12. Can Dachshunds climb stairs?

‘Yes, but with great difficulty’ is the answer!

Yesterday’s answers mentioned the issue about dachshunds using stairs. The dachshund, of course, especially the miniature dachshund, has tiny little legs and cannot manage normal house stairs, so it’s best not to encourage them to use them.

If you do have stairs you could train them not to go upstairs – yes this IS achievable! Or put a stair gate in place. But when you consider the size they are to the size of each stair, it doesn’t take a lot to work out that it’s the equivalent to us trying to climb a flight stairs that are each four feet high!
animated image courtesy of www.luvraqui.com

11. A Hidden Dachshund Web Page

Recently, whilst researching, I mistyped Dachshund! I know, I know! I should know better! But the amazing thing was I found an article that I would not have found otherwise.

Someone had asked Yahoo Answers ‘How good is daschshund as a pet?’ and they had misspelled Dachshund the same way I did. The answers were interesting, as they all came form Dachshund owners or former owners.

Read the full page Here.

10. A Happier Dachshund Story

I was quite tickled by this entertaining piece by Su Lum in the Aspen Times. Su shares an update with us on the adventures of her two dachshund puppies:

“They just learned how to remove the cover to the dog door - I say "they" but have no doubt that this was Freddie's doing. Freddie is the great escape artist and general entrepreneur, while Nicky is content to enjoy the spoils of the overturned trash can or the flapping dog door.”

Read the full story Here.

9. Lucy The Dachshund

At first glance I thought this news story was the same one as yesterday’s blog post, but this is a story about a little dachshund in Newcastle UK that it seems is ‘on trial’ for allegedly biting the ankle of a neighbour.

Funny how this was supposed to have happened in October, but if she really were a dangerous dog, you can guarantee she would have been destroyed straight away.

Read the story Here.

Look at the SIZE of her!:


top image courtesy of The Northern Echo at
www.thisisthenortheast.co.uk

bottom image courtesy of
www.metro.co.uk

8. Unnecessary Dachshund Death

This article is about the sad death of a dachshund who was aggressive.

Not sure if English is the writer’s first language, as the grammar is a bit dubious (I’ve put my corrections in brackets!), but with regards to the article, this dog did NOT need to be put to sleep. It is possible to train ANY dog at any age. The phrase ‘you can’t teach an old dog new tricks’ is simply not true. Stay tuned for effective dog training tips, no matter how aggressive your dachshund may be.

“Utley said the 4-year-old dachshund was brought to the shelter by its owner because it had bit (bitten) several people and damaged the owner's home. Under the county animal control policy the dog was determined to be vicious.

Holly Carmichael, president of Wilson County Humane Society, went to the shelter Dec. 16 and wanted to take the dog, but an attendant at the shelter said the dog could not be adopt (adopted) because it was a vicious (dog)”.

Read more Here.

7. 200 Dachshunds Crossing The Street!

Here's a lovely news story about The Southbeach Dachshund Winterfest that took place yesterday.

Says Elinor J Brechor of the Miami Herald:

"Actually, when it comes to dachshunds, any display of shyness is inconceivable, which guarantees that the fifth annual South Beach Dachshund Winterfest, taking place Saturday, probably will be a lot like last year's.

''It's unmanageable. There's a lot of barking . . . We stopped traffic on Ocean Drive when 200 tried to cross the street,'' is how Ruth Remington, the event's founder, described it.

As the wag H.L. Mencken once noted: ''The dachshund is a half-dog high and a dog-and-a-half long,'' which makes it the canine world's visual cartoon.

Comparisons to wieners and sausages are unavoidable, so dachshund owners -- if not the dachshunds themselves -- embrace them.

Count on seeing any number tricked out in hot-dog-bun costumes for the event, which begins at noon in the park along Ocean Drive between 11th and 12th streets".

Read more Here.

6. How To Lift A Dachshund! - Video

Dachshund Video

So now you know!

5. Dachshund Gift

If you're stuck for a gift to buy for your Dachshund nutty loved ones, for the Dachshund lover who has millions of Dachshund ornaments, pictures, and toys, why not buy them a Dachshund Soap? I've found just the thing Here.

Here's what the manufacturers say about their product:

"The Dachshund is clever, courageous and one of the most popular breeds in America. Our accurate Dachshund rendering is scented with a crisp, cottage linen fragrance and is packaged in a chocolate and ivory houndstooth patterned box, tied with a burnt orange ribbon."

It'd clearly far too pretty to ever be used, and is a must-have item for all Dachshund lovers.

4. Are Dachshunds Wieners, Weiners, Weeners or Weenies?

I’ve noticed that a lot of people misspell the word Wiener, and that is important to note when searching for information on wiener dogs on the internet.

The two most common spellings are Weiner and Weener, so if I make a post with those misspellings tagged, hopefully they’ll find their way here!

In most of the English language, the rule of ‘i’ before the ‘e’ except after ‘c’ applies, but Wiener is not an English word, it’s German, and refers to Wien which is the capital of Austria, known to us as Vienna.

So for those who want information on Weiners, Weeners and Weenies, come here to be enlightened and go away with info on Wieners!
image courtesy of www.e-michael.jp

3. Dachshund Types

Dachshunds can be either Standard sized or Miniature. A Standard Dachshund will weigh typically over 12 pounds, whilst a Miniature Dachshund will normally weigh under 11 pounds.

All dachshunds will be one of three hair types. The three types of coats of Dachshunds are Short Haired Dachshund, Long Haired and Wire Haired.

Most Dachshunds measure from 5 to 9 inches in height.

2. Dachshund Puppy

A dachshund puppy, will make an excellent addition to any loving home, with adults and older children. If you haven’t already bought your dachshund pup, then please read the following to ensure you avoid a lot of heartache later on:

Please buy from a reputable breeder where you are allowed to see both parents first. If you buy your dachshund puppy from a store without seeing its parents, it will almost certainly have come from a puppy mill. These are places that keep the mothers locked up in tiny cages their whole lives. They have no regard for the animal’s health or welfare. They operate solely for profit.

You would of course care for the welfare of your new dachshund puppy, but it could also cost you a lot of money in vets bills later on, so I urge you NOT to buy from pet stores.

If the seller tells you they have been ‘USDA inspected’, it doesn’t mean a thing. The USDA establishes minimum-care standards only.

A good breeder will be an active member of a local breed club, and possibly even show their dogs professionally. They will also ask about your suitability as an owner before asking for your money, so make sure the breeder puts the puppy first over profit.

Don’t pick the cute, shy puppy, pick the happy, friendly one. Temperament is very important, and is often indicative of health. And get your chosen puppy checked over by a vet before the purchase. The reaction of the breeder to this request should be a telling one!

If you follow these simple guidelines, there’s no reason why you and your new dachshund puppy can’t have a happy life together.

Let me know of any other important points I've forgotten!

image courtesy of Gotpetsonline.com

1. Your Dachshund Dog

Dachshunds, also known as the Wiener Dog, Hot Dog and Sausage Dog are small dogs with long bodies, short crooked legs and large ears.

The popular Dachshund comes in two sizes – Miniature and Standard and three varieties of coat – Shorthaired, Longhaired and Wirehaired. Dachshunds are playful, fun-loving and inquisitive.

They are fine with older children but do not like the rough handling they may receive from boisterous younger children. Dachshunds can be difficult to train as they are often independent and quite stubborn.

Feel free to tell me about your dachshund dog - I'd love to hear from you!