Member Question and Concern Contents
Q: How do I go about finding the right breed for me ?
It doesn't take long once one starts reading books, looking at pictures, and talking to others. (Barbara Moore)
We gathered much info via the net: i.e. FAQ's on different breeds, Usenet and e-mail groups. We also read and took the tests in "The Right Dog for You," by D.Tortora. (Laurie Fellwock)
I found that when researching for the right breed, books and word of mouth were invaluable. The book that I liked was "Good Owners, Great Dogs," by Brian Kilcommons. (Jeannie Fazio)
My daughter called at least ten veterinarians and checked out numerous books on breeds of dogs. (Mary Anne Clarke)
Q: Why would I want to consider a Dachshund as a pet?
I can envision having another kind of dog but only along with a dachsie!!!! And if I can only have one at a time, it will be a dachsie. (Leslie Koether)
I have heard more than once, as well as experienced for myself, how some of us got our first dachsie in spite of ourselves. Either they were easy to care for, or fit in an apartment etc. What happened in every case? We now would not be without our little dachsies! What a breed! Gotta love 'em! (Barbara Moore)
A coworker's family in Germany used to breed and raise dachshunds and from the stories he would tell me about them, I thought these were brave and funny little characters that would compliment my Dobermans, AND be small enough to sleep with me and lay on my lap! Crazy thinking, but that's what I wanted ... a small dog that would cuddle like a kitty. (Judy Nunes)
Though I love dogs in general, I think that I am forever hooked on dachshunds.. My biased opinion: in general, dachshunds are idiosyncratic, bold, charming, sometimes a pain in the ... neck, and almost always lovable. Despite their small size, dachshunds are not fragile dogs -- they see themselves as German Shepherds. They will be ecstatic if you take them out for a walk in the woods, or a romp through a field. They will also be enthusiastic about a walk around the block. They like to play ball, although they don't always see the point of bringing it back to you. (Deirdre Folkers)
We have always had a dachshund and will always have them. We were given our first one and have saved a number of others. (Cathy Bishop)
They are the most affectionate little dogs one can imagine. (Barbara Moore)
What I can tell you about dachsies, after living with and learning about the breed for the past year or so, is that I would never live without one again. This coming from one who has had many different dogs in her life. Pork Chop, who is my b&t mini, is very intelligent, lovable and affectionate with people of all ages, not to mention completely housebroken. :-) (Jeannie Fazio)
I wouldn't have any other dog than a dachsie. (Carol Sobecki)
Obviously, we are all sold on dachsies, since we all own them. Or they own us...Most of us have more than one, so as you can see owning a dachsie is a risky proposition--you risk soon owning more than one or two or three. (Carol Smith)
... ones which weigh 11-17 pounds, nicknamed "tweenies," since they're in-between mini and standard. (Mickey Howard)
We have owned miniatures/tweenies. A tweenie is somewhat larger than a miniature (<11 lbs.), but smaller than a standard (16 -32 lbs.). (Deirdre Folkers)
Dachshunds are available in three types of coats: short-hair, long-hair and wire-hair. Within each of these coat types, there are three often mentioned categories of sizes: the Standard, which the "Dachshund Club of America" suggests range from 16 to 32 pounds; the Tweenie, weighing in at 11 to 16 pounds; and the Miniature, which weighs under 11 pounds. Most Dachshunds stand from 5 to 9 inches in height. (Barbara Moore)
Minis going oversize is a matter of some breeders not breeding according to the standard that calls for Minis to be under 11 pounds at 12 months of age. Some of the so-called Tweenies are simply obese Minis that would be 11 pounds if in correct weight. Some are the result of "breed downs" where breeders purposely breed small standards to Minis to hopefully improve their Minis, and others are simply the result of breeders not caring what size dog they are producing, or even purposely producing dogs in the 12 to 15 pound range to sell to a market that wants that size dog. There are many, many breeders who breed Minis that are truly Minis, under 11 pounds. This is not to say that those of you who have Tweenies should love them any less. I would hope though, that those that are breeding would pay more attention to the written conformation standard that dictates the size range that Dachshunds should be, and try to breed accordingly. (Cherri Thomson, Dachshund Breeder)
Technically, any Dachshund over 11 pounds, at 12 months of age is not a Mini, but a Standard. The term "Tweenie" is not recognized by the AKC or CKC and was coined as a name for those dogs falling into the grey area between true mini and standard size. Some *breeders* actually try to promote the incorrect size as something rare and special. It is not. An adult dog over 11 pounds is either an over-sized (and therefore incorrect and ineligible to compete in the open-Miniature class at shows) Mini or a very small Standard. (Cherri Thomson, Dachshund Breeder)
I breed my Standards to be in the 19 to 28 pound range. This is the most common size range for competitive show ring "Standards". There is no disqualification for undersize in Standards technically, anything over 11 pounds is a Standard, but good judges and good breeders consider the size to be a fault if under their perceived tolerance for size in the Standards. 16 pounds is a very small Standard and would not be competitive in the ring. Many people are breeding specifically for *Tweenie* size since there is a demand for that size. A breeder who is breeding Minis in a conscientious and responsible manner would NOT breed any animal that was over 11 pounds. (Cherri Thomson, Dachshund Breeder)
Q: Are there differences in personalities between the smooth-hairs, long-hairs vs. wire? I've always wanted a smooth-haired. (Judi Hudek)
There are definitely differences between the coats in temperament. The wires are the most tenacious and terrier-like, the longs are the more mellow and soft, and the smooths fall in between the two. This is a rather broad generalization that will vary between individuals. In smooths, I think the most serious temperament fault is shyness. I strongly recommend that you buy your dog from a breeder who stresses happy and friendly temperaments. Ask to see and spend some time with both parents if you can, and if the father is unavailable to meet, at least spend time with mom. She is the main influence on pupper's temperaments. If she is a shy, nasty, snarling beast, then expect the same from the puppers. (Cherri Thomson, Dachshund Breeder)
