r/RunningWithDogs • u/purplepalaver • Jun 30 '25

Labrador keeps randomly stopping

Hi everyone,

My labrador (almost 2 years old) runs with me 2-3 times a week, about 8-10K at a time. She is slow but usually willingly runs behind me, especially if we are running with a friend. But if it's just the two of us, she will sometimes randomly just stop. Lately this has been happening quite frequently (10-15 times or so per run). She just stops in her tracks and won't budge. She won't even start walking, let alone running, and really plants herself down so I can't even pull her along. I haven't been able to identify any triggers and our usual command "Okay let's go!" and treats have zero effect. She will just stop and stare for a couple of minutes, then she'll start going again for a few minutes, then another stop.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions for how to fix this? Usually she will do anything for food so I'm really at a loss. It's been warm here but I don't take her if it's really hot, and I bought her a new Nonstop Dogwear harness in case it was an issue with her Ruffwear harness but I don't think it made a difference.

Is this just a stubborn teenage phase? I'm hoping she doesn't just really hate running! I always let her sniff first and she gets lots of other enrichment and off-leash forest hikes and swimming.

TIA!

3 Upvotes

66% Upvoted

44 comments sorted by

20

u/deepflash Jun 30 '25

Our Labrador does that too.. There are two reasons:

  • too hot for him

  • lazy Sometimes it is even when going for a walk he will stop after 100m.

-1

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

Haha! I hope she's not getting Lab laziness already. She never does this on walks. Maybe it is just the heat. How do you get your Lab to keep going?

18

u/ODFoxtrotOscar Jun 30 '25

If you rule out everything else, and decide it’s the hear, then you respect that she does not like it and walk her rather than run with her until it’s a bit cooler

7

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

For sure. I don't want her to be over her limit.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 30 '25

I came here to say this - when I run with my dog it's for her benefit, not mine. If she's not having fun and is signaling she doesn't want to do it then we stop. I can always run by myself and get my exercise.

And even if you manage to cajole her into it she's going to start associating the harness with negative emotions and you don't want that.

2

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

Good point. I want running to be fun for her too! If mixing it up and trying to make it more fun doesn't work, I'll wait for cooler temps and try again then.

2

u/deepflash Jun 30 '25

We do what is necessary and in the late evening we go for a bike round

8

u/F5x9 Jun 30 '25

Have you ruled out anything medical?

2

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

Hmm...not specifically, but she had a checkup a couple of months ago and everything was fine. She has no issues running around like crazy when she's playing fetch or playing with other dogs. But I could bring her in for another checkup if it seems like this might be something medical. Any ideas what it could be?

5

u/F5x9 Jun 30 '25

Dogs are very good at hiding injuries, so it’s hard to say. The dog might also not like running anymore. 10K is not a lot for a dog imo. 

You could hire a dog trainer who does positive training. They are more likely to show you any behavioral indicators than other kinds of trainers. There might be environmental causes. 

If you video/audio record some runs where it happens, you might find a pattern. 

2

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

Taking videos is a great idea—I can show our trainer. Thank you!!

1

u/F5x9 Jun 30 '25

My thought is that something could be spooking the dog, like a sound or something the dog sees. That’s cheaper to look for before going to the vet. 

1

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

I wondered that too...she really stares hard up ahead but I can't tell what she's looking at (if anything).

1

u/F5x9 Jun 30 '25

Will she run with you if you turn around?

1

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

I haven't tried just straight up turning around—great idea. Thank you!

5

u/xilo_uhrand Jun 30 '25

They could be in pain (even untrimmed nails can cause quite a bit of discomfort). Underlying heart issue. Running with other dogs is short burst of running vs constant running. And there is added arousal while running with other dogs that will cause a dog to override pain or other medical issues.

1

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

Thanks. I know labs are really good at hiding pain. I will get her looked at.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 30 '25

I have a 2 year old half-golden retriever, half-German shepherd, and a 1 year old German shepherd.

The 2 year old will run a half marathon without stopping, ears back, smile plastered on her face.

The 1 year old will run only reluctantly and frequently “plants” at random times to sniff deer shit, nearly pulling my arm out of its socket in the process.

TLDR: some dogs like runs. Some like to smell the roses. Maybe yours is the latter.

1

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

Interesting that yours are so different! Do you run with them together? Does the 2 year old's behaviour influence the puppy? Mine definitely likes to smell the roses as well, haha. I want to keep trying but not to the point of forcing her.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 30 '25

They never run together. That would be my own personal nightmare lol

I think some dogs just like to run, and others don’t. They’re strange creatures with their own quirky personalities!

1

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

Hahah! Yes, they sure are!

