Charlie’s 12th Birthday was just a few days ago on 9/9/08!! I made sure we spent extra time together and of course I obtained some special treats for him. We went to the neighborhood pet store. I walked and carried him most of the way. His days of taking long walks are over due to his age. He did walk a little bit of the trip. It was such a nice walk as the weather was perfect.

On the way there we walked around a large pond and then I went to the bank. I hand carried him while in the bank. We then went to the pet store. I let him off leash while in the store and he had fun exploring and smelling things. I got him a Pizzle Chew and some Chicken Poppers. These are little, round crunchy, treats made out of chicken. I also got him a few other little treats. I then walked back home with him in my arms.

My goal is to take care of Charlie as well as I possibly can as I want to have him around as long as possible. As we speak, he is behind me chewing on his bully stick.

Postcard post marked 1909 from Brooklyn, New York

9/08

Charlie’s health continues to be very good overall.

His biggest problem remains the Dry Eye Syndrome (also known as Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca) which he will have the rest of his life. As of result of his Dry Eye Syndrome, gunky eye stuff builds up throughout the day. Q tips work well for cleaning this from his eyes. His condition is not being cured but is being maintained. If left alone without treatment the result would be horrendous (like blindness). There is surgery for this but it is very expensive and I do not have the extra money at this time.

His medications for this are Artificial Tears ointment, Optimmune ointment and, Neomycin/Polymyxin ointment. For the artificial tears, I prefer ointment over drops. My favorite place to order medication from is Pet Nutrition Products. Medications tend to be much cheaper through this great company than from your local vetrinarian. Opti Immune is very expensive and I save lots of money by purchasing it from Pet Nutrition Products. They also offer FREE pet related advice. Just click on the following banner to see for yourself.

The other big development is our purchase of a Wizdog Indoor Potty Training System. This is a wonderful product that is discussed more at length in the article on the homepage titled “Indoor Potty Training for your Dachshund Puppy”…authored by yours truly. Wizdog can also be purchased through this site—convenient huh?

When I’m on the computer, Charlie often naps on a blanket on the floor behind me. He is there as I’m writing this article; I can hear his light snore. He follows me everywhere. When I was single he slept with me but not now that I’m married…per my Wife’s objection. While I lay on the couch he jumps up on top of me and often falls asleep.

My little three year old son is interacting better and better with Charlie and Thank God my boy has never injured Charlie. From atop the couch, Charlie often watches my Son playing with his toys. Charlie gets curious and interested and also wants to play at times. Sometimes my Son will chase Charlie and Charlie will run behind the couch only to come out on the other side. My Son cannot catch him and they both enjoy this game! I enjoy watching them! I do have to remain vigilant however as my Son, in other circumstances, still does not fully understand how to treat or handle Charlie.

Postcard postmarked 1918 from Amsterdam, Holland

You could go many years without there being anything significantly wrong with your Doxie. The pet insurance payments over those years could add up to be quite a lot of money out of your pocket. By the same token, if and when you do have to have an expensive procedure, the pet insurance sure would come in handy. Who wants to put $3000.00 (or more) on a credit card for doxie back surgery when your pet insurance could pay most all of the expense?

Some who may not have much money or insurance might consider putting their doxie “to sleep” rather than paying for back surgery or some other serious illness/injury.  This is a terrible thing for me to think of but I’m sure it happens. Of course pet insurance doesn’t just help for the expensive stuff; it also comes in very handy for all the more routine things.

I use to have pet insurance for my Dachshund, Charlie, but currently do not. I wish I did! I do not exactly recall why I ever cancelled my pet insurance as it was years ago. I believe however that it had to do with me going through a very difficult money situation.  When I had it, it did make me feel more secure and helped quite a bit.

Charlie is 12.5 years old now so if any insurance company agreed to cover him, I’m sure the premiums would be very expensive and his coverage options quite limited.  Many pet insurance companies would not accept him based on his age.  Fortuneately,  Charlie’s health has always been quite good Thank God! 

No one can argue, in my opinion, that having pet insurance is a bad thing. Over the course of a month, the expense for it would likely be pennies per day out of your pocket. You would probably spend as much if not more in one month buying your family lunch or dinner at a modestly priced restaurant. Attending one professional sports game would cost far more than one month of pet insurance for your Dachshund.

If you want pet insurance, it is better to sign up while your Hotdog is young; premiums are cheaper for young weiners. You then can get locked in at a good price for the life of your Dachshund. Furthermore, if you sign up while your friend is healthy, there is a reduced chance you can be denied coverage for a “preexisting condition.” Once you doxie gets older the premiums go up and if your friend has a pre-existing condition, you likely will be denied coverage for any complications related to that condition. Most any new condition would be covered.

