Link is a long term Dachshund owner and the site administrator of dachshundgifts.org. A friend of dachshunds everywhere.
Indoor Potty Training for Dachshund Puppies
Indoor potty training is the way to go if you have a dachshund puppy. This is true for miniature dachshund puppies as well as for those of the standard variety. I love dachshunds in general but am partial to the miniature dachshund. This article is primarily meant for those who have a single dachshund puppy.
Indoor training will spare you some of the unpleasantries of having a dachshund that must go outside. Who wants to get up at 5 AM in the morning, when it is rainy or cold or, when you are watching a great movie? It is also better on the dachshund’s bowels and bladder if they can go potty anytime they want.
Start the potty training as soon as possible once you get your new best friend home. Dachshund puppies are quite small so even if they do make a mess it is no big deal. However, having them make a mess on a hard floor is preferable as it is much easier to clean than if they go on carpet. For the first few days you have your doxie at home, I suggest you have them mostly contained to a room with a hard floor…like in a bathroom. Don’t worry, you can get them out to play and can go into their area to spend as much time with them as you wish. I suggest having some Nature’s Miracle around when a mess on the carpet (it will happen) does occur. You will be amazed at the power and efficiency of this product.
Place everything your dachshund puppy needs in the contained area i.e. their bed, food and, potty. If you are lucky, the breeder has already initiated the paper training which will make it easier for you and your dachshund puppy. Start the puppy’s training off on some newspaper. If and when they make a mess on the floor put a little of the pee or poop on the newspaper or preferably between a few pieces of newspaper. They will smell this and will begin to associate this as the place for them to do their business. Some people utilize wee wee pads but I never did.
Very gently chastise your dachshund puppy when they don’t perform well; they will feel the disappointment in your voice. Never yell at them as they are incredibly sensitive and will be very hurt. They very much want to please you! Do not praise them or give them a treat when they make a mistake. Just keep working with them and your dachshund puppy will soon get it right. When they do get it right praise them and give them a treat. Your puppy will be so happy! It won’t be long until they start getting it right most of the time! You will develop your own little system as times goes by.
One purpose of this article is to spare you some of the mistakes I’ve made over the years. My mini dachshund (Charlie) is almost 12 years old and I have experimented with several indoor potty techniques over the years. I started off with newspaper (paper training) but as your dachshund puppy grows, you will tire of them stepping in their own urine, transferring urine or, having the urine drain off the newspaper onto the floor.
Dachshunds have a quirk where if their front paws are on the paper they think their entire body is on the paper. This causes a number of near misses…especially since their body is long like a hot dog. Improvement was made when I placed a plastic hallway runner under the newspaper. At some point, I then purchased a large litter box and then placed newspaper in that and a hallway runner under the litter box.
You will so love your dachshund puppy that messes won’t matter much. However, as years go by, the messes have a way of growing on you. Once Charlie got into his 10th year or so I started to get quite tired of dealing with the messes. It is a labor of love however and unavoidable.
Just recently, I discovered and purchased a Wizdog Indoor Potty System. How I wish I had discovered this years ago! Wizdog consists of a large plastic pan with a separate plastic grate on top. You place newspaper in the bottom of the device. The dog does it’s business on top of the grate and the urine falls into the tray below. No more wet footprints or urine on the floor. The poop is easy to clean off the top of the grate. This is so much better than the intermediate steps I went through over the years. Charlie is taking to this upgrade well—messes transferred to the floor have decreased dramatically. I’m happier now too as the messes are more contained and much easier to clean. Wizdog and Nature’s Miracle can be found and purchased through my dachshund and pet oriented site.
dachshund tattoo
Image taken on 2007-10-22 08:40:04 by ‘smil.
Hysterical Dachshund walking with booties
Check out how our Dachsie Lyska walks with these booties on! She is now in a music video! www.youtube.com
How to Care for a Dachshund
The dachshund breed is a proud and loyal breed. They make great pets for people who live in small spaces and desire a relatively low maintenance breed. A dachshund’s life span is approximately 12-15 years so you’ll need to follow the steps below to ensure you’re taking proper care of your dachshund.
Step 1: Take your new pet to a qualified veterinarian to receive his/her vaccinations, flea treatment and to have him/her spayed.
