Who introduced you to Dachshunds?

[quavec]

How were all of you introduced into the world of dachshunds?

I chose "other". A coworker wanted to give Cricket away and we happened to be thinking of getting a dog. It was "fate".

[pipsqueak21]

My Grandparents have a dachshund named Tanner. I have always thought they were cute, but he was the first one I really "knew!" :)

[blazeman]

I voted other. My grandmother's neighbor always had "Penny". Penny was a VERY overweight standard red smooth. There were actually a few Penny's.... but they were all named Penny.

After that... my best friend and his wife got me hooked... Mandy will be 10 this year!

[TDR11114]

From a friend of mine named Cindy. We had two Doxie sisters, names Grunt Puppy and Runt Puppy, and they were both Black and Tans. They, however were 6 months apart in age, where as Lady Bug and Blue are the same age. :wavey:

[juliette]

Other for me too! Many of you know this story..but my assistant is the one responsible. He found Otto wandering downtown Toronto - obviously hungry, without collar, tags or chip. After keeping him for several days and checking with all the shelters that nobody was looking for him...Ryan (my assistant) brought Otto into work.

I lasted 2 hours.....

The irony is, the night before we brought him home, Ryan wrote me a four page email asking if I knew the level of responsibility I was undertaking by bringing a dog into my life! Everytime we do something else to spoil these two little :devil1: :devil1: , I make sure I tell Ryan and laugh about his email concerns!

[grandma-mom]

Family member for me. My parents got their 1st Dachsie when I was 3 when my Dad was stationed in post war Germany. Her name was Lainey. Yrs. later when I was 14 and recovering from a bad car accident my Dad brought home lLainey 2, Cheryl

[Yoga Gal]

I voted other - we rescued Audrey Hepburn from the local animal control. Now, I simply can't imagine our lives without "the Princess"!!! :)

Kathy and Audrey Hepburn

[SirOliversMom]

Family member for me. My daughter got this tiny little dachshund pup from her then, fiancee's aunt. Her name was Nykiya. The spunk and the personality of that little girl stole not only my heart but that of my Cocker Spaniel's at the time. She passed with a liver problem by the time she was 4 months old. I loved the spunk and the attitude and knew it was just a matter of time before I got one.

[Juneysmom]

When I used to live in Italy, we had a neighbor that had a dachshund. She was such a sweetheart to me. I loved playing with her. From then on, I wanted a dachshund, but never was able to get one until I was in college.

[onebigmickeyfan]

I was brought home from the hospital and greeted by Teddy who was Mom and Dad's 17 year old red smooth tweeny and their first baby. He was a year old when my sister was born and greeted her when she came home from the hospital too. Mom said he was sis's best friend growing up and when I was born and my sister had found cars and boys he napped under my crib and layed next to my pumpkin seat to watch over me. Apparently he knew a dachshund lover even as a newborn. ;)

[lotsadox]

That would be my DH. When I was growing up, my cousins had a dachshund mix named Cleo that I was around some, but it was when I got married and my husband, Jim, wanted to get a dachshund that I really got hooked.

His first wife was given a dachshund puppy as a present. The dachshund never liked her and when she left the dachshund stayed. He had lost Max and year or so before we met and wanted to get another one so we got Bandit, a LH dachshund/cocker mix and from then on it was nothing but dachshund for me.

[goldie]

That would also be my DH! He wanted a dog and it had to be a dachshund. He was never around them before but he just knew he wanted one of these babies! I think partially because they are German - his family is from there and also he just gushes about how cute they are. I'd never given them much thought until he started sending me website of doxie puppies and then when we got our doxie I completely fell in love and no other dog or breed is cuter than the doxie to me now!

[rustydaisymom]

I have had a dachshund for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, we had one and so did all of my cousins, we were a doxie family. They all progressed to larger dogs, St Bernards, Labs, German Shep, Boxers, but being the smartest one in the family I stuck with doxies.

[PennyLover]

My great aunt had a black and tan dachshund name Gretchen when I was growing up. She was such a sweetie and always smothered me with kisses. When she died, my uncle got my aunt two red minis(Hansel and Gretel) They were even sweeter then Gretchen and I fell instantly in love with them. I remember always getting so excited when my aunt would come visit because I knew the dogs would be coming, too! Growing up, my parents(mostly my dad)didn't like dogs and I could never have one. So, I lived for visits from people with dogs. And speaking of my non-dog loving father.....who do you think came over and snowplowed the backyard so Pippit could go potty? You got it. :hugs1:

[Orchid Crazy]

I voted friend. A family friend, actually worked under my dad, had one. She was a hoot! Tiny teror, chock full of personality. Forward on about 20 years, we got our pop up and started camping and everywhere we camp we run into doxies. I got a dog bug, needed to scratch that itch but hubby was not so convinced. Took a LONG time, many pics of dogs left on the computer screen, sent to work. Then I ran across Buddy, actually across his brother. We ended up with him after the lady who had bought him backed out of the deal. The kids "surprised" me by having him flown in and telling me we were going to pick up my parents. Hubby said the only thing he wanted was a dog who played fetch, well he got that ten-fold! Now hubby talks every so often about #2, has to be his idea though, we are contemplating one now, just can't get a firm committment.

