Christmas Puppies--Yea!

     Today, on Christmas Eve 2011, the last of this year's Christmas puppies have gone to their new homes.  It was bittersweet, because we had gotten so attached to them as we had kept them a few extra weeks while waiting for Christmas.  The first puppy was a complete surprise to the little girl shown here holding her puppy, who she immediately named Chloe.  Her parents had led her to believe they were coming to a friend's house to look at a four wheeler for sale.  Then she found out that a puppy was about to be put in her arms; one of her very own that she had been asking for the past two years.

     The next puppy was picked up by some more sneaky parents, whose little girl is waiting at home with relatives standing by with video cameras.  This little girl has also been patiently (or maybe IMpatiently) waiting for a dachshund puppy for the past approximately two years.  This little puppy, Louie, is shown here with the little girl's mom.  (I'm not sure, but I'm kinda thinking they may have to come back and get another puppy; there may not be enough of this one for all to share.  :)

 
   Christmas puppies are a wonderful treat for the whole family.  But we must also be very realistic about the responsibility that comes along with it.  Both these lucky dogs were well planned for in advance.  They've been reserved here at Dogwood Dachshunds (shameless plug)  for weeks, in anticipation of Christmas.  And all arrangements have been made for their arrival at home.  It is much more difficult for those who make a spur of the moment decision to run out and find a puppy for Christmas, especially if you have never had a puppy or dog before and really don't realize what all is required for a successful addition to the family.
     One family just couldn't wait until Christmas to take their puppy home, and he is shown here, a beautiful black/tan fellow named Bandit.  He is visiting Santa Claus for the first time.  Wonder what he's telling Santa he wants?

     Adding a puppy to the family is just that; you are actually adding a living, breathing family member who must be housed, fed, taken to the doctor when he or she is sick, and considered whenever a trip is made or company is over.  All this is doable, it simply takes planning.  Finding out everything you can about care and feeding, and buying necessary supplies ahead of time will greatly reduce stress on yourself and in turn, the puppy.  Here are a couple of things to keep in mind as you prepare for your puppy, whether at Christmas or any other time.
      1.   Try to feed the puppy the same food he was eating at the Breeder's home, and if you want to change, gradually transition to the new food by mixing the original food and the new food by about half/half for at least a week.  His stomach doesn't need any additional shock to go along with the stress of moving away from all his siblings and familiar surroundings.  It is not unusual for him to experience loose stools the first day or two at a new home, simply from stress.
     2.   Confine your new puppy to small areas of the home, and introduce him to new areas/rooms slowly.  It's all new to him, and you must keep him where you can watch him constantly for his safety as well as the constant necessity of potty training.  When you're not actively watching or playing with puppy, I would suggest he be placed in his crate with a soft blanket.  He's still a baby, and will need to nap often, anyway.  Crates are a very good tool, and appreciated by dogs as they are "den animals"; they feel safe in their den.
         I hope if you got a new puppy for Christmas, maybe you saw something here that may help you.  If you have questions you'd like to ask, please do, and I will answer as soon as I can.  And if I don't know the answer, I'll find it for you! 
     Please subscribe to my blog, and recommend it to your other dog lovers, dachshund or otherwise.  Thanks for stopping by, and as always .  .  .  . 
                                         HAPPY TAILS, EVERYONE!

    

Puppies going out the door!

     Well, the current litter of puppies were evidently "magical" in their appeal to people who are in search for their "new best friend".  They were all (5) reserved with paid deposit by 2-5 weeks of age.  Actually, one is reserved by myself.  You met her in my last post.  She's going to stay here at Dogwood Kennel (shameless plug).   I don't let my puppies go until they are 8 weeks, so this has been nice, knowing for these past few weeks that they all already had homes with people who are so anxious for their new baby to come to their home.
     I have even had several people who would ask to be allowed to just come and see the puppies anyway, even though they were already sold, then they asked if I could possibly break the contract the the other people so they could buy a particular one.  I, of course, wouldn't think of doing that.  But I did think it was especially telling of how remarkable, beautiful, and spunky these little ones are.  So, we are handing out lots of business cards, and promising to call people when we have "puppies on the ground".

     This little one had absolutely no trouble picking his new family for Christmas.  How could anyone resist a face, and regal demeanor as this?  This little boy actually is from a previous litter; his name is Roscoe, and is living happily in a Doxie house in which a couple of humans are allowed to occupy parts of their space.  When the grown children are home with THEIR Dachshunds, I believe the house is completely overtaken by a total of 6 Wiener Dogs holding their own version of the Wiener Dog Races at Sam Houston Race Park.  (Robinson Family, you know I'm talking about you!)  :)
      But Christmas is not necessarily a given for being able to see all the puppies into new homes as presents.  I have experienced both situations, as above, where I had people literally trying to cheat others out of their reserved puppies, and other times where I couldn't even get answers to ads.  I haven't found a golden rule.  It just seems that either it's a "puppy Christmas", or it's not.  But all the puppies find their homes eventually, even if it's not by Christmas Eve. 
      I did fine one puppy that will, hopefully, be with me for a long time; I think I'll name him Sparky.  He started out as an outside dog, and I'll show a picture of him there.  But he wound up inside, as I live out in the country and I was afraid all the wild critters might mess with him at night.  But he's given everyone who has seen him a lot of smiles.  What do you think?  Actually, a lot of my friends have his littermates!

