Dachshunds

When I was five years old, our family decided to get a dog. Of course, there are many different types of dogs, but we decided on a Dachshund (aka "wiener dogs"). I would assume we chose this breed because when my dad was growing up he had two or three different dogs and they were all dachsies. I know that they had one named Rex and another named Heidi. Well, being five years old, I didn't have much say in the matter, but we indeed purchased our first family pet. A red short-haired pure-bred dachsie puppy. The pedigree name we gave him was Johann Sebastien Dach (short for dachshund), pretty neat play on words, huh? Well, I guess it was a kinda cute name for our red-haired German "badger hunter". We nick-named him Jojo. Unfortunately, our dog died about four years ago and our house has been a lot quieter (and of course much cleaner) since then.

For the last four springs, I have worked at a "lawn care service" (anonymous) in South Bend (about 45 minutes from my dorm). There, the office manager, Johnna has two dachshunds... Oscar and Dixie. She and her husband are very serious dog owners and in fact they have had their dogs trained and they take them to dog shows. On Wednesday, we got to talking about her dachshunds and today, she brought them to the office. Those two dachsies are quite a pair! I didn't get to take any pictures, but Oscar is dapple (black and brown) and has somewhat wiry hair. Dixie has a beautiful long coat like the dachshund in the picture below.

Someday, I plan on getting my own "Oscar" or "Dixie".

A lively and sweet natured creature, the Dachshund is a dog that makes a loyal and devoted pet for the right owner. These dogs are well suited to both inexperienced and experienced dog owners, as they are adaptable, intelligent, and sociable. The Dachshund is not the right choice for those with little time to dedicate to a pet, as they do need love, attention, and companionship. Training should not prove too much of a challenge, as the Dachshund is quick to learn, eager to please, and responsive. However, he can have a very possessive streak when it comes to his belongings and food. The Dachshund has a great sense of humor, and can be a very entertaining and cheerful pet to have around. The sharp bark of these dogs makes them effective watchdogs.

He tends to get along well with older, gentler kids. The Dachshund loves to be around other Dachsies, and with early socialization should get along fine with other pets. When it comes to strangers the reaction of the Dachshund can vary depending on his personality - some will be fine with strangers and others may be aloof. It is worth noting that there are three varieties of Dachshund - the long haired, the wire haired, and the smooth coated. The longhaired Dachshund appears to have a gentler and more amiable nature than the other two varieties and are less aloof with strangers. If you are particularly proud of your garden you may want to think twice before considering a Dachshund, as these dogs do love to dig. The Dachshund is a sensitive breed, and does not like to be teased or handled roughly. Care should be taken around younger or boisterous children, as the Dachshund can injure his back through to much rough play and jumping around. (Taken from www.justdogbreeds.com)