The most impressive pet insurance company I found, with my focus being overwhelmingly on Dachshunds, is called Embrace Pet Insurance. They are based in the North of Ohio.  They were quickly responsive to my inquiries and very pleasant to interact with.  I had a good “vibe” or feeling from my contacts with them.

Their policies are customizable meaning you choose what maximums, deductibles, options, etc. that you want. You then get quotes and can adjust or choose accordingly. This is all easily done through their website. You need to sign  up purebred dogs between the ages of 8 weeks at a minimum and 6 years at a maximum; this would apply for most of us Dachshund folks.  If not a purebred dog the age window is 8 weeks to 8 years. If you sign up prior to the 6th year of age of your purebred Dachshund, you are covered and can never, as your doxie ages, be ejected from Embrace’s program.

So you probably want to know if Embrace will help if your Doxie comes down with a dreaded back problem? The answer is YES! If your Dachshund has had no back problems or symptoms prior to you getting pet insurance with Embrace you are safe. For example, if you have had your pet insurance for awhile and then your Dachshund develops back problems for the first time, Embrace will take care of you. You are also then covered should the condition become chronic. Many other insurance companies will not cover back problems in Dachshunds since the breed is predisposed to this kind of problem. Embrace does not preclude hereditary and genetically predisposed conditions like many other pet insurance companies do.

Doxie has adapted to wheels after an injury

Embrace, like all pet insurance companies,  has what is called a waiting period.  A waiting period is a window of time from when you sign up for insurance to when it actually kicks in. This deters people taking out insurance just to make a claim;  this makes it more fair for everybody that has the insurance. At Embrace, the waiting period is 14 days for both accidents and illnesses and 6 months for cruciate ligament injuries. So let’s say you sign up today and your doxie has a problem in a week–you are not covered because this falls into the 14 day waiting period. Let’s say your doxie has a problem 3 weeks after you sign up—-you then are covered and forever after. There is no waiting period when your policy renews; it only applies when you are a new enrollee.

The ideas and plans for Embrace began to take root in 2003 or thereabouts and the company officially launched in 10/06. The youth of the company worried me a bit. I thought to myself…if they are new maybe they are not yet strong or solid or maybe they won’t last very long.  My research however eliminated any fears I had.  Here are some things I found out by talking to one of the higher ups at Embrace.  They are insured by Lloyd’s of London. Embrace is growing and doing very well. While many other companies in the vicinity of Embrace are laying off per the bad economy, they in fact have been hiring. I also came across favorable comments from customers. Good customer satisfaction, to me, is an indicator an organization will continue to thrive.

So in conclusion, it is a personal decision if you chose to obtain pet insurance; no one knows your situation better than you do. If you decide you do wish to have pet insurance, I suggest you sign up sooner rather than later. If Charlie were younger and my money situation better, Embrace would be my first choice for pet insurance.  As it is, he is way over their age limitation so would not be accepted anyway.

My goal is to do my utmost to have Charlie around until he is at least 20 years old.  I was worried sick the few times he tweaked his back. His only problem at the moment is dry eye syndrome.   

I hope this article has been helpful and I wish all of you the best with your Dachshund/s or with whatever other pet you may have!

Sincerely, Link

It was the latter part of the 1980s. I was back on the family farm in rural Ohio; Summer break from college had just begun. The weather was warm and wonderful. My best friend Andy was coming over to pick me up. We were going to his parents house as it was still his main home; where his old room was, his garage where we worked out, where we played basketball, etc. He was at that in-between stage of living at home and getting out on his own. We had been great friends since kindergarten and over the years, had practically lived with one another.

He soon pulled into our driveway in his red pickup truck. I sure was glad to see him cause being away at college, I didn’t get to see him as much anymore. He was glad to see me too though I quickly learned he was troubled. He had been recently living in his Aunt’s house as it was much closer to where he worked and last night, had had a really bad dream.

On the way to his parents house he told me about his nightmare.  He had experienced a vivid dream about the family pet, Daisy.  In his dream, Daisy had been run over and fatally injured at his family home. He awoke from his dream crying and sweating. He described his Mother on her knees over a dying Daisy. He said his Mom was screaming in his direction that Daisy had been run over, he described the anguished look on his Mother’s face, etc. He described the dream to me in great detail on the way to his parents’ house.

