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Is it too early to run my 1yr old lab?

20 9:31:56

Question
We just adopted a rescue yellow lab.  She is gorgeous and although was a little sick (kennel cough) she is now getting better, which means her energy levels are increasing rapidly.
We have been on 50min walks, but seems that it is not yet sufficient to get her tired.
Is it too early to start running her? We have run for short intervals, 5 minutes at a time go get her tired but I am worried about hip dysplasia.
Please advice.

Answer
You would do better to delay very much running another 6 months to a year.  The danger now is more soft tissue damage than dysplasia.  Do you have a pond or creek available she could swim in?  I used to take my one Lab to swim in a detention pond.  The trick is to find a fairly clean one.  Many Labs love swimming.  Fetching a stick from a pond is a good low impact exercise.  Swimming may be a learned behavior.  It may have to start slow.