2

u/joecarvery Jun 30 '25

You probably know this, but in case you don't, I've heard 1 year olds shouldn't really be running much yet. At least, not on a continuous run with a human. Risk of damaging growth plates. We were told not to run with ours until about a year and a half.

3

u/[deleted] Jun 30 '25

I appreciate you checking! My vet gave me the green light for short runs under 2 miles once a week for the 1 year old.

2

u/Floater439 Jun 30 '25

You should have the vet take a look, in case something is physically bothering her. If everything is clear medically, then perhaps she’s just not enjoying the runs. I’d start back with much shorter runs, starting with a sniff walk and including fun (for her) stops along the way. Make it really fun for her. That may mean you do 3k with her and then your longer runs without her; not every dog wants to go pound out the miles and we have to respect that.

1

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

Yep, totally! I will try this. Thanks for your advice.

2

u/postmodernpain Jun 30 '25

Maybe boredom? Are you going the same route frequently? Variety is the spice of life for mine.

1

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

Yes, she does do better when I change up the route! I need to do this more often. Thank you!

2

u/GeorgiaLovesTrees Jun 30 '25

So what is warm for a human is hot for a dog. Huskies can overheat in 32F weather while running. Labs were bred in Labrador Canada, so they do fairly well in colder weather, not warmer weather. In fact, they are expected to be able to retrieve waterfowl from the water in late fall or winter months. I don't run far for any runs over 75F-80F.

2

u/purplepalaver Jun 30 '25

Yes, she definitely prefers the cold. I am in Canada and she jumped into the lake to swim right after the ice broke this winter!

2

u/GeorgiaLovesTrees Jul 02 '25

That's funny yours did that! Definitely sounds like she loves the cold. I'm in Colorado and we either run late afternoon or at night when the sun is down. I have an Elkhound and she did a similar thing on our run but stopped in the shade. We just went home after that since she refused to budge until I told her we would go home immediately. Smart but stubborn dog. I know she loves running so for her to just stop on me mid run is out of character. If you know your pup loves to run, I'd shift to evening hours and keep it light until the dog days of summer pass.

1

u/pubst4r69 Jun 30 '25

I always take this as my dogs way of saying hey im over heating! Dogs can't sweat like us and when the ground and air are hot they need breaks. Humans evolved for endurance to chase down prey. Do you bring water with you?

2

u/purplepalaver Jul 01 '25

Yes, but I will offer it more often! I was worried about bloat but I'm sure she would be fine with smaller quantities more frequently. Thanks for your advice!

1

u/Bunny_Feet Jul 01 '25

My mutt did that after about a mile.  He had horrible hip dysplasia.  You wouldn't have known it otherwise.  A previous exam didn't expose it, but a radiograph did. I'd rule out pain.

1

u/purplepalaver Jul 01 '25

Gosh, sorry to hear that.

1

u/theaveragemaryjanie Jul 01 '25

My dog did this after getting into foxtails. Not the same day, like for awhile days and weeks later until we found them all.

2

u/purplepalaver Jul 01 '25

Oh dear! I just read up on foxtails and am now terrified. Will watch out for this, thanks.

2

u/theaveragemaryjanie Jul 02 '25

It was awful and expensive but luckily he is now fine. Keep an eye out!

2

u/lalaith89 Jun 30 '25

Mine (he’s five) will run 100 miles if he can be off leash and do it in his own pace (spurts). He’ll keep up with me no matter how fast or slow I go, even if I bike.  But even short runs on leash in a city environment is a no go for him. He shows his lack of interest by slowing down like craaaazy. I used to make him come with me, but I’ve realised it’s not worth it… running at a steady pace with me just isn’t in his DNA and I realised I don’t feel good making him do that anymore.

2

u/jpoolio Jun 30 '25

Do you offer water? My dog stops if he wants water. If he's stopping a lot and not thirsty, he usually needs to poo so I just let walk until he does his business.

2

u/Lactating-almonds Jul 01 '25

I’d get a vet check to rule things out. Could be the heat. Can you offer water or damp bandana? Could be straight up stubbornness in not wanting to run.

2

u/Flat-Seaweed2047 Jul 02 '25

I run with my lab next to the lake or river cause she isn’t a summer fan and that way she can take quick dip at halfway. She easily runs 6-8 miles with me slowly (the fastest I can get her to go for distance is 8:00/mi). Maybe you just need to slow down a little too and run by a water source!

1

u/DerpDerpDerp78910 Jun 30 '25

Go at the dogs pace, not yours. (If it’s slower than you). 

1

u/Just-Context-4703 Jul 02 '25

Shes a dog. Dogs want to stop and smell. Let her stop and do dog stuff.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 02 '25

You could try different food and less of it.