Daisy was the family’s beloved Dachshund. Daisy was a short haired, brown/tan, female Dachshund. As she grew older she became very fat; her belly dragged against the ground somewhat. At the time, she was 11-12 years old and also had visual problems. She was the most memorable and beloved pet they ever had. She was the primary pet Andy grew up with during his most formative years.

I have many great memories of Daisy as I practically lived at his parents’ house while growing up. We could sometimes hear Daisy approaching in the house by the sound of her feet on the carpet. She would sit on the couch with us while we watched movies. She would roll onto her back and we would rub her tummy. Dick, Andy’s Dad, would  a few times say “sing Daisy, sing” and Daisy would start howling. She would get lost in grass that really wasn’t that high but would ultimately emerge.  The grass must have seemed like a large forest to Daisy. She would chase and nip after moths and butterflies. She would snore quite loud and there was something endearing and heartwarming about it.

As we pulled into the family home, we turned around the side of the house to park. As we came into view, we immediately heard his mom screaming towards us “they’ve run over Daisy”. We saw his Mom, Joan, in the driveway close to the sidewalk which led to the entrance of the house. She was on her knees over a fallen Daisy and had a profoundly anguished look on her face. Andy’s Dad, Dick, was also there. Andy and I looked at one another in total disbelief. What we saw unfolding was EXACTLY how he had described his nightmare to me.

Joan had been out having fun with some of her lady friends. As they were dropping Joan off and saying goodbye, Daisy came waddling out to meet Joan. In her excitement to come out and be with Joan, Daisy accidentally got partially behind one of the tires of the car. Daisy was run over as the car backed to leave. Amazingly, the woman who was driving thought it was not such a big deal and drove away. Andy and I arrived just a minute or two later.

We both rushed to Daisy and Andy dropped to his knees over her. She was laying on her side and was not moving; it was clear she had suffered a terrible injury.  Andy gently put his face down upon her and was talking to her; telling her how sorry he was and how much he loved her.  I could tell she was comforted by having Andy there. Over the next few minutes,  Daisy’s breathing grew more shallow and her eyes more glassy in appearance.  Andy was able to caress and cry upon her as she died at the scene.  It was so heartbreaking and we all were crying. 

There were a few times in Andy’s life where he was  ”sensitive” in a paranormal kind of way. He had experienced a nightmare about Daisy’s death the night before and had described it to me in great detail.   I was a witness to the sad, paranormal reality later that same day.  Andy’s nightmare and the sad reality were an exact match.

Daisy during her younger years

Daisy during her older years

　




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Real Photo from 1890s Switzerland

Antique, Real Photo of Little Girl Holding Toy Dachshund

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.  By the way, indoor potty training can be initiated for a Dachshund at any age.  It is better, however, to start their training sooner rather than later.

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 the little weiner at your home, I suggest you have them mostly contained to a room with a hard floor…like in a 2nd bathroom or laundry room.  The space should not be too small but also not too big. 

I suggest not shutting them in their space by closing the door.  Instead, gate them in the room.  Leave the door to the room open but invest in some kind of child or Pet Gate that stretches across the door so they cannot get out.  You control the gate so they get out when you want them out and they are gated in when you want them in.  This is better as the doxie will not feel shut off from the world (as with a closed door) and you can easily look in upon them anytime you wish.  This gate will come in handy for the lifetime of your pet; you will be very glad you purchased one.   

Don’t worry, you can get your puppy 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 kennel/bed , food and, potty.  If you are lucky, the breeder had already initiated their paper training which will make it easier for you and your new puppy.  Start their training off on some newspaper.  When they make a mess on the floor put a little of the pee or poop  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.  Keep the top of the paper dry and clean.  Remove the used paper as soon as possible or simply place more paper on top of it and then after awhile, throw it all away and start anew. 

Some people utilize wee wee pads but I never did. I have seen them used a few times and they appear to work pretty well. So, wee wee pads could serve as an alternative to newspaper–you can try them both and see which one you like better.

If you are playing with your puppy some distance away from the primary potty you can always place some newspaper where you are…just in case.  I did this when Charlie was a puppy and it worked well.  As they get older they need to rely solely on the primary potty area. 

Chastise your Dachshund puppy immediately when they don’t perform well; they will feel the disappointment in your voice.  Making an unpleasant noise in general works well in this regard.  For example, the moment you see the naughty weiner going somewhere they are not supposed to raise your voice a bit towards them, clap your hands, gently shake a can with coins in it, etc.  Squirting a doxie with water works wonders also.  A spray bottle like the ones people spray plants with is perfect for this purpose.  Make sure the bottle is clean and that there is no chemical residue on the inside.  Dachshunds hate getting squirted with water so this is a great way to deter them from unwanted behaviors.  Squirt them don’t spray them.  Do not give the weiner dog praise or a treat when they perform poorly.