[kpm_tex]

I actually didn't really know anyone who had a dachshund when I decided to get one. I wanted a small dog that would be a good watch dog... just for alerting... and did not shed or at least not much.
I got on the AKC site and narrowed down the search to Dachshunds, Cairn Terrier, Westie or a Parson (jack) Russell Terrier. *Then* I remembered seeing some wire haired puppies years ago at a dog show...they were the cutest things I had ever seen so I started looking them up on the internet and knew that was the doggie for me. I contacted Cindi via e-mail (she is the DFW Breeder Referral contact) and she just happened to know of a cute little black & tan girl that was available.... and the rest is history. Cindi is also responsible *guilty of* getting me involved in agility and all the other Dachsie things ... it is addicitive!! :dizzy:

[red haired girl]

I had not been around them much. We had a B/T for about 2 months when I was a girl but she had an unfortunate incident. I dreamed of Low-la, went to the shelter to pick her up. I started doing a web search on dachsies when I got home that afternoon. I ended up here, so I have to say All of you introduced me to dachshunds. Up until I found this board, all I had was a really sweet dog. Now I have 2 little people in dog suits.

By the way - Friday the 18th was 1 year that Low-la has been with us.

[Kim H.]

I didn't know much about them either.
My only childhood contact was a red standard (a little overweight) girl named Heidi owned by our neighbor.

We always had cockers, but although my husband had as well, he wanted something smaller. I think we started wandering through pet stores and discovered the mini longhairs, who supposedly have cocker in their ancestry... and that was it. We love the look and the personality (even though our 3 have been very different, they all have that dachshund attitude) :D .

[roxysmom]

Definately "other". I don't remember being around doxies as a kid. I was around dogs, mostly bigger my whole life. I always thought "those little weiner dogs" were "cute". So, when I decided I was ready to get a dog I researched them and when I found out they sleep during the day when their owner is gone, I though Perfect! I was volunteering for an all breed rescue and almost adopted an 11 year old chihuahua(he had a great personality) but felt he probably couldn't go all day without having to go outside. Six months later I was volunteering on a saturday adoption day when Roxy (then mamby :sick: ) and her sister Fanny (a cart wonder) came in. I instantly fell in love with her, took her home for a "trial" and she never left! BTW she never responded to Mamby, but she sure knows Roxy! :D

[blueyezz74]

We got our first dachsie when I was 9 months old!

[Heidismom]

I was very fortunate, at the age of 2, when my parents decided to get a purebred, registered, and very pedigreed, black/tan smooth little dachsie registered as Johanna... (call name "Buttons"). She helped train me in the way I should go. She was followed in time, by Useless, (aka Lucy) a red smooth. Then in college, I got my first (and only boy) dachsie, Friedrich - call name "Fritz". He was my first experience with IDD. After I moved to CA, I spent a few years without, and then 2 roommates got Heidi Kristin for me on a birthday. 3 years later I got Gretl Ermintrude, then I got Siglen Altair after a few years. After Heidi crossed the Bridge, I got Brekke Schokolade a few months later. Then I adopted Sorcha Rhiannon at almost 6 years of age - my first non-pup. Now I am down to Brekke - hoping to change that, though - I really want her to have a buddy!

[phrogger]

I voted family.

Ok I have to be honest I did NOT like dachshunds growing up. I have only been bit by a dog once as a teen and it was a dachshund.I still have the scar to this day. When my BF told me he bought a dog I thought GREAT. We were living about 350 miles from each other and I knew a dog would keep him happy. Then he told me it was a mini dachshund. YUCK I thought. OMG here is going to be an evil biting machine (he is but that is another story).

Anyway I met Jimmy about a month after BF bought him. I feel in love with him almost instantly. I was going through a very emotional time and wanted nothing more then to sit and cry and feel sorry for myself. Jimmy sat right next to me, licked my tears and cried with me. I knew he was my buddy after that. I then decided we needed a friend for Jimmy so we went out and found Malibu. The rest is history. They are both my babies. Of course my dog of "choice" would have been a pit bull/staffordshire bull terrior, BUT if I can't have that, I will take my Jimmy and Malibu.

[Tina]

My grandparents had doxies, my parents had doxies the whole time I was growing up, and they have two now. My husband certainly knew what kind of dogs we'd end up with! :D

[Penny's mom]

for me! I never knew a single thing about these wonderful dogs, except they were called "hotdogs". :dorky: I saw a couple of them together being walked down the street and fell head over heels with the way they looked! A couple of years ago I was going through some hard times emotionally and decided to get a dog for comfort. :hugs1: I was looking through the want ads and found my Penny. I'm a gonner! Now I need another and another! :circle: :circle:

[dutchman]

I can't remember exactly how old I was when my dad brought home our first dog Missy. She was a six month old B&T smooth tweenie. I know I was old enough to be in School but also know we had had her at least a couple of years when we moved to Colorado when I was 9. She was a terror at first and didn't care for me at all standing up on her hind legs and nipping at my arms. My dad got her over that and we became very good buddies with her even being allowed to sleep in my bed at least part of the time. I have many memories of Missy who we let get overweight and we lost her to a heart attack one day while my sister and I were in school and my dad was at work. As hard as her loss hit us kids I think my dad felt the loss the most. Missy had always been his dog waiting for him to get home so she could sit with him in the evening. It took us about six months to convince dad to get us another dog a dachshund of course..

