A huge number of us decided to welcome new puppies into our homes last year – Kennel Club figures show dog ownership soared by nearly 8 percent – and post-lockdown demand for four-legged friends remains high.
There are a whopping 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest addition.
Our lifestyle has a huge bearing on which type of dog will work best for us – if you have limited space you might want to look at small dogs, while the more elderly pet owner should place certain breeds at the top of their wishlist.
For many of us, a dog is a great way to make sure we get exercise and certain breeds are perfect for getting you out and about – in fact, if you’re not prepared for several long walks a day some dogs shouldn’t even be a consideration.
Here are the 10 fittest breeds of dog that will never turn down a walk, according to the American Kennel Club.
Bred to run for miles herding sheep, a daily walk around the block won’t be anything like enough exercise for a Border Collie. They are perfect companions for runners, but you’ll have to be pretty fit to come close to tiring them out.
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First developed in the French region of the same name in the 17th century as gun dogs, the Brittany loves all formes of exercise – running hiking and swimming. They are perfect pets for an active family and get on well with children.
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Also know as the Belgian Malinois, the Belgian Shepherd is another herding dog that is at their happiest running over fields. They need an absolute minimum of two hours of exercise a day to stay happy and healthy.
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A breed of dog that will never tire of running after a tennis ball, the Dalmatian used to trot alongside carriages to protect passengers from bandits. Nowadays they are more likely to be seen happily accompanying a runner.
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