Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

When deciding which dog breed is best for you to buy, there are many factors that you need to consider. Perhaps the most common and sound advice you will receive regarding this choice is to pick a dog breed that matches your lifestyle. While this might be easy for the average person living an average life, it is easier said than done for highly active and athletic people.

If you are an active and athletic person who loves running, hiking, trekking, and outdoor exploration, you will need a dog breed that matches this lifestyle. After all, there is nothing more fulfilling for a dog owner than hiking with your dog or spending the day on an outdoor adventure together.

This article will cover 7dog breeds for active people that can keep up with and even complement their athletic and outdoorsy lifestyle. By the end, you will have a better understanding of which dog breed suits your needs best. So let’s get into it!

1. Australian Shepherd

The Australian Shepherd is a breed of dog that was, surprisingly, bred as a sheep herding dog in the United States (rather than Australia). Even today, this dog can be found working on farms. Australian shepherds are highly active and intelligent dogs looking for a task or a job to perform for their owners.

Australian shepherds are fast, strong, agile, and obedient animals that are great companions for active and athletic people. They love running and hiking and spending time with their owner as they are also highly loyal and social creatures. You can take your Australian Shepherd out for an adventure any time, and it will always be up for the challenge.

2. Weimaraner

The Weimaraner is a breed of dog that was bred as a German hunting dog. This hunting background means that today, the Weimaraner is one of the top choices for athletic and active individuals. More importantly, this dog is highly loyal and intelligent and has the agility, speed, and stamina for long-distance hikes and adventures.

The Weimaraner is a very fearless dog who loves the outdoors and is hence up for any outdoor challenge. Moreover, they are highly friendly and easy to train, making it easy to take them to public spaces without the fear that they will disturb others.

3. Rhodesian Ridgeback

Rhodesian Ridgebacks are dogs that have been bred for guarding and hunting for a very long time. This breed of dog is strong, attentive, intelligent, and extremely loyal to its owner, often putting itself in danger to protect the owner.
Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs are known for their endurance, due to which they make amazing outdoor companions for active people. Over the years, this breed of dog has proven to be a popular choice among hikers, campers, endurance runners, and backpackers.

4. Siberian Husky

Siberian Huskies are known for their beauty and thick fur coats and being bred to be sled dogs. Due to their sledding background, the Siberian Husky is a very active dog that loves to be physically stimulated and challenged. Due to this, they make some of the best running, cycling, and hiking partners, as they have an inherent need to run.

The Siberian Husky is also a very loyal dog that gets along with people very well. While this breed of dog is a popular choice amongst active and athletic people, Huskies owners must be careful not to over-exert their dog in warm weather, as this could cause them to overheat due to their thick coats.

5. Parson Russel Terrier

Although the Parson Russel Terrier is a small dog, it is highly active and loves outdoor physical stimulation. What’s more, they are highly intelligent and loyal dogs who pick up on basic commands very quickly, making them ideal candidates for hiking, cycling, and backpacking in public outdoor areas.

If you are looking for a running or hiking companion who can keep up with the physical challenge, a Parson Russel Terrier might be the perfect dog breed for you. These dogs are highly confident and alert, making them the best companions for an outdoor adventure.

6. German Shorthaired Pointer

The German Shorthaired Pointer was bred in the past to do long hours of outdoor work, including digging, pest control, sniffing things out, and even hunting. Although they are small dogs, they are highly intelligent, active, and alert creatures who understand their owner’s body language and learn basic commands quite easily.

The German Shorthaired Pointer dog is well equipped to keep up with the challenges of an outdoor adventure. This includes endurance running, cycling, trekking, hiking, backpacking, and even camping. So if you are a highly active, athletic, and adventurous person looking to get a breed of dog that matches your lifestyle, the German Shorthaired Pointer is a choice with which you can’t go wrong.

7. Border Collie

The Border Collie is a highly active and intelligent breed of dog commonly used as an all-purpose farm dog. They are extremely agile due to their small-to-medium size and are also highly loyal and obedient.

Border Collie’s make great companions for active and athletic people due to their love for running. If you are into endurance training such as running or biking, here is a dog that can easily keep up with you. What’s more, Border Collie’s are very affectionate towards their owners and make for great outdoor adventure companions and loving friends.

Conclusion

For highly active and athletic people who love going on outdoor adventures and endurance training exercises, many dog breeds could potentially keep up. It is important to choose a dog breed that suits your lifestyle and one that you can commit to training and caring for.
That being said, each one of the 7 dog breeds in this list is a highly active dog that loves outdoor endurance-related adventures. If you are a highly active person who craves some canine companionship, you can’t go wrong with any one of these dog breeds.

by Bobby J Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.