Dachshunds are adorable short-legged dynamos but their endurance isn’t all that great. How far can dachshunds walk before getting exhausted? Does that make them good hiking or jogging buddies? And what can happen if you force your Doxie to walk more than it should? Let’s cover each point and more below.
How Far Can Dachshunds Walk?
Dachshunds, for all their wonderful qualities, are built for neither speed nor endurance. Instead, they were bred as trackers, diggers, and subterranean tunnel badger fighters. This means you can’t expect your dachshund to be able to walk or run as much as most other dogs. In fact, with a top run speed of 35 miles per hour, the dachshund is arguably a better “sprinter” than it is an endurance runner.
Additionally, the dachshund’s short legs mean that it has lower endurance even compared to other medium-sized breeds. Even had its legs been a bit longer, the dachshund has a pretty heavy build too. Its large chest and wide paws are ideal for digging and fighting in tight tunnels but not for running.
So, how far can dachshunds walk? A healthy, adult, standard dachshund should be able to walk somewhere between 5 and 10 miles a day (8 to 16 km), provided good weather, even ground, and plenty of water. Also, note that this is the maximum expected walking distance for a whole day, not just a single walk. This means that the 5 to 10 miles in question will need to include rest breaks, treats, water, and so on.
Additionally, if you’re planning a mountain trek with a significant elevation or if the weather is too warm or too chilly, even 5 miles will be too much for most dachshunds.
Learn more about: Do Dogs Get Altitude Sickness Or Is It Just People?
And, again, note that we are talking about a healthy, adult, standard dachshund. If you have a puppy or a miniature dachshund, its walking distance will be even shorter.
How Far Should Dachshunds Walk Daily?
“Can” and “should” are two very different words. So, while a Doxie can walk 5 to 10 miles every once in a while, its daily walks shouldn’t be that long. Instead, dachshunds need up to an hour of outdoor walk and exercise a day, typically divided into two 30-minute walks. If your dog is still a puppy, make it two 20-minute walks instead.
What Can Happen If You Over-exhaust Your Dachshund?
Over-exercising your dog is a thing that dog owners often underestimate. Doing this to a puppy can drastically hamper its muscular and skeletal development and lead to a whole lot of health problems later on in life. Even with an adult, however, you can still accidentally get your dog into trouble via severe fatigue, dehydration, and even something as major as a heart attack – especially if your dog wasn’t particularly fit, to begin with.
What’s more, repeated over-exhaustions can have long-term health problems that don’t appear until later in life too. The most well-known example of that is the infamous Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD).
How Can You Tell When Your Dachshund Needs A Rest?
All of the above sounds important enough but how exactly can you tell that your dachshund has had too much walking for the time being? There are a few key signs to watch out for:
- Panting
- Drooling
- Slower walking pace
- Your dog starts refusing to walk or asking for breaks
- Increased bodily temperature (should be noticeable with a simple touch, especially behind the ears)
- Red gums
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Increased heart rate
- Your dog is being quieter than usual and isn’t curious about things around it
- Lack of responsiveness to verbal commands and petting
If you start noticing either or a few of those signs, just give your dog a short break and at least a few large gulps of water. After that, if your dog still seems tired but you need to keep going, bring out the pet carrier and take your dog with you.
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