Longs - They are the laid back guys. They love their people and families (as do all the coats), and as are all Dachshunds--great watch dogs. Lexie has informed everyone in our neighborhood about their necessity to get "sidewalk passes" from her before they tread on her territory. The doorbell is cause for great excitment! (Linda Sullivan)
Smooths - Higher energy level. Very outgoing. I know a standard smooth (CH Dollidach Getzler's Crunch, JE (Crunch)) that is probably one of the friendliest dogs I know--he has never met a stranger. He also can run his Mother around an 80 acre Beagle field like no other dog I have ever seen. (Linda Sullivan)
Wires - Highest energy level. They were crossed with terriers at some point in history and possess that wonderful sense of humor that all terriors seem to have. (Linda Sullivan)
It is true, in my case, that the LH have a calmer disposition, and are not quite as shy as the smooths. (Joan Nicholson)
Q: Could you tell me something about the personality/temperament of this breed, in general?
Loves to eat! Loves to kiss! Loves to cuddle under the blankets! (Laurie Fellwock)
You read that dachsies are "stubborn." Well, "independent" is a better choice of words to describe them, but descriptive terms also include intelligent, loving, clever, humorous, friendly, comical, persistent, affectionate and expressive. There's just something about a dachshund. Picture this: your family is on a walk or outing at a park, with your little dachshund along. If you had any other breed of dog accompanying you, passersby would generally think, "how nice; a family with their dog," but add a weinerdog to the family picture and believe me, you will have people all over you, making comments such as "oh, look at the cute weinerdog" and "can I pet him?" Your dachsie will equally return the engaging, happy reaction to any who encounter it. (Mickey Howard)
... all love to burrow ... sleep under blankets even in the heat of the summer ... all have shared the master bed ... Max went from living in a house with a big yard to an apt. at age 8. He learned not to bark, he stays alone all day in the kitchen, never makes noise or a mess on the floor and is a perfect apt. dog. None of the 3 were ever noisy, only barking when the doorbell rang or sometimes outside if a cat ventured into the yard. (Leslie Koether)
Max is gentle with other animals as well. When my son's hamster escaped from his plastic ball, it was Max who tracked him down, twice, for us to find. He just sat outside the closet and whimpered, and the other time he trapped the hamster under a bookcase but made no attempt to hurt him. Squeak would share a backyard pen with the guinea pig and never hurt it. (Leslie Koether)
She is energetic, loving, compassionate, a foot warmer, a sun worshipper, curious, a beggar for morsels of anything. She loves treats and toys and plays for hours with an empty mineral water bottle batting it across the floor and growling at it. She is not much of a chewer of other toys and we've always told her "no" if she touches our things, and then we hand her toy and say, "good girl, good Lindsey." After we had her a week, we took her on a two week driving vacation through Canada and Vermont. She loves the car, and absolutely would live in it if we let her. (Mary Anne Clarke)
They by far have one of the best personalities of any breed ... they are loving, courageous, funny, and one of the smartest. (Judy Nunes)
I now see all Dachshunds as the most beautiful and loving dogs that they are. (Leslie Batchelder)
I have two standard longhairs. Both dogs are cautious of strangers. Neither would intentionally bite anyone without provocation. When I tell them it is "ok" they will be polite and let anyone pet them (Zorro has a problem with people that tremble--it scares him). I attribute their reserve behavior to the fact that they are home in their kennel run all day while I work and at night we go for a walk, play in the back yard, talk to some neighbors that are good friends and crash on the sofa. They live a quiet life. (Linda Sullivan)
I don't believe as a breed they are unusually snippy. In fact, most are overly friendly, licking machines. (Carol Smith)
Q: I'm interested in anything anyone can tell me about dachshunds as to how they relate to 9 and 10 yr. old kids who want to love a dog to pieces, and anything else that will help me make a decision as to adding a dachshund to our family. (Vanessa Dwyer)
We have three children (currently ages 12, 8, and 5). Our dogs have (more or less willingly) submitted to being dressed up as "the baby," or to playing the role of "red fox." Both of our dogs are particularly fond of my 12 year old daughter's friends -- during sleepovers, they can be found burrowed in the bottom of someone's sleeping bag. This doesn't necessarily mean that they are thrilled with all children -- both of them shy away from screamers, etc. -- though I suspect that's a pretty reasonable reaction. (Deirdre Folkers)
Your kids, at 9 and 10 years old, are at a wonderful age to be able to help care for a dachshund properly. The care is not hard; just use and follow some general rules which can help prevent back injuries and problems. (Mickey Howard)
If you have very young children you may also wish to get a different breed. (Mary Kellar)
My daughter and Chloe actually play hide and seek together. Chloe waits in one room to be called, and then goes to find my daughter who is hiding in another room. This has to be seen to be believed. (Barbara Moore)
She is wonderful with kids, my kids and my kids' hoard of friends, and there are always new kids in our house. (Mary Anne Clarke)
He thinks kids should not be allowed to walk in front of *his* house. Also yells at all dogs walking by, and tries to chase those at the park. Loves his *own* cats, hates all others. (Laurie Fellwock)
Both my dachsies love children and people. I trust them with any child. They have always been gentle. However, Oscar will let an adult (someone who he isn't familiar with) definitely know he doesn't approve of them coming too close to me while he is laying on my lap. (Judy Nunes)
Q: Would a Dachshund make a good housemate for me during the day, while kids are at school?
