Prevent your Dachshund getting bored, overweight and untrained

Many Dachshund owners feel that because of their small size they get enough exercise in their house and therefore do not realize the importance of walking a Dachshund. Some owners constantly carry around there dachshunds and their little legs hardly touch the ground – I know they love it but they need exercise! 

Whilst it is true that with a big yard and lots of playtime a Dachshund can look fit. However, there are many more reasons for taking the time to take your Dachshund for a walk. 

Socializing Your Dachshund 

Dachshunds are very social dogs and enjoy seeing other humans and dogs. This teaches them how to behave around people and animals and immensely improves their general wellbeing.  A dog that has not been properly socialized can be skittish around people and even resort to biting. A Dachshund that is not used to being outside of the home can become a problem when it comes to vet visits or when you have no option but to take your dog somewhere. They are often scared and fearful of the outside world.

Start by taking your Dachshund for short walks and introduce him to people and other dogs – a great place to do this is a dog park but please make sure they have a section for small dogs so that he can not escape nor get trampled on by a rowdy larger dog. If you can time your visit to the dog park when it is not so busy that it overwhelms your dog then even better. He may at first just hang out near you but after a short time the inquisitiveness of a Dachshund will take over and he will soon be wanting to sniff the other dogs. 

Overweight Dachshunds 

Dachshunds are prone to becoming overweight and this will cause major back problems for them. Too many Dachshunds suffer from back pain purely because they are fat, this can lead to needing surgery and even loss of feeling in their back legs. Bred to be working muscular dogs, their long backbones are not suitable for carrying more than their natural body weight. An overweight Dachshund needs to have regular exercise and a healthy diet. Walks will not only be good for both of you but also stimulate his internal organs and muscles thus preventing many illnesses including back pain and liver problems. 

The Bored Dachshund 

Dachshunds are by nature intelligent and need mental stimulation. They are working dogs and their breeding has focused on their ability to think for themselves, work hard, and spend a lot of time tracking small animals. Of course, not many Dachshunds still work for their dinner but they do need the stimulation of the outside to prevent boredom and depression. New smells, other dogs, people, and new places all help to keep your dachshund healthy and prevents boredom. 

The Fearful Dachshund 

Due to their small size, dachshunds can be scared of loud noises, large objects and eventually anything outside their home. Taking regular walks introduces your dogs to these things and teaches them that there is nothing to fear. If your Dachshund has developed a fearful nature, it is imperative that you work slowly in introducing him to the big scary outside world. With a lot of patience and training your dog will gradually learn to enjoy and look forward to his walks. Please make sure that you have a good leash because Dachshunds are stronger than they look. If something scares them their first instinct is to run, this sudden spurt of energy can easily break a weak leash or pull it out of your hands. Letting your scared dog get loose can be very dangerous, with the risk of them running blindly into a road or refusing to come back to you. 

The untrained Dachshund 

Although it is true that a dachshund can be very stubborn, they are also very intelligent and keen to learn. Hundreds of dachshunds are dumped in shelters every year, because their owners failed to train them properly producing a stubborn dog that rules the household. Some of the lucky ones are picked up by Dachshund rescue groups and are then trained in foster homes, going on to be adopted out as loving pets. 

Taking walks with your dog is the perfect time to start training them. Do not let your dachshund walk you – you will be reinforcing his alpha dog status and giving him all the power. Start by learning how to train your dog and then introduce him to short lessons. A well trained Dachshund is a joy to be around, but if you slack off these lovable dogs will make up their own rules.

Unable to walk your dachshund 

Many people chose a dachshund because of their small size and loving nature. They enjoy snuggling on laps and love being fussed over, so it is not surprising that they are perfect dogs for people that live in apartments and do not want, or are unable to walk their dog. 

If you are not in a position to be able to take your dog on regular walks and perhaps live in an apartment it might be worth paying a dog walker. Please make sure that you get someone you trust to walk your dog, and that they are used to small dogs and are aware of their upper body strength. 

Another alternative is doggy day care. They seem to be popping up everywhere and are sometimes attached to vet offices or training centers. If you decide to go this route, be sure to pop in and check out the facilities first. Make sure they are aware of your dachshund’s special needs. Especially when it comes to their backs – They need to know how to correctly pick them up, not let them twist and turn, supervise them around larger dogs that might accidently hurt them during play, and not let them climb or jump on anything. 

