My yellow lab puppy, Louie

Question
My yellow lab puppy was born Nov 7, 2008.  I like to run (3-5 miles per outing) and would like to take him running with me.  Is he too young?  One more question that may sound silly.....I live in South Lake Tahoe, elevation 6500 feet.  Will the elevation affect him?  Do I need to take that into consideration?

Answer
He is much too young to be running with you.  Give him another year.  His joints need a chance to develop with as little stress as possible.  You should be feeding a puppy chow now. Switching to an adult chow for the larger breeds at 4 months, slows growth and helps develop sturdier joints.

Your dog definitely should be narrower at the waist than the hips and chest. You should be able to easily feel the ribs, but not see them. Each dog is different. Standard recommendations are a good place to start, but each dog must have its food and exercise adjusted to its individual needs. Here is a link to a good illustrated guide, http://www.longliveyourdog.com/twoplus/RateYourDog.aspx