If you want a "house buddy," I can only tell you that those two words describe perfectly what Chloe has become for me. I am home during the day and missed her desperately the day she was gone all day for her spaying surgery. And dachsies do not want to be alone, you will find if you get one. (Barbara Moore)
We are a quiet family and find that dachshunds fit our lifestyle. We have a large fenced yard and someone is usually always home. They love to hang out with us. (Cathy Bishop)
They are also very companionable -- I have a dachshund sleeping on my lap even as I type this, and I'm not sure that any dog can greet you at the door more enthusiastically than a dachshund. Even a return home from the grocery store warrants an all-out welcome -- you never have to wonder if they love you. (Deirdre Folkers)
Q: I read on a Website that they can be hard to housebreak as they are stubborn, and I would like to hear dachshund housebreaking stories as well. (Vanessa Dwyer)
Well, you will find this to be a somewhat controversial subject. Because of the strong nature of the breed, they tend to be somewhat difficult. But with consistent, patient crate-training, it should be a success. (Jeannie Fazio)
If you get your puppy at a young age, housebreaking using a crate and total supervision is not any harder than with any other dog, as far as I know. Consistency, confinement and patience are my housebreaking by-words. I believe a dog needs to be at least 8 mos. to be able to be fully trusted. In the meantime, Chloe is not allowed total freedom (out of the kitchen or crate, if we are not home) until then. It is not a drain on us, and she is learning. They are truly just real babies for a long time. I do not believe in being able to housebreak a dog in 2 weeks any more than the stories I heard over the years from others about how they potty-trained a child in 2 weeks! (Barbara Moore)
If you have very little time for housetraining, or general training, this may not be the dog for you. Dachshunds by nature are VERY stubborn. This makes housetraining or any other training difficult. NOT impossible but difficult. It can be done but the word is PERSEVERANCE. (Mary Kellar)
I have always had males, and I honestly can say I don't think any of them have ever been housebroken completely. I think it's a doxie thing. They know they should go outside, but heck, they have their own agenda. Especially in the winter months. I think if and when I ever get another little doxie, it will have to be a female. My mom's had 2 little girls and does not have this problem. (Donna Sadlik)
I haven't had Pork Chop since a pup, so I don't think that I'm qualified to say whether males are hard to housetrain, but whoever did housebreak him? Boy, I would love to meet them and shake their hand, for PC has been here a little over a year, has only had an accident in the house one time, and this was done on Sunni's bed, the first night he came to live with us. I think it was a dominance thing, and he was simply trying to establish that bed as his! :-) (Jeannie Fazio)
Our 5-year-old male b/t smoothie Max is totally house trained. He was easy to train even though my wife and I both work. He now stays home with run of the living room and Florida room (where he sleeps) and never has an accident, although we don't leave him for more than an five-hour stretch. He sleeps in on the weekends, and usually doesn't insist on going out until 9 am or so. During the work week, we have to wake him at 6:30. (Bob Lowry)
We have not had any particular problems with housebreaking. All of our dogs have ended up to be reliable (although, since I don't have any basis for comparison, I don't know if they were particularly fast or slow about it). Our oldest dachshund (now three) is particularly fastidious. Her adopted sibling (now one) is not particularly thrilled about going out during rainstorms and sometimes needs to be accompanied outside during such times. (Deirdre Folkers)
As far as being obedience trained, well, I was one of the fortunate ones, or so I've been told. But after recently crate-training for the first time with my Golden Retriever, I am a strong advocate of this method. If done properly, I believe in its success to be 100%. There is a very good book out there, "Good Owners, Great Dogs" by Brian Kilcommons, which is a fabulous source of information. (Jeannie Fazio)
That's all the experience we have had so far with little male dachsies. One not too good, and one good. (Brenda Sorrell)
Oscar was trainable ... occasionally he continues to lift his leg in the house; I used a crate while he was a puppy and it worked out well. Sweet Pea was by far the easiest...she was very trainable. Past experiences I have found that females always were the easiest to train. Walking on a leash was never a problem ... both do well and never seemed to mind it. They enjoy going for walks. (Judy Nunes)
Q: Please tell me more about crate-training!
