Walking the Dog - Which Breed Would Suit You Best?

In this article Bruno Blackstone examines the many different breeds of dogs and considers how a person's preferred exercise may effect the choice of breed. There is a place near to where I live that is very popular with dog walkers, it is a combination of woods, flat paths, fields and a river making it a great place to exercise yourself and your canine companion. Recently, I was walking my own dog (Marley), he’s a Staffordshire Terrier crossed with a Labrador and loves running, fetching the ball and most of all the water - especially the seaside. As usual there were lots of other dogs there, some trotting along by their owners side, others running hell for leather, others splashing around in the river, others dipping a paw in and of course those that are carried around like handbags. It got me thinking, about why different dogs behave in different ways – it must be something in the breed I concluded. Which set me thinking about what type of dog would be best for what type of lifestyle you have. Back home I decided to do some research about outdoor activities and the breeds best suited to them: Walking – all dogs needs walking daily but some of the smaller more inactive breeds can tire easily and only need to walk a short distance. If you are a keen walker it is best to go for a more active breed such as a Collie, they have the endurance for a long walk and can keep up with you, they also tend not to pull on the lead because they like to stay near their owner. If you prefer to see a dog tearing around being boisterous a Golden Retriever would be great they have lots of energy and love to bounce about. Hiking – you need a dog that enjoys more than just a stroll, if you carry lots of equipment then a larger dog like a Rottweiler would be able to take some of the weight for you. Or a smaller dog like a Springer Spaniel which is agile and has lots of energy to keep up with you. Swimming – if you are in to water sports or live near the sea or a river consider a Labrador, they were originally bred for hunting waterfowl so they love the water, they also have thick coats which are somewhat water-repellent. Newfoundlands are gentle giants, they are strong having been bred to pull in fish nets and other heavy equipment they are still used today for water rescues. Running – if you like to step things up and jog rather than walk then you’ll need a dog that was bred for working and therefore has lots of energy a Jack Russell or Dalmation would both fit the bill. Greyhounds and Whippets are great for short bursts, a couple of miles and they a worn out – they were bred for racing not working so don’t have stamina. Coach potato – driving wind and torrential rain can put off the most seasoned of dog walkers but if you’d rather have a companion than an exercise partner you are better to stick to a smaller breed like a Pug. Generally shorter legs means they can’t go as far, Pugs in particular are bred to have squashed up faces which can affect their breathing so strenuous exercise can be dangerous. Having said all of that how a dog behaves is very much down to their owner and how well trained it is. If you are considering buying a dog think about your lifestyle and do some research about the sort of dog to get. I would also urge you to go to a rescue centre there are thousands of dogs out there needing homes; the centre will also be able to tell you about the character of the dog before you even bring it home a luxury you don’t have with a puppy! To walk your dog in any weather you will need great outdoor gear. To compare prices on a wide selection of walking and hiking outdoor gear . For all your outdoor clothing, gear and experiences check out My Outdoor Store .