Step 2: While you’re at the vet, seek his advice about the best food to feed your dog and the appropriate amount to feed your dog. Dachshunds have very small stomachs and should be feed small meals several times a day. A dachshund’s diet is very important as they are prone to obesity which can lead to other health dangers.
Step 3: Speaking of obesity, you should walk your dachshund often. Although they are small animals, and make great apartment pets, they still require quite a bit of exercise. Take them on 2 short walks, approximately 10-20 minutes, once in the morning and once in the evening. Because of the dachshund’s natural instinct to hunt, make sure you’ve leashed your pet before you head out the door.
Step 4: Groom your dachshund regularly. Long haired dachshunds should be brushed once a day to avoid matting and tangling of their locks. Short haired dachshunds do not need to be brushed as often, although they would probably love it! You will need to trim your dachshund’s nails every few weeks as well.
Step 5: Teach your dachshund limits within your home. Dachshunds are prone to spinal and hip injuries and should never be allowed to jump onto furniture. Even running up and downstairs can result in injuries to your pup. You might want to use a baby gate to make some areas of the home off limits.
Step 6: Enroll your dachshund in obedience school. Although their constant barking might make them good guard dogs, it doesn’t make them good neighbors. With the help of an obedience professional, you might be able to curb this unpleasant behavior.
Step 7: Provide plenty of socializing activities for your dachshund. They are known to be aggressive and jealous dogs when they feel insecure or threatened.
Dachshunds make great companions because of their affectionate ways and loyalty to their owners. Their lively nature and inquisitive spirit will bring entertainment and joy to your home for years to come.
This article was provided by Collin Walker. Visit his website for great deals on dog car seat covers, patio pet doors and dog beds.
Dachshund plays fetch by himself
More @ www.cutebreak.com – My cute meter just exploded. Original from here www.youtube.com
Olive the mini dachshund
Image taken on 2008-10-29 17:09:16 by Brian Hathcock.
Dachshund Breed Information
DESCRIPTION
The Dachshund, or ´Sausage Dog,´ as it is also known, comes in three sizes, all displaying the characteristic short legs and elongated body of the breed. The American Kennel Club recognises two of the types, the standard sized Dachshund and the miniature, whilst European Kennel Club´s also recognise a smaller Toy variety of the breed. Each type of Dachshund comes in three different coat types: A rough-coated version, a short-coated and a wiry-coated. The smooth-coated Dachshund is the most popular of the coat types, with a short, smooth and shiny coat, whilst the long-coated variety has a sleek, often slightly wavy, glistening coat. The wired haired Dachshund has a rough, thick, textured outer coat that covers the whole body, excluding the ears, eyes and jaw and has a softer short-haired undercoat. The body of the Dachshund, although small, is muscular and they carry themselves with a proud, intelligent expression. They have an elongated head, finishing in a long muzzle, that tapers evenly to the nose, with a scissor or pincer bite and extremely tough canine teeth, numbering 42 in total. Dachshunds have brown-black or dark red eyes, which are oval in shape and emanate an intelligent and lively expression, helped further by the prominent bridge over the eyes. The ears of this breed hang to the cheeks, but are not lacking in mobility, whilst the tail is carried in line with the body. Dachshunds can come in a wide number of colors including: black, red, chocolate, isabella (tan or fawn), creme (blond with no trace of red, from golden blond to platinum) and blue. The also come in a number of bi-colors, such as: black and tan, black and creme, chocolate and tan, chocolate and creme, blue and tan, or blue and creme. In these combinations, the former color is the base color, and the tan or creme appears on the face and points. Sable is a red base coat with a black overlay. In the wire-haired variety, there is also wild boar, unique in that the hair shaft itself is bi-colored red and black. Even more colorings exist as tri-colors or patterns: brindle, where stripes cover the entire body and can be seen on any of the previously mentioned colors; Dapple, where lighter patched of color appear on a darker background; piebald, can be either bi or tri-colored and exist where the Dachshund has a white body with patches of one or two solid colors. the Dachshund is completed by a strong breastbone and a tucked-in abdomen. Dachshunds move with a smooth and effortless gait.
