As a hiker, you know there is nothing better than getting a chance to explore the outdoors.
Connecting with nature and experiencing the beauty that surrounds you can be hard to beat,
unless of course you can share that experience with your four-legged friend.
Having a dog hike along with you gives you companionship and joy unlike any other.
Finding the best dog to hike off leash though, can be a challenge.
Not only does your dog need to be strong and able to endure a good hike, but your dog must
be obedient and willing to hike alongside you.
Let’s take a closer look at what to consider when picking a hiking companion, and the best
dog breeds to hike with you off-leash.
Number 1.
Labrador Retriever.
Labs are great, all-around dogs.
Not only are they loving and affectionate, but they are incredibly intelligent too.
Their affectionate nature generally makes them friendly with other people and animals,
a key characteristic for being a good candidate as a hiking companion.
Further, these dogs seem to have unlimited energy, and love to be outdoors.
Their thick coat and durable paws make them able to hike through all weather conditions,
rain or snow.
Plus, their intelligence can make them easy to train, so recall commands will be easy
for this dog to learn.
Number 2.
German Shorthaired Pointer.
This breed of dog was created for the long-haul.
A large and hardy breed, the German Shorthaired Pointer was developed as the ideal hunting
companion.
Both rugged and loyal, this breed of dog will stay close to his owner, awaiting the next
command.
This dog craves long hikes and the outdoors, so it makes a perfect candidate as a dog to
hike off-leash.
Plus, the German Shorthaired Pointer is incredibly intelligent, able to pick up on his owner’s
demands quickly.
This breed of dog is very social, and happy to meet new people and dogs along the trail.
Number 3.
Irish Terrier.
Certainly not a common breed, the Irish Terrier is a small, spirited, and adventurous little
dog.
This dog has a very easy going temperament, which makes him a very “go with the flow”
kind of dog.
This makes him perfectly adapted to life on the trail.
Plus, his easy going personality makes him happy to meet new friends along the hike.
The dog can be independent at times, which means that it will require ongoing and regular
training to make sure this dog is able to hike off-leash.
However, the Irish Terrier responds well to authority and has a pack dog mentality.
While this dog is prone to wondering off from time to time, rest assured that the Irish
Terrier will still come when called.
Number 4.
Border Collie.
Easily one of the smartest dog breeds in existence, the Border Collie is quick to learn new commands.
This will make training the dog to hike off-leash along the trail very easy.
However, the Border Collie has an extremely high energy level, so this is a dog that will
require long and regular hikes.
Its intelligence can also make this breed prone to an independent streak.
The Border Collie is not a very social dog and dislikes strangers.
Plus, the dog does not have the patience for small children, and prefers to be accompanied
by older children or adults along the hike.
Number 5.
Australian Shepherd.
Bred to work, the Australian Shepherd is constantly looking for something to keep him active.
With boundless energy, running alongside you as you hike is a perfect way to redirect his
energy.
The Australian Shepherd will happily stick by your side for hiking, or trail running.
Both eager to please and intelligent, the Australian Shepherd is content to simply make
his owner happy.
This is a social dog who understands the pack mentality, and often does well hiking with
other off-leash dogs as well.
Number 6.
Golden Retriever.
Generally considered one of the most popular breed of dogs in the United States, it is
no wonder the Golden Retriever made our list as one of the best dogs to hike with off-leash.
Not only is this dog intelligent, able to learn new commands very quickly, but this
is an energetic and fun-loving dog.
Plenty social, the Golden Retriever seems to make new friends wherever he goes.
This dog has plenty of energy and is happy to spend the day outside along with his family.
Plus, the Golden Retriever is a big bodied and strong dog, able to hike through all weather
conditions with incredible endurance.
Number 7.
Catahoula Hound.
The Catahoula Leopard Hound is the only breed of dog that originates from Louisiana.
Originally bred to be a guard dog, the Catahoula Hound is incredibly loyal to his family.
Although this breed has a tendency to be a bit independent from time to time, its loyalty
always brings this dog back to his owner.
With lots of energy, the Catahoula Hound is happy to accompany his owner on a long hike
through the forest.
Although its independent nature means this dog may have the tendency to run off, just
outside a comfortable distance, its loyalty and training will always bring the dog back.
This dog does have a tendency to be cool with strangers and other dogs, so be sure to properly
socialize your Catahoula Hound from a young age.
Number 8.
Vizsla.
Often referred to as a “Velcro Dog” the Vizsla wants nothing more than to be attached
to his owner’s hip.
Traditionally used as a hunting dog, this breed of dog does particularly well outdoors.
It has a sleek, fine coat of fur which rarely picks up sticks and brambles along the trail,
making clean up a breeze.
Plus, these dogs have plenty of energy, and can often outlast their owners on hikes.
The Vizsla is very intelligent and can quickly pick up new commands, so teaching it to hike
off-leash almost comes as second nature to this dog.
This breed of dog can be sensitive, so always use positive reinforcement when training new
commands or tricks.
Number 9.
Belgian Sheepdog.
Like other herding dogs, the Belgian Sheepdog is energetic and willing to go on any length
hike with his owner.
Loyal to a fault, the Belgian Sheepdog is undyingly devoted to his owner.
This can make the dog particularly easy to train.
The dog simply wants to please his or her owner, and will go to any length to do so.
Couple their loyalty with their intelligence, and this dog is quite easy to train for hiking
off-leash.
The only downside to this breed of dog is that it can be shy at times toward other dogs
and people.
For this reason, it is very important to socialize the Belgian Sheepdog at an early age.
Exposing this dog to plenty of new people, and animals will help create a more social
dog to hike with you along the trail.
Finally, thank you for spending time with us.
See you in the next videos.