     Sparky has brought lots of positive comments from all who meet him.  This brings me to my tip for the day; and that is to be extra vigilant in your watchfulness over you dogs and especially puppies during the Christmas Season while we have decorations both inside and outside the house.  From experience, I can tell you (and so can Popeye), that having a puppy chew through an electrical cord is a very dangerous, painful, and scary thing!  And that was just for ME!  Seriously, be very mindful of your Christmas decorations that might be attractive to your dogs and puppies to chew on and possibly swallow.  Not only could it possibly make them very sick and/or endanger their lives, it could be very costly veterinary bills for you.  Many things dogs eat will not "pass naturally", and must be surgically removed.  Thankfully, Sparky has his own electrical cord that he is very "attached to" and has no inclination to chew on it. 
     If you have a topic you'd like to see addressed here on the blog, please leave me a comment and I will do my best to address it.  If necessary, I'll do some research to be able to give you a more educated answer than just my own "wild guess", if it's something I'm not sure about. 
     As always, I'd ask you please recommend the blog to your friends, any dog lovers you know (dachshund or otherwise), and ask them to follow (makes me feel good!).  And if you have a good Doxie story, or a question and/or comment, please leave that here.  I will answer as soon as I can, and if I don't know the answer, I'll find it for you.  And so, in the meantime,
                                    HAPPY TAILS, EVERYONE!

Just a little "dappled" announcement . . . . . . . . .

       As you know, if you follow this blog very much, I continuously make shameless plugs here for my Dogwood Dachshund Kennel.  So, I am shamelessly making this whole entire post about the Kennel and our new addition, because I'm pretty excited about her.
      Meet -- oh, wait, I haven't actually given her a name yet.  So we're still working on that.  I know it's coming to me, I can feel it.  But it has to be just right.  I'll definitely let you know when I get it.  This little girl is the daughter of Bonnie and Samson, who can be seen on my website, www.dogwooddachshunds.com.  They both have such sweet dispositions, and Bonnie has always been such a good mother, I thought it would be a good thing to save one of her female puppies to add to the Kennel.  Then, along came THIS little beauty.  She is funny; she is regal; she is rough and tumble with her brothers and sisters.  I expect her to be a great addition.  But until the time she becomes a mommy (probably about a year and a half from now), we will be having some puppy magic around the Kennel.  Somehow, I think she may get just a little spoiled.  Everyone already thinks she is very special.

      You will probably be bombarded with updates on her progress from time to time.  We are super excited about her--you'd think we were getting our very first puppy!  I'd be open to suggestions on names over the next couple of weeks.  So, if you'd like to leave a comment  with a name suggestion, please do.  And until then, as always . . . . . . .
                                     HAPPY TAILS, EVERYONE!

Guard Dogs, Short Legs, Waggy Tails

     Miniature Dachshunds have to be some of the best guard dogs you could ever ask for.  Of course, it could depend on what you really want from your guard dog.  If you want the trespasser taken down, dragged back out the front gate, with some very satisfying chewing going on all the while, a dachshund might not be your first choice.  But if you want a guard dog to alert you to the fact that something or someone, somewhere, on, in, or near your property MOVED, then a dachshund will suit your purposes mightily!  They will let you know if a squirrel is in your yard or one of the neighbors' 40 cats is crouching outside your window as it stalks the birds you're trying to provide a nice feed and water station during a sever drought.  The mighty dachshund will let you know if the UPS truck is outside, and oh, how excited we all are as the driver actually has the nerve to approach the door and leave a package outside. 
     So, you may ask, "What if a person actually comes in the house?"  All I can tell you is what happens at my house with Popeye.  First, he sounds the "bugle call" to Missy (another dachshund) and Sissy (a Lab mix, with old age hips, but young lungs).  So then it sounds like a virtual animal shelter that is under some sort of attack by terrorists, as the girls join in on the Call to Arms.  Then, when we let in our guests,  all canines are transformed into wiggly, waggly, short legged, (and long legged but limping) whines and whimpers, joyful barks and yelps as they welcome whoever has decided to come see us.  Now, it could still be a terrorist.  But Popeye and the gang are still happy to see them. 
      I'm working on at least getting them to stop the madness once we have determined that it is not a terrorist at the door.  So far it's not working.  But, in all fairness, I have been pretty busy with other things and not been very consistent.  So, it's one of the things we are working on here at Dogwood Dachshunds (shameless plug).  A well disciplined dog is a beautiful sight.  A calm, consistent  master (or actually it is "pack leader") is a real key and necessary component to training a well mannered dog. 
      So here is a tip for today on training:
            #1.  When attempting to stop unwanted behavior, do NOT yell the dog's name.  Simply make a disapproving sound, such as "Ehhh!!"  He should hear his name only in positive situations.  Be consistent in the reprimand, giving the sound each time the dogs does the unwanted behavior.
     I hope you are having a great time with your Doxie.  Or if you are considering a Doxie as a new companion and would like to ask some questions about the breed, feel free to leave a comment here.  I will be happy to answer questions, and if I don't know the answer I will find it for you.   And as this little girl below is doing, stop and smell the flowers!

