I got questions!!!

[dman]

Hey I just found this board. I am a senior in college and last year I moved to school and left home. Leaving my mini shorthare black and tan behind with my family. I miss her but my mom and brother would not even think of letting me have her. So i am left dogless and i am trying to decide what i want to do. I know i want a female mini and I have found traning classes offered localy. I will aslo crate train. I have reasurched into the different colors.
I have decided I want a choclate and tan and an isabella and tan. I want to be able to devote the time to each for training so my question is this. Should i buy two dogs together? Or how far apart should i buy them. I know my blk and tan dislikes all dogs and would never allow another (she fights with all dogs no mater age or size). So i am worried that if i get one dog and wait it will not allow another. So what should I do? :confused:
Also should i get two crates? Basically i could use any info about having two dogs!

thanks
Darale

[Mark]

Hi Darale,

Welcome to DBB :waving:

Definitely two crates just large enough for them to turn around in and no larger.

Hmmm . . . two at once or one at a time, eh? Are you buying puppies from a reputable breeder or rescuing? (Assuming you know the pitfalls of buying from a Pet store) Two puppies at once can be a handful and a half! :yikes: And you're right . . . getting one now and one later and adding to the pack can be difficult, too. I guess though if I had to choose how I would prefer to do it . . . it would be two at once. Then they would grow up together and their alpha issues would likely not be as pronounced or as dangerous as having one as the only dog then bringing a stranger home.

As for rescues . . . often one can find young adult Dachsies, already housetrained and the rescue org can tell you if they have a *good* temperament . . . and whether they get along with other dogs.

I hope this helps

[Meemoo]

Hi Darale:

Welcome to DBB!:circle:

Will you be home during the day to take these pups out often? If not, one may be hard enough, but 2 really a challenge. I hope if you can't be home to take them out (or him/her) that you can arrange to have a dog walker come in a few times a day until the pup is potty trained. I think since from what I can tell you are a student (who I know is very busy) it might be best to just get one for now and see how it goes. You can always get a second one after the first is settled down and trained.

Whatever you decide...good luck! Please research the breeder you intend to get your pup(s) from or choose rescue as many dogs need a good home!

[dutchman]

A number of things to consider before going out and getting your own dompanion(s). First remember this is a long term commitment you are making. I live in a College town and I know amny land lords will not rent to people with dogs it that the case in the area where you go to school? Housing in many colloege communities can be in short supply and that may be one issue you need to consider before rushing out to get a companion. I know you are missing your life long companion from home but there may be other ways to get a doggie fix. Perhaps you could take part in a volunteer program at a local shelter. While not the same as having a companion to greet you when you get home or to snuggle with at night being a volunteer at a shelter can offer other rewards. You need to consider how you will handle the meeting of the family dog at home and your new companion. Also what are your plans for summers and schoold breaks? Will you be returning home for the summer of staying in your own place? Being a student are you ready for the expenses involved with having your own companion? I hope I don't sound to harsh but there are way too many animals adopted by students who ende up just getting dumped when they become too much of a hassel or at the end of the school year when their parents won't let the new dog be brought home.

All that being said I think most people would suggest adding one animal at a time. Also some landloards will rent to you if you have one dog but not if you have two. You should aslo consider what type of job commitments your chosen field of study may require once you graduate. Some occupations require a great deal of trave especially of new hires. Is there a dachshund rescue group in your area that you might be able to do foster care for? The rescue rep migt be reluctant at first to let a college stdent be a foster home but if you talk to them and explain that you grew up with dachshunds and are trying to do teh right thing not taking on a life long commitment till you are sure things are right that would do a great deal in showing them you are mature enough to be considered. True giving up a foster when a new forever home has been found for it can be difficult but it also can help you gain experience in what is truely involved in being a responsible pet owner. Depending on what you are majoring in it might even be a plus on your resume down the road. If nothing else if you do foster and get a god relationship going with a rescue group they will be able to recommend you as a mature responsible indivdual to any prospective employeers.

Good luck and I hope you get a chance to get a good dachsie fix either over Thanksgiving or Christmas breask.

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner and Dexter)

[dman]

To answer some questions i am planning on getting puppies. I am waiting till this summer when I will have a new place witha fence. I have already taken into concideration my schedule and my living arangments. I am a pre med student and I have no problem traveling with an animal since i am only an hour from home and any time i go home any animal will be welcomed with open arms! In regards to my schedule I have classes only for three hours out of the day meaning in fandom intervals i will be oway for about 1hr 1/2 about three times a day. I will have plenty for the puppy to be out since I really will not be gone too often. My roomate also will be here when i am not so i think it will be very rare that the puppy will be caged. Again I know the resoponcibilities and the time it takes to train a puppy. But i want to get all the info i can get because i am not going to rush into a lifelong comitment. Thank you for your quick responces i hipe this added info can help.

Darale

[dutchman]

It sounds like you are trying to do all the right things. I hope I didn't sound too harsh it's just that living in a college town and working on campus I've seen too many sad cases that reslt of a lack of proper planning. Good luck on your search for a companion(s). Dry not to get discouraged if local rescue people or the better breeders appear reluctant to working with you at first. If you are honest and upfront with them and are willing to understand where they are coming from you should be able to overcome many of the obsticales they may feel might prevent you for being considerd right off. Tell then you know you might be conidered a high risk placement due to your age and being a student but also ask what you can do to help prove to them that you would make a good companion for one of their animals. All good breeders and rescue groups (other than local shelters) will have a long list of questions that they will require any potential companions for theirs animls fill out. To get an idea of what kind of questions you should expect to answer take a look at the adoption application at http://www.drwp.net By all means avoid the pet stores they generally promote the puppy mills and the health and genetics of the dogs available there are questionable. A breeder who doesn't ask questions is most likely not knowledgable in genetics and other issues that can greatly impact the long term health of your companion.

Good luck,

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner and Dexter)

[Mark]

Hi again Darale,

It *does* sound like you are approaching this with full knowledge that you will be responsible for two little precious lives and making sure you do it right. :) How delightful! :flower:

Please *do* post any questions you have. As you can see there are many terrific hoomans here, willing to help in any way they can.

I know you tried to make Chat last night, but ran in to technical difficulties. Hopefully you (and others) can make it next Sunday at 9:00 PM EST. The URL to get there is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dachsiesdoghouse/

. . . And a note to everyone . . . we are working on an onsite chat room of our own. One that will be right here on DBB that you'll need to only click an icon to get there. :) Stay tuned because I think we're getting close to implementing it.

[dman]

Thanks for all your help! I think it wouls be great if there was a chatr in this page! I have only kn9own about this site for a day and i cant stop reading! I need to go study! But again i would like to thank you for the help and i plan on becoming a regular member!