Dogs are man’s best friend. This is probably one of the biggest universal truths that no one is ready to dispute or argue about. They are loyal, adorable, fluffy, and extremely sensitive.
They are also great companions and fearless in times of need. Dogs are a great addition when exploring the wild, and unfamiliar locations.
They are next to you to keep you safe, active, and warm in times of need, such as in case of rain and cold time. Hiking is a great adventure and a great way to connect with nature.
Hiking is also a physically demanding and challenging process that is easier to go through when you have a companion – and there is no better companion than a canine for long walks and hard ground.
If you are thinking about getting a dog for long hikes you should know what type of dog to search for, because Pomeranian cannot endure long and difficult trails like Siberian Husky can and so on.
Below you will find the breeds that are eager to hike, easy on feet, and can go hours and hours doing nothing but being active. Check them.
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian Cattle Dog was originally bred by Australian settlers to help them with cattle. Their main job was to herd cattle. As such, they are highly intelligent dogs with high energy levels.
This isn’t a breed for first time owners, since they need a firm and loving hand, with hours of activity per day.
Australian Cattle Dogs are also known as Heelers and are dogs with a strong love for the outdoors in their genetics.
After all, they were bred to spend hours and hours on farms running and solving problems. They are extremely loyal, love activities, and prefer having a job to do.
Australian Cattle Dogs are great for training as long as you provide structured and short training sessions.
They will easily master basic commands all the way to more complex and demanding agility exercises – and they will love it.
Australian Shepherd
In spite of their name, famous Australian Shepherds were developed in the United States, not in Australia.
So, what’s the thing with their name? Their name comes from their link with Basque sheepherders who came to the U.S. from Australia in the 1800s.
Australian Shepherd is one of the smartest dog breeds alive. If you want a dog who can learn hundreds of commands, this is the breed for you.
This is a highly intelligent breed that enjoys complex tasks. They will be happy acting like a couch potato with you, but more enjoyment into their heart will come when you are outdoors, having fun by being active, or simply running.
This is a breed that will easily follow you on the running tracks, so make sure that you have enough endurance for this breed.
Since they are easy to train, they are a favored breed for their ability to work as service dogs.
They are often used to find narcotics or to spend hours as children’s companionship animals.
Bernese Mountain Dog
Bernese Mountain Dog thrives in the harsh climate area. Originally from the mountains of Switzerland, the Bernese Mountain Dog was used to pull carts from oen farm to another one.
This sport is active even today and it seems that Bernese Mountain dogs do enjoy it even today.
The job description was beyond cart pulling. They were also active as farmhands, cattle herders, and watchdogs.
Even today, they handle the wintertime easily, mostly thanks to their coat – which means that you will need to invest some time into brushing your Bernese.
Despite their size, this is a calm and happy dog, perfect for families with children – just make sure that you educate your children on how to behave around dogs.
They can be trained to be protective dogs of both their family owners and their homes.
Just keep in mind that Bernese Mountain Dogs aren’t suied for hot desert climates – if you place them in areas with a hot climate, you can expect roubles beyong heatstroke.
They have extremely thick coats and are happy in a colder climate, or in areas where the weather does mix a bit.
Border Collie
Border Collie was originally bred as a sheepherding dog in rural areas of England and Scotland.
This medium-sized dog is packed with energy and endurance, which makes him perfect for long-form outings in hilly terrain.
They have high drive and stamina, and if you provide them enough nutrients and water, they can tackle any hike, and show you why dogs are superiours opposite to humans.
They enjoy agility-based games like fets and are one of the best contestants in competitive canine sports.
Border Collie definitely isn’t a breed for first time dog owners. They need a lot of entertainment, activity, and love. They are easily bored if there isn’t a job for them to do.
If left alone for too long they might become destructive, so make sure that there are enough toys and fun things to do.
Otherwise, you might learn the hard way what a bored dog or neglected dog might do with your furniture and so on.
Portuguese Water Dog
Portuguese Water Dog is a rare breed. This dog was bred to help humans when fishing fish.
In fact, this breed was the perfect helper doing anything water-related, from gathering nets to actually herding fish into said nets.
This set of skills made them suited to any outdoor activity that needed large animals near water.
Did you know that the Portuguese Water Dog has webbed feet? This means that they’re amazing swimmers, and can swim distance for a long time.
Next to being great swimmers, they are also amazing family companions, who love being next to tehir humans on the land. Grooming is a serious business with this dog.
If you get yourself a Portuguese Water Dog expect a lot of brushing, because their coat is full of hair.
Make sure that you have the right grooming tools on hand – only with the right tools you can have easy and effective brushing time.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rhodesian Ridgeback is a dog breed from today’s area of Zimbabwe. A long time ago this area was known as Rhodesia, hence the name of the breed.
This breed was bred to hunt animals that are common to African ground, such as elephants, hippos, lions, and crocodiles.
Today, they are mostly busy as full-time pets, known for their athleticism and intelligence.
This is a powerful breed, although they aren’t as energetic as sheepherding dogs, they have no issues with hitting difficult and long hiking trails.
This is a breed that hates being on its own, so if you leave Rhodesian Ridgeback alone at home and frequently, or neglect him anyhow, expect some separation anxiety, and destructive behaviors.
Since this is a large and powerful dog a destructive behavior can be daunting and overwhelming.
That being said, make sure that you have enough time to raise Rhodesian Ridgeback right way.
Otherwise, maybe you should focus on getting a dog thats more suitable for first time dog owners.
Vizsla
Vizsla is the Hungarian version of the German Shorthaired Pointer. This breed was created to be great for hunting and retrieving dogs. Vizslas are among the most faithful dogs within the canine world.
They form firm bonds with their humans – in some cases, they are seen as needy. Vizslas’ are warm-weather dogs, and their short light fur makes them prone to skin cancer.
If you get Vizsla, make sure that you keep his skin protected as much as possible.
Vizsla is a muscular breed with ancient history. It’s common for people to mix Vizlas with other similar dogs in appearance.
People often mix Vizsla with Redbone Coonhounds, Weimaraners, and Rhodesian Ridgebacks.
Vizslas are known as high energy dogs, so make sure that you provide enough exercise and outdoor time.
The Bottom Line
Many dog owners already have an active lifestyle, and as result, many have breeds that are well suited for outdoors and adventure.
When it comes to hiking with your dog, you need to think about two things in your dog: personality and physical characteristics.
Every breed was specifically bred for certain jobs, and naturally, some are better at hiking than others.
Make sure that you hike with a breed that can handle such a big task.
