15 Best Dog Breeds for Hiking Buddies

German Shorthaired Pointer

Think of GSPs like the lab, only slightly more difficult to train. They’re very similar in a lot of ways, as both were bred to be hunting companions, and then just captured the hearts of dog lovers everywhere to become great family pets. Believe it or not, the GSP might actually be even better suited to hiking and trekking than labs, and chances are you’ll get tired long before he will.

Just one thing to be aware of first before taking your GSP on a hike — they have very strong prey drives. Squirrels, rabbits and other woodland creatures could entice your dog to rush off in search of a meal if you don’t have him trained well enough. They are also moderately protective dogs, so in a pinch your GSP might turn into a guard dog if something big threatens you in the great outdoors.

By: Harold Meerveld