Top 20 Dogs for Hiking and Climbing : Full of Strength & Energy

Hiking is an activity that can bring out about changes in one’s life, whether it is physical or otherwise. Climbing a mountain for days altogether, stopping midway to have something for sustenance, and continuing forward till the goal has been reached can be a different experience.

Therefore, while many might just do trekking alone, some would find it to be rather lonely. In such cases, having a companion who won’t get tired and always be with you would be the most appropriate choice for mental fortitude and overall positivity.

The question is, who? A companion that won’t ever leave your side while being energetic can only be a dog! This article will be dealing with some of the top 20 hiking dog breeds, if you are looking for a dog who won’t get tired while hiking with you, then this list will be up to that standard!

The 20 Best Dog Breeds for Hiking

Dogs can often be some of the best companions and friends of a person, regardless of the owner, they will stay with them till the end of a journey. This list will include some 20 most hiking dog breeds for someone who is intending to take a hike:

1. Rhodesian Ridgeback

Breed Overview:

• Group: Hound
• Height: 24-27 inches
• Weight: 70-85 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short-length smooth coat. Colors include Light Wheaten or Red Wheaten with white markings and a black nose.
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: South Africa

A sighthound bred in South Africa, these dogs are generally heavy and strong enough for hiking for hours altogether. Originally used for hunting lions or other large prey, these dog breeds are generally considered to be fearsome when it comes to a task.

But when at home, these dog breeds can be wholesome and protective of their owners, with training, they can become the perfect house dogs. And as said before, these dogs are excellent for having a hiking trip.

2. Beagle

Breed Overview:

• Group: Hound
• Height: 13-15
• Weight: 20-30
• Coat and Color: Smooth and short coat. Colors may include Black & Tan Brown & White etc.
• Life Span: 10-15 years
• Origin: England

Beagles, despite their tiny size, are some of the most resilient dog breeds when it comes to hiking. On normal days, beagles can walk up to 6 or 8 miles depending on how they are feeling. But with training, these dog breeds can be made to walk almost 10 miles, although this will require thorough conditioning.

A Beagle can often be considered the perfect partner for hiking under the right conditions and training.

3. Chesapeake Bay Retriever

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 21-26 inches
• Weight: 55-80 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wavy along with wiry medium-sized double coat. Colors are Deadgrass, Light Brown, Brown, etc.
• Life Span: 10-13 years
• Origin: United States, Chesapeake Bay

While they may generally need a little bit of conditioning, the Chesapeake Bay Retriever can be perfect for long treks granted that they are trained for it. While normally hungry for exercise and long hikes, this dog is perfect for long treks as they have a weatherproof double coat to handle harsh climates.

4. Miniature Pinscher

Breed Overview:

• Group: Toy
• Height: 10-13 inches
• Weight: 8-10 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short and smooth coat. Colors may include: Chocolate & Rust, Red, Chocolate & Tan etc…
• Life Span: 12-16 years
• Origin: Germany

While stamina levels are not as great as one may expect, the small and compact size of Miniature Pinscher allows them to be both active and adorable while being compact enough to be carried by hand. By themselves, the Miniature Pinscher can walk for a few miles with their stamina while running is one mile only.

Be sure to properly feed and exercise them in self-control; as they may just try to be more outgoing and wild during a trek than needed.

5. Australian Shepherd

Breed Overview:

• Group: Herding
• Height: 18-23 inches
• Weight: 40-65 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-length double coat. Colors may include: Black, Blue Merle, Red, or Red Merle
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: United States

Being able to hike at around 15 miles when trained perfectly, the Australian Shepherds are some of the most agile and enduring dog breeds. Bred to be a cattle herding dogs and still being used for such purposes to this day, the Australian Shepherds have exceptional physical stats.

6. Border Collie

Breed Overview:

• Group: Herding
• Height: 18-22 inches
• Weight: 30-55 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-length double coat that is wavy. Colors are Lilac, Saddleback Sable, White Ticked, etc.
• Life Span: 12-15 years
• Origin: Anglo-Scottish border

Always active and looking for adventure, the Border Collies are high enduring dog breeds who may just walk for around 10 miles on a regular basis. Even without training, they can walk for that long thanks to their unending energy.

