What breed of dogs make the best hiking companions?
Of course, every dog is individual in terms of personality, fitness and ability, but some breeds are naturally better suited to long days in the hills than others. In this article we look at a number of different dog breeds and talk to our OS Staff members and OS Champions about their own dogs and what makes them a good hiking buddy.
Are you looking to start hiking with your dog?
While many dogs are capable hikers, they still need time to build up strength and stamina, just as people do. Longer routes and steeper terrain should be introduced gradually, allowing you to assess how your dog copes with distance, elevation, terrain and recovery.
As dogs age, joint health, fatigue and rest time become increasingly important considerations, and walks may need to be adapted to suit. With OS Maps you can filter from 1000’s of routes for distance, check elevation, find stiles en route and look out for natural water sources. It’s the perfect tool for you and your dog to find great walks together.
That said, all dogs benefit from regular, varied exercise regardless of breed or age. One of the simple joys of walking with a dog is that (unlike humans) they are largely unconcerned with the pressures of daily life and are content with the chance to just get outside.
Regular time outdoors is well proven to support both physical and mental health, for people as well as dogs. While most dog owners understand the importance of daily walks for their dog, we often don’t realise how important they are for us too.
For many people, a dog becomes the reason they get outside more often and discover new places on foot.
We asked OS Staff and our OS Champions to tell us about why their dogs make great hiking buddies.
Border Collies
Border Collies can make brilliant hiking companions for walkers who enjoy long, energetic days outdoors. Bred for stamina and intelligence, they thrive on varied terrain and are happiest when given a job to do. Their agility and focus suit them to uneven ground, but their sharp minds mean they need consistent training, good recall and regular mental stimulation on the walk itself. With the right preparation and plenty of exercise, a border collie will happily clock up the miles and stay alert and engaged from start to finish.
Hiking Buddy: Jon Peatmen (OS Field Surveyor)
Favourite Snack: Cocktail sausages (but she likes anything smelly!)
She loves long walks and runs but is a fair-weather Collie so needs a bit of encouragement if it’s a bit wet. Collies can be a bit of a handful and she can be dog-reactive – so walks with lots of space without narrow paths work really well. She doesn’t like loud noises – especially motorbikes, so staying away from busy roads means she enjoys the walk a lot more.
Hiking Buddy: Tracey Purnell (OS Champion)
Favourite Snack: Cocktail Sausages
Gwen is not that enthusiastic about heavy rain and strong winds, preferring more settled conditions. However, when it comes to distance and pace, she is tireless. She loves the mountains and can run for miles without losing momentum, making her the perfect companion for longer runs.
Although she is comfortable around water, Gwen prefers to paddle rather than swim. Gentle and affectionate by nature, Gwen has a nurturing temperament and a strong sense of leadership.
Hiking Buddy: Nienke Eernisse (OS Data Management Specialist)
Favourite Snack: Minty’s favourite treats are fish based, with salmon strips the current top 1 (and salami sausages from Lidl a close second), although if you really want to give her a treat it’s a ball every time.
Hiking with Minty is fun, as she is very attentive and curious, tends to stay close by when walking, more so now that she is older and completely deaf. In her younger days long hikes were possible, and usefully she would tell us when it was time for a break.
The collie in her means she does try to herd her people, and sometimes strangers too, which we find very funny. The terrier part can sometimes react strongly to dogs that threaten her, but most of the time she is smart enough to ignore other dogs. We keep her on the lead more often now as her recall is diminished since she is deaf, and as a result she is easily spooked.
Labradors
Labradors are excellent hiking companions thanks to their stamina, versatility and people focused nature. Bred to work long days in the field, they are well suited to covering steady miles across a mix of terrain. Their good temperament and eagerness to please make them easy to train, with reliable recall and calm behaviour around other walkers when well exercised. Working types are typically lighter and more athletic than Labrador Retrievers, helping them cope comfortably with longer routes. With regular breaks, plenty of water and an eye on warm weather, a Labrador will happily stay by your side for full days out hiking.
