It's the ideal. I'd recommend getting one that's like Australian shepherd sized though. Scrambles can be sketchy and being able to easily lift them takes away much of the pressure of that. We've encountered rattlesnakes a few times but they mostly sun on rocks to the side of the trail. As long as they're leashed close dogs don't have much risk there, and going off-trail here is all cacti territory so he doesn't do it anyway.