Also, try challenging your Dachshund during playtime. For instance, hiding a toy and letting them find it, is a game they love. Another game they love is wrapping a toy in an old t-shirt. This not only provides exercise for their whole body but also is a game that appeals to their working/hunting instincts.  

Please make sure that the toys you chose are suitable for Dachshunds – they have very strong jaws!

Visit http://www.squidoo.com/dachshund_Luke for imformation on Dachshund approved supplies – all tested and approved by Dachshunds.

You can also train your dog to sit, stay, come, and walk to heal as a way of not only having a well-trained dachshund, but also helps keep your dog stimulated. 

For information on how to train and care for your dachshunds and to sign up for a free mini course visit Dachshund Care And Training

It’s essential for Dachshund parents like you to know certain basic factors that determine your relationship with your Dachshund and can go a long way in in learning how to train a Dachshund with love effectively.

Before you begin training your Dachshund, it is absolutely essential that you build a loving bond with him. This is important as it helps you to understand his needs and instincts and also allows your Dachshund to have complete trust in you.

How To Train A Dachshund With Love – Bond With Your Dachshund

Building a bond with your Dachshund is the first and the most crucial step involved in training him successfully. As soon as you bring your Dachshund home, you must first try to develop a caring and loving relationship with him in order to win his trust and confidence.

When Dachshunds are secure in the knowledge that they belong to the family, they are more likely to respond better to their owners’ training commands. Just like with any relationship, there must be mutual trust, love, and respect between you and your Dachshund.

Trust takes time to develop and respect comes from defining boundaries and treating any breach of those boundaries with firmness and fairness.

Without enforceable limitations, respect can’t be developed. And when there is no respect, building a bond with your Dachshund is almost impossible.

4 Golden Rules To Building A Relationship With Your Dachshund :

Love Your Dachshund and He Will Love You back

Once you’re succesful in building a bond with your Dachshund, you can rest assured that training him and teaching him new and clever tricks will be a cakewalk.

Learn how to bond with your Dachshund with this free mini course.

How Your Dachshund Learns…

Your Dachshund’s learning period can be divided into five phases:

The Teaching Phase – This is the phase where you must physically demonstrate to your Dachshund exactly what you want him to do.

The Practicing Phase – Practice makes Perfect. Once a lesson is learnt, practice with your Dachshund what you have just taught him.

The Generalizing Phase – Here you must continue practicing with your Dachshund in different locations and in an environment with a few distractions. You can take your Dachshund out for a walk, or to a nearby park and command him to practice whatever you’ve taught him.

Practicing the learned lessons in multiple locations and in the presence of small distractions will help him learn and retain lessons better .

The Testing Phase – Once you’re sure that your Dachshund has achieved almost 90% success….he responds correctly almost every time you give a command, you must start testing his accuracy in newer locations with a lot of distractions.

Example: Take him to the local shopping mall and ask him to obey your command. He may not come up with the correct response the very first time you do this, but you must not lose hope.

The idea is to test your Dachshund to see how he responds in an environment which is new to him. Set-up a situation where you are in control of the environment and your Dachshund.

There are only 2 possibilities:

Keep on testing until he succeeds. Follow the rule of the 3 Ps – patience, persistence, praise.

Internalizing Phase – Finally, comes the extremely rewarding phase where your Dachshund does everything he is taught to do even without your commands.

Remember:

Learn how to train your Dachshund better with this free mini course.

Recipe Books – Easy Meals For Dachshunds

Learn how to make easy homemade meals for your Dachshund. These wonderful Dachshund homemade recipe books are packed with easy to make meals that Dachshunds love.

They are easy to follow, provide the correct healthy balance, and help with allergies and sickness.

• Are you still feeding your Dachshund prepared food from the store?
• Perhaps you are like us concerned about the unwanted ingredients in their food.
• Hundreds of Dachshund owners are turning to homemade food and are seeing remarkable results in their Dachshunds health.
• To read more about what is really in some of the commercial dog foods please read my post Dachshund Dog Food Can Cause Sickness And Allergies

We have put together some of what we consider the best dog food recipe books available!

