How far does a dog run compared to a human?

[Supernova190188]

Obviously dependant on the dog, but I always wonder just how far my dog runs when we go out.
He’s a 3yr old cocker, so pretty energetic but when I do a common walk which is 4 miles, approx an hour to do he must surely do 15 miles as he’s running all over, 100 yards ahead then back, off to the side a lot, up steep banks and down steep slopes etc, always amazes me how they just don’t get tired after such a high energy run.
Is there some common knowledge about a dogs distance run compared to a humans walk or should I just strap a pedometer to him to solve my curiosity 😁

[HTP99]

Funnily enough I wonder about this too with my Terriers, particularly the eldest one as he is very inquisitive, always darting off into the undergrowth, running ahead, running behind etc, I do a daily 3 (ish) mile lead walk with them both but generally a twice weekly 5-6 mile, off lead walk with them it is these walks that gets me wondering.

[Simpo Two]

Supernova190188 said:

...or should I just strap a pedometer to him to solve my curiosity ??

Dog steps are smaller than human ones, so GPS would be more accurate.

Or put him in a treadwheel of known circumference and count the revolutions... plus you can make electricity

[juice]

Get a pit pat

https://www.pitpat.com/

For ours - on a 3 mile walk they tend to do 8-9 miles.

[popeyewhite]

Generally people overestimate the distance the average dog does on a walk, i think it's because they're constantly moving.

[Goodie84]

My father-in-law has a Jack Russell and he is absolutely crackers! My father-in-law’s house is surrounded by huge fields and his Jack Russell just runs forever every day.

When a human is running with a dog the latter is normally just trotting.

[sc0tt]

I’d imagine mine walks/runs 3x the distance I do when out.

We take him to a field most mornings and he will run get his ball, come back. He can do it for hours. Mental.

[georgefreeman918]

popeyewhite said:

Generally people overestimate the distance the average dog does on a walk, i think it's because they're constantly moving.

I recently did a 3km walk with my garmin, then did exactly the same route with my dog, but the garmin strapped to his harness.

On a 3km walk he did 4km, so I am working on the basis of +25% for a dog. I thought it would be further as he is nuts!

[N111BJG]

Wouldn’t the pedometer reading need to be divided by two to account for their extra legs ?

[Kawasicki]

N111BJG said:

Wouldn’t the pedometer reading need to be divided by two to account for their extra legs ?

No, multiplied by four.

[Simpo Two]

Kawasicki said:

N111BJG said:

Wouldn’t the pedometer reading need to be divided by two to account for their extra legs ?

No, multiplied by four.

Not only is the stride length different but it will change enormously depending on whether the dog is walking or running, so it won't work.

[Kawasicki]

Simpo Two said:

Kawasicki said:

N111BJG said:

Wouldn’t the pedometer reading need to be divided by two to account for their extra legs ?

No, multiplied by four.

Not only is the stride length different but it will change enormously depending on whether the dog is walking or running, so it won't work.

I was actually joking.

Being serious, just stick a gps sportswatch on the dog‘s collar. I reckon my dog runs 3-4 times my distance up to about 4miles, then 2 times for the next 4. By the time we are at 10 miles he just runs beside me.
Downhills accelerate his fatigue, more than they do mine…as does heat.

He friggin loves going for a run. I think it is some sort of pack instinct thing.

[popeyewhite]

georgefreeman918 said:

I recently did a 3km walk with my garmin, then did exactly the same route with my dog, but the garmin strapped to his harness.

On a 3km walk he did 4km, so I am working on the basis of +25% for a dog. I thought it would be further as he is nuts!

Even +25% is quite high I think. One also needs to question the accuracy of GPS devices, both in terms of under and over - calculating distance.

[Simpo Two]

popeyewhite said:

Even +25% is quite high I think. One also needs to question the accuracy of GPS devices, both in terms of under and over - calculating distance.

Plan C: Attach a reel of fine string to the dog. As the dog runs, the string pays out. At the end of the run, wind the string in and measure it Now just subtract the distance you've walked... or add it...?

[anonymous-user]

My mate used an Apple Watch with strava on his dog and I think his 2k walk was a bit over 6 k for the dog, interesting seeing the different tracks compared also.

Obviously there will be huge variation depending on dog and where you are etc.

[oddman]

Working cocker spaniel.

Comes running with me up to 20k in Pennines all off road. Estimate he does 2-3x my distance.

Also works on grouse and partridge in heather so has to jump over heather to get about.

Needs a rest day (short walk) between working days.

I can't believe they can do it on such a small amount of fuel. He gets 300g of kibble a day and no treats. Weight is rocks steady 15kg.

[Don Veloci]

Might try it some time but knowing my luck the old garmin watch would get minced playing with another dog or knicked if the dafty runs off to say hello to some random.

On a side note I do wonder how the average dog would cope with a 5km/10km with Mo Farah or scaled up, 26.2 miles with Kipchoge.

[jfdi]

The sampling rate of any GPS device will make a big difference. The dog is rarely running in a straight line for long so if the GPS is only taking a reading every second or even every 2 seconds the dog can have changed direction in that time with the GPS only calculating a straight line from the last know point, when in fact the dog has weaved between the points.
I'd expect most GPS devices will under read the distance when attached to a dog.

[popeyewhite]

oddman said:

Working cocker spaniel.

Comes running with me up to 20k in Pennines all off road. Estimate he does 2-3x my distance.

You think your working cocker might do 40-60km??

[Bujinkhal]

Wouldn't surprise me at all, border collie, he easily does 3X me on a 15 mile walk. It wouldn't surprise me to find out its x4. Friend who walks with me has a GSD/Collie cross and she likely only does 1.2X as she just stays with us for most of it.

So very dependant on the dog I reckon.