[willsana]

That friend was Miss Minnie. She was a red long haired dachshund mix. Picture a long haired red with long delicate legs. :D My roommate wanted a dog so we went to the animal shelter. She was hoping to find a border collie or border collie mix. There was this tiny 9 month old little red dog standing with her feet on the kennel door. My friend saw her and was instantly in love!

Minnie was a wonderful dog. I helped her through back surgery recovery. (My heated waterbed was the only place she could sleep comfortably. So I slept on the floor below her and watched over (below her?) at night because my roommate was a very sound sleeper and I am an insomniac.) After my roommate and Minnie moved to their own home I was so lonely only see Minnie at work (didn't miss the roommate that much ;) ) I started looking for a pup of my own. I wanted a Westie. A dream I had had for YEARS. But then I saw little baby Duffy! A wirehaired Dachshund. I suddenly knew it was the Dachsie in Minnie that I loved so much. :) So while Miss Minnie was "The Queen of Everything" My Duffy became "The Princess of Almost Everything." They were bestest buds.

I hope you all don't mind an image in this thread. I can't resist. :) Duffy was 5 or 6 months old in this one. Minnie was about 4 years old. They were stopped in mid-play by the camera. Minnie thought it was very rude of me! :D
http://www.afreeimagehost.com/upload/2623/paradoxsm.jpg

[quavec]

That is an adorable picture Annie! Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories! :hugs1:

[pixiey]

:circle: A dachshund! I was in a pet store (horrible me) b/c it was on my way to work, when i saw a little doxie runt. He was wearing a blue knit sweater and was tiny tiny. I would buy from a pet store, but fell in love with him, so hubby and i started looking at breeders. When we found Justice he had just woken from a nap and was so unbeliveably adorable, we had to have him. Who knew he would be such a monster :circle:

[PipsFolks]

That'd be family for us! My mom had a black and tan long-haired standard, Scamper, that was my constant companion 'til Jr High. I had always wanted another so when our black lab passed away and the kids were all moved out and we were looking for a little dog....in steps Pippin! Laurel had never dealt with one before...she's hooked now! :dizzy:

[Schatz's Mom]

I voted other as well. Growing up we always had cocker spaniels. As a teenager in the '70's I entered a pet store (Wish I had know then what I know now) and saw my first true love. A very small red male dachsie came home with me that day. Beauregard was a fitting name for such a small fellow. Unfortunately Beau died two weeks after I brought him home, he had Parvo when I bought him. I sued the pet store and did succeed in getting my money back but the heartache was tremendous. Shortly after Beau I purchased a female red smoothie named Scooter from a breeder. Scooter lived to the ripe old age of 17 1/2. Scooter truly was the love of my life. I was heart broken when she passed in 1992 shortly after my son was born. Now almost 13 years later I have returned to the wonderful life of being owned by a dachsie...Mein Tenacious Klein Schatz...My Tenacious Little Sweetheart. He stands up to his name!

[HaleysMom]

There have been several dachshunds throughout the years. I think that the puppy that Mom put in the playpen with me was a dachshund mix, too! Just love dachshunds! I can't imagine life without one :D
Sally

[luvmydoxie]

I choose family. My first dachshund memory is my grandfather's black and tan named king. Then after marrying dh, he told me of his fond memories of his mini, a b/t named Zipper-toot, or Zippy. I began researching the breed and discovered that they'd fit in our family just fine. Now I can't imagine life with out a dachshund, or two....or three...or ??? ;)

[Beth&Bella]

My Uncle Rudy, who happened to be German, had a Dachshund when I was a little girl. That dog was always a fond memory for me, so when I was ready for a dog, it had to be a Dachshund! That Dachsie look stayed in my head for over 20 years!

[gunther's mom]

Boy -m the way I "choose" dachshunds is really ridiculous in hindsight. Well perhaps not ridiculous... but it sounds, oh well, so "cold". At the time we were living in a five floor walk up in NYC. So we figured it needed to be a dog we could lift down the staris if necessary. One that could possibly use dog mats. One that was "low maintenance" because I had serious eye surgery and didn't want a huge amount of "dog hair". So it sounds as if I was cold and caluculating. So we got our little cutie Gunther. Wound never live without a dachsie now.

[kerie0408]

my favorite book as a child--Lengthy, by Syd Hoff!!!!!

It starts out like this:

Lengthy was a very long dog.
He was so long, he couldn't even see his own tail...........

[Joyce]

We had not had a dog for over 30yrs. When my daughter was little we had a Scottie who got mean, so we had to give him away. My DH was so devastated we could never have another dog, he said he would never want to have to give one away again. Then one day we were at friends who had a little Doxie, and my DH said I wouldn't mind having one of those. So the next Father's day I saw an ad in the paper not being educated about such things at the time I went to the BYB and got Dudley. Who only lived 5 years, I didn't think I would ever get another dog as we were devastated at his death. But my DH was so depressed I agreed to contact a breeder, one look at Dexter and we knew he was ours, and the rest is History. Doxies are the love of our life.

