In this video I take Stella on a 4 km trail I’ve never done before and use it as the perfect chance to chat about a question I get a lot: can dachshunds actually go on hikes and longer walks? When I first started taking Stella on adventures, I was honestly nervous. I even bought a backpack because I assumed she’d only manage 1–2 km and then I’d have to carry her—but every time I tried, she cried, squirmed, and basically told me “no thanks,” then happily finished the walk on her own. I share what I’ve learned from hiking with Stella (including a longest hike of about 5.5 km that took us around three hours): dachshunds are way more athletic than people assume. They were bred to hunt badgers, so being fast, agile, and having endurance is literally in their blood. I also talk about being smart with IVDD risk—support their backs (ramps, limiting stairs), but don’t baby them so much that they never build strength. Plus, I cover practical stuff like bringing water, avoiding super hot days, and considering your dog’s age, health history, and what they actually enjoy (Stella hates “sidewalk walks,” but could go forever on a trail full of smells).