Best dog breeds for runners and active people
Breeds with the energy and stamina for running, hiking or dog sports.
If you run, hike or do dog sports, you need the opposite of most people: a dog with an engine, stamina and a will to work. These breeds don't just keep up, they ask for it.
The trade-off is obvious: the day you stop exercising them, that energy comes out somewhere else, usually on your furniture. These are the breeds that punish inactivity hardest.
Top 24 breeds
- 1. American Foxhound 100%
- 2. Australian Cattle Dog 100%
- 3. Berger Picard 100%
- 4. Black and Tan Coonhound 100%
- 5. Harrier 100%
- 6. Puli 100%
- 7. Standard Schnauzer 100%
- 8. Tibetan Terrier 100%
- 9. Toy Fox Terrier 100%
- 10. Welsh Terrier 100%
- 11. Alaskan Malamute 95%
- 12. American English Coonhound 95%
- 13. American Eskimo Dog 95%
- 14. Aussiedoodle 95%
- 15. Australian Shepherd Lab Mix 95%
- 16. Australian Terrier 95%
- 17. Belgian Malinois 95%
- 18. Bluetick Coonhound 95%
- 19. Boxmatian 95%
- 20. Brittany 95%
- 21. Doxle 95%
- 22. English Foxhound 95%
- 23. Finnish Spitz 95%
- 24. Flat-Coated Retriever 95%
The percentage shows how well each breed matches the criteria of this guide, not how "good" the breed is.
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- Best dog breeds for apartment living Breeds that cope well with a flat: moderate size, moderate energy and little barking.
- Best dog breeds for families with children Breeds that are affectionate with the family, tolerant with children and sociable with other dogs.
- Best dog breeds for first-time owners Breeds suited to people who have never had a dog: easy to train and forgiving of mistakes.
- Dog breeds that shed very little Breeds with minimal shedding and little drooling, for people who don't want hair everywhere.
- Dog breeds that tolerate being left alone More independent breeds, for people who are out of the house during the day.
- Calm, quiet dog breeds Low-energy breeds that bark little, ideal where neighbours are close.
- Best dog breeds for older people Manageable size, low energy and a docile temperament for easy day-to-day living.
- Easiest dog breeds to train Breeds that learn quickly and respond well to training.
- Dog breeds that handle hot weather well Breeds adapted to hard summers.
- Best guard dog breeds Territorial, protective breeds suited to guarding with an experienced owner.
- Dog breeds that get on well with other dogs Sociable breeds, for homes that already have a dog or for regular dog-park visitors.