[Marion]

I voted 'Other'. When I was small I was dog-(and animal)crazy, but wasn't allowed a dog. My parents weren't being mean (plus my mom would have loved a dog too!) but my dad's GSD that he grew up with died tragically (and painfully) when he was poisoned by burglars at the age of 15. My dad was really affected by this and felt strongly that I was too sensitive (I'm a real softie when it comes to animals!) to handle something happening to a pet. He gave in with the smaller pets though so we had rabbits, hamsters and a few budgies over the years! Anyway, this didn't change the fact that I lived and breathed dogs and just always knew that dachsies were my favourite breed, I can't remember when I first realised that - it was just the way it was! I even knew at least 5 years before we got Solo what her name would be. Then when at long last DH and I bought our first house that had a fair-sized garden we could get our first pups - Solo, and Chewy, a JRT and DH's breed of choice. Now I love both breeds so much but dachsies will always be my 'first love'. :hearts:

[Doxie Duo Mom]

Family introduced me to dachshund my Aunt and Uncle got Herny when I was around 3 (he lived until he was 17 too) however A friend is the reason we got Clay, as they had a mini Peanut who never barked and always listened (without any formal training) at the time we were in an apartment and were limited to a 15# dog so we decided with a dachshund because Peanut was so good. Don't get me wrong Clay is good, but there was only one Peanut. Peanut died in a tragic accident in July '04 and her family got another dachshund in July '05 and they've since learned Clay was not a bad puppy Peanut was just an "original", as this new dachshund is giving them a run for their money with puppyhood.

[Bobbi]

My younger son is also dog crazy and has wanted a dog since he was old enough to know what one is. Unfortunately, I am very allergic to all cats and dogs, or so I thought. I visited a friend last year who had 4 dachshund, chihauhau, and dachsi/chi mixed dogs and I had no reaction! Turns out I'm okay with short-haired dogs! As soon as I returned home we started looking for a dachsie and 6 weeks later Bobbi came to live with us. My son is thrilled and Bobbi is his constant companion. He is a compassionate animal lover and will love her forever.

And Marion...what is a Budgie? :dunno1: (Sorry, my ignorance is showing!)

[Penny & Mags]

Friend here, too! :)
Our good friends Jane & Steve have had dachshunds since they were first married. When we met them in 1989, they had an older dachshund named Shultz. He was a nice enough dog, but I didn't really go crazy over him. In 1994, they brought home a dachshund puppy, a birthday present for Jane. Jane named her Heidi - not exactly after me - it was "the prettiest German girl's name" they knew, but I've taken a lot of ribbing over the years because their young daughter really believed the dog was named after me and told everyone so! :) Anyway, I fell in love with Heidi, and it's so nice for us to have her here with us every winter now. :D

[Marion]

And Marion...what is a Budgie? :dunno1: (Sorry, my ignorance is showing!)
You're not ignorant at all! I think you call budgies parakeets in the U.S.? - sorry! :wave:

[FourOrchards]

I owe it all to my husband. :thanx: He had daschie's growing up and when our Sheltie went to the bridge and I wanted another dog he suggested a Daschie. I don't believe he was expecting one quite so soon after loosing our Bailey but oh well! Ally is a part of our family and we all love her!:heartbt:

[Patricia Levi]

She was my BF's (in high school) dachshund. She was a sassy red smooth overweight cutie-pie. I always wanted a dog, however my parents would not allow it. I fell in love with Lisa,whom was taken for granted by her real family (BF's family) They loved their cats, this was a wonderful family however they did treat Lisa like an unwanted foster child. I adored her. She loved me and when I stayed with them (I lived there for a time) She was my dog while I was there.

Years later it was yet another BF who grew up in NYC, and told me very in depth descriptive stories of life with Peppy his standard B/T dachshund. I would laugh till tears ran down my face, and of course thinking about my good times with Lisa and hearing all about Peppies antics, I just had to have a dachshund. My NYC boyfriend and I found a breeder in Cape Cod and we brought home Oscar (how original I know). I was a single mother at the time and Oscar was the best dachshund just the right amount of sweet and protective. It broke my heart when I had to give him up when I had to leave my house and move into an apartment. However he did go to live with a wonderful family, who adored dachshunds, and lived in a beautiful house on the ocean. He was very happy there.

Years later when my crazy life calmed down again, and I re married and we bought our first home you know the first thing I did was contact rescue and adopted Boomer.....I am hooked, I ofter tell people my dream is to own one of each coat and color all at once.

[DoxieChick]

A neighbor of my parent's. They just had a litter of them-not purposely and was GIVING them away! My sis and I went to get one to try and get my parents to keep one and I completely fell in love! :luvlove:
Hubby looked at me seeing how in love I was as I was holding her and told me I could keep her if I wanted to! :D :weee:
I thank God for that day SO much! :bowing2: I honestly don't know what I'd do without my precious little angel! :angel: :muchlove:

[LaurieE]

Although answering a family member is true, I also don't remember a time when there wasn't at least one dachshund around. I've had dachshunds ever since I was child.

[nonnyd]

i said friend...i had seen doxies around..always they were red...and long...a friend had a male hed gotten for his son..who is physically challenged and the dog and son was just to much for his wife! so we got sam(then named tuffy)..he was 4 mts old...he adopted us right on the spot and we have belonged to him ever since! oh forgot to mention i didnt even know they came in other coats and colors! sam is standard b/t.

