Hiking with Dachshunds, yes you read it right

Hiking with Dachshunds is a post mostly for entertainment, with a brief PSA about dogs and hiking.

We have two miniature dachshunds. Please meet Oscar and Baxter. Oscar is our energetic one. He has two modes, prancing and snuggling. He can be found either following you wherever you go or acting like a dog-shaped cat and snuggling on or against you. Baxter has one main mode, lounging/napping.  He can be found sleeping somewhere, anywhere, most likely our couch or under the covers. His other half-mode is watching and judging, also likely from the couch. Please see examples below.

If there are any other fellow dachshund owners out there that come across this post, we love the RuffWear Front Range dog harness. Four adjustable points to accommodate for the world’s most awkwardly shaped canine with their barrel chest and skinny belly. We have had our two harnesses for five and seven years, respectively, and both are still in perfect condition. Highly recommend for the quality, fit, and comfort. Click on the link below to go directly to the website.

Here are our adventure wiener dogs doing their exploration thing all over Utah.

PSA: Please check AllTrails or applicable local resources to see if dogs are allowed on the trail you will be on. There are many hikes in Utah where dogs are not allowed on trails, and, if they are allowed, they must be on a leash. For example, dogs are not allowed on the Lake Mary trail up Big Cottonwood Canyon because it is a watershed area. National Parks tend to be the most ‘restrictive’, understandably, and dogs are most often only allowed in pullout parking areas, picnic areas, sometimes on paved trails. Each park is different so be sure to check. Please, please be respectful if it is posted that dogs are not allowed or must be on leash. Dogs do not know they are running around and destroying cryptobiotic crust that may take 100 years to regenerate. They do not know they may be doing their business on sensitive habitat. They do not know they may be disturbing protected wildlife. They also may not know they are about to be bit by a rattlesnake. The rules are there for a reason, no matter if you think your dog is the best behaved or most loved creature on the planet like all of us dog owners do. There are plenty of trails to bring your furry friend with, you just have to watch for them.