Best Dogs For Active Lifestyles

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If you are looking for a furry companion that can keep up with your outdoor activities, you need a healthy dog. So, what are the best dogs for active lifestyle?

All dog breeds are active, but not all can carry around backpacks, go on long hikes and excursions, or get themselves wet during swimming.

Active dogs can keep up with their owners and love outdoor activities like hiking to positively release their boundless energy. A Border Collie, Bernese Mountain Dog, Dalmatian, Siberian Husky, Labrador Retriever, and more are some of the best dogs for active lifestyle. They don’t tire out easily.

Taking your dog out on hiking, camping, swimming, and more is not only an exercise for them, but it can help you stay fit too. Highly energetic dogs are a handful, but they have the strength and endurance to keep up with you. This can vary depending on their age, breed, and size. All dogs are active, but for how long a breed can keep up is determined by your lifestyle and hobbies.

If you choose a high-energy dog, you need to give it time and attention and set a regular exercise routine so that it doesn’t get bored and turn to destructive behaviors. In this article, we will discuss the best dogs for active lifestyle so you can make a well-informed decision, but first, let’s learn about destructive behaviors, their implications, and causes.

In this article

‍11 Best Dogs for Active Lifestyle

Border Collie

Border Collie
Border Collie

The Border collie is one of the most intelligent dog breeds available. It has high-energy levels and loves to join its owners in outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and more. Border collies are one of the best dogs for an active lifestyle because they can easily keep up with their owners. They are easy to train and quickly pick up on new commands, hand signals, and cues.

They are quite demanding and require regular exercise and playtime to positively release their energy. Border collies need a lot of physical and mental stimulation to keep them sane and safe.

Characteristics  

  • Alert
  • Intelligent
  • Territorial
  • Loyal

Labrador Retriever

Labrador Retriever
Labrador Retriever

Labrador retrievers are one of the most popular dog breeds available. They make the perfect companions for families with kids that can give them lots of attention and cuddles. Labradors are highly energetic dogs that love outdoor activities like trailing, hiking, camping, swimming, playing fetch, and more.

Labrador retrievers are easy-going dogs that love to please their owners and are easy to train. They also do well in agility sports and training.

Characteristics

  • Make good assistance and guide dogs.
  • Love to hang around with the family.
  • Intelligent.
  • High energy.

Dalmatian

Dalmatian
Dalmatian

Dalmatians, incredibly popular due to the 101 Dalmatians movie, are among the best dogs for active lifestyle. They have a muscular and angular body with strong hind legs that promotes fast running. They are amazing companions and extremely loyal to their owners. You can train them to run beside you without a leash on a hike.

They were initially used as coach dogs to run alongside carriages and thus still have the athletic abilities to perform well in agility sports and other outdoor activities.

Characteristics

  • Energetic
  • Love to socialize with other humans, dogs, and pets.
  • Active
  • Friendly

Bernese Mountain Dog

Bernese Mountain Dog
Bernese Mountain Dog

Bernese Mountain Dogs are huge and weigh anywhere between 70 to 115 pounds, depending on the gender, as females tend to be smaller. They have long fluffy fur coats that make them ideal for cuddling. They can easily withstand extremely cold temperatures but might overheat and exhaust themselves if out on a hike in the summers.

A Bernese Mountain enjoys long walks, jumping, hiking, camping, and more. They love spending time with their owners and getting their unwavering attention. They can also be trained to walk without a leash and are the perfect companion for outdoor activities.

Characteristics

  • Loyal
  • Affectionate
  • Needs mental stimulation
  • Intelligent

German Shorthaired Pointer

German Shorthaired Pointer
German Shorthaired Pointer

German Shorthaired Pointer is another hunting dog breed considered one of the best dogs for active lifestyle. It loves the outdoors and engages in multiple activities like hunting, camping, hiking, and more. It has a high energy level that can lead to destructive behaviors if it is not able to channel its energy by exercising or training.

