Are Golden Retrievers Good Hiking Dogs?

If you’ve got a golden retriever or are thinking of getting one, you’re probably wondering “are golden retrievers good hiking dogs?”

I wondered this too before getting my red golden, Theo! I love hiking so I needed a dog that could keep up with me on long trails – not just some 10 minute “hike” that All Trails claims is worth it.

So I did a ton of research, and once I got my golden – because yes they’re great hikers – I learned a lot more about how to ensure you have a great time hiking with your golden retriever.

Let me share all the secrets I’ve learned so you and your pup can explore the trails together!

Are Golden Retrievers Good Hiking Dogs?

The answer is yes! Golden retrievers are incredibly good hiking dogs. They’re strong and have a lot of endurance, as well as a calmness that makes them great hiking companions. Golden retrievers love to be active, so they won’t waste time on the trails – they’ll be ready to go full speed ahead!

What Makes Golden Retrievers Good Hiking Dogs

Excellent Runners

Golden retrievers are excellent runners. They have a lot of endurance and can bound along trails with ease. They’re also big enough so you don’t have to worry about them getting lost.

Did you know they were originally bread in Scotland? That’s right they were meant to hunt in the Scottish Highlands.

If you haven’t been, that’s an area that’s extremely hilly – very much like our modern hiking, but it was just everywhere.

Goldens love to run, explore, and get out their energy. They can go up to 30mph – but not for long!

Giving them tasks or taking them on expeditions like hikes really helps get their mental and physical energy out.

My golden loves hiking – and genuinely I think if he could, he’d ban me from sidewalk walks and only have forest adventures.

Easy to Train

Golden retrievers are some of the easiest dogs to train, making them perfect for hikes. They’re eager to please and highly intelligent – you can teach them any command or trick pretty quickly.

They also have a great recall, so no matter how far they wander off it’s easy to get them back on track!

Theo was always very much a velcro dog growing up and it’s still true. He’ll run ahead a bit when we’re on an off leash trail, but he always stops where he can see me or comes running back to check in for treats.

Since they’re so food motivated, you can keep some high value, smelly treats on hand, and you’ll never have them too far from you!

I know someone who hikes with a can of whipped cream to summon their golden! I just use dehydrated salmon or rabbit so it has a strong smell.

But the whipped cream comes with the sound of the spray too to bring them back – like a food dog whistle!

Playful and Curious

Golden retrievers are incredibly playful and curious on the trails. They love exploring off leash, chasing lizards or squirrels, and finding new things to sniff.

My golden especially loves rolling in the snow and digging up rocks along the watersides.

If you want a fun adventure buddy, a golden retriever is definitely it!

It’s important to keep an eye on them so they don’t get into any mischief. But otherwise, their curiosity and playfulness makes any hike more enjoyable.

If your golden has a penchant to eat things off the ground, you’ll need to keep more of an eye on them in areas with wild mushrooms. I got really lucky that mine just wants sticks and rocks. He has zero interest in poop, mushrooms, or reptiles.

Not Aggressive

Golden retrievers are a very non-aggressive breed, making them great hiking companions. They rarely bark or growl at people, other dogs, or animals on the trail.

This makes it easier to manage your pup if you’re worried about safety in an unfamiliar environment.

This also means that people don’t assume the worst of them if they do see them off-leash or if on-leash they misbehave a bit.

My first hike with my golden retriever puppy when he was 4 or 5 months old went horribly. He ran at full tilt the whole time, nearly ripping my arm off. But people just laughed.

If he was a pit bull mix, I don’t think they’d have been as courteous.

Needs Lots of Exercise

Golden retrievers are a breed that needs lots of exercise – so hiking is the perfect activity for them.

They have a lot of energy and need regular outlets for it, otherwise they can become destructive or anxious.

A good hike helps tire them out and keeps them mentally stimulated. It’s also an opportunity for mental training as you can teach them commands on the trail.

I work on “touch” with my dog every time we go hiking – even if he’s on his short leash. This helps him have to pay attention to me as well as the surroundings.

We even play games where he has to find treats in my hands when I need to sit down for a minute halfway up a mountain.

Plus, if you’re just wanting to get outside and enjoy nature, having a pup that loves being out there makes it even more fun!

Love Water

This one is kind of a given, but golden retrievers really love water. If your pup loves swimming and playing in lakes or rivers, they’ll especially like hiking with you.