Hiking Buddy: Maddie Kinghorn (OS Marketing Team Lead)
Favourite Snack: Being a Labrador, Flapjack will happily accept any food offered, but his true favourite treat is a swim. Any walk that includes a water stop is automatically the best day of his life.
Flapjack is a working Labrador in every sense of the word. While he doesn’t do any official ‘working’, he has the mindset of a working dog – boundless energy, keen to please, and highly trainable. He’s obedient, easy going, and endlessly enthusiastic, whether you’re covering miles across open hills or stepping out before dawn to catch the sunrise, he’s always ready to go. He’s built for long days outdoors and takes distance and elevation in his stride. As long as there’s a tennis ball involved (or the promise of one), he’s happy anywhere. He’s a steady, cheerful companion who brings enthusiasm to every outdoor adventure.
Hiking Buddy: Rose Marie Gare-Simmons (OS Champion)
Blisco is incredibly fit and agile. Stiles are a non-event. Rocky terrain doesn’t phase him. Long days? He thrives on them! Working Labradors are bred for stamina and intelligence, and in Blisco this really shows. Blisco has been raised and trained in the mountains and he reads terrain well, adjusts his pace naturally and he conserves energy without being sluggish. He has a beautiful temperament and one of the greatest gifts is his calm energy. He isn’t bothered by other hikers or dogs when we’re out. There’s no over-excitement and no pulling toward distractions.
But one of the most important qualities in a dog for me is reliability around animals and livestock. Blisco doesn’t chase… He doesn’t fixate… He doesn’t even look! This level of neutrality doesn’t happen by accident… it comes from careful training and consistent expectations! …but it means we can move through the farmlands and open hills and mountains without stress.
Golden Retrievers
Golden Retrievers are generally well suited to hiking thanks to their working background, steady temperament and need for regular exercise. Most enjoy covering distance at a consistent pace and are comfortable on varied terrain. Their longer, feathered coat provides warmth in cooler conditions but means they can get overheated more quickly than their smooth haired Labrador cousins. Like Labradors they are very food motivated which can make for easier training.
Hiking Buddy: Hilary Pullen (OSMaps Discover Content Editor)
Favourite Snack: Sausages!
Ziggy’s mother is a Golden Retriever and although he has the ‘Blue Merle’ colour and markings of a Collie physically he’s far more like a Golden Retriever. He loves swimming and snowy walks – summer heat is an issue with his super thick coat, we tend to avoid the hills and find lake and river walks then.
Ziggy is not good around livestock (his Collie instincts to herd – see new dog laws) so he’s generally on the lead on our hikes in North Wales as there are sheep almost everywhere and while his recall is pretty good it’s not 100% so you just can’t risk it.
He is excellent at jumping stiles! From when he was a puppy I made sure he learned how to get over them himself as even at 6 months I could barely lift him. He now gets ridiculously excited when he sees a stile… I guess in his mind it’s his way to get more praise or a treat and I think he genuinely enjoys it.
Ziggy pulls me up hills (I have him attached to a waist band) and with training is now good at walking steadily behind or beside me when going down anything steep. We’ve even done some scrambling together and he’s so good at climbing. His paws grip the rocks and he has lots of confidence to keep heading up steep rock steps.
Spaniels
Spaniels are generally well suited to hiking due to their working background and need for regular exercise. Many spaniel breeds have good stamina, enjoy covering ground at a steady pace and are comfortable on mixed terrain. They are typically people‑focused and very responsive. Most spaniels benefit from consistent training to manage their strong interest in scent and movement. Most spaniels are reliable and capable walking companions.
Hiking Buddy: Bethany McAtee (OS Marketing Team)
Favourite Snack: Cooked Chicken
Nori is small but mighty. Her little legs pitter patter at twice the speed of big dogs but she can easily hike or jog upward of 15km. She’s only 10kg, so lifting her over stiles, fences or tricky terrain is easy. Mountain hiking is my passion, so a dog that can keep up is a must! Luckily with Nori, there is nothing better than being outside taking in every single smell. Like most cockers, Nori is also very friendly and often wins the hearts of other hikers.