[Teckel_Times_2]

I grew up with big dogs... dobies, borzoi, that sort. I never liked dachsies until I met Houston's dam & sire. I was visiting a friend who is a breeder, but had NO intention of buying a weenie. I had my heart set on a French Bulldog. But I could just hold them, right? I could help socialize the pups... soon I was joking about long-nosed Frenchies as I fell in love with little Houston. I first held him at 2 1/2 weeks, and he was my angel baby.

My hubby is afraid of big dogs. He never mentioned it until I came home with Houston, but his mother had had dachshunds in Hungary, and he loves them.

When Houston was a little over a year I started looking for a sibling. I picked Dallas from his breeder's website when he was 8 days old. He's my devil child. :)

[Sabrina]

I've written about it before, but my grandparents introduced me. They had a red sh named Rusty (that I called Russel) and a black sh named Charlie. They were nuts and always getting into trouble. They were complete country dogs and always outside going down groundhog holes and trying to attack porcupines.(that was not a fun day)

Rusty wasn't a friendly guy but for some reason took to me and my brother very well. (out of 24 grandkids and 10 grown children, that's pretty impressive) Charlie was a love dog but was very -very- over weight.

After both my Grandparents passed away six months apart, I knew I wanted a daschund. It made me feel closer to them for some reason. I had to wait 6 years, but I finally moved out on my own and got Zeus!

[Cocoa and Me]

First time I have ever been around a dachsie is my own. I have been around big and small dogs ALL my life. But with Cocoa?? It was truely love at first sight. From the first minute I saw her, I knew she was going to be apart of my life. I couldn't even get 2 mins. away from her before I had already named her. :cloud9: I can still remember the feeling I had when I held her for the first time. :bighug:

[Lillie's Mama]

All of my boyfriends side of the family own dachshunds. Wanted to stick to tradition, and also they are way to cute to resist!

[Halfpint's Mom]

I wasn't exactly introduced to dachshunds. My (now ex) husband was at a friend's house and saw this little black puppy in a crate in the neighbor's yard, that looked like it needed to be rescued. The neighbor had been wanting a go cart frame that my ex kept at his friend's house. So, my ex goes over to the house and offers him the frame for the puppy. He calls, tells me all about this sad little puppy and asks can I have it. At first I said no, because I had enough responsibilities (ex didn't do anything around the house) and a job, and 4 year old son. My ex knew that I loved animals and wouldn't be able to say no if I saw the puppy. I remember on the phone it said he thought it was a "dashound - one of those hot-dog dogs". Well, he brought her home, and Halfpint was my first dog, and dachshund. Neither of us had ever owned a dog before, so I went to the local library and checked out every book I could find about dachshunds.Now I can't imagine ever living without a doxie. Halfpint looked like a dachshund puppy, we didn't realize that she was mixed until she was almost a year old & started holding her ears funny. Not that we really care that she's mixed. I haven't learned how to post her picture on here yet, but if you do a search on Dogster, she's the only Halfpint (all one word) on there. When my ex decided he was leaving, I told him he could have anything he wanted in the house, EXCEPT, for my dogs! Halfpint was supposed to be "his", but he only tried to take care of her for the 1st week or 2 we had her.

[HawaiiDoxieLover]

I was lucky enough to have been from a family that already loved them!

[zoeysmom]

Abby was a dachshund terrier mix - I really loved her attitude and fuzzy face. When she went to the Bridge at 15 years old - I started looking around and saw pictures of wirehair dachshunds - That was 16 years ago

[Pandawags]

A friend gave their dachshund mix to my family
when I was around 3-4 yrs old.

[DavidS]

It was my wife. I was really resistant to getting a dachsie. Not sure why. I guess I was a little afraid of my kids and the dachsie's long backs. Honestly, I had it in my head that they seemed like "fragile" dogs...There's very little fragile about these guys!
Also, my wife kept telling me about the dachsie "personality"...wow...didn't get that either! We actually got a dachshund after talking about it for TWO years! BOY! am I happy we did! These dogs have about three times the personality of other dogs I've met. :D

[3doxez]

My ex husband! I guess I have something to thank him for!

:evilgrin:

[Suzanne R]

When my daughter was younger, we raised and showed Samoyeds. (We STILL love Samoyeds, although Texas weather is not kind to them.) She grew up, moved away, and so did the dogs. I was single, lived alone, dogless, and pretty happy for a long time.

In 1982, my house was broken into, and I was assaulted. My then-boyfriend said I needed a dachsie because they were great watchdogs. I looked at those tiny little things and thought, "yeah, right!" Nevertheless, he gave me one, and I've been a dachsaholic ever since. (He was right, BTW, they're great watchdogs!)

[Lexi]

My mom, I guess. We got one when I was four. We saw it in a pet store (I know, I know) and fell madly in love. We brought her home the same day even though my parents had to scrape the bottom of the barrel to find enough money for her that day. *laughs* Her name was Susie Q and she was the Million Dollar Dog because she had so many health problems!

[Leslie]

My parents got me a dachshund when I ws 4/5 I have had one or more ever since!

[HnkyTnkGrl85]

I said other b/c I knew I wanted a dog. I needed something small b/c I live in an apartment. So I started researching breeds and breeders in my area and fell in love with the dachshund!:D

[SleepiTune]

I always adored them, but really got turned onto them when I was 11 and my friend got one. She took him absolutely everywhere with her. Her family ended up getting another one for her brother, and then her's died after getting neutered at 5 months (which was really traumatic for my friend). But they got another Dachsie puppy for her and I just remember her always taking them around in blankets. It made me want my own Dachshund SO bad!!!

