The 21 Best Dog Breeds for Running and Hiking

The 21 breeds below are the ones dog parents most often pick for running and hiking, and each entry gives the American Kennel Club (AKC) height, weight, and exercise advice so you can match a dog to your pace. Some breeds, like the German Shorthaired Pointer and Border Collie, can cover dozens of miles a week. Others are happier with a long walk. The last part of the article covers which breeds should skip the trail run and how to keep any dog safe in heat, on rough ground, and while growing.

The right dog also depends on your plans. A trail race asks for stamina, a weekend hike asks for a dog who stays with you, and a hot climate rules out some thick-coated breeds. Pick for the dog you will actually be out with most days.

The Best Dog Breeds For Running and Hiking

1. German Shorthaired Pointer

The AKC lists German Shorthaired Pointers at 23 to 25 inches and 55 to 70 pounds for males, and 21 to 23 inches and 45 to 60 pounds for females. Its exercise advice is two outings a day, such as brisk half-hour walks morning and evening, or running and playing in a securely fenced area. The AKC also credits the breed's webbed feet and sturdy build for making it one of the finest swimmers in the dog world, which helps on a hike with a stream crossing.

The AKC standard describes the coat as short and thick, and it allows solid liver or a mix of liver and white, as well as black. Runner's World profiled a German Shorthaired Pointer named Ben who ran up to 100 miles a week with his runner, sometimes 40 miles in a single day.

2. Siberian Husky

The AKC lists the Siberian Husky at 21 to 23.5 inches and 45 to 60 pounds for males, and 20 to 22 inches and 35 to 50 pounds for females, and calls it a thickly coated, compact sled dog of great endurance. Its history is long-distance work. In 1910 a Husky team driven by John "Iron Man" Johnson won the 400-mile All Alaska Sweepstakes Race.

The AKC says Siberians were bred to run and will do so at every opportunity, so it advises keeping the dog on a leash, in a harness, or in a fenced yard at all times. The standard describes a double coat of medium length, which is a reason to plan runs for cool mornings in warm weather.

3. Rhodesian Ridgeback

The AKC lists Rhodesian Ridgebacks at 25 to 27 inches and about 85 pounds for males, and 24 to 26 inches and about 70 pounds for females. It describes a strong, athletic dog that needs a moderate amount of exercise, and it says ridged dogs in southern Africa trotted along beside horse-mounted riders all day. The same page credits the breed with tracking and baying lions, but never killing them.

The breed standard describes a short, dense, glossy coat in light to red wheaten. Its hallmark is the ridge down the back, where the hair grows in the opposite direction to the rest of the coat.

4. Border Collie

Border Collies stand 19 to 22 inches for males and 18 to 21 inches for females, and weigh 30 to 55 pounds. The AKC calls them extremely energetic and says they need daily exercise beyond a walk around the block or a quick romp in the yard. They do best with a job to do and space to run. Runner's World profiled one, Bee, who ran about 90 miles a week and could outrun her runner on most days.

The AKC adds that in the second half of the 19th century Queen Victoria spotted a Border Collie and became an active enthusiast of the breed.

Quick Note: Help keep our site ad-free and check out our dog apparel for humans. Every purchase helps a dog in need!

5. German Shepherd

The AKC lists German Shepherds at 24 to 26 inches and 65 to 90 pounds for males, and 22 to 24 inches and 50 to 70 pounds for females, with a double coat of medium length. It warns that a Shepherd who does not get enough exercise becomes frustrated and may develop unwanted behaviors, and it says not to let one off leash. For a young dog, the AKC suggests starting with short daily walks and play sessions in a safely fenced area.

The AKC says Shepherds became popular in the United States in the early 1900s, thanks in part to the movie dogs Rin Tin Tin and Strongheart, and are used as police dogs, service dogs, and agility dogs.

6. Jack Russell

The Jack Russell in the AKC listing is the Russell Terrier, at 10 to 12 inches, 9 to 15 pounds, and a life expectancy of 12 to 14 years. The AKC says its high energy suits a family that takes lots of hikes, bike rides, and long daily walks, and that the dogs were bred to be swift enough to run with hounds and compact enough to go to ground.