Please never yell or scream at your Doxie as they are incredibly sensitive and will be very hurt.  If you do yell  you will see how crestfallen they are and you will feel guilty.  Your Dachshund very much wants to please you!  

Just keep working with them and your Dachshund puppy (or puppies) 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 experimented with several indoor potty techniques over the years.  I started off with newspaper (paper training) but as your Dachshund 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 results in alot of near misses.  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 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 has taken to this upgrade well—messes on or transferred to the floor have decreased dramatically.  I’m happier now too as the messes are more contained and much easier to clean up.

Underneath Wizdog is a ”round circle thing” in every corner which helps it stay in place on the floor.  So, I have had no problem with the device sliding around when Charlie is on top of it.  In addition to having newspaper in the bottom to soak up urine I also put some newspaper on top.  I fold a newspaper page in half and place it on the far end of the Wizdog.  When Charlie approaches, he puts his front feet on the newspaper and then is far enough forward that his pee falls thru the grate and onto the newspaper below.   Having some newspaper on top is a kind of a “hybrid approach” I use.  Charlie was use to being on newspaper so this method has worked well for us.  The grate on the top of Wizdog did feel a bit funny to Charlie at first but he quickly got use to it.

Click here to see a picture of my Wizdog

In summary, for indoor potty training of your Dachshund puppy, start off with paper training.  Then, soon integrate your setup and system with a Wizdog.  You’ll be glad you did–trust me!  This will allow you to skip all the intermediate steps I experimented, utilized (and suffered with) over the years.

Please feel free to contact me if any questions arise. 

Sincerely, Link
site administrator and
friend of Dachshunds
everywhere

Old postcard with 2 cent USA stamp. Postmark for year unreadable

Dachshund personalities come in all shapes and sizes but words like playful, affectionate, bold, intelligent, loyal, curious and, mischevious come to mind. Dachshunds are also known for stubborness which can make them a challenge to train. You therefore need to be firm, consistent and very patient when training your good friend.

From April of 1969

Dachshunds tend to be friendly and outgoing and love to be around people. That being said, Dachshunds and small children tend to not be a good mix. Small kids don’t know how to approach and treat the doxie and this makes the doxie nervous. The Dachshund usually gets along well with other pets. 

The biggest health risks these dogs face are obesity and spinal disc disease. Too much weight gain can strain their inherently long and somewhat weak back. You thus must be careful to ensure they do not overeat; they need to have their food intake carefully managed. Try also not to let this dog jump too much as this too increases their chance of spinal injury.

You can do everything right and your doxie can still suffer a back problem from time to time. Charlie has strained/sprained his back three times in 13 years and luckily, came out of it every time. Managing your doxie’s food intake and minimizing their jumping will greatly reduce the chance of a back injury.

Though lively, a Dachshund doesn’t need a great deal of exercise.  A short walk once a day or a session of play is enough.  Dachshunds do well without a yard so are a good choice for apartments or condos.  This versatility is a real plus of the breed; they are at home on the farm or in the high-rise, condo building downtown.   Watch your doxie closely when they are outside as they like to dig and chase varmints-a doxie can quickly draw you into an awkward situation.

If you own the Long Haired variety of this dog, you will need to regularly brush their hair.  The Wire Haired variety needs to be professionally trimmed twice a year.  The Smooth Haired variety just needs to be rubbed down with a damp cloth every now and then.  I give my Smooth Haired Dachshund, Charlie, a full bath.  Of course you also have to clip their nails from time to time.  Brushing their teeth is a plus if you have the time.

Overall, the Dachshund is a great dog to own.  They are lots of fun and are very loyal to their owners.  Most of them are adorably cute.  Just make sure they are right for you before purchasing one.

If you manage your doxie’s food intake they will not get obese. This will go a long ways in staving off back problems.  Also try to minimize how much your doxie jumps.  Consider obtaining a ramp at some point. It is also important to understand how to properly hold a Dachshund. Both the front and rear portions of their body must be fully supported when holding them.

In case of back strain/sprain, please go to a vetrinarian as soon as possible.  Signs of a strain/sprain may be inability to hold their head/neck normally, stiffness, abnormal posture, crying when you handle them or in general, not eating, etc.  The doxie will need to be confined to a small space and given an anti-inflammatory medication, pain medicine, and possibly steroids.  Most of the time, the doxie will come out of the crisis in about one week.




Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) is the more serious back problem a Dachshund can face. Surgery is often needed and recovery prolonged. A doxie with IVDD can cost you alot of $$$ too. Signs of IVDD are an abnormal gait, inability to stand/walk, inability to control the bowels or bladder, crying when you handle them or in general, not eating, etc. There is a site called Dodger’s List which is dedicated to the topic of Dachshund IVDD. The site offers support for those who have a Dachshund in crisis with IVDD.

Charlie strained/sprained his back a few times when he was young due to too much jumping.  He overcame this problem with improved training and had not had a back problem in many years. Unfortuneately, earlier this year in February, he had an episode. It is always scary cause at first you are not quite sure how bad it is. This episode was like the others and I reacted to it and treated it as described above. I think my four year old Son had something to do with it but I don’t know for sure. The vetrinarian told me there does not have to be a cause…that a back crisis in a Dachshund “can just happen”. Charlie’s only significant problem right now is dry eye syndrome.

Dachshunds, of course, can have any other host of health related issues. I know of a wonderful Dachshund named Oscar who experienced sudden canine blindness earlier this year. You can learn more about Oscar and learn more about visual problems in dogs in general at SARDs/IMR–Awareness Central. I’m sure there are Dachshunds out there who have just about any health related condition you can think of i.e. diabetes, deafness, seizures, cancer, etc.

Well, don’t let me alarm you too much! With a proper diet, some training, and a little bit of exercise, your doxie can live a long and healthy life. Even if your doxie does develop a health problem it is, most of the time, not the end of the world.  Doxie health problems can be treated, managed, cured, etc. and the joy to be experienced with your buddy can still be tremendous.   A Dachshund’s life span can be as long as fifteen years and you will never have a better friend. I know of a Dachshund that is 19 years old and my doxie, Charlie, is 13 years of age.

Postcard postmarked 1946 from Nashville, TN.

How proper grooming should be performed is an issue of debate.  It is important however because incorrect grooming can affect your Dachshund’s health.  Any grooming mistake needs to be corrected as soon as possible in order to make your dog look and feel their best.

There is not much to worry about when it comes to brushing and hair care of Short Haired Dachshunds.  They require less grooming because only a few hairs cling to their coats.  Regular brushing with soft bristle is enough to maintain a Short Haired Dachshund.  This breed is also easy to bathe.

My Dachshund, Charlie, is a breeze when it comes to bathing and grooming. He is however on a special prescription shampoo. I use to use ChlorhexiDerm shampoo which was ok but it left his coat with a residual texture I was not crazy about—a texture which I cannot put into words. I switched to Malaseb shampoo a few years ago which is I like much more. The over the counter shampoos left Charlie with too much dry and flaky skin afterwards. He has used prescription shampoo for years now and has had no skin problems since. This is one suggestion I gave to the lady mentioned above–that she should try a different shampoo for her doxie.

While bathing helps make the coat smoother and softer, frequent bathing may not be good for Dachshunds.  Dachshunds are known to produce a special hair fat that serves as an insulating layer of protection.  The coat is not the only thing to consider when bathing a Dachshund.  The ears are equally important.  During a bath, try to keep water and/or soap from getting into the ears as this can lead to infection. After the bath,  the ears can be gently cleaned with a soft cloth.  Q tips work great also as long as you do not go too deep into the ear.

Unlike the Short Haired Dachshund, Wire Haired and Long Haired Dachshunds need frequent brushing to remove dead hair and to prevent matting and tangles.  In Long Haired Dachshunds, mats often develop behind the ears and in areas where the hair grows longest.  These mats need to be untangled by hand and/or cut off.  It is also important to blow dry the hair instead of allowing it to dry naturally.  Regularly trimming the underside of these Dachshunds is recommended also as long hair in this area can quickly pick up dirt and debris from the ground.   Dachshunds do not stand that far off the ground anyway…

A pin brush is good for Wire and Long Haired Dachshunds.  An excellent brushing tip is to brush according to the direction of the hair growth.  Start from the head and work down.  Negligence in brushing your Dachshund’s hair may lead to serious tangle problems.

These practices may seem insignificant to some but nobody gets hurt from doing these things.  No more uncomfortable dogs!  Instead, what you will have is a feeling good, looking good, Dachshund!



Please click on the brush if interested to see and learn more

Nice photo of a long haired Dachshund