Since Theo loves the water so much, if I can find an easy enough way to get him there, I try to incorporate it into our hikes. He enjoys wading and retrieving sticks, which is one of his favorite activities.

Plus, if you get too hot on the trail (which can happen in summer!) he’s usually the first one to jump in the nearest body of water – even if it’s a puddle!

It’s why he loved Lake Tahoe so much – even if it was winter. He was in that lake so fast that he got icicles on his bum when he came out!

Stick Collectors

Finally, golden retrievers love picking up sticks – especially if it’s a big one! I’m always having to make sure Theo isn’t carrying around gigantic logs in his mouth.

He definitely loves finding the biggest and best sticks on our hikes and proudly brings them back to show me. And sometimes to smack me in the legs cause he has no spatial awareness of how big they are.

This is especially good if you’re camping, as he helps me collect a lot of kindling for campfires. Granted, I have to pay a doggy tax and let him keep some for snacking.

10 Tips for Hiking with Golden Retriever

1. Always carry a towel – or have on in your car

Golden retrievers love two things: water and mud.

What two things do you not want in your car? A wet or muddy golden!

To help prevent this, I always carry a towel or two for my dog – as well as using a car seat protector.

Towels are also good to have on hand during the hike just in case.

2. Long leads are very helpful if your dog doesn’t have good recall – but be careful of trees

When Theo was younger, I didn’t trust his recall, so I’d use a long leash when we hiked (when it was allowed).

This let me pull him back when he wasn’t listening, and ensured I could always lure him in if I needed to.

However, he used this against me pretty quickly and would wrap himself around all the trees, or hog tie himself and fall over.

If you’re using a long line, be prepared for some frustrations with them getting it stuck on things!

3. Always hike with a medical kit for your dog’s safety

This tip is important for any activity with your pup, but especially for hikes.

A medical kit should include a first aid manual, tweezers to remove splinters or ticks, antiseptic wipes and creams, gauze, bandages and tape, and tick remover tools if needed.

Having this on hand can ensure your dog’s safety while they explore the trails.

With their paws unprotected against rocky ground, them often running into bushed or sticks, and the possibility of unexpected wildlife, you don’t want to take the chance that they get injured in the middle of a trail.

If they did, could you realistically carry them back to your car so they didn’t get anything in the wound? Could you ensure the wound stays clean?

Thinking ahead is better than being unprepared. I have a small first aid kit for my golden that’s about the size of an iPhone and about an inch and a half thick. It has all the essentials to keep him safe and doesn’t add much weight to my pack.

4. Look out for ticks on every hike

Ticks are a common problem for hikers, but especially so for our furry friends.

Goldens love to run through tall grass and brush – which makes them prime targets for ticks.

I always check Theo after each hike (and sometimes during) to make sure he’s tick-free. He got one the first year we moved to the suburbs of Ottawa in the summer from the hiking trail near our house.

Removing it was not fun!

But now I check all the time because the vet told me that the sooner you get them off, the safer your pup is from potential lyme disease (even if they’ve had the vaccine, they can still get it).

5. Check for local wildlife before departing, and if you see any on the hike, recall your dog

Most wild animals in North America are not aggressive, but they will protect their space if needed.

This is a given for any hike, but it’s especially important to keep an eye out for wildlife with your dog.

Theo loves chasing squirrels and birds, so I always have to be on alert when he’s with me.

If I ever see something while we’re out, I recall him immediately and keep a close watch until it’s gone. Not only are you protecting your pup from potential danger, but you’re also protecting the wildlife in its own home.

We’ve encountered deer, coyotes, and even snakes on trails before. Luckily he has strong recall – and often hasn’t noticed them before I did – so I can get him back to me, on his leash, and moving away from them quickly.

6. Have poop bags on hand at all times

This one is pretty self-explanatory.

No matter where we’re going, I always have several poop bags with me just in case – and if we’re camping or doing an overnight trip, it’s even more important to have them on hand.

Not only does it keep the trail clean for other hikers, but it also keeps you from getting a fine as most parks now have rules against leaving dog poop behind.

Plus it makes sure you don’t have to come back and clean up after your pup later. Keep that bag on hand at all times!

And did you know that dog poop can attract predators? So it’s best to pick it up and prevent a bear incident for future hikers!

7. Carry smelly, high value treats

It may seem silly, but high value treats are essential when hiking with a pup.

If your dog ever gets lost or runs away from you – which is more likely to occur on hikes due to all the new smells and wildlife that can distract them – having smelly, high value treats on hand could be just what you need to lure them back to you.

