How fast can a Golden Retriever run? Golden Retrievers are magnificent animals, and are loyal companions for the hunters of old. But nowadays Goldens are seen more as family pets, zooming around the living room or dog park. While watching the golden waves of fur as your Golden Retriever trots, you may have wondered how fast can he or she run?
So, how fast can a Golden Retriever run? Golden Retrievers can run up to 35 miles per hour in a dead sprint. This top speed varies from dog to dog due to breeding background, training, age and the health of your Retriever.
Golden Retrievers were originally bred as hunting companions to retrieve small game for their owners. Because of this, Golden Retrievers have both good endurance and a high top speed. In this article we will cover the varying exercise activities you and your Golden can both do.
Exercising with a Golden Retriever
Most folks like to exercise alongside their furry friends. Golden Retrievers need at least an hour of exercise daily which is a good opportunity to bond with your pup. Golden Retrievers are excellent exercise partners as they have seemingly endless energy.
Golden Retrievers are classified as a medium sized sporting dog which means they will need a lot of exercise. Giving them lots of time to exercise will help them be controllable and remain calmer indoors. Keeping your Golden in shape will help it lead a happy and healthy lifestyle.
Make sure you work up to any high intensity or duration workout. Proper training and conditioning will go a long way to prevent injury and unnecessary hassle.
Here is a list of activities you both can do to get some exercise. After all, people need to exercise too!
1. Biking
Biking is a great way to exercise with your Golden. The faster pace will allow your dog to burn off more energy in less time and get used to higher speeds.
You may be wondering if your Golden can keep up with you when biking. The answer is yes, but it will require training. Most dogs are used to running shorter distances at a faster pace so you will need to ease your dog into running longer distances.
Before starting your daily Tour de France training make sure your dog is good to run.
Check with your vet before taking on a serious exercise routine. Without checking with your vet, you risk hurting your dog if there is an underlying condition or your dog isn’t quite in shape yet.
- Start with riding short distances with your Golden for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
- Then, get off the bike and walk with your dog for a few minutes until they catch their breath. This will give them time to recover and help you determine what condition your dog is in.
- As time goes on, have longer intervals where your dog takes a break. Make sure to bring plenty of water for your dog, especially in hot climates.
- Eventually, your dog will build enough speed and endurance to keep up, even on a bike!
You may want to wait a little while before biking with your Golden, letting them fill out a bit. Dogs will push themselves harder than they should in an effort to keep up and may hurt themselves in the process.
Remember, bikes are much easier to exercise with so don’t outpace your furry friend. You may not be tired after a few miles but your dog will be.
If you plan on biking without a leash, make sure to check your local area’s rules and regulations. Some cities have laws against off-leash dogs. Either way, make sure your dog is receptive to commands and ready for off-leash activities so you don’t have to go chase down your little troublemaker.
2. Running
Running with your puppy is an excellent way for both of you to stay in shape. A person’s running pace can be matched with ease by conditioned Golden Retrievers and it’s easy to control their pace or wanderings. With your dog on a leash, you can encourage them to keep moving and stop the sniffing of every bush and tree.
Remember to ease your dog into running, especially if you are planning on long distances.
Start by simply walking with your dog for whatever distance you plan on covering. As your dog grows stronger, introduce small bursts of running into your walks.
Remember to only go at the speed you expect to run yourself. If your dog becomes accustomed to sprinting with you, expect to be pulled along for the ride!
Loose leash training is also important to insure a safe and hassle free run.
If your dog is constantly straining at the leash it can result in a more difficult time in controlling your dog. After all, every foray outside is an adventure for a dog. They will want to sniff and chase anything and everything. With proper loose leash training, this will prevent the inevitable tug of war and make your dog more receptive to commands.
3. Fetch
Playing fetch with your dog is a favorite pastime of many owners and is an easy way for your dog to run to their heart’s content. As an added bonus, you may not even have to move!
To have a smooth time playing fetch, make sure your dog understands a drop or give command. This is easy to teach, start by tossing a toy a few feet away.
Then, tell your dog to “bring it” once they return it to you and reward them with treats or affection. Odds are your Golden will take to fetch like a fish to water. They are retrievers after all, it’s in their name!
For added throwing distance, use a tennis ball and a Chuck-it. This gives you extra leverage to really launch the ball at speeds faster than your Golden can run! These bursts of speed will create more fast-twitch muscle, making your dog an even faster sprinter!
4. Swimming
Golden Retrievers love to swim, and is an excellent way to cool off and burn some doggie calories.
Goldens will instinctively know how to swim but may not have the endurance for long distances at first. Let your dog swim in shallow water in the beginning. This gives them the opportunity to swim safely and take breaks.
When swimming with your pup, make sure not to get too close to them. Their paws will scratch and generally beat on you as this is how they swim. If they look like they need help, push up behind their front legs so they can breathe more easily.
Golden Retrievers will usually stop themselves once they’re tired out but keep an eye on them. They can overexert themselves in their first few times in a pool or lake.
Make sure to take care when you and your dog are swimming in areas with currents like rivers and the ocean. Riptides and strong river currents can send you both into the deep end if you’re not careful.
Related Questions
Golden Retrievers can run impressively long distances. They have been known to run marathons with proper conditioning. Golden Retrievers were bred as working dogs and will typically outlast their owners in a run. If your dog is on the older side, your dog risks injury with too long of a run.
Short answer, no. Goldens make poor racing dogs due to their lack of sprinting endurance. While they can reach relatively high speeds of 35 miles per hour, they cannot keep this up for long. Common racing dogs like Whippets will outpace your Golden as they are much stockier than skinny Whippets.
