Good Housekeeping has published a roundup naming eight dog breeds it considers particularly well-suited to hiking and other outdoor treks, and the story quotes Brandi Munden of the American Kennel Club with practical, trail-focused guidance for owners preparing their pets. The piece frames hiking as a shared activity and places breed tendencies alongside individual conditioning and health as key factors in route planning.

The article stresses that breed is one of several considerations when deciding whether a dog is ready for a given trail. Different breeds have very different exercise needs: high-energy sporting, herding, hound and many terrier breeds—such as retrievers, border collies and spaniels—are bred for endurance and often require vigorous daily activity, including hiking, running or agility, to stay behaviorally stable and physically healthy. Good Housekeeping’s list signals breeds that commonly thrive on longer outdoor outings, but it cautions that not every individual dog of those breeds will have the same stamina or inclination. Dog exercise requirements by breed are important to consider.

Munden, representing the American Kennel Club, offers compact, practical advice that the piece highlights. “Munden suggests bringing paw balm and extra water along on hikes—and don’t forget to keep your pup on a leash and update their microchip before you hit the trail,” the article quotes. Those recommendations are presented as part of broader preparedness: owners should consider their dog’s age, prior conditioning and any medical issues when matching trail difficulty to their pet.

The story places the idea of hiking with dogs in a health and wellness frame, noting benefits documented by health practitioners and researchers. Regular hiking with dogs boosts cardiovascular fitness, muscle and bone strength, weight control, and stress reduction for both pets and owners by increasing moderate physical activity and time spent outdoors. For dogs, consistent hiking helps prevent obesity‑related diseases, the piece notes, reinforcing how routine activity supports overall health. The general health benefits of hiking for both dogs and their owners are significant.

Good Housekeeping also integrates practical considerations for choosing trails. It suggests owners research dog-friendly routes that match their pet’s breed, age, health and fitness level—opting for easy, flat or shaded paths under two miles for beginners to avoid rough terrain, steep ladders or paw-damaging rock. The article advises checking weather conditions and timing outings for cooler parts of the day, and points readers to resources for route planning and supplies. Guidelines for camping and hiking with your dog are essential for preparation.

To help readers looking for further background, the piece links to outside resources. It cites Stanford’s Lifestyle Medicine site for broader context on the human-animal bond and the health advantages of walking with dogs, and it recommends practical planning resources such as Acorn Animal Hospital’s guidance on selecting dog-friendly trails and packing appropriate supplies. Those links underscore the story’s central message: successful hiking with a dog combines knowledge of breed tendencies with careful attention to the individual pet’s fitness, paw protection and overall medical soundness.

Beyond functional guidance, the Good Housekeeping article captures a lighter note about why owners take dogs into the hills. “It’s pretty darn cute to see your sweet dog stop and sniff all the fascinating outdoor scents,” the piece says, a short observation that humanizes the list and recognizes the simple pleasures of shared time outdoors.

The full Good Housekeeping story lists the eight breeds it identified and expands on the AKC commentary; readers interested in the complete ranking and extended tips from the American Kennel Club can consult the original piece for the full list and source links.

Source

Original reporting: view the original article.