The Complete Dog Food & Nutrition Guide Full of great recipes Dog nutrition Explains what’s in commercial food Includes Audio’s Free dog food report Click here to read more

Canine Cuisine 130+ delicious homemade dog food recipes Easy to cook All natural recipes Focused on Nutrition Click here to read more

“What’s this!”

Healthy Food For Dogs: Homemade Recipes 245 Healthy Recipes Natural recipe to keep fleas away Dog bones Eliminate dogs bad breath  Click Here to read more

All of the above are available for instant download therefore are cheaper than purchasing in the bookstores and save trees!  

Our gift to you!

The Dog Food Report $19.00 FREE for a short time only!

Sign-up with Everything Dachsunds and we will be happy to send you this FREE report!

What are you feeding your Dachshund?

Are you aware that the dog food we are feeding our Dachshunds can cause sickness and allergies? After the big pet food recall I think we have all become a little more aware about the dog food we are feeding our Dachshunds and that it may not always be as safe as it should be. 

Most people feed their Dachshunds prepared pet food – it is convenient to grab a few tins or a bag while we are purchasing our own food. We trust the glossy pictures on the bags of healthy dogs – after all the manufactures are responsible for providing all the nutrition your dog needs to grow strong and healthy – or so we hope. 

Dogs need protein and fat – of course, before commercial dog food they would get this from meat. They also require carbohydrates in their diet. This is a balancing act – too much or too little protein can cause diseases. 

However, it is important that you check the ingredients on the labels – although they can be very confusing.   
A few of the ingredients you will see on commercial pet food are:

So lets break this down a little.

Corn – Dachshunds and most dogs have a difficult time digesting corn and it can often cause allergies that could show up as physiological or behavioral problems. Please also be aware that this corn has already been rejected for human consumption – it failed USDA inspection because of mold, rancidity and other contaminants! Check the label and choose a dog food without corn if possible.

Fat – fat is basically added to ensure  your dog eats the kibble – they love fat just like us and a little is not harmful but too much just like us will make them fat. Check the fat content.

Meat– Aha at last an ingredient our Dachshund’s need. Depending on the food you chose it could be Chicken, Beef, or Lamb – However, the meat used in dog foods is not available at our local butchers. I went searching on the Internet to find out what this meat is and was a little upset with the results.

Ready? Well lets take chicken by-product (or beef and lamb) – that is the heads, beaks, legs, intestines, neck basically what we don’t eat is ground up for dog food. I guess that is not too bad until you consider where the meat is coming from. This ‘meat’ is rejected human grade slaughtered animals. Some of the manufactures use animals from vets, test centers, and watch if the packet just say meat – that could be any dead animal.

We should check the dog food labels to see what percentage meat content it has – this would be nice it they actually put it on the label but they do not want you to know!

This is copied direct from www.aafco.org   association of American feed control officers:

Am I correct that parts from sick, dying, or dead animals are allowed? Doesn’t this pose a health risk to pets?

Animal by-products which may include materials from animals which died by means other than slaughter are explicitly defined as adulterated unless the materials are rendered in compliance with animal health and protein product regulations to destroy any potential microorganisms which may be in the products. The processes used are deemed to be adequate to control risk of disease.

  Why am I so passionate about telling you all this?

I have a mini Dachshund called Luke. He weighs 9LB. I love Luke so much and he is the seriously the best dog I have ever had the pleasure to own. He is such a darling and I want the best for him so that he stays healthy and has a long happy life.

I started buying him what I thought was the best dog food available, it came in little containers, smelt disgusting but looked great and he loved it.

 Two months later, he started to be sick, throwing up and had bad diarrhea. I of course rushed him to the vet. At first, they thought that maybe he had eaten something on one of this walks, or maybe had an infection. The vet gave him an injection to stop him being sick and some tablets to sooth his stomach.

The next day I was back at the vets’ office again – he was much worse, lethargic and the symptoms had got worse. This time the vet was more concerned and ran some tests on poor little Luke. One of the tests showed that the food was being blocked from entering his stomach and he needed an emergency operation.

I was so scared especially when the vet explained that they were not sure if it would work. They went on to ask what I was feeding him. Apparently, the little cute cans of food that I was so lovingly giving him were much too rich for a small delicate Dachshunds stomach. This had caused an acid build up, his stomach was fighting to digest the food, and eventually it had caused a blockage and a lot of pain.  

