Some dogs seem to have boundless energy. If you’re equally energetic and love to run, walk, or exercise any other way, these dogs could be your perfect companion. Precede with caution, though. If you don’t use up that excess energy, they will make their own entertainment which you probably won’t like too much!

Here are some of the most active dog breeds you will come across.

Bavarian Mountain Hound

This rare breed was originally bred as a scent hound to track down game on the steep slopes of Bavaria. Topping our list in terms of exercise needs, they require at least two hours of exercise every day. Most are kept as working dogs, but those kept as pets need plenty of mental and physical stimulation to keep them happy and healthy.

Australian Cattle Dog

These plucky little cattle dogs were bred for driving cattle over long distances. They needed to be agile enough to navigate the tough terrain they work on and have enough endurance to keep at it for the whole day. These pups are the only dogs to have Dingo in their pedigree – perhaps that’s where they get their fearlessness from! An Australian Cattle Dog will happily run all day given half a chance, but most will be satisfied if they get at least 90 minutes of exercise every day.

Border Collie

This intelligent pup is a natural contender for this list. Bred for working sheep on British hillsides in all weathers, they have plenty of energy to use up. These days they’re a popular choice as pets for active owners and excel at flyball, agility and canicross. But these energetic pooches need more than a walk around the block – their owners need to focus on their mental stimulation just as much as the 90 minutes of physical exercise they need every day.

Welsh Springer Spaniel

These adventurers don’t let their silky coats stop them from bounding through muddy puddles and dense undergrowth in pursuit of their feathered and furred targets. Like their cousins, the English Springer Spaniels, the Welsh Springer was bred to flush game for hunters and do so enthusiastically! They need at least 90 minutes of exercise every day – many Welsh Springer owners take their pooches to agility or flyball classes to help them burn off their energy!

Welsh Sheepdog

Often mistaken for the Border Collie, Welsh Sheepdogs are a distinct breed developed in Wales for driving sheep. Similarly to their Border Collie cousins, they need plenty of exercise every day to keep them busy – at least 90 minutes every day. As well as being brilliant working dogs, they make fantastic flyball and agility dogs.

Weimaraner

The elegant silvery-grey Weimaraner was bred in Germany as a pointing dog to help hunters find big game. They can easily spend days out hunting and searching through dense undergrowth across rough terrain. Given at least 80 minutes of exercise a day, they make great family pets and canicross dogs thanks to their stamina and trainability.

Siberian Husky

Siberian Huskies were bred to pull sledges across arctic terrain for hours at a time. Their biology is unique in how they use their energy stores, allowing them to run constantly with little recovery time needed. Any prospective Husky owner needs to be able to offer these high-energy dogs at least 80 minutes of exercise each day to keep them in tip-top shape. 

Jack Russell Terriers

The humble Jack Russell may be small in size, but they can easily keep up with the bigger dogs on this list. A working dog through and through, they were bred to flush foxes from their dens back when fox hunting was a popular sport in the UK. These days they are more commonly seen as beloved companions – and with the right amount of exercise (at least 90 minutes a day), they make fantastic pets.

Shetland Sheepdog

Shetland Sheepdogs, also known as Shelties, are small-sized dogs bred to herd sheep on the Shetland Isles. Like the other herding dogs on this list, they have boundless energy, so they need at least 90 minutes of exercise daily. They make brilliant agility and flyball dogs, often excelling in their size classes in national competitions.

Labrador Retrievers

One of the world’s favourite dogs, this lovable, bouncy pup has fairly high exercise needs. It’s important that they get at least 80 minutes a day to stay in shape since their voracious appetite will have them eating any food they can get their paws on! Labradors excel at all manner of canine sports, including canicross, flyball and agility. Keep them active, and they are amongst the best pets a family can have.

Has all this talk of exercise got you feeling worn out? Maybe it’s time to consider a dog who needs less daily exercise!

If you’re not sure just how much exercise your dog needs, you can download the PitPat app and get a free activity goal tailored to your pup. 

Ever worry about losing your energetic dog? PitPat Dog GPS Tracker gives you the confidence to know you will find them wherever adventure takes them.

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