TEMPERAMENT
A mischievous dog, the Dachshund is a proud, energetic and brave breed (sometimes to the point of recklessness). They have an intelligent and bold disposition, although at times have been described as ´little clowns.´ Loyal and affectionate to their owners, the Dachshund is also a very vocal dog and has a surprisingly loud bark for a dog of its size. It can become jealous of other pets, or dogs and will display this jealousy through lack of co-operation or even snapping in extreme cases. They are relatively easy to train, although often the owner may feel the balance of power shifting, as the dog treats everything as a big adventure and game. However, providing the handler knows how to properly communicate an ´alpha dog´stance to the breed, then there shouldn´t be too many difficulties. Some Dachshund can be difficult to housebreak and patience and consistency is required. There is a belief that the longer-haired variety may be somewhat mellower than their short-haired counterparts.
HEIGHT
STANDARD: 35-40cm (14-16 inches)
MINIATURE: 35cm (14 inches)
TOY: 30cm (12 inches)
WEIGHT
STANDARD: 5kg (12lbs)
MINIATURE: 4.9kg (11lbs)
TOY: 3.5kg (8lbs)
HEALTH
Dachshunds suffer from inter-vertebral disk disease (IVDD), due in part to an extremely long spinal column and short rib cage. The risk of injury can be worsened by obesity, which places greater strain on the vertebrae, therefore the Dachshund diet should be watched to ensure no overfeeding and weight gain takes place. The breed is also prone to patella luxation whilst more rare issues include: epilepsy, granulomatous meningoencephalitis, dental issues, Cushings disease, thyroid problems, various allergies and atopies, and various eye conditions (cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy, corneal ulcers, non-ucerative corneal disease, sudden acquired retinal degeneration and cherry eye). Having listed these however, many can be avoided by sourcing a Dachshund from a reputable and experienced breeder, who is aware of issues in the breed and takes care to make sure of a low incidence in their stock.
LIVING CONDITIONS
Due to their small size Dachshunds will do fine in apartments and although mischievous and fairly active indoors, they do not require vast spaces to move around. However it is still important that they receive quality time outside of the home.
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12-15 years
LITTER: 4-6 puppies
GROOMING
SHORT-HAIRED: Require the least amount of care, consisting of a regular rub down with a damp cloth and trimming of nails when necessary. Inspection and cleaning of ears should also take place from time to time.
LONG-HAIRED: Daily brushing should take place with a slicker brush and any matts should be combed out with a metal comb, taking care not to hurt the dog. Like the short-haired variety clipping of nails and cleaning of ears should take place from time to time.
WIRE-HAIRED: A hard bristle brush should be used daily to brush this Dachshund variety, especially when they are shedding profusely. Beard and eyebrows should be trimmed once a month with blunt-nosed scissors.
All types should be bathed every two months and can have their eyes cleaned with a vet approved solution. Regular oral exams are also required for this breed.
HISTORY
The first accounts of Dachshunds come from paintings and historical accounts made around the 15th Century, depicting dogs with elongated bodies and short legs being used to hunt for badgers. This connection today´s Dachshund is even more convincing when we consider that the German word for badger, is in fact ´Dachs.´ It was their tenacious, terrier like spirit coupled with their hound like scenting abilities that probably made this dog such a popular choice for this particular form of hunting. As the breed progressed through the ages, it began to be more commonly referred to as the Dachshund (although this covered only the smooth and long-coated types, with the wire-haired version not being recognised until the 19th Century) and a ban on breeding between different types was implemented. The dog´s size determined its quarry with the larger types hunting badgers and sometimes boars, whilst the smaller types hunted rabbit and foxes. The American Kennel Club has records of Dachshunds being imported to the USA in 1885 and it was in this year that it was recognised by the AKC, although mistakenly the breed was classified as a hound breed due to a mistranslation of the German ´hund´ part of the name. Hund actually means just ´dog´ in German and not hound, hence ´badger dog.´ Today the dog is one of the most popular dogs in the United States and worldwide.
Original article with pics and more – Dachshund
I am dog enthusiast and DogBarkings.com owner and webmaster, where you can find many more excellent dog breed information articles with breed pictures and videos. I am also the proud owner of a Labrador Retriever called Shakespeare.
Riley the Dachshund Opens His Stocking
Riley, our favorite dachshund, waits in agony for his Christmas stocking.
Pet Dachshund, Slinkie
Image taken on 2004-12-27 15:34:31 by Brent and MariLynn.
Suspiciousness Towards Strangers in Dachshunds
Suspiciousness Towards Strangers In Dachshunds
Why do Dachshunds tend to be suspicious?
