a few questions

[twix0699]

As some of you know, I have been entertaining the idea of getting a new pup. I am not able to do this until I get my new house in January but wanted to get some feedback before then. I am going back to school in the spring and wanting to pursue a animal behavior degree. I will continue to work full time while in school. I want to get a playmate for Twix but don't know where to begin or what to ask or what to look for....

I am interested in rescue but my new home is in a condo and I can't have more than two doggies. Twix was the first puppy I've ever had and I greatly enjoyed the training aspest of raising her. If I rescue, will I be able to do all the training I did with Twix? I don't even know how to ask all the questions I have. Can someone help me??? I know I have a few months before I can get a new one but I want to start researching now. I hate being confused!!!

Teresa

[Heather]

Hi Theresa, I took Beanie to Puppy Kindergarten at 1.5 years old. It is Never to late to start. You can teach an old dogs new tricks! Just because he is a rescue, does not mean you can't use the same techniques. Clicker training was so successful for Beanie, I am going to do the classes with Hans as well, and he is 5!

Good Luck with school, sounds like a very interesting program.

[isobelsmom]

Teresa,

Even tho a rescue may not come to you as a puppy, you can do all the training you desire. Any dog can learn new things, but it may be a matter of how you teach it to them.

What are your concerns? Is it that you may not be able to use with a rescue what worked with Twix? Maybe, then again the method may work just fine. I guess I'm not clear on what you are wanting to know. Are you asking for training advice? Behavior? We'd be happy to help in any way that we can . . .

mary

[Wienergal]

I got Farfel at 2 1/2. The only real training he had had was for the show ring--i.e., he could heel to beat the band! Did basic and advanced obedience with him. My boss's new rescue, Angie, is 3 1/2. She wasn't abused as such--just totally neglected. She's learning all the basics, and she's learning them FAST! Training is ALWAYS possible!

What are your other concerns?

--Pamela

[twix0699]

I am concerned about training. I used clicker training with Twix and absolutely loved doing it. I am concerned about getting a dog that is not compatible with Twix or with my family. I will be living alone when I move but I have a 2 year old niece and am concerned about that. How do I find the right dog? I am afraid if I start looking now that I will find one I want (which is all of them) and won't be able to take it. I just loved having a puppy but I want to rescue a dog this time and I will miss the puppy part of life. The first doxie I had, I got from the pound at 3 years of age and had him til he was 17. His whole life I wished I could have seen him as a puppy and then I got Twix at 5 weeks old last year. Now I know what I missed in him. I am being selfish I know, I just need some encouragement and someone who has done this before to tell me things will be ok. I am concerned about Twix not getting along with a new doggie. She has been mama's girl since I brought her home and I don't know how she will deal with competition. She loves to play with other dogs but they don't live here. I know I am being selfish about the puppy part and there are lots of dogs out there that need homes. I am just afraid of getting one that doesn't work somehow. When I had Max, he had been abused and he was mean to others his whole life and would snap at people. I don't want that again. I admit I didn't train him, I was in highschool when we got him. I guess I am just scared and need some input from you guys because I trust you. Thanks for letting me ramble on.....does any of this make sense?

Teresa

[Roxane]

Yes, Teresa, everything you are saying makes absolute sense. I know that the members will all agree that you are going about this the best way possible.
One of your biggest concerns seems to be how well the new dachsie will fit in. Since your dachsie seems to like other dogs "outside", as you have said, I would suggest you might invite someone with a non aggressive pooch to visit. Introduce them both in an outdoor "neutral" area, next step into the condo. I believe that will tell you a great deal.
There has been a lot written on this board about this subject, the period of adjustment of a new dog, and so much more. You might want to see if you can find some of the answers you need by scolling through past posts.
Although rare, every once in a while, rescue organizations do have puppies. As much fun as they are, you might want to consider your work schedule and the fact that you will have a _new_ home, when deciding on the age. Also, if you are very specific when making application, a good rescue group will do their best to fit the dog to your circumstances.
Hope this helps,
Roxane

<FONT COLOR="#00FFFF" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by Roxane on November 04, 2000 at 09:00 AM</font>

[dutchman]

Teresa,

You have already received a lot of good advice so I will try to make this brief. First all the rescue people I know will work with you on your concerns. Let them know about your niece. While they want to find homes for all the dogs they are fostering they also want to be sure they are placing them in the proper homes so that they don't end up back in rescue. I know what you are saying about wishing for a pup but like others have already stated will you have the time a pup really needs? I know I went many years without a companion because I wasn't open to the idea of an older dog and I knew being single and working full time I didn't have the time a pup deserved. You are likely to have some jealously over your attention when you bring another dog into your home but that will happen regardless of the age of that dog. Keep doing your research. Start contacting the major rescue groups C2CDR, DRNA, in your area they should be more than willing to help answer your questions and you will be building a relationship between your and the rescue people that can only help when you get ready to adopt. Rescue people welcome questions and are more likely to worry about placing a dog with you if you don't ask questions.

