An outdoor-loving human deserves an outdoor-loving canine. When adopting a new dog, it is essential to choose a dog breed that matches your lifestyle and expectations. If you want a dog that will take to the trail with you, it’s essential to choose a breed that’s capable of doing that. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best breeds for hiking, traveling, and other on-the-go activities. If you want a sidekick for adventures, these dog breeds for outdoor junkies are your best option.
1. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador Retriever is the number one dog breed in the United States for a reason. They’re loyal, active, and friendly. They’re more than willing to go hiking and swimming, and you’ll be able to train them enough to keep them under control while out and about.
Their outgoing and friendly nature means that they are rarely aggressive towards people, especially when socialized properly. Therefore, they are great for traveling and camping.
Labrador Retrievers were originally made for swimming tasks, such as retrieving waterfowl and hauling fishnets. Therefore, they are wonderful around water and perfect companions for boating. Their feet are even webbed!
2. Bernese Mountain Dog
Bernese Mountain Dogs are huge creatures. They were bred for mountainous climates and are outdoor dogs at heart. They aren’t nearly as active as other dogs out there, however. Therefore, their endurance level may not be long enough for longer hikes.
However, they will do great on short walks with their people. They are also suitable for camping trips, as long as the walk isn’t terribly long.
With that said, these dogs are quite large. Therefore, you need quite a bit of room in your car. They aren’t the best for traveling by car for long periods, simply because they are incredibly large.
However, they were bred to pull small carts, so they could carry their weight while on the trail.
3. Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherds and their cousins the Mini Aussies are great outdoor companions. They are very obedient and smart, so you can teach them all the commands dogs need to know when out and about. Australian shepherds are often very fixated on their owners, allowing them to ignore other people. They can easily negotiate tougher terrain and have plenty of endurance for longer hikes. These are extremely high-energy dogs, so many absolutely need the high activity levels that hiking and outdoor activities provide.
With that said, their herding needs are extremely high, though. Therefore, we highly recommend keeping them on a leash.
4. Collie
Collies are the quintessential family dog. They’re great with children and have a high endurance, which also makes them a great option for traveling with children. These dogs are also quite agile and can do well on tougher terrain, as long as they have had the correct train-up period.
They are relatively easy to train, allowing you to hit the trail (and the road) sooner than with other breeds. Their loyalty makes them easier to manage when out and about.
If you have children and are outdoorsy, then you may want to consider this breed.
Plus, Collies are smaller than most other breeds out there. Therefore, if you don’t have much room in your car, this may be a solid breed.
5. Vizsla
The Vizsla is a rarer breed. However, they can make a great option for hiking and other outdoor activities. They are very powerful hunting dogs, so you will need to keep them on a leash. Their prey drive is extremely high, so they will chase any wildlife they see.
However, they love the outdoors and are extremely energetic, which makes them perfect for hiking and other outdoor activities. They are also extremely friendly, so they usually don’t have a problem with other people in most cases.
If you’re extremely active, we recommend this breed. However, for those who only go on hikes every once and a while, you probably want an easier-to-care-for breed.
Plus, their rarity makes this breed a bit more difficult to find. When you do find a breeder, they can be more expensive due to the breed’s rarity.
Final Thoughts on Dog Breeds for Outdoor Junkies
When you love hiking, traveling, and other outdoor activities, finding a dog to tag along with can seriously improve the fun. We recommend one of the five breeds above, though you can also find other suitable breeds out there.
These active dog breeds for outdoor junkies have plenty of endurance to conquer a hiking trail while also being obedient enough to listen on the hiking trail.
Of course, getting one of these breeds doesn’t guarantee that the dog will act great in public. Only socialization and training can do that. Therefore, we recommend starting training early – no matter what breed you get.
For More:
- On our site: Puppy Love: Dog-Friendly Charleston
- On our site: Five Travel Apps to Install on Your Phone
- On our site: Pack for a Car Camping Adventure
- American Kennel Club
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