Cross Breeds

what is the best of the big breeds of dogs for backpacking?

i want a big dog, i was thinking leonberger or a old english mastiff, but i do not believe that would be a good breed for long hiking/ backpacking. any thoughts?

Public Comments

1. Get a german shepard. They luv u and they will protect u.
2. http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/searchcategories.htm There are categories of dogs, this should help you out. I would say a Jogging dog would be a good dog for long hikes. Most Mastiffs I know are LAZY LOL. A Leonberger might be okay, but you have to wait until 18 months to do rigorous exercise. 'This breed does not need a lot of exercise. They love to be included in all family outings and are very adaptable to most any environment. They LOVE to swim, hike and be trained to pull carts and sleds. If you plan to have your Leo pull carts or hike, one has to wait until the dog is grown. It is not recommended before the dog is about 18 months old.' http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/leonberger.htm Hope that helps and you find the right dog for you!
3. Golden Retrievers and Labs.
4. As with any activity, there is no best breed. Some breeds tend to be poorly suited for hiking and carrying a load- long backed breeds such as Bassets and Dachshunds for instance. Some have coats that pick up burrs and debris, or coats so thick they can't handle high temperatures, or so thin they can't be out in the winter without a jacket. Others, like sighthounds, are designed for speed and not distance. This is not to say they can't be great companions, but that there may be breeds that take to the task more readily than others. Scenthounds are made to travel great distances, but have a prey drive that many people find hard to deal with on the trail. Many herding breeds (especially the drovers) are great for packing and hiking as they, too, are made to travel great distances, but many (Collies and Shelties in particular) can't structurally handle much weight. Typically, breeds in the Working group (Rottweilers, Malamutes, Saint Bernards, etc) do the best with heavy loads as those breeds were developed to pull sleds or carts and carry packs. A trade off for the weight they can carry is that many are slower paced when on the trail. http://www.uberpest.com/doghikefaq.html
5. Where will you be doing this? Not all dogs are suited for 100+ degree weather, or freezing temps.
6. a mastiff and those types..they are not designed for long hikes..A good sturdy lab wouldnt let you down...or some large crossbreed from a local shelter..they are hardy and tough and pretty well have smarts...You dont want a setter or a hound..They spend their time running off on imaginary scent trails
7. just have to do the best of the best you can do ok
8. I think that the Leon may be okay backpacking, but it would be too much for a Mastiff. I would stay away from giant breeds, and only buy from breeders that have had the parents OFA certified in both the hips and elbows (with an excellent or good rating) and any other breed specific problems. I have a Bernese Mountain Dog and a Belgian Malinois, and both of them love going backpacking. But, I would not recommend the Malinois unless you are very very experienced with dogs. They can be aggressive and hard to handle if not trained properly. I would stay away from any of the giant breeds, but any large herding, working, or scent hound breed would probably be okay. Usually the herding breeds have the highest drive.
9. If you want to do something that requires lots of climbing and energy, get a dog with a lighter hair coat. Some of the big heavy coated breeds can over heat on you and can even die (have seen it happen here with Saint bernards). So it partially depends on the type of hiking and the climate you will be in. I like the Swiss Mountain Dogs. They are also an old carting breed.
10. A mastiff will definitely not be a good backpacking companion. They age very quickly, and do not care for too much exercise as they get older. I doubt a leonberger would be a good dog for that purpose either. They are working dogs, but were bred for colder climates. They would probably overheat. I would just get a lab if I were you. They are exuberant and love exercise.
11. German Shepards fold up real neat but tend to have wrinkles when unloaded. I suggest a peke, they are much lighter to backpack and they eat and poop less.
12. Maybe a Irish Wolfhound, Great dane, Rottweiler, Mastiff.
13. I have a Carolina Dog that is the perfect camping/hiking/backpacking companion Much smaller than you have in mind but also much better suited than what you have in mind --- Large enough to carry his own pack & loves to round up campfire wood & dig latrine pits....... Carolina Dog, Lab, German Shepard, Australian Shepard, Cur (any of the varieties... Florida Cur is Old Yeller), Great Pyranese, Burmese Mtn
14. A dalmation as originaly they followed horse drawn buggies to protect the riders and the horses (this is how they became the fire truck dogs).