However, all of this drive to be outside and busy for extended periods of time came from somewhere. Cocker spaniels were, and still are, bred to hunt and retrieve small game birds. Even if, like me, you don’t plan on ‘working’ your spaniel, it is a real gamechanger doing gundog training with them. People are surprised that I don’t walk Nori more than 3km or for more than an hour most days, given she’s my hiking buddy. Instead we practice gundog training exercises that prepares her for being well behaved on hikes and helps settle her mind at home.
Whippets & Greyhounds
Whippets and Greyhounds can be surprisingly good hiking companions for walkers who prefer gentler routes and a relaxed pace. Although best known for short bursts of speed, they also enjoy steady walks and are content covering moderate distances alongside their owner. Whippets and Greyhounds do feel the cold more than many breeds, so extra layers and fair weather planning help keep outings comfortable. With sensible mileage and regular breaks, they can be happy, low fuss hiking buddies.
Hiking Buddy: Amy Matthews (OS E-Commerce Team)
Favourite Snack: Any fish-related treat, like sprats, or a fluffy tuggy toy
Argo’s still young, so he can’t go for extra-long hikes (although he does try!), but he does break the stereotype of a whippet already. They’re not supposed to like getting wet or muddy, but once he gets his paws damp he doesn’t care. And while he’s lazy most of the time, he’s even more so after a longer walk, so he makes for a great sofa companion post-walk and we can relax together after being outside.
Hiking Buddy: Jonathan Elder (OS E-Commerce Team)
Favourite Snack: any food that someone has dropped. Or whatever I’m eating.
Greyhounds need surprisingly little exercise, preferring a few minutes of sprinting followed by a 3 hour nap. Greyhounds will typically be happy doing walk of up to 10k, and most are not fans of water or mud.
Hiking Buddy: Ella Cohen (OS Sustainability Lead)
Favourite Snack: Gravy Bones
Lurchers are brilliant because they’re happy to be super lazy or adventurous. Oaty is happy with a short on-lead trundle round the neighbourhood, or an all day hike on the coast path. Lurchers are cross breeds so their temperament can vary, but they’re usually very gentle and sweet with people. The key thing to be aware of with lurchers is that they usually have high prey drive, so shouldn’t be off lead around livestock and should be tested around small fluffy dogs until you know how they’ll react.
Oaty loves all dogs but she does like to play boisterously, so I’m careful to only let her off to play with other dogs when I know they’re confident and up for the game, it’s all about communicating with other dog owners.
Terriers
Terriers come in all different sizes and make lively and capable hiking buddies for walkers who enjoy an energetic pace and varied routes. Usually they are small but tough as most were bred to work all day and have plenty of stamina for longer walks. Their confidence and agility help them handle uneven terrain with ease, often covering more ground than you might expect for their size. Terriers are curious and driven, so solid recall and lead control are important, particularly around wildlife and livestock.
Hiking Buddy: Maddie Kinghorn (OS Marketing Team Lead)
Favourite Snack: Anything remotely edible. And several things that aren’t. If you don’t keep an eye on her, she’ll happily snack on the heads of daisies.
Dizzy is a fantastic hiking companion thanks to her classic terrier traits: endless energy, determination, and confidence far bigger than her size. She’s incredibly agile and sure‑footed, tackling scrambles and uneven terrain with ease – if there’s a summit to be reached, she’ll be leading the way. Being small has its perks too – she’s easy to lift over stiles or carry across water, especially helpful as swimming is not her idea of fun. Like many terriers, her one limitation is her strong prey drive, which means she needs to stay on the lead at all times – unless you’re at the beach, where there’s nothing she’s naturally inclined to hunt. She’s fun, fearless and full of character – proof that the smallest dogs can make the toughest hikers.
Hiking Buddy: Lisa Wells (OS Champion)
Favourite Snack: any food that someone has dropped. Or whatever I’m eating.
