Freeeeedoooommmm....

[Molly's Mom]

I'm really hoping some of you can give me some good advice before my puppies drive the family completely crazy. Molly and Sammy are 9 and 10 months old and are restricted in one room of the house that is set up just for them. In the past, they were content to stay in their room and go straight through the house to go outside, then go straight back to their room.

Then they grew up....

All the sudden, they realize there are more rooms to the house they never noticed, and it is their duty to check them all out. It wouldn't be so bad except "checking out" means they run like wild animals, grab anything and everything that is at their level, and have a tendency to urinate if not watched closely. We finally put a gate on the stairs, so as long as we remember to keep that up, they don't run up there. However, our home has an open floor plan, so keeping a gate in many of the other places is jut not an option.

The ONLY way we can get them to go straight in their room is to over a very, very good treat and even that trick is wearing thin. They do know the meaning of the word "no", but right now, they are just too excited to care. It's wearing us out literally running all over the house for dogs that appear to go faster than a speeding bullet.

I just want my obedient little doggies back. Please help!

P.S. Our 14 year old cat who claims the upstairs as hers will also be thankful for the help as she is NOT enjoying her new visitors.

[assisivk]

I honestly just don't know what to suggest. Do you or your family go into their room with them to play and interact? Dachshunds are extremely sociable, curious little dogs. And they definitely want to be part of what is going on with their family. You're fighting the very nature of these dogs. I guess I have to ask the question... is there a reason that they can't be out in the rest of the house when you're there? Honestly, if there is and if they won't ever be allowed outside of the room except to go outside, you might find that the "fit" just isn't there.... that the breed isn't the breed for you. And I suppose, better to find that out when they are still young.

I wish I had some suggestions, but I don't. I've only ever lived with dogs that have just been part of everything that goes on and it's always worked out fine.

[Mutzie's Mom]

I agree with Vicki. Dachshunds by nature are explorers and hunters. They are VERY curious and yes, they are high maintenance. I wouldn't want them any other way. :) That is what drew me to the breed. They LOVE life and are very adventurous. They probably go wild when they are loose because they don't get to explore very often. When we got our babies (each were 8 months old), they were used to living in their own little "apartment"...a section of their breeder's home. They were not permitted to go into the rest of her home. When they came to us, they were given full reign of the house, including our bed. Yes, they were wild in the beginning, but they got used to it and now take it for granted. They are great now! They don't chew on things or rip my house apart. They know their toy box is their territory (I do NOT let my human children play in it) and make sure to empty it several times a day. My male, Sheppie, is hyper-active and is always "ripping" (that's the noise he makes as he runs!) through the house, but he gives us great laughs and lots of fun. Even with 2 human kids, my house would be so empty without the dachsies. You will not find a more loving, loyal, stubborn breed out there. I cherish every quirky characteristic that makes them a dachsie.

Hopefully, as your little ones get introduced to the rest of your home, they will calm down. They are probably very over whelmed and want to take in as much as they can. I suggest introducing them to a room at a time and getting them familiar with the new area. I am sure they will calm down.

Good luck with your little angels! :angel:

Sherry, Sheppie & Shelby

[crock]

Boy, do I agree with that. They are a joy to watch. My 3 terrorize the house. But, theylearned quickly what they can do and can't do. Of course they still do the can't do! Actually they are pretty good. We call Patty (alost 6 mos old) our terror child or the wild one. She starts from the moment she wakes up in bed and never stops until about 9:00PM. I do not know where she gets this much energy. But, she makes me laugh so much. Her dad, Darby, is pretty laid back and quiet. But they all run and have fun with one another. As I sit at the computer in the evening, Patty is always finding something to bring me. Nothing floor level is safe. But, that's okay. My husband said it is like having 3 toddlers in the house at one time that never grow up.

Give your 2 a chance to explore and see everything for themselves. Then they will settle down. It will become "old hat" and won't offer as much of a challenge.

Good luck,

Char

[Molly's Mom]

Hi-

I forgot I posted this! Just now remembered.

Anyway, yes, at least one person is with them many times during the day (2 of us stay at home during the day), so it's not like we just throw them in that room and neglect them. The reason we keep them in there mostly is so we know what they are up to. We've always had indoor dogs, but these two truly are the most destructive ones I've ever seen. For instance, we did open up their gate a few days ago and left them alone in the hallway for a few minutes. We come back to find they've chewed the corner off very expensive molding on the floor. *sigh* We've got something standing in front of that to hide it until we get it fixed because my dad will have a fit when he sees it.

They know what the word no means, and abide by it most of the time. However, when given free run of the house, they don't care. Running after the cat is okay. Chewing up anything they can find is okay. Using the bathroom wherever they want is okay. Tearing up the sofa cushion is okay. That is according to them anyway. They do get to go in other rooms of the house, but only when at least one person is with them to "babysit", otherwise our whole house would fall apart.

We did consider putting up baby gates, but we have an open floor plan with very few doors, making it almost impossible to put baby gates up. Allowing them to ruin our whole house is NOT an option, so that is why we resorted to letting them have one room. We thought they would kind of settle down and "act decent", but so far that hasn't happened yet unless they are restricted.

Otherwise, they are very, very funny and loving animals. We certainly aren't going to get rid of them because we can't imagine life without them at this point. They have gotten better about going outside without running around, which basically got resoved with bribes. We're trying not to give them out as often to wean them of that habit, which so far has worked okay. Just destroying things is the problem now, but we are unsure of how to resolve this part of the problem. So for now, keeping them in their room for the most part is the option that keeps everyone sane.