The AKC also notes the breed has kept a strong prey drive, so a leash matters on trails with squirrels and rabbits. The standard describes a coat that is mostly white with black or tan markings.

7. Australian Shepherd

The AKC lists the Australian Shepherd at 20 to 23 inches and 50 to 65 pounds for males, and 18 to 21 inches and 40 to 55 pounds for females. It says the Aussie needs a great deal of exercise every day, and that once the skeleton is fully formed it can make a great running companion.

The name is misleading. The AKC says Basque shepherds took their dogs to Australia and then to California, where ranchers assumed the dogs were an Australian breed.

8. Labrador Retriever

The AKC lists the Labrador Retriever at 22.5 to 24.5 inches and 65 to 80 pounds for males, and 21.5 to 23.5 inches and 55 to 70 pounds for females. It calls the breed exuberant and says it needs lots of exercise every day, with retrieving and swimming as its favorite activities. The thick, tapering tail serves as a powerful rudder in the water.

Heat limits distance. Runner's World profiled a black Lab named Colt who ran up to 25 miles, but his runner only took him out when it was cool and there was plenty of water.

9. Dalmatian

The AKC lists the Dalmatian at 19 to 24 inches and 45 to 70 pounds. Its traditional job was to trot beside horse-drawn coaches and guard the horses and rig, and the AKC names running alongside a bike or jogger, or a long hike through the woods, as good outlets for the breed. Because a puppy's bones and joints are not at mature strength until two years of age, the AKC says to be wary of strenuous exercise before then.

The AKC adds that Dalmatian puppies are born without spots. The AKC's profile of Dalmatians has the full breed details.

10. Weimaraner

The AKC lists the Weimaraner at 25 to 27 inches and 70 to 90 pounds for males, and 23 to 25 inches and 55 to 75 pounds for females. It says Weimaraners have high exercise requirements and love a good run. The breed was developed in the early 1800s under Grand Duke Karl August of Weimar, Germany.

The AKC sums the breed up this way: a tired Weimaraner is a good Weimaraner.

11. Greyhound

The AKC calls the Greyhound the fastest breed of dog and the champion sprinter, at 28 to 30 inches and 65 to 70 pounds for males, and 27 to 28 inches and 60 to 65 pounds for females. It says Greyhounds are happy to lounge at home all day but need a regular schedule of exercise and chances to run full-out safely.

Those chances must be in a securely fenced area, because the AKC says Greyhounds must only be off leash where they are fenced in.

12. Golden Retriever

The AKC lists the Golden Retriever at 23 to 24 inches and 65 to 75 pounds for males, and 21.5 to 22.5 inches and 55 to 65 pounds for females. It says Goldens make great companions on long runs and bike rides, but recommends talking to a vet before strenuous or high-impact activity that could stress the dog's bones and joints.

The breed came from Lord Tweedmouth, who wanted a dog suited to the rainy weather and rugged terrain of his area.

13. Vizsla

The AKC lists Vizslas at 22 to 24 inches and 55 to 60 pounds for males, and 21 to 23 inches and 44 to 55 pounds for females. It asks for at least 30 minutes of active exercise every day, with chances to run hard off leash on a regular basis. Hungarian nobles and warlords refined the breed as a hunting dog.

The AKC says Vizslas can be excellent running or jogging companions, but young dogs should not run long distances until they mature at about 18 to 24 months.

14. English Springer Spaniel

The AKC lists the English Springer Spaniel at 20 inches and 50 pounds for males, and 19 inches and 40 pounds for females. It calls the breed a sweet-faced bird dog of great energy, stamina, and brains, and says Springers make great companions on long walks or hikes. Daily exercise keeps them healthy and happy.

The standard allows black or liver with white, blue or liver roan, and tricolor, so the coat varies from dog to dog.

15. Saluki

The AKC lists the Saluki at 23 to 28 inches and 40 to 65 pounds for males, with females considerably smaller. It describes swift, agile sprinters who love a good chase, and recommends daily walks always on a leash, plus a well-fenced yard so the dog stays away from traffic.

