Harvard Health reveals that people with active dogs have healthier cholesterol levels and a lower risk of heart disease. This is because dogs encourage their owners for increased physical activity. Dog owners, on average, walk 22 more minutes per day.
That’s just one perk of choosing an outdoor puppy breed. Puppies can boost your mood, reduce loneliness, and entertain you with their funny tail wags! Ready to meet your little energetic health coach? Explore the top 9 active puppy breeds:
Outdoor Puppy Dog Breeds
Owning an active dog can be beneficial for your children, too. Kids who grow up with outdoor puppies are less likely to develop asthma. That’s the power of fresh air, dirt, and puppy love. If you want a healthy lifestyle for you and your family, one of these best outdoor dog breeds might be waiting for you!
1. Australian Cattle Dog
It was bred in the 19th century by crossing Collies, the Dingo, Bull Terriers, and the Dalmatians because the Australians needed a tough cow dog. This breed is a compact, rugged dog of inexhaustible energy. It is capable of the most amazing leaps and twists from a standing position.
Moreover, their strength and indifference to discomfort and pain are legendary. A sick cattle dog will go on working for days without giving any sign of ill health concerns.
It can be easily trained. However, the Australian Cattle should not be kept as a family dog because it has a workaholic temperature. It is tough, loyal, flexible; but is not suitable for first-time owners. It requires more than just food and petting; it requires tough management.
Fun Fact
Did you know? One Australian Cattle Dog named ‘Bluey’ holds the Guinness World Record for the oldest dog. He lived for 29 years and 5 months!
2. Siberian Husky
A strikingly handsome dog with lots of energy. Moreover, it is attentive, very playful, friendly, and normally very good with children. But this dog is not easy to keep, especially for first-time owners.
Having too little exercise and not enough to do is something that can make this dog nervous and destructive. It is difficult to train. The husky will test who is the boss from the day it enters the household and will try to be the Alpha.
Huskies are smart but independent. They are ideal for active individuals and families who enjoy outdoor activities. Husky puppies are playful and very vocal. However, experienced dog owners should opt for this breed.
Fun Fact:
Siberian Huskies are one of the oldest dogs, known to be at least 3,000 years old! Moreover, these dogs can run at the speed of 20 to 30 mph.
3. Bernese Mountain Dog
This magnificent dog became fashionable when it was prominently displayed in dry dog food advertisements in the 1970s. It is, in fact, one of the most excellent companions among outdoor puppy breeds.
This dog is often seen in big city parks and is very popular among urban dwellers who own sport utility vehicles. Vigilant by nature and somewhat aggressive, it should never be trained as a watchdog. Its size and deep voice are enough to keep intruders away.
The Mountain Bernese dog needs a lot of exercise. Obedience and aggression training should be started as early as possible. Overall, this dog is gentle, friendly and affectionate, despite its huge size.
Fun Fact
This dog was once used to pull carts of cheese and dairy through the Swiss Alps!
4. Collie
Ever since the Lassie movies, the Collie has had an aura of the legendary. Everybody knows the Collie as the perfect dog that can do anything. It is an intelligent, reliable and useful working dog with lots of energy.
If you want an active and elegant dog, you should definitely get this one for you and your family. However, it can turn into a hyperactive barker if not kept busy with exercise and creative playtime.
Collie is headstrong but also sensitive. It requires disciplined yet gentle training. Moreover, it needs socialization training from a very young age to interact with people later. Overall, it is exceptionally oriented and devoted to humans.
Fun Fact
Collie is known to be one of the smartest dogs. It can learn over 1,000 object names or commands.
5. Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
Known as a direct descendant of Julius Caesar’s Molossian dogs, it was originally used as a guard dog. It also protected the cattle. It is a very suspicious and vigilant dog, but it is a great family dog as well.
It is an even-tempered, quiet, and patient dog. Although it behaves well indoors, it needs a lot of space and movement. It also gets along well with other animals.
The Greater Swiss Mountain dog is a little bit stubborn, so early training is key. As puppies, they are confident and curious. Due to their energetic personality, they are great with families with kids and do best with space to move around.
Fun Fact
As a herding breed, the Greater Swiss Mountain Dog may have a strong instinct to chase other animals. They often herd each other during play and might try to herd other household pets, like cats, as well.
6. Irish Wolfhound
Also known as a ‘gentle giant”, it is one of the strongest yet most wonderful family dogs. It is intelligent, patient and reliable. It adores its loved ones, but also has a good instinct for recognizing danger.
Irish Wolfhound needs a lot of exercise, hence this breed will keep you active all day. Moreover, it will keep intruders away. It prefers knocking down an intruder instead of biting and never fails to impress.
It needs to be trained with a firm hand but with empathy. Training based on threat or punishment is inappropriate as it can turn it into an aggressive one. Also, this dog grows quickly, so you need to ensure it gets enough vitamins and minerals.
Fun Fact
Irish Wolfhounds were once royal hunting companions in ancient Ireland. They were known for taking down wolves and even big game!
7. Bearded Collie
The Bearded Collie was once a swift, agile, and adept herding dog used by Scottish shepherds in the 17th century, as per VCA Hospitals. In the meantime, it gained international fame as an elegant show dog.
This dog breed is easy to handle, active, playful, and always in good spirits. This dog needs regular exercise and plenty of playtime to keep it busy or it will get bored.
The Bearded Collie needs consistent and fair obedience training. Harsh discipline is out of place with this sensitive dog. Also, its long coat requires a lot of grooming. Overall, it is a perfect outdoor dog. It wants to go outside no matter how cold or wet or windy it is.
Fun Fact
They have fading coat color. They are born with a dark color that gradually turns lighter.
8. Alaskan Malamute
It was bred centuries ago by a nomadic Eskimo tribe called Mahlemuts who needed a very strong but not very fast dog to pull sleds, according to AKC. It is the workhorse among dogs.
It is like an enlarged version of a husky, but both are quite different. Because of its unquestionable loyalty and untiring energy, it makes the perfect adventure dog for families who love outdoor activities.
However, it sheds a lot in spring and summer. If the dog is not professionally trimmed, the amount of hair it sheds is enough to drive anyone over the edge. So, be ready for the grooming bills!
It was originally bred to be a working dog. Malamutes are independent and very strong. But they can become overbearing if not trained as a puppy. Malamutes are ideal for active outdoor people who want a large, sturdy dog.
Fun Fact
Malamutes are one the oldest sled dogs, dating back over 4,000 years. They were built for strength and not speed.
9. Australian Shepherd
Despite its name, the Australian Shepherd is a thoroughly American dog. It is called a dog with spirit eyes due to its multicolored eyes.
It is regarded as a highly intelligent, reliable herding dog and a very loyal dog. American cowboys still use this breed to drive cattle. Moreover, it is an excellent playmate for children.
The Aussie is affectionate and loving. It is full of curiosity and is sport-loving. If you provide this athletic dog with lots of exercise and adventure, it can be a wonderful outdoor companion.
Fun Fact
They often have heterochromia (different colored eyes) and are referred to as ‘ghost eyes’ by Native Americans.
Conclusion
Imagine this: a sunny morning, coffee in one hand, leash in the other and your cute puppy waiting for you to take it outside. The big puppy eyes and tail wags can bright up anyone’s day.
At the end of the day, choosing a puppy isn’t just about breeds, it’s about bonding, belonging and building a life full of adventures with muddy paw prints! One of these 9 outdoor puppy breeds is waiting to bright up your day.
