Thursday, March 26, 2015

WHAT, ME WORRY?


One of the traits I love about dachshunds is their versatility.  No "lying around, letting the world pass by" for them--oh, no!  They actively join in, commenting loudly on what they think about the matter at hand!

Another trait is their ability to have so many different facial expressions.  When happy, they smile; when playful, their eyes sparkle; when sad, their ears and everything else just droops.  And when worried, their foreheads wrinkle and their eyes show anxiety.

Duke learned at an early age
Sometimes the emotion or feelings they show to humans is on the level--they are commiserating with us and feeling our own emotions.  At other times, however, they are master manipulators in order to get what they want from us!  I'm not saying that doxies are cold and calculating . . . at least, not in the way that a human criminal mastermind operates.  Doxies instinctively know ways to get what they want, like some of the food we are eating.  And they go after it.

They've got that worried expression down to a science--and an art.  Here are some examples of that trait in action:


















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As Sarge the doxie states in I AM SARGE, Book 1 of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES:


"I also thought a lot about this event as I lay on the front porch in the sun—somebody in the family would gladly throw a ball for me to fetch. From what I had heard about Papa, he and I would be really good friends, really fast! I could see that this reunion thing might turn out to be quite an event.
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"And did I mention the food I would have? Oh, I’m not talking about my dog food—I’m talking about human food, which I seldom get to taste. Humans are famous for dropping juicy tidbits, and if a dog has his wits about him, he can snap up quite a few tasty morsels. All one has to do is wait and watch, be in the right place at the right time, and one’s patience will be rewarded. 
One of the first things I planned to do when we arrived at Grandma and Papa’s house was find out who might be a likely candidate for dropping food. I really didn’t care if they dropped bits on purpose or accidentally—the end result would be my satisfied tummy. Once I checked out everyone, I’d sit near “my choice” during the meal. Most humans feel guilty about a pitiful, starving pup while they eat, so I practiced looking sad before we left on Saturday."

I rest my case!

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

DOXIES AND BABIES/SMALL CHILDREN


What is it with dachshunds and babies or small children?  I think it is the dachshund's instinctive desire to love and protect . . . dog behaviorists might disagree with my assessment, and that's fine.  But I know what I know.

I have witnessed both my own dachshund as well as our "granddawg" dachshund being extremely gentle with the grandchildren when they were babies.  Shadow the granddawg would often go up to the baby sitting or lying on a blanket and give him/her a doggie kiss and lie down beside the baby just like the photo below.

Duke loves to play rough with my husband Clark, but he's gentle with the grandchildren.  He might accidentally bite my hand off when we're playing tug of war, but nary a nibble toward the grands!!  Er, that might be a slight exaggeration on my part, but you get the idea.






















Shadow cuddling with his "brother"

Shadow sleeping with his "sister"






















Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em 'cause they love babies (a fabulous reason to love 'em).

Monday, March 23, 2015

TODAY IS DOXIE PUPPY DAY!


I love dachshunds of all ages, but there's just a special place in my heart for doxie PUPPIES!  The innocence in those little faces, the way they run, their curiosity, those cute little barks--I love everything about them.  Therefore, I proclaim today as DOXIE PUPPY DAY on this blog--dachshunds one year old or younger.

We adopted Duke at eight weeks of age, so here are some of his baby pictures--Duke is introduced in I AM DACHSHUND, Book 2 of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES:

"Are you gonna take me home?"

A scared little puppy going home

"I own the place now!"










And, here are some other lovable doxie puppies:


"We iz cute!"

"Where is Mama?  Is she coming back?"

The innocence of sleep

"What is this green stuff I'm sitting on?"

"No!  I don't believe it"

"Sunbathing is healthy"

Precious mama and baby

"Don't bother me--I'm thinking"

"Geez--I'm about to trip over these ears"

A trio of cuteness

"C'mon--you know you want to give me that treat" 

Sardines!

"Say what??"

Basketful of love

Dreamland

"I--can--do--it"

"I am sooooo tired"










Dachshunds . . . you gotta love em--no matter what age they are!

Friday, March 20, 2015

FREE BOOK FOR A LIMITED TIME!



















Copy and paste this link into your browser:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UNQSSDM

You'll enjoy all of Sarge's tales:
I AM SARGE, Book 1
I AM DACHSHUND, Book 2
DACHSHUNDS FOREVER, Book 3
A DACHSHUND'S TRIBUTE, Book 4
A DACHSHUND'S MERRY-GO-ROUND LIFE, Book 5 (Summer 2015)

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

TODAY IS SENIOR DACHSHUND DAY!


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I've covered various types of doxies on this blog recently, from coat color to coat type.  But perhaps the most important dachshunds of all are SENIOR DACHSHUNDS.  They need special food, care, as well as a little extra serving of love.  If you own a senior dachshund, you know exactly what I mean.

I am featuring them today because it is so important to care for and love our fur babies even when they age (just like we do).  They have loved us their entire lives, and the least we can do for them is to take care of them, loving and cherishing them in their senior years.  It just breaks my heart when I hear stories of dog owners who abandon older dogs simply because the dog can no longer play like he did when he was younger.

My doxie granddawg Shadow is now 14, and our daughter and family still love him very much--probably more with each year--even though he does not see or hear as well as he did as a pup.  A black and tan, his tan is now gray, and he moves more slowly, too, but he still loves all of them just like he did a few years ago.  He will even play some, especially if my doxie Duke picks up one of Shadow's toys!  All toys are Shadow's--even Duke's toys are Shadow's, ha ha.

Here are some photos of Shadow, the doxie upon whom I based Sarge of THE DACHSHUND ESCAPADES books:





















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And now, here are some other adorable senior doxies:

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Dachshunds . . . you gotta love 'em, even when they get old.  And I bet you do, too.