[3doxies]

My family got our first dachshund Lady when I was about 13 years old. My dad saw a posting for a free dog on the vet's bulletin board. Since our dog (a mixed breed) had just died, we wanted another dog. She was about a year old and had just had puppies. They wanted to keep one of the puppies and give her away. Lucky for us!! She fit right into our family and lived to a ripe old age of 18. My dad has has 4 other dachshunds since then.

[SaraInCT]

Growing up, our neighbor had dachshunds. I believe she picked up her first from a petstore and fell in love. After that, she purchased from breeders and actually showed them. She let me come along and it was great fun to watch.

[Julian&MistyMom]

When I was a child, my father and I would go to the local humane society to visit. One day there was a little mini red, smooth-haired little boy named Sammy. He was so friendly and jumping up for us to pet him. We would have taken him on the spot but he was just boarding. We went home and checked the classified ads every night. Finally I saw a litter of standard red smoothies. We went and got our family pet, and called him Sam. I got him when I was in grade 8 and he lived until my first-born son was about 3 years old. I have never outgrown my love for the breed.

[Melisande]

My mom had one (a standard smooth red) when she was growing up, and always told me what a great family dog he was. Then I started thinking about getting a dog about a year ago, and my fiance said his mom had a mini before, and it was the funniest dog hes ever been around! So I did some research on them, and decided it was the dog for us!

Cant WAIT to get my new baby, she/he is due to be born on Sat the 17th :party6:

[MomToMazzy&More]

My vote was other. I have never been around doxies. I knew nothing about the breed. 2 yrs. ago I was doing volunteer work at Humane Society & there she was. It was her eyes with that soulful look that just drew me in. She went home with me that day. So all I know about the breed I have learned from her & this board. Thank you all.

[Alexis' Mommy]

I voted other. I just happened to be going by a pet store one day & stopped in for a look. They had a cute little red male dachshund there (Don't worry, I didn't adopt him as I know pet stores support puppy mills) but it got me to consider the breed. I did my research & decided that a dachshund was a perfect dog for me & my hubby. Alexis is now 1 1/2 yrs old & a little angel. We are seriously considering adopting her a little brother from the same breeder she came from.

[Christena]

because we had a long haired dachs mix when I was a child. When we first saw Josh I knew immediately what he was but my husband didn't! The minute he was handed he cuddled as close as he could and I knew I was hooked; I don't know how anyone could want another breed!!!!!!!

[andy&abby]

My mom loves dachshunds and we always had them growing up and she still has some. It is the only breed that she truly loves with all her heart. Because of that we - her children- have grown up with love and respect for all animals. We have passed this love on to our children as well. Some of the family has branched off to other breeds but dachshunds are by far greater in number throughout the family.

[Paul Coover]

My mother grew up with dachshunds. She had one samed Snoopy, then she got another one named Snoopy. I did go a long time without dachshunds in my life, maybe that's why I feel more complete now...

http://img432.imageshack.us/img432/400/4518xt2.jpg

This is a picture of my father holding me at 6-7 months old. Notice Snoopy in the background? That is where my love of dachshunds comes from.

[Tucker's Mom]

I voted friend. OK going back about a gazillion years ago (1956 - stop laughing) when I was in 4th grade, a new family moved into our neighborhood. They were from Austrailia and brought with them this adorable lo-o-o-ong dog named YumYum. I fell in love and vowed to get one of "those" someday. And in 1974, I fullfilled that promise. Been owned by dachsies ever since!

[Puppy Love]

When I bought Heidi I was looking for a dog to be a sister and playmate to my year old mini schnauzer, Lizzie. I was busy looking at Yorkies. On one of the Yorkie breeder web pages, I noticed dachshund puppies for sale. Upon first glance, I couldn't get this breed out of my mind. I did lots of research on doxies and the more I read, the more I fell in love. I decided I had to have one. Several months later, I bought Heidi from a local breeder.

What can I say? I will always have a doxie in my life - always!! If it weren't for the difficult time I had potty training her, I'd get another one tomorrow. DACHSHUNDS RULE!!

[vferraro99]

I was introduced to Dachshunds by a friend who's a breeder. She stopped breeding now, and is doing rescue, but her family has been breeding Dachshunds for ages. Her grandmother bred them in Germany, then they came to the US and continued the tradition.

Needless to say, I fell in love... how could I not?

I've adopted two special needs since getting my Bambi from my friend.

[JunMoll]

When we got married we knew we wanted a dog so we got AKC books to learn about different breeds. When we put those books down both my husband and I knew dachshunds were #1. We got two little boys right after that. It has been 24 years.:flowerysmile:

[ame8199]

This is an old thread, but I would like to reply.

Ive always been around dachshunds. We as a family got our first dachshund when I was 7 but my grandparents and aunts had dachshunds. IVe only knew there was smooth red dachshunds. We got a long haired black and tan wehn I was a kid. My grandparents still have dachshunds...and I have a dachshund and my uncle still has one. Grandparents have a red smoothie and a double dapple long hair. My uncle has a very long red smoothie.