Crating is a highly effective method used to housebreak your puppy, provided its done humanely. Reading books by Brian Kilcommons and The Monks of New Skete will teach you how to crate-train pup the correct way. (Jeannie Fazio)
First, you can have peace of mind that your dog won't soil the house or get into destructive chewing when being left home alone. He can be spared the loneliness of having to be isolated (basement, garage, outside). This method is also quicker because you are using the closed confinement to encourage control, establish a regular routing for outdoor elimination (with a consistent schedule),and to prevent accidents at night, or when left alone. The added benefit includes being able to travel with your pet, and not leaving them behind, in kennels or at home. (Jeannie Fazio)
Your dog can also enjoy the privacy and security of a "den" of his own in which he can go when tired, stressed, not feeling well. When certain guests come by (unruly kids, work people, those afraid of dogs) the pup can go to his crate to get away from the scary events or confusion. He can also avoid much of the fear/confusion/punishment caused by a human's reaction to bad behavior. There were a few occasions when I put Sunni in her crate, because I was trying to do dinner or clean and she was underfoot and making me crazy. So, instead of getting angry with her, I just put a cookie in there, happily said the command, "kennel" and off she went. As long as it's always considered a happy place, and she has been properly trained to use the crate, then it's not a problem. (Jeannie Fazio)
Many people think that it's cruel to put a dog in a cage. But the dog sees it as having his very own room. It satisfies the "den instinct" inherited from his den-dwelling ancestors and he is not afraid when closed in, once trained properly. He would further admit that he is actually much happier and more secure knowing that his learning is preventing him from punishment, or worse, being abandoned by an owner who no longer knows how or has the patience to deal with the bad behavior. (Jeannie Fazio)
Two great books on the subject are: "Good Owners, Great Dogs" by Brian Kilcommons and "The Art of Raising a Puppy" or any books by The Monks of New Skete. Besides having loads of tips on training your pup, they both have a great schedule for crating, as well. (Jeannie Fazio)
Q: As a working person, my pup would have to be crated for 8-11 hours at a stretch. Any opinions?
Impossible in the situation you describe with 11 hours in a crate. Unless you want your puppy to learn that elimination in a crate is okay. (which of course, you don't) (Cherri Thomson, Dachshund Breeder)
I would hold off on getting a puppy until you or someone can be home to let the little guy out more often. 11 hours is way too long for a pup to be confined to a crate. 3-4 hours should be the very maximum for very young puppy. (Jeannie Fazio)
Maybe a slightly older puppy or even rescue dog would be better suited for you. What about howling and crying the puppy will do from being all alone? You could wake the dead with the anguished cries of a puppy missing the companionship of his siblings. That would certainly not make your neighbors fond of your new puppy. (Cherri Thomson, Dachshund Breeder)
If you were to approach me to purchase a puppy under the circumstances you describe, I am afraid I would steer you towards not having a dog at all, right now. If you were insistent about having a dog, I would very strongly recommend an older, already trained dog, used to being alone for long periods of time. I would not consider you a suitable home for a baby puppy. (Cherri Thomson, Dachshund Breeder)
If you work all day and will be leaving the dog alone during this time, consider another breed or get a companion for it. Doxies love people and get very lonely and upset if left alone continually for long periods of time. (Mary Kellar)
Leaving a baby pupper home alone for 8 hours a day will seriously affect a number of factors. First, socialization and training. Second, potty training will be all but impossible. (Cherri Thomson, Dachshund Breeder)
I strongly advise against you purchasing an 8 week old puppy if you will have to leave it alone for 8 or more hours every day. This is not to say that working people can't have dogs, but a baby puppy is not the right choice. (Cherri Thomson)
Have you thought about adopting an adult weiner dog? Might be easier than training a puppy.... (Carol Smith)
About leaving them home all day--most of us work. I have a doggie door to the back yard, and if you can do that, it seems to help. If not, the pupper will be just fine. Might want to confine him/her to the kitchen with a baby gate, though. (Carol Smith)
......each one was 6 months old when they were purchased. We purposely did not get a puppy because we are out of the house at least 8 hours a day. Both pups were crate-trained when we got them and made the transition to our home beautifully because they had been well socialized by the breeders. (Joan Nicholson)
Q: What about apartment-living with a Dachshund?
Max went from living in a house with a big yard to an apt. at age 8. He learned not to bark, he stays alone all day in the kitchen, never makes noise or a mess on the floor and is a perfect apt. dog. None of the 3 were ever noisy, only barking when the doorbell rang or sometimes outside when a cat ventured into the yard. (Leslie Koether)
I have always had dachsies dating way back and I think my parents were told by their vet to get a dachsie because they were good apt. dogs. (Bob Lowry)
If you like peace and quiet or live in an apartment, the Dachshund may not be the dog for you. They are by nature very noisy. Trained properly, they can be good watchdogs, but may still be too loud for some people. (Mary Kellar)
They do like to bark, and I wish I had a dollar for every time that I say "no bark!" throughout the day. On the other hand, you'll never have to worry about someone sneaking into the house ... nor will you ever need a burglar alarm. (Deirdre Folkers)
This is where good breeding and socialization come into play. I am very active in two Dachshund Clubs and all three coats and both sizes are well represented. These dogs are around other dogs (mostly other Dachshunds) on a very regular basis. Yes, of course, they will bark but they don't do it without cause. (Linda Sullivan)
He does bark until he sees who the person is at the door, but most generally, he barks maybe once or twice and thats it. (Carol Sobecki)
Individual Dachshunds will vary greatly. On the whole, the Dachshund is a fairly *busy* little dog, may be prone to barking (but not always and especially not if you take the time to teach the dog that excessive barking is not acceptable) They are described as *bold to the point of brashness* in the AKC standard. Again, it will all come down to the temperament your puppy inherits from his parents and how you go about raising this puppy. (Cherri Thomson, Dachshund Breeder)
Q: What about Dachshunds having back problems?
