The summertime is the right time to get out there and experience the outside world in all its glory. This was a rough winter we just went through, and you may have forgotten that camping, the beach, hiking, and a variety of other outdoor activities all await not just you, but your canine companion as well.

Your dog loves the outdoors and having plenty of opportunities to burn some energy, but that is probably only true up to a point – unless you have the right breed for the job. Some breeds are more suited to playing outdoors, while others are far better at hanging out indoors and not causing a ruckus. If you’re someone who likes the outdoors and staying active, then you’ll want to be selective about the breed you choose when choosing a new dog.

1. Labrador Retriever

The Lab is an iconic breed, one that is quite popular throughout the United States and beyond. While the Lab can certainly be an “indoors” dog, it is exceedingly athletic and playful, and you are really denying a lab a large part of what makes it happy when you aren’t regularly taking it out to romp and play in the great outdoors. They also quite enjoy the water, whether it’s a river, a lake, or the shore; put a lab in water and they’ll be happy as a fish!

2. Australian Shepherd

Australian Shepherds are another classic breed that enjoys the great outdoors. As a herding breed, it only makes sense that they flourish when outside; they are also very high energy, and need lots of walks (well, runs), as well as plenty of time to strength their legs and exercise on their own. Fortunately, the Australian Shepherd is also a highly obedient breed, as most herding dogs are. Thus, you needn’t worry about them getting out of control or behaving poorly once let loose outdoors – at least, not if you’ve done your job as a trainer.

3. Collie

Another herding breed, the collie possesses incredible stamina and strength, though there is more than one collie for you to choose from; some are known for their stamina, while others are more known for their intelligence, or their agility. All generally share high amounts of all these traits, however, and you can expect your collie to be a great outdoors companion.

4. German Shorthair Pointer

Finally, the German Shorthair Pointer is a bird dog, bred to hunt and retrieve pheasant, quail, and other quarries of the hunter. Consequently, not only are they highly obedient and reliable, but their strength, stamina, and speed are all through the roof. They’re a pleasure to be outdoors with!