Running Boxers and Food Concerns

Question
I actually have two completely different questions.  I would like to know how much is too much running?  I run/walk with my boxer (male-3 years old) about 4-5 miles a day.  My husband was concerned that this might be too much and I might agree.  Our dog seems to love the running/walking, but I am a little concerned about the long term effect, is there any?

Also, what food would you recommend?  We first started with Iams and I now know that is not a good food, however his stool was very normal.  We recently have switched to Nature's Recipe and his stool is very soft and we find this to be a problem.  We would like to find him a food that is good for him, but not make his stool soft.  Any suggestions?

Thanks so much

Answer
HI. Different people have different opinions of how much exercise is too much. If your boy has the all clear from your vet and enjoys the run, then I would enjoy your running buddy. My best suggestion here would be to talk to your vet and see what he thinks. He knows your pet best, of any joint issues, ect. Some people believe that running this much can cause joint issues down the road. Talk to your vet about this, and see if he should be on any joint supplement. If you feel that this is too much for him, cut him down to say 3 miles a day. It will take him some time to adjust to the decrease in exercise, and you may have to adjust his food intake so he doesn't gain weight.

About the food thing...I think of it this way, if a dog is doing good on a certain dog food then that's the one that's working for them. Some dog foods do have better ingrediants than others, and are of a better quality. However, I have known dogs that couldn't handle the better foods for one reason or another. If he was keeping weight, had shiny, clear eyes and skin, wasn't itching and had plenty of energy, then that dog food is working for him. Some of the better foods are Pro Plan, diamond foods, Eagle Pack. I'm not sure where you're located, the better foods can be hard to find in your area. I'm sending youa  link about doog food. Just remember, it's about what your particular dog does best on.

www.dogfoodanalysis.com