As loving as the Dachshund is, there is one thing to consider and that is their genetic predisposition to herniated and ruptured disks You can find more information on this problem at Dachshunds@Cybercom's web site. Address: http://www.cybercom.net/~micetta (Jeannie Fazio)
We have not seen any major back troubles with our dogs. We try to keep their weight at reasonable levels, and to see that they get a decent amount of exercise. Maybe we've just been lucky so far. We aren't particularly careful about jumping or stairs (though from recent readings, I'm wondering if we should be). (Deirdre Folkers)
... cautioned me about the possibility of back problems and told me that there weren't any back-related problems in the lines of her dachshunds. (Judy Nunes)
As for the back problems that this breed is prone to having -- yes, one must be aware. You can learn so much about that on the web site mentioned already. If caught early, they can be 100% curable. We were ignorant of all of this with our late Velkro, and I now recall the times we could have picked up on something amiss with him, but did not know any better. Nor did we know any better about limiting some of his jumping and stair-climbing activities. (Barbara Moore)
Most pure-bred dogs have some physical problems more closely associated with their breeds than any other. The only thing with the disk problems is that they cannot be screened for, as with some other things such as hip dysplasia. The best one can do is try to shop from reputable breeders that can assure you that the pups come from a healthy line. They should have the mother, maybe even the father as well, or photos, for you to see. Ask the breeder about any back problem experiences that they may have observed with any of their dogs, and try to get a feeling for the caring they have for their dogs. Newspaper ads did not work for me, as I always left those phone calls with something that did not feel right. If anything does not feel right after talking with the sellers of puppies, just walk away. I found Chloe by checking with the breeders that our vet had in a reference in his office. (Barbara Moore)
The other thing one who is wary of the back disease can do is to plan to just slightly modify a dachsie's lifestyle so that they do not do any jumping on/off furniture or beds, do not navigate full flights of stairs (small enough to be carried) and do not get overweight. (Barbara Moore)
Q: I would like to run our new pet through an obedience course. Do Dachshunds take to obedience training well? (Vanessa Dwyer)
Liebling went to obedience class. She was so funny along with the Goldens, Dobermans, Rottweilers, Newfoundlands, etc. When we did the "sit" command, everyone laughed. The instructor said he couldn't tell the difference. She walks beautifully on the leash, and has trained Schatz to do as she does. (Joan Nicholson)
On the flip side, if I told Liebling to "stay" and something or someone interesting caught her fancy, she would be long gone. You know, typical hound with her nose to the ground on a dead run. (Joan Nicholson)
Dachshunds can be trained, though I suspect that they are not as fast as some of the larger dogs known for obedience. They are definitely intelligent animals, they just don't always see the point of some of the things you'd like them to do! (Deirdre Folkers)
Obedience training is highly recommended as these are very smart dogs who can learn well. Remember that a young pup must be over its puppy shots and fully immunized before being in with all the other dogs, and that you should be protective of a little one like a dachsie in a room with other heavier, bigger and possibly overly playful/assertive/aggressive dogs. (Barbara Moore)
Even if Garnet hadn't learned one trick during her obedience training, I would still highly recommend taking at least one course. The socializing she received, between other dogs and other people was great, and has helped make her such a sweetie with everyone. Of course, now I must brag that she got the fourth place ribbon, in a class of 15. The labs and retrievers took the first three spots. The instructor was absolutely amazed, as very few dachshunds ever show up in her classes. Garnet wasn't surprised at all. (Kathy Shattuck)
If you have no time or desire to socialize a puppy, this may not be the breed for you. PLEASE start your puppy in Puppy School. Most states have obedience classes that are inexpensive. They are very helpful. I highly recommend sending puppies to puppy classes and then AT LEAST a Basic Dog Obedience class. Your dog's life may one day depend on its ability to COME WHEN CALLED. This happened to me. Puppies need to be with other dogs in order to learn how to behave and act around other dogs. Without it they may develop a fear of other dogs. They are like children in this aspect. A child that has not been around other children cannot be expected to know how to behave when they are with other children. (Mary Kellar)
I trained one of my longhairs (Willie) and even showed him for his CD. But that was a long time ago and I wasn't very serious about it. Jack is trained to show, but at the time I didn't trust his temperament around strange judges going over him for the Stand for Exam. Doxies are very intelligent (don't tell them we know that). The question with doxies is: do they want to do it ? Not: can they do it? I have taught obedience classes and have had some doxies in my classes. Of course they are a challenge, but I blame that on the owners for not insisting they pay attention and many times doxie owners are clueless about being in charge of these little hellions. (Donna Sadlik)
Exactly. It's 100% the fault of the *trainer*, IMHO, for not training the breed the way *it* should be trained. I believe the traditional approach will get you nowhere with Dachsies, but it is exactly this approach that has been the norm for decades in obedience. Hence, it's no wonder you don't see more Dachshunds in obedience. In my opinion, this will start to change when people start training Dachshunds the way *Dachshunds* should be trained. (Marivonne Rodriguez)
