If you’re a millennial like me, Chihuahuas probably bring up two images: The dog from the Taco Bell commercials and the small animal in Paris Hilton’s purse. So, needless to say, when you think of these small, moon-eyed dogs, images of climbing a mountain or crossing a stream aren’t the first things that come to mind.
And yet, based on my 6 years with so many pint-sized pups, I can safely say that if you are an outdoorsy, adventurous person then the Chihuahua (and other small dog breeds) are the best type of dog for you. My 9-pound Chihuahua mutt Bailey may have had short legs, but his go-with-the-flow temperament and easy-to-please nature made him a tenacious, reliable crag dog.
Bailey’s origin
Before adopting my two dogs, I lived an extremely outdoor lifestyle and was determined to continue that with my puppies. As someone who loves hiking and climbing, I always thought I would adopt a classic adventure dog like a Golden Retriever, Australian Shepherd or Lab.
Instead, I adopted Bailey, a 10-year-old Chihuahua mix. In his former life, he was left neglected to the point of hoarding, so all his teeth decayed and had to be removed. As a result, his tongue was always hanging out. I saw a picture of Bailey sitting in a field, his tongue out, his eyes so squinted it looked like he was on drugs, and I knew I had to bring him home.
chihuahua outdoors
I was surprised that Bailey adapted so well to living outside. I once took that 9-pound wonder to the top of South Dakota’s Black Elk Peak, the highest point in North America east of the Rocky Mountains. He was definitely tired by the end of the 5 mile hike, but he took it like a champ. Apart from the occasional urination and defecation, he continued driving the truck up that mountain.
easy to please
I think many of us think of Chihuahuas (and other small dogs) as lap dogs only. But if cared for properly, they can handle the challenges of hiking or crossing streams, just like the German Shepherd.
Ironically, the dog I always took outside, Bailey’s greatest desire in life was to be comfortable. As long as he had a comfortable place to rest, he didn’t care about anything. My father, who is an accountant, always called him the CEO of Aaram.
i bought one $25 durable travel dog bed And took it with him everywhere. When I reached a rock to climb, all I had to do was tie Bailey to a tree and lay out her bed. For the next several hours, he would nap and sunbathe without making a sound.
Once during a trip, I forgot the dog bed, and right before I got on my way, Bailey started crying. I knew what to do immediately. I held the light puffer I had brought and placed it on the ground and Bailey lay down on it and fell asleep. They even allowed me to put it in a backpack and wear it while climbing a 70-foot cliff in Arkansas, provided the backpack had a padding on the bottom.
He was happy anywhere, whether sitting on a paddleboard in the lake or sitting on my lap on the tractor.
entertain easily
Bailey’s easy-going attitude also made road trips easier. As someone who lives in the Midwest, I often have to drive hours to reach outside destinations, and napping for several hours in the car doesn’t bother Bailey one bit.
Unlike hyperactive breeds like Border Collies, which require enrichment and mental engagement, keeping Bailey happy was almost easy. On a climbing trip in Illinois, a sudden, unexpected storm forced us to hide under a natural rock face. Bailey was unhappy that his bed was wet, but as soon as I made his bed, everything was in order.
He seemed to really enjoy being outside. There were a lot of different, unknown odors to her pee. And for some reason, Bailey loved eating mud and slime. It didn’t matter how much water or food I gave him; He will be in filth, his tongue will be completely dirty. As long as there wasn’t feces or animal remains, I gave the little stinker free rein. Who was I to deprive him of his deliciously filthy treats?
no danger
As much as I love my other dog, Olive, taking her outside is fraught with potential triggers. She gets easily frightened when she sees fearless dogs and her hatred towards horses knows no bounds. At my favorite climbing spot – Jackson Falls, Illinois – horses are allowed and if she sees someone riding one, she goes berserk, barking and attempting to run them over. This is a handful, and often results in either my partner or I having to come down the wall to calm him down.
Meanwhile, Bailey is probably still sleeping. He has never had any problems with other dogs, horses, other animals or children. On a climbing trip with my friends’ 3-month-old, Bailey attempted to take a nap with her as she slept in her pop-up crib on the rock. As she grew older and tried to caress and pull her, Bailey didn’t even bat an eye. He took whatever attention he could get, even if it was from a child who had very little balance.
I never had to worry about what Bailey could get into if I was on the wall and out of reach. I could stand on the wall for an hour working on my project, and when I came down, Bailey would probably still be chilling.
make friends
It’s fair to say that in the small world of Midwestern mountaineering, Bailey was a celebrity. I can’t count how many times the following type of conversation happened. I’d be on a rock, and a stranger would come up and ask if I was the guy with the weird-looking white dog. Apparently I had met this person before, and while neither of us remembered each other, he did remember Bailey. He loved pets and attention, so any stranger who offered a gentle pet was welcome.
In a way, Bailey was my personal ambassador. I can be anxious around new people, and Bailey was the ideal conversation elixir. No one was better at introducing myself to people or building relationships with me than Bailey.
completely practical
From a logistical standpoint, having a small dog like Bailey made life easier. There was plenty of room for him, Olive, and me in my two-person backpacking tent. I would much rather share a tent with a Chihuahua than a Great Dane or Saint Bernard. His smaller size also meant I had to bring less food and less water than a larger dog, keeping my pack lighter. His travel dog bed weighed just one pound.
Inevitably, as all dogs do, Bailey developed arthritis, and even with medications, it became harder for him to go hiking as he got older. On the 30-minute walk to Jackson Falls, Bailey got about halfway before he told me he was done. When that happened, I picked him up and put him in the dog carrying sling. Since it was soft and comfortable, he was happy. And since she only weighed 9 pounds, it wasn’t too much of a burden for me to carry around.
His small size allowed me to keep him with my pack, even when he was 16 years old. Bailey loved his people and loved being involved with them, and I’m glad I was able to bring him with me into his old age.
chihuahuas forever
Bailey’s story was similar to my own story in the outdoors: We were a little awkward and didn’t quite fit in, but we totally hit it off in the outdoors and still had fun.
Less than a month ago, Bailey had made it clear that her time with me was over. He was not eating food and was not even able to walk. When I talked to my parents about whether putting her to sleep was the right decision, they reminded me of all the experiences I had given Bailey.
Instead of leaving him alone at home, he got to do his favorite thing: being outside with his mom. He had been to almost every state in the Midwest and seen much of the Southeast as well. He blinked, sniffed and ate mud in several places.
As breeders attempt to sell high-end breeds for thousands of dollars, Bailey is a reminder that our ideal adventure dog may be sitting in a shelter somewhere. Our ideal outdoor pup could be an older Chihuahua or a small, young terrier.
After Bailey passed away, it would be a long time before I was ready to adopt another dog. But when that time comes, I’m heading straight to the shelter with the senior Chihuahua.