Well this was brief for me <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm26.gif" border=0>

Best wishes,

Tom and the boys (Frank and Tanner)

[Penny's Aunt]

One thing you should remember is that not all rescue dogs are untrained, neglected & abused animals. Some are perfectly fine housepets (housebroken, trained, well-mannered with kids & other animals) that the owners either couldn't keep, or the owner was elderly & died or had to go to a non-animal care home.

I am sure the foster homes evaluate the dogs they care for, to see what they can handle & what they can't stand, if they are housebroken, etc. If you put your request in now, they can be looking. I'll bet a lot of foster homes would be perfectly happy to hold a dog for you, as long as they knew it was a guaranteed home. And if the dog was close enough, you could take your dog over to visit occasionally, & see how they act towards each other.

[twix0699]

Thanks for all the input!! I appreciate it! I just didn't know what to expect and where to go and I knew there were lots of people on the board that could help me. Penny's aunt, I love the idea of someone holding a dog for me if I find the one I want. I guess I am just scared and unsure of myself. Dogs are my passion and I want to start to get involved in more than just my dog's life. You guys helped me a lot with just a few replies. I was in tears while writing my earlier posts. I want to help so badly but don't know that I can with work and school. Thank you soooo much for your input and any other thoughts are sure welcome. You guys are http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/angel.gif's.

Teresa

[2DogsLong]

I do rescue with DRNA and had an applicant looking for a black and tan long haired puppy. I thought I wouldn't find one but on the CCDR list there were 3! There are puppies on the Hearts United for Animals site (www.hua.org) and often on the Dachshund Rescue Web Page (www.drwp.net).

If you work with one of the rescue groups they will help you find the right dog when you are ready. Because the dogs live in foster homes, they can usually tell you if the dog is aggressive with kids or other dogs.

Start teaching your niece how to behave with a small dog. And get Twix used to other dogs in the house. Maybe you could dog sit for a friend.

Here are the Web sites for the rescue groups:

Dachshund Rescue of North America (DRNA) www.drna.org (http://www.drna.org)

Coast-to-Coast Dachshund Rescue (CCDR) www.c2cdr.org (http://www.c2cdr.org)

There are often State dachshund rescues too.

Good luck.

Sue

[Jennifer]

When we looking for Betty, My husband wanted a breeder puppy and I wanted a rescue dachsie. Since I do rescue, I really wanted to help contribute to the cause. So, we comprisied and decided to work with the rescue groups to find a puppy dachsie. We got approved with CCDR and with DRNA, I also checked the drwp.net. Yes, there were puppies available, but you have to be willing to wait. During the three months that I was looking, there were several male puppies available, but we were looking for a female.

Right after I adopted Betty (minutes after), CCDR emailed me saying that they had found us a female puppy. Since then, I have noticed several puppies on both the CCDR site and the drwp.net site. So, if you really want to rescue and you want a puppy, you can do both. You may have to wait a bit, but you will probably find what you are looking for.

On the other hand, there are some definate benefits to adopting an older dog. Betty is 2 1/2 years old and still very much a puppy at heart. But she is through the chewing, able to control her bladder better, but still very trainable. She wasn't housetrained when we got her and she now hasn't had an accident in the house for 2 weeks. YEAH. I taught her sit in about 10 mintutes. And I taught her to play dead (I shoot her with my finger and say Bang Bang and she rolls over on back and plays dead) in about 15 minutes. We'll be going to obidence training as soon as she is done with heartworms.

One of the main benefits that I see to adopting an older dog instead of a puppy is that after spending some time with the older dog, you can really tell the personality of the dog. It is more what you see is what you get. And even if you adopt a dog through rescue that you don't meet, the foster home can tell you all about the dog. With a puppy, there personality isn't as developed and it isn't as much what you see what you get.

About your concern regarding your niece. If you go through rescue, you can say you want a dog that is good with kids. We don't have kids, but will someday, so we said the same thing. Rescue groups want the dog to work in your house and will do everything to help find the right dog for you. You can also say you need a dog that is good with other dogs.

About Twix... Does Twix have a preference between males or females? My blind 12 year old Oscar doesn't like males but loves females. So, we were only looking to adopt a female. That may be something to consider. Oscar absolutely loves Betty and we thought the best case would be that he would ignore her. But he lets her eat out of his bowl and snuggle up with him. He even gives her kisses.