... the trainer would bring her mini b/tan smooth male dachsie, Simon, to class every week. I just fell in love with him. I was so impressed by his temperament and wanted to know more about dachshunds. The trainer said they are very intelligent, sometimes too smart, and proceeded to tell me about their traits ... (Judy Nunes)
I encourage all on this list to take their doxies to at least one 8 week session of basic obedience but actually you will see more improvement if you attend more. Also, find an instructor you like and approve of their training methods. Don't, don't, don't go to one who slaps a choke collar around their little necks and starts jerking, pulling and slamming them. We call that method "choke and puke." (Donna Sadlik)
Puppy Socialization. I strongly recommend getting you and your new puppy into a "Puppy Class"--must be done before the pup is six months old. Teaches basic socialization, some obedience, grooming skills such as how to care for ears and toenails (a favorite in our household!). Your puppy will look forward to going to school and so will you. (Linda Sullivan)
Q: If I might get personal, Dachshunds, do you have problems with D.O.(doggie odor)? From what I read in one of the books at the pet supply store, dachshunds do not get/need baths often--is that true? I somehow believe you who have had the experience more than those who write books and have not experienced. (Vanessa Dwyer)
I smell like a rose! See ... Mom gave me my first bath since that nasty vet snipped and clipped my belly. Not that I needed it, mind you, for what you have read is *really* true. My mom says that we are the most odor-free dogs that she has ever known. The only time I smell even a tiny bit is when my ears need a little cleaning. Mom does that with cotton balls, q-tips and a little Listerine. About once a week she brushes my teeth, too! (Chloe Moore)
Dachshunds are definitely one of the breeds which has virtually no doggy odor. Also, they might get an odor if their teeth need cleaning, if their ears need cleaning or if anal glands need cleaning, but not otherwise. (Mickey Howard)
Q: What type of grooming is involved with a Dachshund, and is shedding a problem, for I have allergies?
Max only gets bathed once or twice a year. Gets brushed regularly. He did have bad breath until I began brushing his teeth, and he had the bad ones pulled a year ago and now has okay breath. I hate to cut his nails but he has never cried. He walks on pavement a lot which helps keep his nails filed down naturally. (Leslie Koether)
It is hard to find signs of shedding, especially with the smooths. (Barbara Moore)
... actually likes his bath, and is easy to care for. (Laurie Fellwock)
If you brush them regularly (even smooth hairs need their fur and skin invigorated and loose hair brushed off), they seldom need cleaning. (Mickey Howard)
Keep those ears clean with witch hazel and q-tips. Keep those toe nails trimmed or filed. (Laurie Fellwock)
The reasons we became owned by Lindsey Loo, our dachshund, a mini-smooth, were two-fold: she was recommended by an allergist and a veterinarian as being a breed allowable in homes where individuals have high allergies to dander, etc. (Both husband and son have high allergies.) Note: only the smooth mini was recommended, we were told not to look at wires or long hairs. (Mary Anne Clarke)
I usually clip their nails twice a month, weekly brushing, every other week I'll brush their teeth ... (Judy Nunes)
We brush her often and brush her teeth once to twice a week using poultry flavor toothpaste and a finger brush. We bathe her after long walks in the woods, because her belly gets covered with crusty mud in the spring. She reacted to dog shampoo so we have a shampoo we use which is for allergic dogs. She does not mind it. She gets a bath every 4-6 weeks and loves water. Her vet tech clips her nails at vet clinic once a month, since she hates to have me do it. (Mary Anne Clarke)
They get bathed once a month ... or sooner depending upon what they have found to roll in. (Judy Nunes)
Coat care on the smooth consists of bathing and brushing unless some skin problems develop. Wires (depending on the line) require stripping. Longs need daily brushing, more frequent bathing, and fairly sophisticated grooming with thinning shears (again, depends on the dog). Most longs develop heavier coats in their older years. Spay and neutered animals develop downy undercoats that needs to be stripped out. Some (like my Lexie) have wavy or curly coats (incorrect coat)--I call her my velcro kid because EVERYTHING sticks to her! (Linda Sullivan)
Q: I had to laugh when the first post I read on here had to do with expressing anal sacs --not an encouraging first post when trying to decide if to get a dachshund! :-) (Vanessa Dwyer)
... have since learned that if extra fiber is added to the diet, it may be of some help. If not, short of surgery, expressing them is the only other thing to do, I think. Of course, your vet will do that for you -- and given the way you feel about doing it yourself -- maybe you should do it that way. However, I did express Velkro's glands myself at times. It certainly is not fun, but once you learn the technique, it is not that bad. (Barbara Moore)
Despite all the "anal gland" discussion currently circulating, we have owned a total of six dogs through our lifetimes, and have never had to have any intimate contact with anal glands! (thank goodness) (Deirdre Folkers)
... haven't attempted expressing anal sacs, will leave that one for the vet, thank you. (Judy Nunes)
My experience with anal sacs has been that PC needs to have them expressed on a regular basis. I have been slowly learning the procedure and that is to place thumb at an eight o'clock position slightly below the dog's anus and other fingers at a four o'clock position, and in one continuous motion bring thumb and fingers together, pushing inward and upward against the edge of the dog's anus. Repeat 2 or three times until sacs are cleared. (Jeannie Fazio)
Q: Now that I know I HAVE to be owned by a dachshund, how do I go about my research in finding a puppy? What should I look for in a breeder and should price be a strong consideration?
