2 Questions You Will Want To Ask The Shelter Before Adopting A Dachshund Dog

“How do you socialize your Dachshunds?”

shelters don’t just feed and house abandoned Dachshunds; they socialize and rehabilitate them, too. At the best facilities, Dachshunds are better adjusted when they leave than they were when they arrived; at the worst ones, the opposite is true. You don’t want to adopt a pup who’s been stuck in a cage and ignored ever since arriving at the adoption facility, since whatever behavior or attitude problems she may have had previously won’t have improved - and will probably have gotten much worse - during her time at the shelter. And if she hasn’t been getting enough human contact, she may have become depressed or withdrawn. So ask how many hours of human contact each shelter’s dogs receive daily, how often they get to take walks or bat a ball around, how many different people spend time with them and whether they ever have the chance to play and be goofy with other dogs.

Socialization is especially important if you’re looking for a Dachshund puppy. The early weeks of a dog’s life are a crucial formative time, and a puppy who doesn’t learn to interact with humans from the start may have lifelong adjustment problems ahead of her. Ask whether the shelter has any special socialization procedures for young puppies.

“What post-adoption services do you offer?”

Some shelters - especially large, well-funded ones - have the resources to offer obedience classes, behavior consulting, veterinary services, newsletters and question-and-answer sessions to their adopters. That kind of continued support can be a great help to you as you and your new dog adjust to life together. But most shelters don’t have the money, space or people-power to do as much for their adopters and their former canine residents as they’d like. That doesn’t mean they aren’t interested. A good shelter, even if it can’t afford to provide an array of amenities itself, may still offer referral services or special discounted deals with local vets and obedience schools and should always be willing to talk with adopters about whatever problems or successes they may have with their dogs.

A few shelters seem to have a “once you’ve signed the adoption contract, you’re on your own” attitude, and these are the ones you want to steer clear of. Choose a shelter that will take an interest in you and your Dachshund now and later.

2 Questions You Must Ask Before Accepting A Dachshund Dog From A Shelter

“What medical care do you provide for your Dachshunds?”

There are certain baseline medical needs that must be met before you take a Dachshund from a shelter: she needs to have been wormed; her blood needs to have been checked for heartworms (in most areas of the country); and her ears and skin need to have been checked or treated for mites and other parasites. And she needs to have had her first vaccinations for distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and parainfluenza (DHLPP), as well as bordetella, coronavirus and (if she’s old enough) rabies. Be certain that any shelter you contact provides at least these basic services.

Spaying or neutering is another basic medical requirement that a shelter may or may not provide. Many shelters spay or neuter all Dachshunds six months of age or older before they leave the facility, and that’s ideal for you. But lots of shelters, understandably, don’t have the money to provide such services. Nevertheless, they’re acutely aware of the importance of stemming canine overpopulation, so good shelters always require adopters to have their Dachshunds spayed or neutered within a reasonable time period after adoption. Some require a deposit, which is refunded upon submission of proof of spaying or neutering, while others give adopters low-cost spaying/neutering certificates from area veterinarians or provide low-cost services themselves.

In some areas, it’s becoming common practice for shelters to spay or neuter all their dogs - even those under the traditional minimum six-month age. Opinions are mixed on this approach to population control. Cities and counties whose shelters alter 100 percent of their animals report a dramatic decrease in the numbers of stray animals on their streets and of animals euthanized in shelters. But some experts believe that medical complications can arise in Dachshunds who are spayed or neutered too young. If you adopt such a dog, make sure she’s been operated on by a reputable veterinarian and is certified healthy before you take her home.

“Do you evaluate your Dachshunds’ temperaments?”

At some shelters, you’ll find formal temperament evaluations posted on each dog’s cage. At others, you’ll find staff members who can tell you all about each Dachshund’s personality. Either approach is fine. What’s not fine is a shelter whose employees know little or nothing about the natures of its animals. Since you’ll have only a limited time to spend with the dogs you meet, you’ll want to find out about their habits, quirks, assets and drawbacks from the people who have been caring for them.

Ask whether the shelter does any formal temperament testing of its animals (that is, specific exercises designed to assess a dog’s level of dominance, submissiveness, protectiveness, etc.). If the answer is no, ask whether the staff has spent enough time with the Dachshunds to know their dispositions and to know what kinds of adoptive homes will likely be best for them.

2 Items To Insist From Your Breeder When Buying A Dachshund Puppy

1. Written Guarantee: Good breeders provide written guarantees against genetic disease. It is essential to get a guarantee on the hips and eyes of your Dachshund pup, given the epidemics of hip dysplasia and various forms of progressive blindness among the nation’s Dachshunds. The guarantee entitles you to a refund of the price of the puppy or a replacement Dachshund puppy should there be a problem. The guarantee should also allow you to take your new puppy to your own vet within a certain period of time in order to have its good health independently confirmed before the sale is considered final.

Beyond the guarantee of your pup, you want to see copies of the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) certificate on the hips of both parents, plus the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (GERF) certificate on the eyes of both parents. Do not take the breeder’s word that the parent animals are so registered. Good Dachshund breeders will not be troubled by your request.

However, you must be prepared to run into the occasional breeder whom will not want to comply with your request. You are almost sure to run into “prominent” breeders who don’t believe in having their dogs‘ hips and eyes checked, even if they are from seriously afflicted breeds.