I always bring a bag of Theo’s favorite treats – and only give them to him on hikes so that he knows they’re special. That way, if I ever have to use them in an emergency, he’ll come running!

8. Have fresh water available for your dog

It’s essential to always bring enough water for yourself and your pup on hikes.

Dehydration is a common problem among hikers, and our furry friends can suffer from it just as easily as we can. So be sure to bring more than you think you’ll need – especially in warmer climates

I always have a collapsible water dish for him, and his own supply of water. We can share, but I don’t want to risk either one of us getting dehydrated! Plus, this way I can put any water he doesn’t drink back into the bottle without worrying about drinking dog spit myself.

9. Remember: dogs overheat too!

Don’t forget that dogs overheat just as much as humans do!

Dogs have a hard time cooling themselves off – and can easily become overheated if they’re out in the sun for too long. We always make sure to take multiple breaks throughout our hikes, with plenty of water breaks, so Theo doesn’t get too hot.

I try to hike earlier in the morning or later in the evening during summer so he isn’t as much in the sun.

On the hottest days, you dog can wear a cooling vest or even a cooling scarf. But I instead tend to freeze a towel for him or put some cool water on him.

10. Incorporate tasks or tricks into hikes to engage their brain

Dogs love to use their brains – and one of my favorite ways to keep Theo engaged on our hikes is by incorporating tasks or tricks for him.

This doesn’t have to be anything overly complicated, just the basic stuff like sit, stay, touch, come, and down. But it’s a great way to keep his mind active and make sure he’s focusing on me while we’re out on the trail.

Plus, it makes hiking fun and exciting for him – something he looks forward to instead of just another boring walk around the block.

That way, I can be sure that Theo will stay engaged and focused on our hikes without risking him getting lost or running away!

My Experience Hiking with a Golden Retriever Puppy

My dog Theo is now almost 2 years old, but we’ve been hiking together since he got his final booster shots and could be around other dogs (I figured, just in case, as there might be others on the trails we went to).

We took him to a trail in Ottawa with my friend’s Shih Tzu. Molly, the little one, was a breeze to walk. Theo on the other hand felt he needed to run full tilt against the leash for the entire 2.5 hour experience. Or he needed to be tackling Molly.

It was an exercise in patience for sure!

So remember, the first time you go hiking, they won’t naturally be perfect at it.

It’s a training opportunity. We kept him on a short leash until he was able to prove he could handle it after a few more hikes.

I found he calmed down the most when he got to play in rivers.

Then we gradually worked our way up to long line and off leash hiking. Now we’ve gone on more than 200 hikes, both gotten very muddy, accidentally climbed a few mountains because I didn’t do my research before setting out, and enjoyed a lot of epic views.

Plus, he’s found some amazing sticks (I’d call them saplings, but he feels they’re just a branch) and rocks to play with in many beaches along the trails.

I highly recommend hiking with your dog. It makes it more fun!

I feel more present when I’m paying attention to him. As a solo female hiker, it also makes me feel a lot safer to have him around.

Best Hiking Dog Breeds

• German Shepherd
• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever
• Border Collie
• Alaskan Malamute
• Australian Cattle Dog
• Siberian Husky
• Bernese Mountain Dog
• Australian Shepherd
• Any Type of Pointer
• Vizla
• Jack Russel Terrier
• Beagle
• Portuguese Water Dog
• Barbet
• Poodle

However, it really depends on the individual dog. My dad’s Havanese loved hiking until she hit 12 years old. But his Wheaton Terrier has always hated it – she’s very much a bed dog.

Conclusion

Hiking with a golden retriever is an incredibly rewarding experience.

Not only does it provide a great opportunity to bond and spend quality time together, but they also make excellent hiking companions due to their intelligence and energy levels.

Plus, you have the added bonus of extra safety when out in the wilderness!

With proper training and preparation, your golden retriever can become one of the best hiking buddies around – so don’t forget to bring them along on your next outdoor adventure!

Read More About Golden Retrievers

• How Long Do Golden Retrievers Live?
• Do Golden Retrievers Shed? (16 Tips to Manage Shedding)
• Can Golden Retrievers Swim? The Ultimate Guide
• Are Golden Retrievers Good Hiking Dogs?
• 27 Fun Halloween Costumes for Golden Retrievers
• 13 Best Shampoos for Golden Retrievers