After losing Velkro, I immersed myself for 3 months into learning about the right way to shop for a healthy puppy. Now we have our 2nd dachsie -- 6 month old Chloe. She is turning out to be everything we had hoped, and then some! (Barbara Moore)
Even though it may be awhile before you buy a puppy, you may want to continue your dachsie hunt. What happened with me was that I found Chloe before she was born, visited her pregnant mother twice, then visited the growing litter of five weekly until they could go to their new homes. So, 3 months passed between the time I found the breeder I wanted my puppy from, and the time that we brought her home. If you check with breeders through your vet, etc. you may very well find one that you like who is planning a litter, or awaiting the delivery of a litter rather than a litter that is ready to go. (Barbara Moore)
If it were today, I would have asked a lot more questions as I was very, very green about dachsies....like I said I was very fortunate to have LUCKED into a quality dachsie. Doesn't always work that way. (Judy Nunes)
... only thing to do is call and ask LOTS of questions. If nothing else, it will be an education for you in hunting for a puppy. I never went to see one puppy that I called about from newspaper ads, but I called almost all the ads I saw, and kept people talking as much as possible to learn as much as I could about the process of puppy shopping. I asked about pedigrees of parents, health of parents, breeder/owner experience with dachsies, experience with back disease, what did they do for it if it happened to any of their dogs, how their dachsies are housed, are they raised with a family, have they been socialized, exercised, what have they been fed, what kind of warranty/agreement do they have with puppy buyers, how many other litters has the mother had and how old are the parents now, have they kept track of any of the puppies that have been sold before, and I could go on and on. (Barbara Moore)
I would not hesitate to give a healthy, well temperamented rescue/shelter dachsie a chance just because it lacked all of the above. (Barbara Moore)
Choose a REPUTABLE breeder, preferably one who is a member of the local Dachshund clubs. Anyone who puts a male and a female dog together and lets them have puppies can call him or herself a "breeder." NO WAY!!!!!! Dachshunds are a friendly, people oriented dog UNLESS improperly bred. (Mary Kellar)
NJ ad prices are mostly $400-500. And breeders who are well known and highly reputable may be asking more, which is worth considering, as well. (Barbara Moore)
As far as finding a good breeder is concerned, the American Kennel Club has a web site with excellent guidelines regarding this very subject, which is also linked from our page (http://www.thedachshundnetwork.com/doxlinks.htm). Making sure that the breeders are responsible, and only healthy dogs are bred are just a few of the first considerations to make. (Jeannie Fazio)
As far as I know, there are no guidelines drawn by AKC or anyone else for asking price for puppers. Regional? Well maybe, but not any more than prices for anything else, in that urban areas tend to be more expensive. (Barbara Moore)
Prices vary, but in the Midwest prices are far less than in the east. The most expensive are at the pet shops (which I wouldn't even enter) contrary to most people's beliefs. Breeders are more reasonable and of course the puppers are far better. (Bob Lowry)
I did not know what I was doing, and did not do a good job on this research. I began by calling the American Kennel Club and got names of breeders in the Madison area. Unfortunately, the contact person gave me the name of a not very nice breeder, who was not up front about our puppy. In the end, we ended up getting an entirely different dog than we had picked from the litter, not even bred by the breeder we chose. We brought this puppy home and decided since we didn't want to breed her anyway, it wasn't her fault who her "parents" were, and we would keep her and love her. (Mary Anne Clarke)
When folks are hunting for puppies, if they fail to make sure all of the AKC papers are in order, they could end up with problems. Also, people tend to think that pedigrees are not impt. unless they plan to show or breed. But, in fact, they can demonstrate that the breeder is not trying to hide anything such as inbreeding, if they are made readily available. Also, a champion or two never hurts in the pedigree, even if one does not plan to show a dog, because champions usually mean healthy specimens. (Barbara Moore)
After researching the breed for known diseases, I would then weed out any breeders who do not do all that is possible to ensure no history of the disease is present in the breeding lines. (Jeannie Fazio)
Breeders who purposely breed to produce pups that will mature at over or under the desired weight or size for that breed (this means any breed) are not acting responsible in their breeding program. There is a written standard that describes every purebred breed of dog, and the purpose of breeding should be to breed dogs that will best conform to that standard in all ways. That is the true nature of the sport of purebred dogs. (Cherri Thomson, Dachshund Breeder)
When you buy your puppy from a reputable breeder, you will also have to sign a contract that covers the terms of the purchase, returning the dog (hopefully, will not be necessary), and several other items that must be discussed. (Linda Sullivan)
If you are looking for a reputable breeder, the Dachshund Club of America makes referrals and I also can refer you to several extremely good breeders in our club here. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE do not fall in love with a pet shop baby or go to a puppy mill. It is so hard to resist the "puppy in the window". Unfortunately, that dear little thing has probably been born to a bitch that has lived in a crate her entire life, has no social skills, and consequently, was unable to teach any to her off-spring. Hence, the birth of another completely unsocialized animal. I hope I am not offending you with these comments. We will never stop puppy mills until we stop purchasing from them. (Linda Sullivan)
