Whilst fitness levels and breed type will be determining factors, fit and healthy adult working dogs such as sled dogs or herding dogs have been known to run for 40+ miles (64km) without needing to pause for rest.
In comparison, as a benchmark a reasonably fit non-working labrador should have no problem accompanying you for a 5 mile continuous cycle or jog without stopping.
Of course, as you might expect, breed does have a strong influence over the duration and distance a dog might be able to run. Even with the biggest heart in the world a Pug or a Saint Bernard is going to struggle if asked to pound the trails for 2 hours straight.
Some examples of breeds that are known for incredible feats of endurance, as well as just how long they are able to run without stopping are captured below.
Dogs make great long distance running companions
Whilst there is no official world record for the longest distance a dog has been recorded to run without stopping, anecdotally there are many examples of ultramarathoners being accompanied by their four legged friends on training runs for lengths greater than 40 miles!
Hunting breeds such as Pointers, Vizslas and Weimaraners seem to be the most common companions for elite athletes, with energetic collies a popular choice too.
However it isn’t only working dog breeds who are capable of traversing the trails for in excess of 4 hours non-stop.
The internet picked up and carried a story in 2016 of a homeless terrier cross called Gobi who demonstrated incredible endurance when she latched onto ultramarathoner Dion Leonard mid-race for a distance of 23 miles, seemingly just for the company.
Sled dog races are epic
Many sled dog race courses are vast, spanning areas greater than many countries and taking days or even weeks to complete.
The longest sled dog race in the world is the Iditarod in which teams of 1 musher and 12-16 dogs compete over a 1,049 mile course stretching between Anchorage and Nome in Alaska, USA (the global pandemic reduced the 2021 running to a course to only … 860 miles in length).
That’s a lot of ground to cover!
Race distances of this magnitude require teams to tackle the elements for extended periods of time each and every day they are on the move.
Those who make it to the finish line of the Iditarod have normally been on the go for 8-15 days.
When factoring in mandatory periods of rest at checkpoints, individual stages of 50+ miles are common and can be covered without stopping (with the exception of snack stops to take in energy every 2-3hrs).
The White Mountain – Safety stage towards the end of the race is one of those stages and is often seen as somewhat of a sprint finish, especially if multiple teams are close to one another.
Bear in mind these sled dogs aren’t simply cantering across a field in mild weather whilst covering these distances.
Travelling across difficult terrain in sub-zero conditions, as well as hauling a sled and musher weighing up to 350lbs makes this a truly extraordinary feat.
Herding dog breeds work all day
When driving livestock that have dispersed to graze across vast ranches, it isn’t unusual for herding dogs such as the Border Collie or Australian Cattle Dogs to be on the move and alert for 4-6hrs.
It’s difficult to convert this time spent in motion to a linear distance as there will undoubtedly be lots of stops and starts, as well as prolonged sprints to get into the correct position in relation to the livestock.
As an educated guess, in this role a herding dog might be required to run 10-15 miles without stopping. A far cry short of the maximum distances that herding dogs have demonstrated they can cover.
The Wildcard Entry
When endurance is employed as a means to hunt food and your survival is at stake, it’s essential you can outlast your prey in a pursuit.
African wild dog packs (Lycaon pictus) are synonymous with maintaining incredibly large territories of up to 70,000ha (270km2) and rely on coordinated hunts that can involve chasing prey to the point of exhaustion.
GPS collars have been used during academic studies of wild dogs to track their movement and better understand the risk vs reward tactics of this hunting strategy.
It was found that on average 3hrs 45mins per day were devoted to hunting and ranging time. However despite the huge territories, it was found that most of the hunts are completed at either a walking pace or a canter.
In fact only 7.4% of time spent chasing prey involved actually running.
To this end, although extremely persistent hunters the threat of an unsuccessful hunt, or losing prey to other predators means these dogs cannot risk running for distances as long as our domesticated dogs.
FAQs
Can dogs run marathons?
The question of how far can dogs run without stopping is often asked by those keen to know whether their four legged friend might be able to act as a training partner when preparing for an upcoming marathon.
For most dog breeds the answer to this question is simple. Yes, a marathon distance will be achievable provided training ramps up gently and adequate rest is provided between long run days.
There should be no physiological reason or mechanical reason a fit dog shouldn’t be able to begin covering longer distances as great as 26.3 miles.
Keep in mind that much like humans, altitude and temperature will become limiting factors for dogs.
Thermoregulation especially is a real issue for dogs who will overheat really easily, even in temperate climates.
The surface upon which the dog is running could also impact the length of time they can move without stopping.
Overly hot, cold, hard and even wet surfaces can being to become a problem after several hours of continuous exposure.
So take it slow, vary the terrain and make sure the training program involves plenty of rest days.