The AKC also calls the Saluki the royal dog of Egypt and says the breed can withstand very harsh conditions despite an aristocratic look.

16. Doberman Pinscher

The AKC lists Doberman Pinschers at 26 to 28 inches and 75 to 100 pounds for males, and 24 to 26 inches and 60 to 90 pounds for females. It says a Doberman will enjoy long daily walks or hikes, and that a large fenced area to run in is vital.

Dobermans were bred to be guard dogs. The AKC says Louis Dobermann hoped to breed an imposing but dependable protector to go with him on his rounds.

17. Beagle

The AKC lists two Beagle sizes. Dogs 13 inches and under weigh under 20 pounds, and dogs 13 to 15 inches weigh 20 to 30 pounds. It says Beagles need at least an hour of exercise every day.

Walks must always be on a leash. The AKC explains that as a scenthound with a very strong hunting instinct, a Beagle cannot resist running off after a compelling scent.

18. Standard Poodle

The AKC lists the Standard Poodle at over 15 inches, with males at 60 to 70 pounds and females at 40 to 50 pounds. It says Poodles of any size are very active and need good exercise every day, and that they thrive on jogs or long walks with their people.

The AKC points to the curly, low-allergen coat, and says the breed began as a retrieving water dog more than 400 years ago.

19. Fox Terrier

The AKC lists the Fox Terrier at 15.5 inches and about 18 pounds for males. Its page says the breed needs ample exercise and warns never to let one run off lead, because it will take off after any small animal it sees as prey.

The AKC's Wire Fox Terrier page notes that Caesar, the favorite dog of King Edward VII, was one of the best loved Wires in history.

20. American Staffordshire Terrier

The AKC lists the American Staffordshire Terrier at 18 to 19 inches and 55 to 70 pounds for males, and 17 to 18 inches and 40 to 55 pounds for females. It says the breed needs a lot of exercise, and that leaving the dog out in the backyard all day is not the right approach.

Long play sessions with a person build the dog's physical and psychological health, and a daily jog fits that.

21. Mixed Breeds

A mixed breed can make a good running partner too. VCA Animal Hospitals suggests checking two things on any dog: whether the legs are long enough to keep pace with you, and whether the nose is long enough for easy breathing. A golden retriever against a dachshund shows the first, and a collie against a pug shows the second.

If a mix includes one of the breeds above, the exercise advice for that breed is a useful guide. Have a vet look at any dog before you start.

Which Dog Breeds Are Bad Runners?

Short-muzzled breeds have the clearest warning. The Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine says brachycephalic breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, and Boxers cannot pant as efficiently and have a harder time keeping cool in hot or humid weather. The AKC says very warm days are best spent in front of an air conditioner for the Bulldog, because the short muzzle can make breathing difficult in heat and humidity.

Giant breeds need a different plan. The AKC says a Great Dane can make a good jogging or hiking companion, but you must wait until the dog is 2 years old to avoid damage to growing joints. Mastiffs have comparatively low exercise needs, and Saint Bernards need only a moderate amount of exercise, though the AKC says a Saint is always happy to come along on longer hikes.

Basset Hounds and Dachshunds are also better matched to walks. The AKC says a daily walk at a moderate pace suits a Basset, and two walks of moderate length a day suit a Dachshund, which should never be allowed to run up and down stairs or jump on and off furniture. VCA says dog breeds with long backs and short, bowed legs, such as the Pekingese and Dachshund, have faster disc deterioration than other breeds.

Dog Running FAQs

Is Running Good for Dogs?

Yes, for a healthy dog it can be. Lots of dogs do not get enough daily exercise, and running with you uses up energy. VCA advises that, regardless of age, a veterinarian should examine your dog and outline a safe exercise routine first. Want to learn more? See our article on What Kind of Dog Should.

Start slowly. VCA recommends alternating walking and jogging for short distances, building endurance before you increase speed and distance. Running on dirt trails or grass is easier on a dog's joints than concrete.