Both in a personal quest for a dog and in researching this information I had this experience again and again. For instance, there is a dog breed about which Michele Lowell says in Your Purebred Dachshund puppy: A Buyer’s Guide, “He is susceptible to hip dysplasia and serious tumors.” She urges: “Buy only from OFA-registered parents.” A leading breeder of this breed, a person who sits on the national club’s breed standard committee, told me she didn’t have her animals OFA-certified because “I’ve never had any hip problems. If I ever start, I’ll have my dogs checked.” Even in the midst of a plague of canine hereditary disease, this ton-of-cure-is-worth-an-ounce-of-prevention attitude is still common. Be ready to decide for yourself if you find it acceptable.

2. Restricted Transfers: Responsible breeders are answering the distress call of America’s Dachshunds by trying to minimize inappropriate breeding. One way to do this is with “restricted transfers.” These can involve a contract between the new owner and the breeder stipulating that the dog will not be bred until it is old enough to be tested for inherited disease and has been certified disease free. Some restricted transfers require that the animal be spayed or neutered at six months of age, with AKC papers not passing to the purchaser until this is done. You may not be interested in acquiring a pet under such conditions, but you can be sure that breeders imposing them are deeply committed to improving the quality of their Dachshund breed.

2 Games Your Dachshund Will Love: Tug-Of-War & Keep-Away

Tug-Of-War

Tug-of-war is one of those games that many Dachshund trainers will caution you against playing with your dog. The reasoning is that it pits you against your Dachshund and, at some point, you invariably allow the dog to win, giving him the idea he can best you in a battle of strength. For some dogs, this could create delusions of grandeur. Most dogs, however, already know you are helpless against them in any war of wills. They learned that when you gave them treats from the table or allowed them to push you to the little sliver of mattress on the side of the bed.

However, you can preserve the illusion that you’re in control by adding a couple of elements to your game of tug-of-war. The way to do this is to first teach your Dachshund to give you a toy when you ask. Ask nicely “may I?” and offer to exchange a treat for the toy. Repeat this until your dog learns to trade the toy for a treat whenever you ask. Now you have a way to end a tug-of-war game in a draw, simply by asking your dog to give you the toy. You also have a way to start the game by using a special tug toy that you bring out just for this game. Tell him “tug time!” and entice him to hold on by starting with gentle, quick small tugs.

And of course, use common sense when you play tug-of-war. Don’t jerk your Dachshund’s head back and forth or up and down; neck problems are not uncommon in Dachshunds. Don’t allow your dog to hang from his teeth; at least his hind feet should always be on the ground. If he has dental problems, this may not be the best choice of games. And dog trainers are right when it comes to some dogs. dogs who have a tendency to be aggressive or domineering with their people should find more cooperative games to play.

Keep-Away

Dachshunds love to play keep-away. You can practically hear them giggling as you lunge to grab their prize and they pull it just out of reach. True, you’d be foolish to teach this game to a Dachshund you want to use as a reliable retriever (a dog playing keep-away with a bird would never be invited back for a day in the duck blind), but most of us don’t have such aspirations. By using words that tell your dog when the game is beginning and ending, you can separate it from everyday life and make it clear its not up to him to decide to start playing.

You can also use a special toy that is dedicated only to playing keep-away. Give him that toy, say “Thief! Thief!” and give chase. At first he may think you’re serious and stop in his tracks, so you may have to combine it with tug-of-war or other chasing games to build his confidence. When the game is over, say “you’re under arrest” and ask that he bring you the toy. If he does, reward him. If he doesn’t, simply turn and walk away. Game over. Letting him know that even keep-away has rules helps prevent him from playing keep-away with your car keys when you’re late for work.

What To Expect When Your Dachshund Has Kidney Disease

Once dogs reach eight years of age, their kidneys are less likely to function as well as those of younger Dachshunds are. Diseased kidneys have sustained damage that inhibits their ability to strain and eliminate waste products. Kidney disease can be sudden (acute) or long-term (chronic).

Acute kidney disease is the result of a potent underlying cause, such as a significant drop in blood pressure, loss of fluids or blood, shock, ingestion of a toxic substance, heart failure, or infectious disease. In treating a dog with kidney disease, the goal is to first deal with the underlying cause. Usually, such treatment results in the restoration of urine production.

Chronic kidney disease is a much slower, degenerative process, with subtle signs that can often take years to surface. Common causes include infection, heart disease, diabetes, poisoning, or physical trauma. Because the kidneys contain plenty of reserve tissue normally capable of toxin disposal, about two thirds of the organ must be damaged before symptoms can be detected. However, it is essential that the disease be checked as early as possible.

A dog suffering from chronic kidney disease may finish her water bowl more quickly than usual and look to you for refills. She may urinate more frequently than normal, and may begin to accidentally urinate in inappropriate places because the kidneys are no longer capable of holding urine.

As the disease progresses, uremia will develop, characterized by lethargy, poor appetite, dull coat, darkening of the tongue, diarrhea, vomiting, and anemia. You may also think you are smelling ammonia on her breath. With chronic kidney disease, while he or she will not be able to restore the kidney itself, there are several steps your veterinarian will recommend to keep your Dachshund as healthy and functional as possible.

Strict attention to diet will help the kidney work as well as possible. You will have to reduce the amount of protein your Dachshund ingests. Nitrogen waste is the by-product of protein metabolism. This waste leaves the kidneys as urea. If the kidneys are faulty, urea will back up and enter the bloodstream. However, your dog needs protein for cell production, so you must work with the veterinarian to create a diet (perhaps a specially packaged food program acquired through veterinary hospitals) that will be beneficial to your Dachshund.

This diet will include proteins that are easy to digest, and may be supplemented by foods like cooked eggs and cottage cheese. Carbohydrates will also be suggested. Useful supplements include pasta, potatoes, whole wheat bread, and oatmeal.