Could You Live with a Very Active Dog?

Anyone who likes to keep fit and spend as much time in the great outdoors as they possibly can might enjoy sharing a home with a hyper-active canine companion to keep them company. Not everyone would want to share a home with a hyper-active dog because they need to be kept busy both mentally and physically, but for those that do there are lots of great breeds to choose from. This includes the four lovely breeds described below which shows both their strengths and their weaknesses.

Alaskan Klee Kai

A lovely rare breed that's closely related to the Alaskan Husky with one very big difference being that they are a lot smaller in size, the Alaskan Klee Kai would be the perfect jogging partner because they are high-energy dogs. They are not recognised as a breed by The Kennel Club, but are recognised by the United Kennel Club under the Northern Breeds classification. They can live well past the 20-year mark and love nothing more than spending as much time in the great outdoors as possible. With this said, the Klee Kai can be quite demanding and they hate being left on their own for any length of time. There are three sizes of Alaskan Klee Kais which are the standard, the miniature and the toy, a dog that only stands at around 33 cm tall at the wither. They are handsome dogs that come in lots of different colours including white, and dogs have wonderful black masks which adds to their overall attractive looks.

Although active, the Alaskan Klee Kai is not a hyperactive character, they are highly intelligent and learn new things quickly which means they are highly trainable enjoying nothing more than the one-to-one contact they are given. Another lovely trait is the fact they love to hold long conversations with their owners without being annoying "barkers". Although they blow their coats and are heavy shedders, they like to keep themselves clean and will wash themselves much like a cat.

Belgian Malinois

Also known as the Belgian Shepherd Dog, this attractive breed is the perfect choice for anyone who likes to be out and about as much as possible with a canine companion at their side. Being so intelligent, a Belgian Malinois is quick to learn new things and they love being given lots of one-to-one attention from their owners. A Malinois would take a two hour walk in their stride and likes nothing more than to play lots of interactive games which helps keep their active minds occupied something that is crucial with these dogs.

They are an ancient breed that dates back to the Middle Ages and over time four varieties of the breed have been bred in their native Belgium. They are medium in size and apart from having different coat types, all four Malinois boast being energetic dogs by nature and thrive on having something to do. As such they are the perfect choice for people who lead active outdoor lives although they are not the best choice for novice owners because they need to be trained and handled by someone who is familiar with this type of active dog. Being intelligent too, means that a Belgian Malinois also needs to be kept busy mentally to prevent boredom from setting in which could lead to all sorts of behavioural issues developing. With this said, if you're the sort of person who would like an attractive, intelligent and high-energy dog at your side, the Belgian Malinois might just fit the bill.

Brittany Spaniel

Brittany Spaniels are lovely looking, highly active dogs that adore being in the great outdoors doing things. They are the perfect choice for people who lead active, outdoor lives and who would like to have a busy, energetic and intelligent canine companion at their side. Their training must start early as does their socialisation so they grow up to calmer, well-balanced mature dogs that are a pleasure to have around.

The Brittany Spaniel is another breed that would happily go for a two hour walk and they enjoy being outside as much as possible tracking down scents and exploring an environment providing it safe for them to do so. They are the perfect dog for the person who loves being busy in the great outdoors or who works outside most of the time and who would like a loyal, energetic canine companion at their side.

Hungarian Vizsla

The Hungarian Vizsla is a stunning looking dog and one that forms strong bonds with their owners. They are also known to be extremely bold and courageous which means they will protect their families without a second thought when the need arises. Being intelligent, a Vizsla needs to be given the right amount of mental stimulation because if their minds are not kept busy, they will easily start to find new ways of amusing themselves which could result in some unwanted and destructive behaviours.

Vizslas are quick to learn new things too and make great family pets even for first time owners who like to spend as much time outdoors as they possibly can with a loyal, affectionate and smart canine companion at their side. A Vizsla would be happy working away for hours on end because they thrive on human contact and being given lots of mental stimulation and things to do which includes playing interactive games with their owners.