Our family has had other dogs, but dachshunds seem to be a running theme in our family. Hope they stay in my family.

[Dachshund Mama]

I have loved Dachsies as long as I can remember, but no idea how I first came across them.
Now your poll has me wondering...and thinking hard. :lol:

[EdieBird]

I chose Other. Not exactly a friend, more like a random aqquaintance!

When I was about seven years old, a kid at school (who I didn't particularly like) announced that their dogs had puppies and they were giving them away. We had a Cocker Spaniel at home, Belle, and she was lonely when we older kids were at school, and she couldn't play with the baby so she needed company! I talked mom into letting me get one of the puppies. Neither my mom or I had the first clue about Dachshunds, which of course is what the puppies turned out to be. My puppy, Cinders, was a cute smooth brindled girl. She was also not the best choice for us at the time. After only a few weeks, while I was at school, my mom took her to the pound because she "attacked" my brother, who was 10 months old at the time and prone to crawling across the dogs. Needless to say I've never trusted my mom with dogs since.

Watching how GingerSnap reacts to things I wonder whether it was a real "attack" or just a defensive "Don't step on me!" growl. Especially as there were no tooth marks on my brother.

[rjones]

I accidently voted other but meant family member. When I was in elementary school, I really have no clue how old I was and I don't even know when my mom got her/how. But we got a lh red mini dachshund and named her Fifi....I think we had her for a year or 2 and then my grandparents came to visit, saw Fifi and literally stole her from me (I remember coming home from school and looking for her and it was the day that my gparents were going back to new jersey and they left with Fifi...the whole time that they visited they kept asking if they could have her etc/I guess hinting that they were going to take her...(I still give my grandma crap for stealing her...thats what I say and I'm sticking to it) I was really upset...they purchased her from my mom (and bought the pet carrier and toys and food for her) because my mom knew that I loved her so much but wasn't responsible enough to give her the care that she needed. She did sleep with me everynight and I do remember going on some trips with her, and she wasn't good with car rides, would get really sick...and when we would go and visit New jersey she would bark at me and it would make me cry that she couldn't remember me...But needless to say that my gparents did give my mom money to get me another mini (which I thought that I couldn't take care of her...right?) and we then looked and looked and got the runt of the litter a tiny tiny mini black and tan smooth named Buster. Now I have 2 minis, a black and tan lh male and a black and tan silver dapple...Once a doxie lover always a doxie lover

[lovingthumper]

I voted a family member, because when I was young my grandparents had a beautiful short haired dachshund named Brandy. Fastforward 11 years later- My partner and I had done a lot of researching for a dog with humor and one that would fit our lifestyle so after many long hours researching breeds we decided the dachshund was the best for us.

[MorenaChula]

I always wanted a dachshund, even as a kid. So as a high school graduation gift I got Mocha.

[missmolly]

I've always owed doxie/mixes and they have always come from the humane society . So when my Daisymae (Doxiemix ) crossed the rainbow bridge . I waited a couple of months before looking for another dog . Then I slowly started looking on the internet and visiting shelters . Finally one day at our local humane society had a doxie up for adoption .So of course I went down to take a look at him and the rest is history .

[maddoxies]

We had a B&T standard when I was a child. I have no idea how my parents chose the breed.

Valentin re-introduced me to doxies when I was transporting him (had him for 3 days) and he adopted me :Sun2:

[catstamm]

We had dachshunds growing up...4 girls
When I grew up I rescued a boy HANS.....
Now I have 3 rescues..... never knew a time a doxie wasn't a part of my life :cheer:

[patty23]

I just got this notion that I wanted a doxy about 12 yrs ago when we got our first little girl. We never get the paper, maybe once or twice a mo. and we bought it that wk. and in the ads were doxy pups. I picked out this cute little male but Billy Jo was so shy, she stayed in the box and looked so scared, I thought that little girls nees alot of patience and love. That was our first of eight.

[Meekie]

Way Way back (in the dark ages!):D My parents got a pair of dachshunds for us girls(my sister and I) to raise puppies to help pay for college!:faint: We were young teenagers then. We did raise several litters but sure didn't get much money... They sold then for $75.00 and were only red or black and tan. We would get the occasional wild boar color that wasn't recongized and have to sell them for much less. Yes we were backyard breeders then:oops: But in our defence we didn't know any better and we only had one litter a year. Any way I have had a doxie in my life every since then.

[doxi1myheart]

When I was a wee lad, my family had a red standard named Jodie. She was an awesome dog, but after she passed, I had forgotten about doxies until I met Lisa. My my how much my life has changed (Thank God).

[jzutis]

:hearts:My cousin who lived across the street when I was a kid had one. We grew up with him, his name was Gus. We just loved him, loved his personality and it was a great intro to doxies for me. He left quite an impression on all our hearts :hearts::hearts:

[ame8199]

Here a picture of Taz, the first long haired dachshund that I ve ever seen. Our family got this dog when I was 7 and he lived 9 years. My grandparents and aunts and uncles always had red smoothies and one black and tan smoothie which was Taz's half brother!