Billy will throw himself into anything! He loves being out with me on the mountains and adapts to any terrain. He’s a fab paddle boarder but I have to be careful not to get too close to other boards because he jumps from one to the other. He enjoys swimming with me but doesn’t like getting his ears wet. He does an amazing front crawl on his tummy down the mountain when his legs get tired. He’s great around other dogs, animals and wildlife. I think he’s a one off because he doesn’t chase squirrels and has really good recall.He can be a bit of a bed bug though and doesn’t like the cold.
Hiking Buddy: Emily Gill (OS Champion)
Favourite Snack: W’zis training treats – perfect for recall
Terriers for me are such adaptable little buddies. Murph loves exploring new routes and is generally happy to keep going for a fair way, as long as there is a pub fire he can curl up at part way round or at the end of the route!
Hiking Buddy: Phillipa Cherryson (OS Champion)
My beloved hiking buddy. He’s very portable, can be carried if needed and is always up for an adventure – even now he’s 14. His weakness is rabbit holes and anything that grabs his terrier attention. Sid walks more than 10 times the distance I do and I love his constant zest for life and cheekiness. He loves meeting new people and dogs, but I do have to watch him as so many things can grab his attention! Favourite hiking spot – anywhere up high with a sun warmed rock on top he can sit on and be master of all of he surveys.
German Shepherds
German shepherds can make excellent hiking companions for walkers looking for a capable, dependable dog that enjoys long days outdoors. Athletic and strong, they cope well with distance and varied terrain and often move comfortably at a steady walking pace. Their intelligence and responsiveness make them highly trainable, which helps with recall, lead manners and calm behaviour around other people and dogs. German shepherds thrive on having a purpose, and hiking gives them both physical exercise and mental engagement. With good conditioning, joint care and sensible planning in hot weather, they can be loyal, focused partners for long countryside walks.
Hiking Buddy: Phillipa Cherryson (OS Champion)
No one can tell what breed Benji is, so he always attracts attention and cuddles out on walks. He’s starting to slow down a bit now, but he still loves heading up The Sugar Loaf and the Blorenge.
Benji lives for his ball, a stick or anything that can be thrown. Life is very simple for him. His love is cold weather hiking in snow and ice – he’s in his element. He disliked hot weather hiking, so in the summer walks are super early in the morning before it gets hot. And on cold days he’s happy to lean against you and act as a giant hot water bottle and keep you warm while you have a brew and bite to eat. Benji has a super power.. he can always find the best path even if he’s never been on a route before. I have been left scratching my head so many times wondering how he does it? Now I accept it and when I’m picking through rough ground, I ask him to find a path and lo and behold.. if there’s one anywhere nearby he finds it. His weakness is hot weather and not looking where he’s running when chasing a ball (yes he has run into things before).
And of course stiles.. the bane of my life. At 44kg he can’t get over them. But Benji and Sid are my perfect adventuring hiking buddies.
Top Tip
My tip for walking with a big dog that can’t manage stiles is if you are unsure, try to stick to bridleways, restricted byways or open access land as you know you won’t find your way blocked.
Beagles
Beagles can make enjoyable hiking companions for walkers who like an unhurried pace and plenty of interest along the way. Originally bred for stamina, they are well suited to longer walks on rolling terrain and countryside paths, happily ticking off steady miles rather than rushing ahead. Their friendly, sociable nature means they often take new places in their stride, making them pleasant company on popular routes. Beagles are scent driven, so good recall and lead use are important, especially around wildlife, but their enthusiasm for being outdoors is hard to miss.
Hiking Buddy: Jayne Kamintzis (OS Field Surveyor)
Favourite Snack: anything she can scrounge from her humans’ lunch! Especially cheese and ham sandwich.
Iska is a great hiking buddy because she has excellent stamina for being out in the hills all day, good at scrambling over rocks, enthusiastic about long walks and bird watching, loves to share a paddle and an ice cream at the end of the day, great for helping pull humans uphill!
