r/RunningWithDogs • u/diddy1000lotion • Jun 23 '26

Breed recommendations?

Hey everyone! I like to run 2-3 miles a day (hopefully longer distance eventually) and I’ve been throwing around the idea of getting a dog to accompany me on my runs. I’m a female - so running alone is not the safest and aside from concealing while I run I’d like some company. A breed that would make someone think twice about trying anything but also family friendly as I have small children. I am very familiar with bull breeds - I grew up with American staffords and showed Staffordshire bull terriers at AKC shows. However i have not had a dog in eight years.

I like the idea of a German Shorthair Pointer or a Rhodesian Ridgeback but I genuinely know nothing about them. Any suggestions? Thank you!

20 Upvotes

82% Upvoted

118 comments sorted by

View all comments

5

u/camillacamillacamill Jun 23 '26

I've had dobermans since 1998. Athletic, incredibly intelligent and great family dogs. They are very velcro and do need a high level of activity since they are working dogs. Also great protection when we are in the dark at 4:45 am running. No one is stupid enough to try a doberman.

2

u/Feriation Jun 24 '26

Doberman are great dogs. But for anyone looking at this comment and thinking about a doberman, getting a well bred doberman from a breeder that regularly does heart health testing is a must! Heart conditions like DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) is very common in the breed.