The Best Dog Breeds for Running

Weโ€™ve shortlisted the best dog breeds for running, cuddling, active owners, apartments, therapy work, endless adoration, and a whole lot more (links below)! We asked Gina DiNardo, American Kennel Club Executive Secretary and expert on all things breed related, for the low down on which breeds are the best fit for a whole array of activities and situations. Read on in this article to find out which dog breeds are the best for running!

dalmatian

Pfotenweltfoto/Bigstock

Dalmatians are strong, active, and athletic. Known for their endurance, speed, and intelligence, this breed has great stamina and can keep up with a fast runner.

 

German Wirehaired pointer

rodimovpavel/Bigstock

A high energy breed with a weather-resistant and water-repellent wiry coat, the German Wirehaired Pointer makes a great running partner who wonโ€™t mind the wind and rain.

 

Viszla

TMArt_foto/Bigstock

The Vizsla is extremely athletic and thrives on hard exercise. Eager and graceful, their impressive stamina makes them ideal jogging companions.

 

Rhodesian Ridgeback

Photo Bigandt Photography/Bigstock

Originally bred to hunt lions in Africa, the Rhodesian Ridgeback is a strong, muscular, and active dog capable of great endurance at a fair speed. Their natural gait and internal engine makes them the perfect companion for medium length jogs.

 

Whippet

Ashva/Bigstock

Known for their speed and power, Whippets are capable of running at speeds up to 35 mph. Originally used for racing, they need daily exercise and are great for sprinters who want to try to keep with the pace of their dog.

These are some of the best dog breeds for dog owners who love to run; thanks Gina! Which one is your favourite?

 

Find the best breeds for your needs below!

Best Breeds for Apartments

Best Breeds for Cuddling

Best Breeds for Active Owners

Best Breeds for Protection

Best Breeds for Endless Adoration & Loyalty

Best Breeds for Taking Everywhere & Travelling

Best Breeds for Canine Sports

Best Breeds for Service Dogs

Best Breeds for Emotional Support

This article originally appeared in the award-winningย Modern Dogย magazine.ย Subscribe today!

The Whippet: Perfect Writer’s Companion

The Whippet is the perfect writer's companion because after a wild walk with lots of zoomies and deep breaths to clear the mind, a Whippet likes nothing better than to sleep for several hours. Preferably upside down. 

Being dedicated to her job, my Whippet Tigerlily insists on sleeping on my bed. She has to be persuaded to get up, as she's not really a morning person. After first breakfast of yogurt and banana, we go for an hour's walk, then it's home for second breakfast. I write until lunchtime, while Tigerlily sleeps on the sofa in my writing room. After lunch, she is happy to join me in a short siesta before I get back to writing and she has a serious sleep. If I need inspiration she's up for another walk or a game. And she does rather like having her photograph taken. She has Wednesday afternoons off for puppy class. She's very good at keeping the cats out of my room, too. She makes sure I stop work in time for tea. In the evening she will work an extra shift to watch a movie with me, as long as she can snuggle up on the sofa.

Whippets are: warm, wonderful, and wacky. 

*Read more about the Whippet here. What's the difference between the Whippet and the Greyhound? Find out here.

Paula Brackston's first novel, The Witch's Daughter, was a New York Times bestseller. Book four in her time travel Found Things series, City of Time and Magic, is out in November. Raised in Wales, Paula worked as a groom, travel agent, secretary, English teacher, and goat herd before becoming a full-time writer. She now lives with her family in the ancient city of Hereford on the Welsh border. 

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