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t75/ame8199/Taz.jpg

[Terri]

My son and his girlfriend got Cody when he was 6 weeks old from a Petstore-because he was irresistible-and when he wasn't quiet all day when they left him alone to go to work, and wasn't housebroken, and their landlord gave them a notice when he was 8 weeks old, I took him so he wouldn't go to the pound.
My husband didn't think we needed a dog- honestly I didn't think so either, but we were so wrong, because he is essential in our lives and the thing that makes coming home worthwhile. He is happy and healthy AND housetrained!And I adore my Cody.:hearts:

My son and his girlfriend got anotherdog, a slightly older very sweet dog that is already housetrained and has a very, different nature from a dachshund. They are happy, we are happy. :crsfnger:

[loveisxblind]

My first dachshund was a red smooth hair. She was a pet to a trucker and was always on-the-go with him. He decided it was too stressful for her and asked my neighbor to find a home for her so they brought her to us! Her name was Wienie but I changed it to Baby. She was the most amazing dog in the world and I miss her.

[Jude18]

Great question. We were first intoduced to doxies BECAUSE of Casper. We met him, quite accidentally. He was running along side a very busy intersection and we stopped to help. Little did we know at the time that we were opening our world, and indeed our hearts, up to the best little guy that would change our lives forever. We picked him up with the full intention of bringing him to a local pound the next day. Long story short, it never happened.

We fell in love so quickly. Casper was the best, most loving, affectionate and sweetest guy you could ever imagine. We knew within less than an hour of having him with us that it would be impossible to let him go. We did watch the local papers and were glad when it appeared that no one was really looking for him. We are honored to have spent 8 years of joy with our baby. Some times were difficult. He required two back surgeries and lots of time spent on therapy to help him to learn to walk again. Following his surgeries we were very lucky to have almost another two years of happy, healthy times with our boy. He then, rather quickly, was diagnosed with and died from a brain tumor.

With all of the heartache, we still knew that this was the breed for us and that we could help animals that were less fortunate. Shortly after his death Casper lead us to another doxie in need of love and companionship, Charlie. He lives with us now and is slowly forgetting the abuse that he knew in his former "life" at the puppy mill. We then adopted two beautiful sisters, Tammy & Lil, in the hope that they would not only get a wonderful loving home, but also become great friends to Charlie - something we believed he needed so much.

Thankfully, everything is going so well. They truly DO love one another! Each day brings a happy surprise as Charlie and the girls bond.

Sorry. I gave way to much information for this question! The bottom line is that we love this breed and can't envision living without a doxie in our home.

[DoXieMoXie]

I have had Dachshunds since i was a baby. We had Two growing up April and Rita. They have both since passed and mom got Andy and i have Alex and now Owen.

[Susan Khou]

Back in the 70s I did rescue, and became familiar with the breed. Loved all the dogs, but these guys talked to my soul. Susan Khou

[polarsailor]

When we first moved to NC my wife's family had some Dachshunds and I was not taken to them right away..too much parking etc. Well in time after we bought our home my father in law presented us with Sophie & Heidi sisters from the same litter, black and tan shorthairs. I was not too fond of this at the time and said how about just one? No you take both or none. Well I gave in and when we got them home we had them in a big cardboard box and at night we would bring them into the bathroom near our bed. Diane told me they want to be in bed with us and that was it, I said no way on that no dogs in bed. Well after a few days they started to cry at night and would put their paws up on the side of the box with their little heads just over the top. I could not handle those little eyes looking at us. So into bed they came and have been there ever since. Diane grew up with them having up to five at a time so she know all about them. Now I am beyond won over, my Annie is the one women in my life who does not give me grief at times just a lot of love and kisses. Man's best friend, yup no doubting that.:bouncy1::loveshower::stars:

[Wenner Weiners]

I guess I've been around them since birth? My grandparents had two standard red smooths - Caesar and Cleopatra. When I was 10 we got Mitzi a tweenie red/smooth. Growing up with reds I am very surprised I belong to two black and tans....piebald next!!!:bflower:

[Dogmother]

This is kind of funny actually, in 1997, I had recently lost two of my coonhounds to a lion that came into our yard, I only had my female pup left so I decided to get into smaller dogs. I am very partial to hounds so my choice was a bassett or a dachsie. I started looking in the paper and found some dachsies for sale so I went and looked and they lady had a black and tan dapple available, I had never seen one before and he looked so much like one of my blueticks coonhounds only teeny tiny that I had to have him. His personality was so awesome that soon I had a couple more and I have had dachsies ever since.

My4dachsies

[PetMother]

Hubby brought Sammy home as a surprise. When i came home from work, he was in a corner barking at me :Sun2: now hes my bestest little man! :yahoo:

[longtimecouple1]

One of our neighbors had 2 smooths when I was growing up, I always like them, also my godmothers brother had a couple. They were nice dogs, so when I decided to get another dog 3 yrs ago I decided to read up on them , and the rest is history as they say.

[Doxie Dreamer]

My hubby got my into them. We've only had our baby for 5 days and I'm never going back

[katiwest]

WHen i was ten i got a weener dog beany baby and for 11 years i wanted to get one i had to wait till i moved out and got stable. But i got one and named her bean!!!! I'll only own Dachshounds now!

[angiers]

I wanted to get a dog and tried adopting one but someone else got the dog I originally wanted a Pomeranian. So I started looking in the paper for dogs needing a home. Snoopys first owners were moving and didn't want to take the dogs with them. Snoopy was left and it was love at first sight.