When I went to the vets office after his operation I was shocked at how awful Luke looked. I just broke down and cried I could not stop feeling so guilty for doing this to him. Why was I so stupid, why had I just blindly believed that the food sold in the supermarkets would be safe?

Luke struggled to stay alive and recover from his operation for 7 days. He lost a lot of weight and looked all bone. I visited him and stayed as long as the vets’ office would let me, trying to sooth him and get him to eat. He had a scar down the whole length of his little belly and looked so sad.

Finally, the vet said I could take him home to continue his care there. He was on four different pills three times a day. His recovery was slow and painful but gradually he began to eat without being sick and put a little of his lost weight and muscle tone back on.

One thing the vet did stress to me is that he sees this regularly especially with small breeds and that I should be very careful what I feed him – the trend is increasing. He is now on a mix of prescription dog food and homemade food and is much healthier.

This all happened three years ago but it did so much damage to his stomach that to this day, if he so much as nibbles something that he should not have, he is throwing up again. It is a constant battle when we are out of the house to make sure he does not find any dropped food.

Even if your Dachshund can eat anything and seem OK, there is a chance that some time in his life his little body will have had enough.

The dog food you are feeding your Dachshund could be causing Liver and Kidney dysfunction and bladder and stomach cancer.

Some of the symptoms may show up as allergies including:

• itching
• hot spots
• dandruff
• excessive shedding
• foot-licking
• face-rubbing
• loose stools
• gassiness

I urge you to learn as much as you can about what is in the food you are feeding your Dachshund so that they do not have to go through what Dachshund Luke did – or worse.

Watch this video for more information – it is an eye opener!

To get the full information on what is in your Dachshunds Food CLICK HERE and find out how to increase the lifespan of your Dachshund by 130%!

Dachshund owners at some point will want to give their Dachshund a bath however, Dachshunds are often scared of running or deep water so if you are bathing them in the bath don’t fill it up and expect them to enjoy a swim.

Also, try to avoid suddenly turning the shower on full blast.

Another issue with bathing a Dachshund is a slippery surface – you want to avoid them twisting their backs at all times especially if they are nervous so make sure they have secure footing – use a bath non slip mat if possible. 

You might also consider playing with your Dachshund in an empty bath first (I personally don’t do this because I do not want my Dachshund trying to jump in the empty bath to play, however it works for some Dachshunds that are very scared of the bath) or using small treats at the beginning and end of their bath time. 

What you need for your Dachshunds bath: 

• Be prepared – get everything ready before you place your Dachshund in water – he will not sit in the tub while you look for things.
• Peace and Calm -  you want your Dachshund to enjoy his bath 
• Something to bath them in – nothing perched on a high surface – you do not want an excitable Dachshund either tipping it over or jumping out and falling to the ground – if available the bath tub is the best place
• Mild dog shampoo – pick a good shampoo that will not dry out their skin
• Towels – you may need a couple – one for your Dachshund and one for you!
• Container for pouring water
• Warm water – not to hot!
• Water level to just under your Dachshunds belly
• A warm room – do not bath your Dachshund in a cold or drafty place
• Your Dachshund! – pick up casually – don’t make a big issue of bath time.
• Treats if using them

 Bathing Your Dachshund 

• Now gently lower your Dachshund into the water. Soothing words from you help it they are not used to bathing 
• Use the container and gently pour water over your Dachshund
• Pour a small portion of dog shampoo into your hands and rub them together
• Gently massage the shampoo into your Dachshunds coat – covering their body
• Avoid their face and ears
• Use the container and gently pour water over your Dachshund
• Run your hand from your Dachshunds neck to tail to help remove excess water and shampoo.
• Repeat until they are shampoo free – don’t forget their belly
• Pull the plug if in a bath. If not leave water until your Dachshund is out

 After your Dachshund’s Bath 

• Be prepared for your Dachshund to want to wiggle and push away from you when you pick them up
• If possible, place the towel over your Dachshund while they are still in the bath.
• Ok, pick them up and try to avoid them twisting their backs
• If they are calm, then gently pat them dry with the towel or rub gently in direction of fur growth.
• After a quick towel drying or if they are wiggling too much – Let Them Loose
• Keep your Dachshund warm
• Do not let your Dachshund outside – he will roll in the dirt and if it is cold out he could get sick  

Your Dachshund will most likely excitably run around the room and roll around to dry off. If you do not want them doing this directly on your furniture, put a towel down for them – preferable on a soft surface. They will be dry in a very short time. They enjoy the wiggling so please let them do this. It reinforces bathing a more positive experience for them.