Isca isn’t so great with busy routes with offlead dogs, areas with lots of sheep as she likes to chase them and pull her humans along too, coming downhill slowly! She also doesn’t like being out in the cold and wet for too long.
Alaskan Malamutes and Huskies
Alaskan Malamutes and Huskies can make strong and steady hiking companions for walkers who enjoy long days hiking and cooler conditions. Bred for endurance rather than speed, they are well suited to covering distance at a consistent pace and coping with rough or uneven ground. Their thick double coat helps them stay comfortable in cold or wintry weather, making them a good match for upland routes outside the height of summer. Malamutes are independent and powerful dogs, so good lead manners and reliable training are important, especially around livestock. With sensible route choices, plenty of water and careful planning in warm weather, they can be loyal partners for big outdoor adventures.
Hiking Buddy: OS Champion Tracey Purnell
Favourite Snack: Cocktail Sausages
Halle is an exceptional hiking companion, particularly during the winter months. She thrives in cold conditions and absolutely adores snow. When the weather turns harsh, whether rain, wind, hail, or snow. Halle is always eager to head for the hills. She has a natural love for water and will take every opportunity for a swim, proving herself to be a strong and confident swimmer. However, she is far less comfortable in warm temperatures. During the summer months, our walks are scheduled at sunrise, allowing her to rest at home during the heat of the day.
Halle is also a reassuring presence on evening walks. Naturally protective and alert, she provides a sense of security while remaining calm and dependable. Despite her strength and endurance, she is a gentle, affectionate dog who enjoys meeting people and happily accepts plenty of fuss. She generally gets along well with other dogs, provided they are not overly vocal.
Chihuahuas (yes even tiny dogs love hiking!)
Chihuahuas are not traditional hiking dogs, but with realistic expectations they can still enjoy time out walking. Many are alert and curious companions, enjoying quiet paths and scenic stops, but they can be sensitive to cold, wind and rough ground, so take a dog jacket. For longer days out, a dog carrier can help them take part without overdoing it, making hikes more inclusive while keeping their comfort and safety front of mind.
Hiking Buddy: Jenn Phillips (OS Champion)
Favourite Snack: Billy Bear Ham
Maya amazes everyone with the distances and terrains she walks. She is a chihuahua with lots of different terriers mix and like a lot of terriers she’s pretty hardy even though shes only 2.5kg.
She was a rescue stray which is likely why she so active outdoors. She is a very gentle little girl but due to her short coat gets cold when we stop so we always bring something to wrap her in at lunchtime whilst she eats her favourite billy bear ham (no other treats will do!).
Maya walks long distances trails, camps and is part of a walking group too. Last year she got a medal for her Surrey 3 Peaks challenge which she completed the day after walking 15 miles!
Hopefully those real insights into various dog breeds and their compatibility for hiking have been useful to help you decide on your next (or first) four-legged friend. Be sure to share pictures of you and your dogs on your latest hiking expeditions, there’s nothing our social team enjoy more than to see pics of dogs having fun hiking!
Further reading: researching dog breeds and care
The Kennel Club
Authoritative UK source for breed profiles, including temperament, exercise needs, health considerations and breed history.
Dogs Trust
Welfare‑led advice on dog behaviour, breed suitability and everyday care, with a strong focus on matching dogs to lifestyles.
PDSA
Vet‑reviewed, plain‑English guidance covering breed traits, common health issues and responsible dog ownership.
Breed clubs and rescue organisations
Breed‑specific clubs and rescues often share experience‑led insight into temperament, exercise needs and real‑world challenges such as breed specific health conditions. Many can be found via Kennel Club breed pages or Dogs Trust rehoming advice.
By Hilary Pullen
Meet Hilary, Editor of OS Maps Discover. Hilary is based in North Wales and loves hiking with her dogs in the mountains of Eryri and Bryniau Clwyd, you can find her on Instagram @nearlyuphill and read her guides to walking in North Wales.
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