Here is some advice for anyone that is interested in finding a dachshund puppy to call your own. Trust us, we are dachshunds.

VERY IMPORTANT: Please do not buy from a pet store or a backyard breeder that places ads in the local newspaper or on craigslist. Puppies from these places almost definately came from A PUPPY MILL! Very very bad. Puppies from puppy mills are a result of poor breeding, which leads to sickness, genetic disorders and likely death. Not to mention that these places must NOT be supported! We want them to die a quick death, in return for all the death they have caused. (For more on puppy mills, see our blog)

Instead, get your dachshund from a licensed breeder, or even better, a dachshund rescue! There are many great dachshund rescues that need a loving home, just as much as a bouncing weiner puppy. To find a licensed, real breeder you can ask your local vet or go on websites like dachsie.org and others and ask good weiner dog lovers for a referral in your area. You can also go to the AKC's website. They are very trustworthy!

http://www.akc.org/breeds/dachshund/index.cfm

Some facts you should know:

1. As puppies, we are REALLY HARD to pottytrain (note the song "Unpottytrainable"--we didnt make that up...) Prepare to have your new dachshund bundle of love pee and poop all over the house, no matter how hard you try to teach it. I repeat, we are very hard to pottytrain, not like big dogs, who somehow pick it up way faster.

2. We are stubborn and quirky. We just do weird unexplainable things. Like the fact that Piper is scared to cross this certain part of the hall. It's just hardwood floor, like the rest of it. But she sits there and cries, until finally deciding to go for it, skidding out and leaping across this mysterious threshhold. We can be a big pain in the butt when you want us to do something, cause we may just not feel like it. However, this trait makes us very funny, and we are known among circles as the little clown breed.

3. Dachshunds have very sensitive backs, as does any breed with short legs and long backs. You have to be really, really careful about us jumping, and running up and down stairs. Our mom and dad constantly try to keep us from jumping up and down off the couch because it is really bad for our backs! Of course, they have a hard time, though, because again, we are extremely stubborn. If the dachshund jumps too much, they may either break their back, wake up paralyzed one morning, need surgery or all of the above. Be careful with your diddle dachshund.

4. You have to be really cautious with us and little kids. For some reason, most dachshunds are scared of little kids and bark at them. This might be because we know that kids think we are dolls and handle us in the wrong way. Another dog from Piper's litter was picked up by a neighborhood kid. He dropped her and broke her back--as a little puppy!! They had to put her to sleep. This is SO sad and should not have happened! But it can happen, all too easily, so carry your dachshund making sure that the back is supported well.

5. We LOVE to eat, but we must be kept slim and trim for the sake of our backs. Overweight, waddling dachshunds might make you giggle, but it is no laughing matter. This puts so much strain on our back! Of course, I Piper have kept my glorious hourglass figure, but we're not so sure about Scooter. We know he's got tons of fur, and mom takes him on walks, but....he still somehow always looks a little chubby. Perhaps we will shave him again to make sure he is on track.

There is lots more to know, and there are many great books about dachshunds, so if you really are serious, check them out.

Thanks for reading!

Love Piper and Scooter