 Washing your Dachshunds face and ears 

• When they calm down (or another day) this is time to wash their face and ears
• Use a soft cloth and wet with warm water
• Gently wipe their face and ears in the direction of their fur growth
• Do not push the cloth inside their ears – just wipe the outside – but use this time to also check the inside of their ears are free of excess dirt or ticks
• Use vet approved ear cleaning cloths to gently clean the inside of his ears 

This method of using a soft wet cloth can be used on their whole body when a quick clean up is needed. Perhaps after a walk in the rain you might want to wipe them down.

A cloth soaked in a few drops of vinegar added to warm water also works very well and in most cases is all that your Dachshund would need to keep his coat clean.

Dachshund Care and Grooming is reasonable easy. Dachshund coats can simply be wiped down with a warm wet cloth, so due to their small size, the time involved is minimal. Even the longhaired variety just needs regular brushing and de-knotting. 

However, they do need occasional baths – Dachshunds love to roll in anything that smells. The hunting dog instinct to disguise their own scent makes all the smelliest, deadliest things on the ground irresistible for a good roll in.

Although they love to roll in smelly things, they are often not very keen on water or baths.

If your Dachshund is still a puppy now is a good time to get them used to bathing. Do not over do it – perhaps every couple of months give them a quick bath.

Follow this link to find out :
How to bath a Dachshund

For Correct Size Travel Crate 

It is very important to measure your Dachshund carefully to ensure you are purchasing the correct size. This can be a little confusing – here are step-by step instructions on how to measure your Dachshund for a crate that will comply with airline rules.

When choosing a crate for airline travel with your Dachshund please be aware that an airline can refuse to take your dog on the flight for not having the correct airline approved crate and if it is the wrong size for your Dachshund.

We were surprised after measuring our Dachshund (Luke) that due to his long back he needed a larger cage than we would have purchased.

This is the correct way to measure your Dachshund before purchasing a crate for airline travel.

So get out the tape and determine:                                 

A = Length of your dog from nose to base of tail                

B = Height from ground to elbow joint                                            

C = Width across shoulders                                                             

D = Height, ground to top of head or tip of ear (highest point)  

Luke’s measurements:

A= 19 inches   B=  3 inches  C=  6 inches  D= 12 inches 

Kennel sizing:                                                               

Length of kennel = A + B                                                                                     

Width= C + l inch (3cm) x 2                                             

Height = D + 3 inches                                                         

Luke’s kennel size:

Length = 22 inches  Width = 14 inches  Height = 15 inches

Petmate Kennel sizes:

Small: 21″ x 16″ x15″
Medium: 28″ x 20 1/2″ x 21 1/2″

As you can see because of a Dachshund’s long back, they are often too long for a small cage.

Dachshund Luke only has 3-inch legs yet he needed a medium cage (by 1 inch!). Had I just gone into a pets store to buy a cage I would defiantly have purchased a smaller version.

Again, please check with your chosen airline and then measure away.

 How To Prepare A Dachshunds Crate For A Flight

Flying With A Dachshund Make Sure They Get On The Flight

Make Sure They Get On The Flight!

Leaving your Dachshund with the airline cargo department can be a worrying time.

You want to make sure your Dachshund gets on the flight before you board (or leave if not flying with them). 

If possible find a window with a view of the plane (your boarding area is a good place to start) and watch them load your dog onto the plane.

If you have prepared your Dachshund’s crate for a flight (pimped your crate), you should be able to distinguish it from the others therefore giving you peace of mind and confirmation that he is on the plane before you get on. 

Do not board until you have seen your dog’s cage get loaded onto the plane. Inform a flight attendant if you did not see the cage and let them know you will not board until you are certain your dog is on the plane. When they have checked and assured you that your dog is loaded, ask what the cage looked like. They should be able to describe it since it is unique. If not then this is the time to stand your ground.

Do not enter that plane until you are sure your Dachshund is on it! Better to be sure now than doing the lost dog route at your destination. 

Travelling on the same flight? Even though the ground crew has now assured you that your Dachshund is indeed onboard, ask a crewmember on the plane to confirm that your dog is onboard (before you take-off). Easier for them to be able to look and confirm if the crate has say pink stripes rather than the beige crate.

