You Did What With Your Wiener? features myself and my two adventurous Dachshunds, Chester and Gretel.
We love hiking, paddleboarding, camping, traveling, staying healthy, and enjoying life.
Some people probably think I’m crazy but if I can’t do it with my dogs, I pretty much don’t do it.
Wait, Don’t Go!
Stick around and you will:
- Enjoy seeing the beautiful places we hike and travel to
- Learn how you can enjoy the outdoors with your own dog
- Hear about the unique challenges and experiences of hiking with a small dog
- Discover dog-friendly places to travel
- Be inspired to overcome health and physical challenges (for you and/or your dog) and get outside
- Learn how to keep you and your dog healthy so you can continue your outdoor adventures for years to come
- Learn more about being the best pet parent you can be
- Discover products and services that make life easier and increase the fun
- Find out how to make earth-friendly choices to preserve the beauty around us
- Plus more!
You might want to start exploring our blog on our most popular posts page.

Yes, it’s really this steep
Breaking Stereotypes Is Our Thing
I like surprising people and making a difference so underlying all of this is the theme of breaking stereotypes like:
- Only big dogs need a lot of exercise (energy level is more dependent on breed than the size of the dog)
- You have to be in great shape to hike mountains or enjoy challenging outdoor activities (I am proof that you don’t)
- Small dogs belong on a lap, not at the top of a mountain (try telling that to Chester and Gretel)
- You’re not a true outdoor enthusiast if you don’t get outside several times a week or spend all of your time obsessing about getting outside (I do dream about outdoor adventures a lot but my life is much more than that)
- YOUR DOG’S outdoor adventuring is over if they deal with a chronic condition that puts them at risk for re-injury (Chester is geriatric and Gretel has a bad back. Although I have to monitor them more closely than a young dog with no injuries, they still get out… a lot)
- YOUR time in the outdoors is over if you deal with chronic conditions like back pain or diabetes (I have chronic back pain, bad knees, pre-diabetes, and pre-hypertension. If I can do it, so can you. And being active will help improve some of those conditions.)
- Pleasantly plump dogs are cute (No, no they are not. They’re just fat and at risk of developing weight-related health issues. It’s sad really)
- Environmental concerns should be left to the “tree huggers” and environmentalists because one small action by one person can’t make a difference (Remember, it’s not about doing everything right, it’s about doing one or two simple things right. If everyone makes even one small change, together it could have a big impact)
Life Mashup = This Blog
I mashed up my life experience as…
- a dog and animal lover;
- an outdoor enthusiast;
- an environmental scientist;
- a health nut (Currently former when it comes to myself but I’m working on that part);
- a photographer;
- an outdoor and dog gear nerd;
- a writer and connector and;
- an owner of two adventurous wiener dogs
….and out came this blog.
It’s a labor of love and it changed my life. I hope it inspires you to make some positive changes in yours too.
What Is Your Burning Question?
If you’re saying “tell me more about” but can’t find and answer using the navigation menu on the home page, please send your question to me at Jessica(at)PetTalkMedia(dot)com, or message me via our Facebook page, and I will answer it or point you in the right direction.