Best Dog Breeds for Hiking Off Leash

What are the best dog breeds for hiking off leash? Some of the best hiking companions have four legs. Wandering around in nature with a doggo is a great way to spend the time. If you’re approaching this kind of sport from an average person’s perspective, we are here to help you choose your companion along the road. Basically, most dogs are suitable to be hiking dogs, but for more serious performances, breed-specific traits also count.

Choosing the right dog and raising it is an essential step. Keep in mind that every dog has endowments that it carries in its genetics. We’ll help you choose from breeds that were bred to hike and breeds that respond well to leadership – as the dog must pay attention to you at all times if he’s off leash.

Consider the distance you plan on hiking with a dog

The size of a dog plays an important part in deciding what breed you’ll get. Choose a dog depending on the average distance of your hikes.

• 10 mile hike – It is suitable for any dog ​​whose age and state of health allow it. As long as the dog is trained to stay by your side during hiking, any breed will do. Bear in mind mops are prone to breathing problems and puppies might require you to carry them. Other lap and companion dogs are suitable for a short hike.

• 10-30 mile hike – small terriers and dachshunds withstand the load surprisingly well. Taking a trained, healthy dog should not be a problem. If you’re suspecting your dog won’t be able to go the full distance, prepare yourself for carrying the dog the rest of the time. 

• Hikes worth a couple of days – for long and exhausting hikes it’s worth to pay attention to choosing the right dog. 

How to choose the right breed?

When choosing the right breed for your companion, one of the most important things to inspect is its ability to be trained. However, not everything is about educating a dog. Some dogs were bred to stay close to humans (hoarding dogs), while others were bred to fetch and hunt animals (pointers, beagles). And while the latter are very active and sturdy dogs, they must be under constant control so they wouldn’t take off after a bird, squirrel or rabbit. The northern breeds are not the stars of obedience, either (huskies). These dogs most probably will require to be on a leash during the hike. 

Lap and companion dogs are usually a mix of breeds, so if the owner-dog relationship is working properly, it won’t be a problem for them to accompany you and stay by your side without a leash. These dogs are addicted to the owners and their hunting instinct has faded away over the years so they feel no desire to wander away. 

Shepherd dogs are the easiest way to go, even though they require some training as well. However, make a difference between herding dogs that do the work without anyone telling them (e.g. Caucasian Shepherd) and herding dogs that require command words to do the job (Border Collie).

If you’re looking for a companion for really long hikes that take days to finish, the list is quite short. For dogs to go on hikes it’s important they have good heat dissipation. The following are the most popular for hiking: Border Collie, Australian Kelpie, various retrievers, Belgian Malinois, dobermans, poodles, terriers. 

Most mixes of these dogs work amazingly well since they carry the genes of two or more breeds. Such is the case of Bernadoodle – this breed will take on the hike like a pro! Excellent stamina gives it the strength to march on beside you on the trail.

Breeds that can be trusted without a leash

The most important thing to remember is that the four legged companion should be an athletic dog. The second thing to keep in mind is that it should be a breed that learns and follows commands easily. Lets see what are some of the top breeds that can be trusted to hike with us without a leash!

Border Collie

This breed will probably be in the top five in every list you can find. The intelligent Border Collie has a medium long fur and is a full-blooded sheepdog. The breed is known for its incredible desire for work and remarkable intelligence. The Border Collie proves to be a very easy to manage and subordinate breed. He is very sensitive and wants to satisfy his owner at all costs.

Thanks to a tremendous zeal for work and a desire for compliance and the fact that they are built for endurance related activities, this breed is a great choice for someone who wants to hike with a dog. Thanks to their rich fur, even on cooler autumn-winter days, they are happy to join the owner for a hearty move in the fresh air.

Dalmatian

Here’s a dog that’s been bred to hike. Also referred to as a carriage dog,  because this elegant animal is believed to have accompanied horse-drawn carriages and ran either next to the horses or under the axles of the carriage. They are highly adaptable and pleasant companions. These active, athletic dogs are true artists of endurance – nothing gives them greater pleasure than running alongside the owner on a bike or taking on long trails in the woods. Its short fur is very dense, but it does not have a warming undercoat, thus is perfect for the hot summer hikes. Their loyalty makes them a perfect candidate for hiking without a leash.

Hungarian Vizsla

A retriever breed that takes training new skills with ease. Intelligent as they are, they need continuous training throughout their lives. The Hungarian Vizsla is primarily a hunting dog. Its smell is excellent, he is extremely durable and fast and is happy to be in water. 

 As this breed of dog works closely with its owner it’s no wonder they are amazing partners on hikes as well. They will be able to keep up with the pace and won’t ask for stops. 

Fun fact: this dog breed was on the brink of extinction in the early 1900’s, so to honor this amazing breed, Hungary has organized yearly hiking tours with these dogs and their owners. 

Boxer

The dog that’s considered the boxer’s direct ancestor is the Brabant, the breed that was used for hunting down bulls for entertainment. Although the Boxer is now considered primarily a pet, it stands out as a guard, protector and rescue dog, but even as a companion for sport activities. Whatever role we assign to him, the Boxer is sure to do it bravely. This is probably due to the fact that this breed of dog is very submissive and therefore very easy to train. As affectionate and loyal to the family as this breed is, he will protect the loving parent at any cost. 

The Boxer has muscular, strong legs and stamina that will leave you speechless. It’s more likely that the dog will be able to hike more miles than the human companion.  

Rhodesian Ridgeback

A true jewel from Africa. The name rhodesian reveals the place of origin of the proud dogs: the really young breed originates from the former Rhodesian state (now Zimbabwe) of Southeast Africa.The name ridgeback is due to its striking outer feature: a strip of hair runs on its back, the strands of which grow in opposite directions. They were designated the Lion Dog because they were deployed on a lion hunt.

 Temperamental, loyal, smart and stubborn – the character of the African lion dog is of interest to many dog ​​lovers. However, only with proper upbringing and a lot of movement can this strong and fast dog’s extensive defensive behavior and high defensive ability be steered in the right direction. Originally, these four legged dogs had many obligations: to protect the house and yard, to protect the cattle, to hunt and stand beside his human. It’s in his nature to look out for his owner. 

Siberian Husky

And lastly, a breed suitable for people who like to hike during the colder weather, from autumn to early spring. 

The most striking features of the Siberian husky are the radiant blue eyes and the typical coat pattern, and when we see these dogs we think of winter wonderland. No dog is associated with its actual use like the Siberian husky. The master of sledging, able to pull nine times his own weight and has amazing orientation skills. 

Although the Husky is a sporty dog, he has some serious trouble following basic commands as the breed more than occasionally ignores the “come” command. But, don’t be discouraged by this, for if you adopt the dog from reliable parents, it should be no problem. 

Training is important – whatever the breed!

The most important basic rule of responsible dog keeping is that the dog is properly socialized, trained, and can be recalled in any crucial situation. Walking a dog with no obedience training and with no leash on is an irresponsibility that can have unpredictable consequences and put people and dogs at risk. 

About the Author

Thank you to Annie Butler for this guest post.

Pet expert Annie Butler has spent 20 years following her passion for animals as a writer and editor in the pet publishing industry.
Prior to starting her career in publishing, Annie spent eight years working in veterinary hospitals where she assisted veterinarians as they treated dogs, cats, rabbits, pocket pets, reptiles, birds and one memorable lion cub.

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