Continental Airline crew have always been very happy to do this on our flights and the Captain even went and checked for us and since our crate was different it was easy for him to spot. 

Now you can sit back and enjoy the flight. 

We flew Continental Airline and they had no objection to our cage of many colors but it is worth checking with your airline when booking your Dachshund.

How To Measure A Dachshund For A Travel Crate

How To Prepare A Dachshund’s Crate For A Flight

When you fill out the forms and hand over your dog to the Pet Cargo department, he begins a journey without you to monitor him, similar to your luggage.

Luggage not arriving is an inconvenience; you file a complaint and let off a bit of steam at the lost luggage office, buy a new set of underwear and a toothbrush and hope that it magically appears at your hotel before the end of your vacation.

Your dog not arriving is unforgivable and stressful to say the least. 

When he transferred between the warehouse, cargo, and plane, you want everyone to remember his crate. The more it stands out from the other crates the better. 

Tips on how to get  your Dachshunds crate ready for a flight. 

Sticky tape in various colors is perfect. Buy fluorescent and bright colors and have fun. Important: Make sure you do not block any air holes or the airlines will ask you to remove it. 

Reflectors: Put these on each side so the cage reflects light making it easier to see. 

Ribbon in bright colors’ or twine tied to the handle of the cage – just as you would do to your luggage. 

Label your crate with a picture of your dog. We have a Dachshund; he is small and wanted the handlers to know that. 

Include on the label: flight information, your name, dogs name, and contact phone numbers. Print 4 and tape them to each corner of the crate. 

Label your dog. Write contact numbers, your dogs name and flight details on a piece of tape and stick it onto his collar. 

Tape a ziplock bag of dry food to the top of the crate. 

Food bowls: These have to be airline approved (order with cage) and attached inside on the door of the crate. 

Secure crate: When checking your Dachshund into the cargo PETS department double check that the cage is secure. As well as the bolts that come with the cage, also use zip ties as a double precaution. Zip tie the cage door closed so that it is less likely to be opened by a staff member unless in an emergency. 

Include a pillow and blanket for your dog. Dachshund especially are often more comfortable if they can burrow under a blanket.

Please be sure to check the following links:

 How To Measure A Dachshund For A Travel Crate

Flying With A Dachshund – Make Sure They Get On The Plane

Potty Training A Dachshund Puppy -

Review Dove Cresswell Online Training

Many methods are available to teach you how to Potty Train a Dachshund Puppy and you should explore which will work best for you and your puppy.

One method is with videos – this way you can see if you are doing it correctly. I have been lucky enough to be able to review Dove Cresswell’s Online Dog Training videos and must say I was very impressed.

Due to the short fun lessons, I feel they would be perfect for the intelligent fun loving Dachshund Puppy.

They are easy to follow along – Dove talks you through the training from beginning to end and visuals really help with understanding what to do.

Dove Cresswell is a well-known professional animal trainer for films, television, and commercials. The movies she has worked on include saved! and Sam’s Lake. Television shows include Romeo, Charlie’s Angels and Cougar Crossings to mention but a few.

The watch and listen lessons include :

Puppy Housebreaking/ Potty Training

Crate Training

Dog Obedience Training

Walking Politely on a Leash

The Recall

Good Puppy and Dog Manners

Special Dog Tricks

The beauty of this course is that it includes being able to get in touch with Dove DIRECTLY!

Watch A Free Lesson

Imagine you have been through the course and have a question about your own dog – well Dove is just an email away and promises to answer all emails herself. That is like having your own private trainer!

I put Dove to the test and got a personal reply from her the same day!
This is the first dog training course that I have found fun, easy and felt like I had back-up direct from the trainer to the stars!

As a bonus Dove also includes

Teach your Dog to Fetch

Train your Dog to Play Soccer

Teach Your Dog to Play Hide ‘n Seek

Information on Dog Sports

Choosing the Right Toys For Your Dog

Earning Your Dog’s Respect

Choosing the Right Dog Food & Treats

Have a look and see for yourself – Dove even has a FREE lesson for you

Watch A Free Lesson

”Train your dog the same fast, effective, fun way a professional dog trainer uses to train pet stars in film, television, and commercials.”