Adventure's best Friend

  Adventuring is best with friends by your side. Sometimes though there might not be anyone available to accompany you. One of the best options for times like these is to bring man's best friend--a dog. The benefits to having a dog with you are attractive. They bring protection, loyalty, company, laughs, and they never will complain. Adventuring with a dog, honestly, just lightens the load. Obviously there are many different different types of breeds and each have their strengths and weaknesses. If planning on taking a dog adventuring, think about what qualities you want to see in the dog. Dogs can do anything from hiking, boating, paddle boarding, swimming, hunting, even to skiing.

  While many people just buy a dog because it is cute, it is important to buy a dog suited to your lifestyle. For instance, my family bought a Weimaraner, which is a bird dog. My family has never bird hunted and that quality of our dog has gone to waste. Another thing to think about is the area in which you live. Living in Utah, it is important to think about how your dog will respond to the various weather conditions--the sweltering summers and the bitter winters. Think about how much sun, snow, water, and rough terrain the dog will encounter, and narrow down breed types from there.

  Although thinking about the activity and the environment is very important, make sure you love the dog! A dog is a ten to twenty year investment that will invade many aspects of your life, so make sure you love the breed and the dog itself. Dogs are incredibly resilient, and they will adapt to what they need. On a side note, don't skimp on the cost. I would greatly recommend to buy a pure-bred animal, it is greatly worth the price in the long run.

  So what type of dog is right for you? Outside magazine put out an article about three months ago on finding the right dog, and here's some of their top breeds. For water sports choose the Newfoundland, the Portuguese Water Dog, or the American Water Spaniel. For mountain activities go with the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Norwegian Lundehund, or the Jack Russell Terrier. For endurance sports buy a Siberian Husky, a Weimaraner, or a Border Collie. Finally, for a classic family dog go with a Labrador Retriever, and Golden Retriever, or a Beagle.
Outside magazine also did some photo galleries on the best active, best cold-weathered, and the best hot-weathered dog breeds. Here are those links to mix and match your way to your dream breed.

Active Dog Breeds
Cold-Weather Dog Breeds
Hot-Weather Dog Breeds

Now that you may have an idea of what type of dog you want to buy, you can look ahead to adventuring with your pup. It is a common misconception, that dogs can jump into any sport and do fine, but that is not true. Dogs need to be trained to the specific sport and they sometimes need to have the proper gear. Wether it is running or backpacking make sure your dog is physically and mentally up for the task. Do some research on how to prepare a dog for your specific sport. One thing is for sure, once your perfect dog is ready to adventure, your trips will never be the same.

Siber, Kate. "How to Pick the Perfect Dog for You." Outside Online. 23 July 2015. Web. 16 Oct. 2015. <http://www.outsideonline.com/2001951/how-pick-perfect-dog-you>.