German Shorthaired Pointers are friendly, smart, and have the strength to work long hours in the field, either working or playing. They are also quick to learn new tricks and commands.

Characteristics

  • Bold
  • Trainable
  • Intelligent
  • Affectionate

Vizsla

Vizsla
Vizsla

Vizsla is a gentle and energetic dog breed and makes great athletes. It gets along well with its owner and other dogs and is extremely loyal. It has a high-energy level and endurance, which makes it a great companion for hunting, running, hiking, and more. If not physically challenged every day, it can become nervous, agitated, and bored, which may lead to destructive behaviors.

It has a lean and semi-muscular body that promotes fast running. It can also be trained to walk or run off-leash beside you on hikes and walks.

Characteristics  

  • Quiet
  • Gentle
  • Energetic
  • Loyal

Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherd
Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds were bred for herding purposes and are still used as working dogs on farms. They are intelligent, smart, and extremely affectionate, and love to please their owners. They need physical and mental stimulation to keep themselves sane, and thus, daily exercise is necessary.

An Australian Shepherd is easy to train and loves to accompany you on outdoor activities like playing fetch, hiking, and camping. It is also perfect for agility training and sports and could be a good option if daily exercise isn’t helpful for it.

Characteristics

  • Good-natured
  • Protective
  • Active
  • Intelligent

Siberian Husky

Siberian Husky
Siberian Husky

Siberian Huskies are gorgeous dogs with a long fluffy fur coat, making them ideal for families that live in colder climates. They are the perfect partner for skiing, sledding, and hiking in the snow. They usually belong to working families and love to exert their energy through outdoor activities. Although, in the summer, you need to ramp up the air conditioner and keep it indoors to avoid overheating it.

Huskies can be quite naughty, so keep an eye on them when around with other pets and don’t keep them off-leash.

Characteristics

  • Friendly
  • Alert
  • Outgoing
  • Gentle

Weimaraners

Weimaraners
Weimaraners

Weimaraners are one of the best dogs for active lifestyle. They are highly energetic and don’t tire out quickly. They love the outdoors and have a calm and cool temperament. They also love adventure and can be easily trained to learn hand signals and cues to keep up with you during hiking and running.

They need daily exercise and mental stimulation to keep them entertained, so be prepared to put in some work.

Characteristics  

  • Powerful
  • Fast
  • Aloof
  • Steady
  • Intelligent
  • Energetic

Doberman Pinscher

Doberman Pinscher
Doberman Pinscher

Popular as a police and war dog, Doberman Pinscher might seem intimidating, but it makes for an excellent companion, especially for families who love outdoor activities. It is one of the best dogs for active lifestyle. It is strong, muscular, and has the strength and endurance to last long on physical excursions like hikes, trails, etc.

It is obedient, fearless, and acts as a guardian. It is extremely loyal to its family and loves its attention and playtime.

Characteristics

  • Obedient
  • Fearless
  • Intelligent
  • Alert

American Staffordshire Terrier

American Staffordshire Terrier
American Staffordshire Terrier

A breed of pitbull, the American Staffordshire terrier, is a smart and intelligent dog that excels in physical outdoor activities. Its strong-built, muscular body, strength, and endurance to engage in hiking, trailing, and more makes it one of the best breeds out there. It is easy to train and can learn a variety of activities and tricks to make it a better companion when out on excursions.

Characteristics

  • Courageous
  • Devoted
  • Attentive
  • Friendly

Now that you know the best dogs for active lifestyle, you can choose a breed that best matches your outdoor needs. Taking the responsibility of an active dog is a big job because you have to provide them with ample entertainment and exercise to keep them occupied. You also have to provide a positive outlet for their energy.

Active dogs also need to be well-trained, so they can follow your commands even in distracting situations, especially when you are out on a hike or trail.

Some are bred for working purposes and have higher endurance and strength, making them ideal companions for people who lead an active lifestyle. We hope this article was helpful and made it easier for you to decide.