Best dogs for hiking
Sure-footed, sturdy breeds with the stamina and biddability to be great on the trail — ranked by endurance, build and recall. The best trail dog is a fit dog with a reliable come-back.
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The ranked shortlist
Hand-picked by our editors using breed trait profiles — scores are out of 5.
1. Australian Shepherd
5/5A dazzling merle coat wrapped around a tireless ranch worker.
2. Vizsla
5/5The golden 'velcro' gundog — elegant, affectionate, always touching you.
3. German Shorthaired Pointer
4/5The all-terrain athlete — pointer, retriever and devoted shadow in one sleek package.
4. Bernese Mountain Dog
4/5A gentle tricolor giant — the affectionate soul of the Swiss Alps.
5. Siberian Husky
4/5Born to run 100 km a day. Talkative, striking, and gloriously stubborn.
What makes a great hiking dog
A trail dog needs endurance, a sturdy, sound build with good feet, and a dependable recall so it can earn off-lead freedom safely. Weather tolerance matters too — a heavy-coated breed suits cool mountains, a lean one suits warm trails. Build distance gradually, wait until a young dog's joints are fully grown before long hikes, carry water for the dog, keep it on lead around livestock and wildlife, and check for ticks afterwards, as we cover in fleas, ticks and worms. A solid recall is the single skill that makes the difference between a stressful walk and a great one.