New One

[Sam]

Hi,
It's been I while since my last post.
In my last post, I told you about the new doxie I was expecting to get at the end of May.
Things have changed. I am the proud owner of a new doxie, but it isn't the one I planned on. The very morning that I was going to mail the deposit on my new guy, A friend told me of a couple that had a 5 month old doxie and they didn't want her anymore. I couldn't believe it. They had just had her spayed,(she gets her stitches out tomorrow)
and she is trained to a cage to sleep in. I couldn't believe my ears. Why didn't they want her?? They couldn't housebreak her.
I have 2 questions for anyone who might be able to help. The first is, will I be able to break her since she has been let go so long? My other doxie is 3. I got him when he was 6 weeks old and he was so easy to break. But this one is used to going wherever! My 2nd question is, did I do the right thing? I feel like I let the other one down, (even though I hadn't actually seen her yet) I feel like the breeder will be mad at me. Maybe this isn't the way to look at it but, the other little pup will only be 8 weeks old and someone is sure to fall in love with her by the end of May, but this one was going to be taken to the pound and I couldn't stand the thought? Did I do the right thing?????
Thanks for listening,
Sheila

[dutchman]

Hi Shelia,

First off congratulations on your new little girl. How the breeder will feel I can't say but like you said there is always a high demand for pups. I would consider this a rescue even if you didn't go through the normal rescue channels.

Now for house breaking. I would say you have a very good chance. The first dachshund my folks ever got was six months old when they got her and was not house broken. While never 100% trust worthy her accidents were few and far between. My first dog of my own was a puppy mill mother rescue who had live confined in a cage living in her own filth for the the first 18 months of her live. She was 2 years old when I got her still not house broken. I was able to get her housebroken to the point that hen I was home we seldom had an accident unless I ignored her. She would just go to the door and sit quitely if I didn't get there in time she would find some place else to go. When I was at work she would go on the kitchen floor in one corner of her x-pen. I could live with cleaning up those messes when I considered what she had gone through.

Ask for some help in the housebreaking forum and you will get a lot of good suggestions.

Best wishes,

Tom and the boys (Frank and Tanner)

[Mark]

Hi Sheila and Welcome back http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/wavey.gif

Congratulations and yes, I think you made a great decision. The housebreaking should be fine. See the many threads about housebreaking & re-housebreaking dogs even older than (? name ?). Feel free to start a new thread once she is in her new forever home to get more specifics based on her individual behavior.

And please keep us posted,

Mark, Top Spin, Duck Butter & Masse http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/jacks.gif

[Sam]

Thank you for your replies and suggestions. When I came home today, the greeting I recieved from her felt soooooo good. I think I have made the right decision.
Sheila

[LisaH]

Sheila:

I think you made a GREAT decision. You're absolutely right that the breeder will have no trouble finding a home for a cute little 8-week-old puppy; the one you chose really needs help, and you're wonderful to offer it. Five months is WAY too short a time to expect a dachshund to be housetrained. This kind of thing makes me crazy! Giving up on a 5-month-old pup because she's not housetrained is like saying, "I'm taking my daughter back! She's two years old already and not reading!"

Some housetraining hints: Anticipate when the pup usually needs to go, take her outside to the same place each time, and tell her to "Go pee" or something similar. When she goes, praise her enthusiastically and give her a treat she really loves. Dachshunds are great learners when food is concerned! <IMG SRC="http://dachsie.org/ubb/cwmsmilies/cwm42.gif" border=0>

[Roxane]

Kinda rushed but I just had to take a minute to applaud what you have done. http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/heart.gif

Yes, this is the dog that needed you! The thought of her going to a shelter for such invalid reasons is terrible.

Bless your kindness,
Roxane and crew