With gentlemanly looks and a coat that has a tuxedo sort of fashion to it, these dogs accompanying you on hikes may also draw attention to those who see them!

7. Labrador Retriever

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 21.5-24.5 inches
• Weight: 55-80 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short-length double coat. Colors include: Black, Chocolate, or yellow
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: Newfoundland, Canada

Despite being heavyweight, Labrador retrievers can walk on hikes that may last for as long as even days altogether. This makes the perfect companions for being taken on long hikes, since Labradors have a natural affinity with swimming, it only makes their stamina much better than the others.

Make sure to feed your lab just the right amount of diet and proper exercise before going on a long hike that may last for days.

8. German Shorthaired Pointer

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 21-25
• Weight: 45-70 pounds
• Coat and Color: Coat that is short in size and smooth. Colors generally are Black, Black Roan Liver Roan, etc.
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: Germany

With an imposing frame and a hunting instinct that is extreme, The German Shorthaired Pointer can a be stubborn, but a loyal and obedient dog. These dogs are high-energy dog breeds and therefore are considered to be prudent choices for bringing along on a hiking trip.

Pointer dogs like the German Shorthaired pointer require daily exercise routines, therefore a long hike will be a much-needed exercise for this dog breed.

9. Portuguese Water Dog

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 17-23 inches
• Weight: 35-60 pounds
• Coat and Color: Wavy and curly long-length coat. Colors can be Brown, White or Black
• Life Span: 11-13 years
• Origin: Portugal

With a hypoallergenic that makes this dog breeds safe for any dog owner, the Portuguese water dogs are best when it comes to hiking. A matured dog breed of this type can go up to even 10 miles easily as these energetic dogs require constant outdoor activities and long walks to keep them engaged.

10. Mountain Cur

Breed Overview:

• Group: Foundation Stock Service (Not recognized by the AKC federation)
• Height: 16-26
• Weight: 30-60 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short and smooth coat. Colors are Black, Blue, Brindle, Brown, Red, and Yellow
• Life Span: 10-13 years
• Origin: United States

Despite their relative rarity and recent popularity, the Mountain Cur dog breeds are one of their kind due in part to their rare appearances and roughish nature. True to their name, the mountain cur dog can be some of the most accessible dog breeds when coming to doing long hikes.

Originally bred to hunt and trail small game animals, the mountain cur is especially agile and used to rough environment, hence these dogs will have a fun time walking up a long trek!

11. Vizsla

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 21-24 inches
• Weight: 44-60 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short-sized coat that is smooth. Color can normally be Golden Rust, though there might be different combinations in some cases.
• Life Span: 12-14 years
• Origin: Hungary

Always an extrovert and looking for outdoor activities, this Hungary-bred dog breed has everything a hiker will need. Do remember that these dogs, due to being high-energy creatures, will need proper training to remain calm while hiking.

Otherwise, you are good to go once you decide to go on a hike with your trusted and beloved Vizsla.

12. Airedale Terrier

Breed Overview:

• Group: Terrier
• Height: 23 inches
• Weight: 50-70 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short-medium length coat that is wiry. Colors are mainly Grizzle & Tan or Black & Tan
• Life Span: 11-14 years
• Origin: United Kingdom, England

Despite their regal appearance, these furry fellows aren’t just there to be show dogs. Airedale terriers normally have a high capacity for taking hikes, although as they are energetic dogs, they will need exercise.

These dogs can make both good family pets and great hiking partners when correctly trained to not jump at the sight of prey due to their hunting instincts.

13. Siberian Husky

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 20-23.5 inches
• Weight: 35-60 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-sized weatherproof double coat. Colors are mainly: White, Silver-Gray, Red & White, etc.
• Life Span: 12-14 years
• Origin: Siberia

Due to being bred for working under harsh conditions, the Siberian Husky is one of the most ideal partners for a hiking trip. This is simply so because of how Siberian huskies are bred to be able to work for hours together in extreme weather conditions such as pulling sleds.

If you are intending to hike during snowy or cold weather, then bringing along a Siberian Husky would not only be a prudent choice, but the best!

