This Reluctant Hiker Was Trailed By A 'Sneaky' Stray Dog & It Turned Out To Be Fate All Along

Some people return from hikes with little more than sunburns and snapshots, but for Reka Krieg, a hiking excursion on Turkey's Lycian Way changed her life in ways she never could have imagined. A YouTube video that's been watched over 664,000 times captured her experience.

Krieg was hiking through steep, rocky terrain when a dog started following her. "So sneaky, because he's just hiding, and then secretly following," she said in the video. Initially, she didn't want the responsibility of a pet, but then she started feeding the dog and caring for him. After other people chased the dog away, Krieg felt bereft. That's when she had an epiphany: "If people chased him away, he wanted to follow them. And that reminded me of my own behavior with people, my attachment issues. And I suddenly realized, oh my god, this dog is as broken as me."

Three days later, when the dog reappeared, an overjoyed Krieg decided to name him Lycian. Throughout the rest of the hike, Lycian disappeared a few more times. Eventually, after Krieg finished the hike and was catching a ride out of town on a motorcycle, the dog reappeared and chased her. "He ran and he wouldn't give up," Krieg said. "He didn't leave my side again." With Lycian as her steadfast companion, Krieg felt better equipped to handle her own mental health problems. She said, "Just being in his presence gave me the strength and the willingness to connect to other people again."

Both scientific and anecdotal evidence have long suggested there are a wealth of emotional benefits in owning a pet, including unconditional love, a sense of companionship, and marked reductions in stress, anxiety, and loneliness. By adopting Lycian, Krieg gained a feeling of emotional security. "I do believe Lycian gave me the resilience, the strength, the support, the love, the care to take the courage to connect," she said in the video. She has also written a memoir about her healing journey with her precious pooch, "Lycian & Me: The Road to Transformation," which will be published in 2026.

Viewers appreciated the connection, too. "That's a true story of a dog adopting his human," one viewer wrote in the video's comments. "You found each other when you both needed someone/help. May you have many wonderful years and adventures together ❤," another added.

If you're feeling tempted to adopt your own stray dog like Lycian, know that the behaviors of stray dogs can seem strange if you're only accustomed to pet dogs. For example, strays may display fear, aloofness, and aggression, traits that would have helped them survive while living on the street. Also, be aware that it may take patience and lots of positive reinforcement to house-train a stray dog. But, like with Krieg and Lycian, the results can be life-changing. Krieg wrote in an Instagram post, "He rescued me, from my loneliness, my fear, my past. Lycian isn't just my dog. He's my mirror, my anchor, my reason to stay."