog/run with her. I know that may seem like a long time from now, but it's really worth it in terms of her long-term health.

Even once she's mature be careful where you take her to run. Rotties are heavy dogs and running on uneven or slick ground, or stepping into holes or twisting/stopping suddenly can cause injury to the rear leg joints (particularly the 'knees') and ripping those muscles/ligaments is fairly common.

Hope this helps, best of luck with your pup.