14. Australian Cattle Dog

Breed Overview:

• Group: Herding
• Height: 17-20 inches
• Weight: 35-50 pounds
• Coat and Color: Short coat with black or brown colorings, shades of red or other combinations, etc.
• Life Span: 12-16 years
• Origin: Australia

Australian Cattle Dogs, due to their herding nature, are generally made to be tough and resilient while also extremely smart. With stamina that is ongoing, the Australian Cattle dogs can be the perfect hiking companions as they are fond of exercise.

15. Golden Retriever

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 21.5-24 inches
• Weight: 55-75 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-Length topcoat and undercoat. Colors may come in either Dark Golden, Light Golden, or Golden
• Life Span: 10-12 years
• Origin: United Kingdom, Scotland

Golden Retrievers, due to their origins being that of game hunters, are highly agile creatures who love doing a task. Due to their overall outgoing personality and general agility, the golden retrievers are both excellent swimmers and hiking companions.

16. Weimaraner

Breed Overview:

• Group: Sporting
• Height: 23-27 inches
• Weight: 55-90 pounds
• Coat and Color: Double coat that is short in size. Colors normally are a mix of silver gray or blue.
• Life Span: 10-13 years
• Origin: Germany

Due to their short coat size and nature as a gundog for hunting big game such as bears, the Weimaraner can go up to 20 miles without breaking a sweat. If you are looking for highly resilient dogs who will be the perfect guard dog while you are hiking, then the Weimaraner is it!

17. Shetland Sheepdog

Breed Overview:

• Group: Herding
• Height: 13-16 inches
• Weight: 15-25 pounds
• Coat and Color: Long double coat. Colors are Black & White, Blue Merle & White, etc.
• Life Span: 12-14 years
• Origin: Scotland

While these dogs are excellent hiking companions, they can easily become distracted by potential sightings and will wander off if not leashed properly. The Shetland Sheepdog is one of the most intelligent dog breeds and is constantly on the lookout for exercises and more.

Since these were bred for herding, the sheepdogs are generally patient and willing to be trained.

18. Bernese Mountain Dog

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 23-27.5 inches
• Weight: 70-115 pounds
• Coat and Color: Medium-length double coat. Colors are Black Rust & White or Black Tan & White
• Life Span: 7-10 years
• Origin: Switzerland

The name itself says a lot about this breed of dogs, versatile and able to take a hike of up to 10 miles especially in cold weathers. The Bernese mountain dog is a well-built, intelligent and friendly dog who will remain aloof with even strangers.

The Bernese is perfect for both families and for those who are looking for hard workers or companions to travel along with on hikes.

19. Alaskan Malamute

Breed Overview:

• Group: Working
• Height: 23-25 inches
• Weight: 75-85 pounds
• Coat and Color: Double coat that is medium in size. Colors include Blue & White, White, Red & White, etc.
• Life Span: 10-14 years
• Origin: Alaska

Bred in Alaska for working under intense pressure and conditions, the Alaskan Malamute is truly perfect for those who are hiking under mountains or other places that are harsh in terms of weather or rough terrains even.

Due to their ability to pull sleds for hours, these breed of dogs can generally walk for long periods of time during a hike or just a normal walk.

20. Dalmatian

Breed Overview:

• Group: Non-Sporting
• Height: 19-24 inches
• Weight: 45-70 pounds
• Coat and Color: Smooth and short coat. Color is generally Black & White that is speckled black, other color combinations may come, but rare
• Life Span: 11-13 years
• Origin: Croatia

Probably more famous for being in the movies and having a distinctive spotted appearance, the Dalmatian breed of dogs is perfect for hiking as these slim fellows are high in stamina.

You can expect full-day hikes with these dogs in tow as long as you have trained them correctly and made sure the fact that they are not sick.

Conclusion

While these are some of the 20 hiking dog breeds you can get as a hiking partner for your long journey. It is important to first make sure to get an external coat for some affordable dog breeds that have near to no hair or fur on their own coat.

Otherwise, you may also get your dog fully checked up by a vet before fully making your foray into a long trek so as to make sure your dog doesn’t fall down in the middle. Also, be sure to keep a tight lease on them and train them appropriately to handle the new sceneries they may come along the way.