Shepherd Expedition Twelve™
Shepherd Expedition Twelve™ is an annual program for people who want to explore the outdoors with their dog while becoming more capable outdoor partners. The Twelve Program was designed with German Shepherds and other high energy, pointy eared dogs in mind, but all breeds and mixed breeds are welcome to participate. It’s not about speed, mileage, placement, or competition. It’s about improving your partnership with your dog, learning new skills, and being good stewards of the places you visit.
Complete twelve qualifying outdoor activities during the calendar year and earn a Shepherd Expedition Twelve Finisher’s Medal.
The goal is simple: complete twelve intentional outings to explore the outdoors with your dog safely and responsibly while being a “good shepherd” and steward of the places you visit.
How It Works
1. Register January 1 through October 31
One human participant may register with one or multiple dogs. Participating dogs must be at least 18 months old. All breeds and mixed breed dogs are welcome to participate.
2. Get Outside
Complete twelve qualifying activities with your dog between January 1 and December 31.
3. Explore Safely & Responsibly
Dogs must be on leash and under the participant’s control during all qualifying activities. Dogs who cannot walk for all or part of an activity because of age, disability, injury, or other individual circumstances may be safely transported in an appropriate stroller, backpack, or other suitable carrier.
A leash isn’t a limitation. It is one of the simplest ways we can help protect our dogs, respect wildlife, reduce conflicts with other visitors, and minimize our impact on the places we love to explore.
4. Log Your Activities
Track your progress using the official Shepherd Expedition Twelve Activities Log and submit each activity using the Twelve Activity Submission Form.
5. One Outing Equals One Activity
An outing may include several components, but it may only be submitted as one qualifying activity. A hike that includes a new trail, learning an outdoor skill, and a stewardship component is still one activity.
The goal is to recognize twelve meaningful outdoor experiences, not to divide one outing into multiple activities.
6. Complete All Activities by December 31
Complete and submit all twelve qualifying activities by December 31. Once your twelve activities have been logged, you earn a Shepherd Expedition Twelve Finisher’s Medal.
7. Celebrate Community
Participants are encouraged to share their experiences using #ShepherdExpeditionTwelve hashtag. Social media participation is encouraged but not required.
What Activities Count?
A qualifying activity is defined as an intentional, meaningful outdoor experience with your dog that reflects commitment to safety and responsible recreation.
Qualifying activities can include:
- Hiking a new trail
- Exploring a familiar trail in a different season
- Dog friendly walks and runs
- Camping and overnight outings
- Backpacking trips
- Exploring parks, forests, and other public lands
- Navigation and other outdoor skills activities
- Dog friendly outdoor community events
- Trail stewardship and conservation activities
- Learning activities related to responsible outdoor recreation
- Trying a new outdoor activity with your dog
A qualifying activity does not have to be extreme, lengthy, or physically demanding. A meaningful experience in a community park can be just as valuable as an expedition in a national park. Activities may take place close to home or during travel. What matters is that you intentionally spend time outdoors with your dog and make safe, responsible choices wherever you are.
No Pace, Mileage, Leaderboard, or Pressure
The Shepherd Expedition Twelve does not reward speed, mileage, or placement. There is no specific pace to maintain, distance to cover, badge to earn, or leaderboard to track competition.
Responsible Recreation Matters
When we explore with our dogs, we are visitors in places that belong to all of us. The choices we make can affect wildlife, natural resources, other visitors, and the experience of those who come after us.
Shepherd Expedition Twelve program requires participants to:
- Stay on designated trails and routes
- Follow posted rules and local regulations
- Keep dogs appropriately leashed and under control
- Respect wildlife and give animals space
- Give other visitors room to enjoy their experience
- Pick up and properly dispose of dog waste
- Carry out what you carry in
- Avoid damaging vegetation, soil, and other natural features
- Minimize unnecessary noise and disturbance
- Leave natural features where you find them
- Choose activities and locations appropriate for your dog’s abilities
- Help leave the places you visit as good as, or better than, you found them
Being a good outdoor partner isn’t just about knowing how to handle your dog on a trail or reaching milestones. It also means being a “good shepherd” and a steward of the lands you explore.
Share Your Adventures
Participants are encouraged to share their Shepherd Expedition Twelve experiences with the community. Sharing your adventures helps us celebrate the accomplishments, experiences, and responsible practices of participating teams. Social media participation is strongly encouraged but not required.
Team of Merit Award
The Shepherd Expedition Team of Merit award is an annual recognition celebrating handler-dog teams that go above and beyond in demonstrating preparedness, safety, and responsible recreation with dogs. It recognizes teams that help promote a culture of preparedness, safety, and responsible recreation within the Shepherd Expedition Twelve program and the greater community.
Multiple teams may receive Team of Merit recognition in a given year. Recipients are selected after the December 31 completion deadline and announced in January of the following year.
Team of the Year Award
The Shepherd Expedition Team of the Year award is an annual recognition celebrating one handler-dog team that best represents the spirit and values of the Shepherd Expedition Twelve program.
The Team of the Year award is based on commitment to responsible outdoor recreation with dogs, community participation, encouragement of other teams, positive representation of Shepherd Expedition Twelve, and sportsmanship. Team of the Year is selected after the December 31 completion deadline and announced in January of the following year.
What You Receive
Registration includes:
- Shepherd Expedition Twelve Activities Log
- Twelve Activity Submission Form
- Eligibility for the Shepherd Expedition Twelve Finisher’s Medal after completing all twelve activities
- Eligibility for Shepherd Expedition Team of Merit and Team of the Year awards
Additional commemorative merchandise, including T shirts and other program items, may be offered separately. Due to international shipping requirements and circumstances beyond our control, physical awards and merchandise are shipped to eligible participants in the United States only.
Annual Timeline
January 1
Registration opens.
October 31
Registration closes.
December 31
All twelve qualifying activities and activity submissions are due.
January
Completed activities are verified. Team of the Year is selected and announced.
February 1
Finisher’s Medals and Team of the Year awards are shipped.
Explore More Together
Shepherd Expedition Twelve gives you a reason to get outside with your dog throughout the year. Your activities can be big or small, close to home or part of travel. Discover a new trail, explore a state park, join a dog friendly outdoor event, learn a new skill, participate in a stewardship activity, or take a camping trip.
There is no pace to maintain and no specific distance to cover. There is no leaderboard and no pressure to compete.
Measuring Success
At Shepherd Expedition, we believe there is more than one way to measure what you accomplish with your dog. Success can be found in positive experiences, growing confidence, responsible choices, and memories made together. It is learning something new, discovering a beautiful place, making a responsible choice that protects the environment, or simply stopping for a moment to enjoy where you are in your journey.
Some experiences have value even when they don’t result in a tangible milestone, badge or title. They are simple moments that become part of your life with your dog and stay with you forever. We believe those moments are worth celebrating.
Shepherd Expedition Twelve isn’t designed to determine the fastest, strongest, or most accomplished team. It is about creating more opportunities to explore together, becoming more capable and responsible outdoor partners, and building a deeper appreciation for the places we share with our dogs.
At the end of the year, the medal recognizes twelve completed activities. The real reward is everything you experienced along the way. There is more to a trail than the destination™.
Ready to Explore?
Registration opens January 1, 2027.
Please review the Shepherd Expedition Twelve Participant Handbook before registering. The handbook will be posted soon.