When you are ready to choose your puppy, you want to find a breeder that understands temperament and has done temperament tests on their puppies. There is no such thing as a pass or fail on a puppy. What it tells you is if the dog will fit into your life style--there are no bad dogs--just uneducated people!!! (Linda Sullivan)
You might want to seriously consider adopting an older dog from rescue, or often times, breeders will have *run on* a promising puppy, spent the time socializing and training and then found the dog not quite up to their expectations for the show ring. These young dogs are a great find if you can get one from a breeder who spends a lot of time and effort on the pupper. On the other hand, a breeder who just keeps them locked up in a kennel hoping they will bloom into a show-stopper, not bothering to train and socialize the pupper is not where you want to look. Also, many breeders retire their show and breeding stock at about 4 to 6 years of age. These usually well trained, happy young adults could also fit your requirements. (Cherri Thomson)
We dealt with very reputable breeders. When we purchased our second dog, as a companion for the first - and because we ourselves wanted a second dog to love, we tried to purchase from the first breeder. She was so honest and had such integrity that she refused to sell us the only dog she had available because it was a "fear biter". I can't say enough good things about her. (Joan Nicholson)
Q: What is the earliest time recommended for puppy to come home from breeder?
The ideal age to take a puppy from it's littermates is between 8 and 10 weeks. It the puppy is with a breeder who is caring and responsible, the breeder will insist on keeping it until ,at least, 8 weeks. Those wanting to send the puppies packing at 6 weeks of age are thinking more of themselves. Less work, less cost, less mess and more money in the pocket sooner. Also, 6 weeks is too young to be properly immunized for the first of the 3 required vaccinations and the puppy will not have had the crucial interaction with it's siblings. Without this interaction, your puppy will not learn about proper play, to restrict biting and chewing and general interaction with other dogs. Also a 6 week old puppy has virtually no bladder or bowel control and needs to be allowed to eliminate at least every hour or two. (Cherri Thomson, Dachshund Breeder)
The optimal age for acquiring a new pup out of a litter would be 8 to 10 weeks after birth. It should certainly be no sooner than 8 weeks.... (Elizabeth A. Bartz)
Q: Dachshund Email lists -- what are their overall benefits, besides having access to this FAQ?
Every breed has it's "faults" and tendencies toward this or that ailment or illness, so it's all a matter of becoming knowledgeable. And believe me, we on this list can help you become knowledgeable! And we love doing it! (Mickey Howard)
Q: What might one expect from a Dachsie?
He (Rommel) likes to come in the bathroom with me while I take my shower. He always curls up on the floor and catches a nap. If he can get a towel or a nightgown to lay on, that's even better. Well, I had a pair of sweatpants on that I took off and laid across the hamper. Then I got in the shower. When I finished, I opened the shower doors and only saw Jack, NO ROMMEL! Hmmm! But my pink sweatpants were on the floor and if you looked really close you could see a little black nose sticking out the bottom of one of the leg holes. But the best part is, he is a tweenie so he is kinda long, well he was stretched out in almost the entire leg of the pants. Now to make matters worse, these particular sweats have elastic around the ankles, so when he tried to get out of them they would not let his entire head come through. Apparently he entered through the waist part and crawled down a leg and then proceeded later to try and come out the ankle hole but it was, of course, too small. I guess it was one of those things you had to see! Some doxies are so laid back, but the others like Rommel make life interesting! (Donna Sadlik)
Did everyone read the story in the paper, about the stray dachshund that helped save the lost little boy in Missouri? It seems the boy wandered away from home while playing with these two stray dogs, a doxie and a heeler, and got lost in the Ozarks. The two dogs kept him warm in near-zero temperatures for three days until rescuers found them. The heeler was shy and ran away, but the doxie chased the rescuer (who was on a horse) when he took the boy away. The doxie even chased the police car that took the child to the hospital, until his legs gave out. The family is adopting the two dogs. So don't leave home without a dachshund -- you never know when you might need one. (Sandy Tomezik)
Q: Would there be one or two things that all Dachsies love?
Can we have more livertreats , just say yes!
Can we goforaride, just say yes!
Can we sleep on the pillows, just say yes!
We will never hafta go to the doktovet again, just say yes! (Laurie Fellwock)
If there is a need for more affirmation that you should choose a dachsie, it is:
Hang in there - now that you have made the choice for a dachsie, you are one big step closer to happiness! (Barbara Moore)
I would always have at least 2 dachsies in my home, maybe 3 ... I couldn't imagine my life without them. (Judy Nunes)
Dachsies are the best ... I will never be without one. Wish I could have a houseful!!!! (Leslie Koether)
Also see The Advantages and Disadvantages of Owning a Dachshund
The End.