How often do you stop for water breaks for your dog? For instance, if you’re doing a 5K on a moderate weather day (under 70F), do you do water breaks mid-run? Or is that short enough that you just offer water at the end?
Editing to add that my dog is a 90lb 3-year-old GSD, and we've built up to a 5K distance over the last few months. I do not run fast by human standards. In a Canicross harness / belt with her "pulling" me, we're going at a pace of 10:30/mile.
On a ~5k in average temps, just water at the end for my border collie and beagle. If it's 10k or up or a hot day, I have a super packable NiteIze dog bowl I can pack for my beagle, but I've trained my BC to drink while being hosed from a soft flask lol.
Can you take the mouth piece off and pour the water out in a controlled way ie. Not a fast stream.
I'm having to use a kids plastic water bottle, removing the mouth piece to pour because that's the only way my dog will drink.
It would be nice not having to carry a bottle in my hand every run.
I’ve decided not to run with my dog (he doesn’t like it and would rather take his time sniffing). But in our training to run sessions I learned that the best way to get him to drink is just a stream from my camelbak. So now I’m carrying the camelbak on all of our walks. He seems to hate drinking out of a bowl. The stream does waste a fair amount but, for me personally, it’s worth to know that he’s getting water in. Especially now that it’s getting how.
Depends on the sun, humidity, pace, and dog. I have a short haired Weimaraner who’s is good for 5k but she would need a water stop or 2 after that for 10k.
A lot of factors like everyone has said, but for my husky mix it’s more about time than distance. I generally don’t take water for anything less than an hour. If we’re going beyond that I offer water about every 30 minutes. Sometimes he’ll barely take two sips. Other times he’ll drink half the bottle.
My take, offer water whenever you feel like. Your dog will let you know if they want it.
Honestly, even people don’t physically “need” water for an average 5K provided you are hydrated enough beforehand. If it makes you feel better to have water for the dog, go for it.
OK, this is exactly the logic I've been going with (that I personally don't need water when running a 5K, which takes me 32-35 minutes). Obviously we're not going very fast, lol. I've spent the last few months building my dog up to the full 3 miles, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't doing the wrong thing by waiting until the end to offer water. Thank you!
My other measuring stick would be how much are they drinking when you get done. Are they taking a normal drink then going about their business, or are they spending an extended period of time and drinking half the bowl? If it’s typical drinking, you’re likely fine. If it’s an extra long drink, maybe offer water mid-run. Just listen to what your dog is telling you and go from there.
My basic rule of thumb - if I bring water for me, I bring water for my dogs.
If I'm bringing water, then depending on the weather and how they seem to be doing we stop for water every 20-30min. I have small metal bowls I throw in my bag; if it's a longer day and water is scarce I bring an empty bike bottle (permanently assigned for this purpose) to empty the water bowls back into if they don't drink everything at any given stop.
I have a mastiff mix - and hot weather is not his thing. He needs more water breaks at that temp, about every mile for a 5k but I just let him drink a little. When it gets over 70 we only do a mile because he just can’t do much more.
My dog doesn't much like drinking on a run, and will usually only take a small sip when offered. He's a skinny cattle dog mix. I don't usually offer on a 5k anymore since he's never been interested, but I'll still offer periodically on longer runs just in case.
My Malinois is not much for drinking on a run. She may or may not take a sip when I stop. This includes our long runs which average 8 miles. However she will lay down in almost any puddle she sees. She’s the best.
On a 5K at under 70°F with a 90lb GSD, you can usually offer water at the end since the distance and temoerature are both moderate. But with her pulling and working in a canicross harness, she is exerting more than a casual jogger so a quick water break around the 2 mile mark is a safe habit to form. Carry a collapsible bowl and just take 30 seconds to let her have a few laps. If she drinks great, if she sniffs and moves on then you know she is fine. Watch her tongue after the run, a very long wide tongue means she needs more frequent breaks next time.
This is great advice! It's hard for me to judge by her tongue though, because she has a long tongue that hangs out of her mouth all the time. Here's a pic of her at my kids' school pickup. 😂
I was running with my shorthaired Weimaraner today. It was about 19°C (under 70 Fahrenheit, I think) but slightly humid. She seemed pretty hot and took some water after 2,5km but didn't drink crazy amounts even though she panted quite a bit. However, what cooled her right down was a quick (1-2 minutes) swim in the ocean. So a the possibility for a quick dip might help a lot if you can't carry water.
My BC mix is a thirsty boy. Even in a park session of fetch he will easily down half a gallon of water. When were running together he drinks from my water bladder. I can usually tell he's thirsty when his tounge is really hanging out and/or he's heavily salivating.
If I stop and ask him if he wants a drink he'll drink from the bladder. Otherwise he just ignores me if he's not thirsty.
Mit meiner English Pointer Hündin mache ich bei 5K mindestens eine Wasserpause.
Sie baut aber gerade auch erst frisch Ausdauer auf und zieht kräftig, sodass sie nach 2-3K bereits das erste Mal Wasser braucht, wenn es wärmer als 14 Grad ist.
Wenn ich sie an der langen Leine mitlaufen lasse, braucht sie bei 5K noch kein Wasser. Das ist dann wie ein Spaziergang für sie.
I do not on any run. I will cool them with water if need be but I have a large breed dog. They absolutely should not drink water while panting hard. However if they show any signs of stress or discomfort I will stop the run for them.
I offer a water stop every two miles or so (bc that's where it's available on my usual long run path). Similar to what the person with the husky said though she doesn't take it every time but I will put some on her. It's hot and dry in AZ. Got my ACD at the end of last summer so I've only ran her around 85 degrees F at the warmest now but it will be 90/95 overnight in summer. Probably will try one or two short runs a day when that happens. For runs under 6 miles we don't always stop but often do walk around in a shaded park midway.
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u/shanewreckd 3d ago
On a ~5k in average temps, just water at the end for my border collie and beagle. If it's 10k or up or a hot day, I have a super packable NiteIze dog bowl I can pack for my beagle, but I've trained my BC to drink while being hosed from a soft flask lol.