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:

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.

"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!