Check the ground and your dog's weight too. VCA says to put your hand on the pavement for 10 seconds, and if it is too hot for you, it is too hot for your dog. After a run, check the paws for cuts or bruises. VCA also says approximately 50% of American dogs are overweight, which makes running harder, so a dog that needs to lose weight should start with longer walks.

Shop: Tell Your Dog I Said Hi Shirt

How Do I Keep My Dog Safe on a Run or Hike?

Heat is the main risk. Cornell says to plan walks for the early morning or evening, and to avoid strenuous exercise in the hottest part of the day, on very humid days, and in early summer before pets are used to the heat. Heavy panting, seeking shade, whining, reluctance to play, and drooling can be early signs that a dog is overheating. Cornell also lists overweight dogs, older dogs, and dogs with thick or dark coats as higher risk. Our guide on ways to keep a dog cool in summer covers more.

VCA says to offer water on a run, and only water, in small, frequent sips rather than letting the dog gulp. Seek medical attention right away if your dog becomes weak, vomits, or has diarrhea. For longer hikes, our dog hiking gear checklist lists what to carry.

Which Dog Can Run the Longest?

The AKC pages name breeds with the most stamina for distance. For the German Shorthaired Pointer it quotes a historian on the breed's great powers of endurance, and for Border Collies and Australian Shepherds it describes high-drive dogs that need real daily exercise. An article in Runner's World found dogs that cover ultramarathon-style weeks.

Ben, a German Shorthaired Pointer, ran up to 100 miles a week and sometimes 40 miles in a day. Bee, a Border Collie, ran about 90 miles a week and could outrun her runner on most days. Colt, a black Lab, ran up to 25 miles, but only when temperatures were cool.

Speed is a separate question. The AKC calls the Greyhound the fastest breed of dog, and describes it as a champion sprinter.

Can I Run with My Puppy?

Ask your vet first. VCA recommends waiting until a puppy reaches maturity before long jogs or hikes, which for small dogs may be a little over 6 months and for giant breeds closer to 1 1/2 years, and says to ask the vet whether the growth plates have closed. Its running guide says dogs reach skeletal maturity between 7 and 20 months, with small breeds maturing faster than giant breeds.

The AKC gives some breed ages. It says Vizslas should not run long distances until about 18 to 24 months, and it says to wait until 2 years for a Great Dane or Dalmatian. Until then, VCA says a puppy should be allowed to run and play as it wants. Related reading: Questions To Ask Before Buying.

When your vet says the puppy is ready, build up slowly. Begin with loose-leash walking, so your dog learns to walk beside you without pulling or trailing behind. Once that works, pick up the speed, and practice going from a walk to a run and back again, praising your dog as it matches your pace. A short cue word tells your dog that you are about to start running.

From there, VCA's plan is to alternate walking and jogging, and add distance before speed.

Up Next: What Do Dogs Think About?

Plus, who doesn't love a summit selfie with their dog out hiking? If you love dogs as much as me then throw on our Jaws parody paws shirt and let the world know.

What's your favorite dog running breed or hiking dog breed? Leave us a comment and let us know, then check out these 13 sad dog books guaranteed to make you cry.

Sources

• VCA Animal Hospitals. "Running with Your Dog." vcahospitals.com.
• VCA Animal Hospitals. "Puppy Exercise." vcahospitals.com.
• VCA Animal Hospitals. "Intervertebral Disk Disease in Dogs." vcahospitals.com.
• Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. "Summer Heat Safety Tips for Dogs." vet.cornell.edu.
• Runner's World. "Super Distance Dogs." runnersworld.com.
• American Kennel Club breed pages, accessed September 30, 2026: German Shorthaired Pointer, Siberian Husky, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Border Collie, German Shepherd Dog, Russell Terrier, Australian Shepherd, Labrador Retriever, Dalmatian, Weimaraner, Greyhound, Golden Retriever, Vizsla, English Springer Spaniel, Saluki, Doberman Pinscher, Beagle, Poodle (Standard), Smooth Fox Terrier, Wire Fox Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Great Dane, Mastiff, Saint Bernard, Bulldog, Basset Hound, Dachshund.