Have no particular knowledge for Bs (how's that for a statement on a basenji forum? :p) but I have always run/jogged with my dogs when they were puppies (deerhound/lurcher cross, collie, lab). I start taking them when they're about four months, just to get them used to the idea that when running on leash, they can't sniff everywhere, and we start running properly when they're about five and a half months old. I think the important thing is not to let them run flat out for sustained periods: a trot is OK, however. You jog, they trot. They shouldn't be running at speed for more than short bursts until they're at least 9 months old to a year (depending on the breed, the line, etc.).
My twopence-worth…
Hey all, I'll be getting my first basenji pup January 7th, she'll be about 18 weeks old by then. I've done a ton of reading and whatnot and my only question (at this point at least) is how long before I can start taking the lil troublemaker for runs alongside me? I know they're fast so I'm wondering if this is even possible since I'll definitely be slower than she will be at top speed ha ha. One of my books said waiting 8 months before trying to jog/run with the puppy since her body won't be fully developed and prepared for the stress of running til then. I'm also concerned she might get the idea that every time we go outside is running time, which I certainly don't want to be the case. Thoughts?
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I wouldn't run with a very young puppy as I tend to allow mine as much (or as little) exercise as they want. They know better than us when they've had enough. When one is running it's difficult to assess this.
I wouldn't run with a very young puppy as I tend to allow mine as much (or as little) exercise as they want. They know better than us when they've had enough. When one is running it's difficult to assess this.
and if you run on pavement it can be hard on their growing bodies.
I started running with mine at about a yr old. I used to run 5K races with our first basenji girl keisha in Tx on a regular basis, she loved it and never had a problem, I would let her have a drink at each of the water stations along the run.
To start at about a year sounds about right to me.
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I have been told that you shoudn't exercise your puppy until it has grown up.
I would say 10-12 months would fit for jogging several km.
But from 4-5-6 months you can start learning the pup the commands that you want,
example powerwalk a few 100 meters instead of jogging just so she/he learn how to do 
Good Luck
I walked Paco even when he was just a few months old because he was so full of energy…I tried jogging short bursts, but he was so prone to random stops to sniff and cutting across my path that I stopped for fear of falling over on him.
He seemed to love the walks, as long as they weren't too long. Once I took him on a long walk and carried him around my shoulders back home after he laid down and refused to go on.
I would definitely wait a year before the running. You want to let your puppies bone plates solidify before you have him/her start pounding the pavement.
In sweden they say at puppyobedience class that 5 minutes walkning / month of age.
So if the puppy is 5 months you can walk about 25 minutes just walking in leash/day (It doesn't count the playing and other thing you do with the puppy.)
Thats not printed in stone but maybe a guidance of who to exercise a puppy
Thanks all, Olive just arrived. She's a bundle of awesome
Aaahw.. she's very pretty! Congratulations!
a pretty girl!
I agree with a lot of people in regards to this thread- a year seems right to me, I run in the morning nowadays but when the puppy comes a walk will do..
Gorgeous! I have a soft spot for brindle Basenji's. Congrats on the new addition!
Oh my god. Shes adorable!
I Love that dark brindle
Congratulations…she sure is pretty...I too have a soft spot for brindles...
I just started running with my pup Malu. He's about 5.5 months. I'm really out of shape so we are out for about 20-25 mins that includes occasional breaks to walk. I really would have to push myself to have him anywhere near a full run, as mentioned above, its more of a trot for him if I am jogging at a moderate pace.
As long as you are paying attention to the pup, you should be fine. If he decides he doesn't want to run anymore, stop and walk (that's what we do). When he has play dates with some of his friends he is moving much faster than our dogjog pace for longer periods of time. I can't see jogging with a pup that harmful as long as you aren't forcing the issue.
In sweden they say at puppyobedience class that 5 minutes walkning / month of age.
So if the puppy is 5 months you can walk about 25 minutes just walking in leash/day (It doesn't count the playing and other thing you do with the puppy.)
They say that over here also, but I don't like that rule. I left home this afternoon at 14 hour, and came back at 18 hour. So that was a 4 hour walk with a 5 month old pup. He has run off leash most of the time. We sat down from time to time so I could smoke a cigarette, stopped a few times to let him swim (yes, he does like swimming), let him play with some other dogs who where also walking around there… So he's been active for 4 hours. Not walking next to me, but running around, swimming playing with other dogs. Still he didn't lay down when I sat down. Now he's sleeping next to me, but not as deep asleep as an exhausted dog can do.
A dog, like most other animals, is build to be able to move longer distances at a young age. Look at deer, they run with the group after just a few days. Wolf pups run miles and miles with the pack at a young age. Some birds, wild horses.. run for hundreds or even thousand of miles before they are a year old.
So why wouldn't a dog be able to walk for an hour at 3 months old or so?
I have been looking to find out where that 5-minute rule came from. But can't find anything about it.
But always watch and read your dog so he can tell you when he had enough, and give him enough opportunities to rest if he wants to. Don't force him to do more then he can handle, and try to let him run off-leash, or take on a speed when walking that suits your dog.