    
           If you enjoy Dachshunds or dogs in general, I hope you'll follow my blog, and recommend it to friends.  Become a follower, and you'll receive notice each time a new entry is made.  I love to hear stories about your adventures with your little short legged, waggy tailed friends, so please leave me a comment.  In the meantime,
                                            HAPPY TAILS, EVERYONE!
        

Beautiful AKC Miniature Dachshunds - Classified Ad

Beautiful AKC Miniature Dachshunds - Classified Ad

Beautiful Miniature Dachshund Puppies - Classified Ad

Beautiful Miniature Dachshund Puppies - Classified Ad

These beautiful Mini-Dachshund puppies were born August 9, 2011, and will be ready for their new homes by October 4, 2011 when they are 8 weeks old. Potty training will have begun,and they will be started on their shots and worming schedule. They are: one wild boar male and one wild boar female; one chocolate dapple male, and one red dapple female; one black/tan female. In another litter, one red male who will be ready October 15 2011. AKC papers are in hand and ready for you. Just call or email if you have questions or want to come see these babies. I'm northwest of Houston right off Hwy 290.
832-741-8848 www.dogwooddachshunds.com

Beware the Pooped Out Pup!

     We  love our dogs and want them to feel their best.  But sometimes they do get sick, just as we all do.
     One of the best things you can do for your dog is to simply pay attention and be observant of his behaviour as it relates to his overall health.  Several things can give you clues and indication of a problem.  A dog usually runs a normal temperature of around 101 degrees.  You can check this yourself with a rectal thermometer--not as in the photoshopped picture below.  ;)

     First, simply notice how he is acting.  If he is especially lethargic, and is not of very advanced age and is of a healthy weight, you might consider some possibilities of what could be ailing him. In general, lethargy can be considered a reduction in activity. A lethargic dog might get tired more easily, sleep a lot, have decreased interest in activities that he used to enjoy doing, and not eat or use the bathroom as often. You might even notice that your dog is having more accidents as a result of his reluctance to be taken out for walks.  Some possible causes might be infectious diseases such as parvovirus, distemper, diabetes, anemia, nutritional deficiencies, as well as pain.  If it hurts to get up and down, the dog is going to avoid unnecessary movement. While lethargy in itself isn’t always serious, it could be a sign of something more serious. If you notice that your dog has trouble breathing, has a decrease in appetite, is avoiding contact with people, has tremors, appears weak, has a fever, or is listless then you should definitely pay a visit to your vet to rule out any other medical condition.
     Another very easy way to discern a possible problem with your dog's health is to, uh, "know your poop".  Your dog's poop, that is.  Normal dog poop is going to be a bit smelly, can be small or large, sometimes depending on the type of food he is consuming.  Especially horrible smelling poop can be a signal of either a bit of a health problem, or simply that he has eaten something different than normal.  A yearly "poop exam" should be done at your veterinarian to be sure he doesn't have parasites.  However some, like tapeworms which appear in the poop as small grains of rice, must be actually seen.  So follow your dog around sometimes, and check it out.  Generally a dog's stool will be brown. In the course of a month, the color may vary slightly from brown to variations of yellow, mostly depending on what the dog ingested. Causes for concern are:
         ** Tarry black poop which could indicate the presence of blood being digested, for instance from a bleeding ulcer or other malady.
        **  Red blood in the stool could indicate undigested bone, fissures, intestinal bleeding and even cancer.
        **  Yellow stools may indicate giardia, tiny parasites that have invaded the intestine, usually through something the dog ate or drank such as water from a puddle in the woods, or horse poop, bunny poop or other excrement. It results in not only a yellow stool, but yellow diarrhea and is contagious, a cause for immediate attention from a veterinarian.
        **Diarrhea in colors from mustard yellow to green to dark brown indicates something wrong in the dog's system. It could be as simple as eating something nasty to the start of severe health problems.

        So, to keep your dog as healthy and alert as Popeye, here, be watchful of both your pet's general behaviour as well as his poop.  These are some very important tools to keeping your dog healthy.  If you see some of the above described conditions, you should take your dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
     Thank you all for stopping by today.  If you have any questions or comments, please leave them here, and I will answer as best I can.  If I don't know the answer, I'll get it for you.  If you're not already a "follower" of my blog, please go to the top of the page and click on the follow tab.  And, as always,
                                      Happy Tails, Everyone!!!!!!!