Dachshunds tend to be suspicious because it is part of the Dachshunds breed’s specific instincts. Dachshunds can become suspicious when they are not socialized properly as puppies. This breed of dog needs extensive exposure to sights, sounds, and a variety of people; otherwise, their cautious nature may turn into suspiciousness, and this can lead to biting behavior in the Dachshund.
By nature, Dachshunds tend to be aloof and standoffish; they need extensive socialization because this has a significant effect on how the Dachshund puppy interacts with people and other animals throughout its life. The Dachshund puppy must start socializing from the age of seven weeks and continue to six months of age.
Equally important is adolescent socialization in the Dachshund breed. This dog’s adolescence begins from the ages of six to nine months and ends when the Dachshund pup is between one and three years old. The Dachshund’s adolescence can involve emotional changes and behavioral problems. The adolescent Dachshund will change its attitude and responses to strangers and other animals frequently.
Understanding If Your Dachshund Is Suspicious
Your Dachshund is exhibiting signs of suspiciousness when it growls, whines, barks, urinates, or runs away from unfamiliar people or animals. It is important to note that a dog that has been allowed to develop suspicious behavior will not become accustomed to unfamiliar people or animals. They will only become relaxed with the people or animals with which they live on a regular basis. Once developed, suspiciousness becomes a permanent behavior trait.
When pet owners bring a new animal into the house, they can become very protective, especially if the animal is a puppy. Young dogs are very energetic and are prone to running out of the house and out of an unfenced yard. The animal might become lost or harmed due to its inexperience. Some pet owners overprotect their puppies out of concern for the animal’s safety and their own piece of mind. The owner of a Dachshund pup might keep the dog away from unusual sights, sounds, or people. When this occurs, the Dachshund will not experience the socialization that is necessary, and permanent, suspicious behavior may result.
One of the most frequent signs of suspicious behavior in the Dachshund breed is called submissive urination. The Dachshund will urinate when it becomes excited; this can be seen when an unknown person enters the home or if the dog is touched suddenly. Submissive urination is specific to the Dachshund, and it should not be thought of as bad behavior. The Dachshund is trying to communicate to its guardian that the guardian is in control, and the Dachshund wants to please its guardian, so it acts submissively.
Submissive urination can be treated. The Dachshund must be kept from becoming quickly or unexpectedly excited. The dog can be trained through constant exposure to various stimuli that is known to excite him until the excitement subsides. For example, if the Dachshund urinates when strangers enter the home, ask one or two of these people to help train the dog. Ask them to come into the home quietly. Tell them to speak and move slowly, ignore the dog, and then sit down. Ask them to repeat this behavior several times, and monitor the Dachshund’s behavior. The dog should become less excited each time the person enters the room. Ignore the dog’s excited behavior and any urination; don’t ever become angry and scold or hit the Dachshund if it urinates in a submissive manner. After the dog is exposed to the stimulus, take him outside to urinate.
How to Control Suspiciousness in Dachshunds?
Because suspiciousness may become part of the Dachshund’s personality, a formal training program might be the first choice in controlling suspicious behavior in Dachshunds. A training program will help the Dachshund and its guardian(s) to communicate in a manner that will reduce fearful behavior in the dog. Also, a program will help the dog’s guardian know how and when to provide additional training and rewards for desired behavior. One of the major benefits of training programs is that the Dachshund will receive sustained attention; this attention can make the dog feel more secure, and the Dachshund will experience consistent situations (exposure to people and other animals) that might be uncommon at home. The Dachshund will learn how to respond to these situations in a less excited or anxious manner.
Training after a formal program has ended must be consistent and reliable. The Dachshund experiences suspiciousness, excitement, and anxiety because he does not know what to expect. When training this breed of dog, the commands should be kept to one word, and that word should be used each time during the training session. Also, rewards should be as consistent as the commands. Use the same type and size of dog treat. Verbal praise should be plentiful and the words used should be the same as well. The Dachshund will respond well to consistency and predictability. When training is presented in a uniform and reliable manner, the Dachshund will know what to expect and suspiciousness will be reduced. The dog will gradually generalize this behavior into other situations and circumstances in the home.
For more information, refer to
Dachshund Facts and Information
The author, Nancy Richards, is a dog lover and dog trainer for the last 8 years. Get Exclusive tips on Dachshund Adoption, Training, Housetraining and Diet from her website TrainPetDog.com>