ADVICE
First- welcome! If this is your first foray into Miniature Dachshunds- you're in for an unbelievably fun adventure!! If you're an old hand at this- well, this is why so many of us can't stop at one. The breed is unique in both body style and personality- and those personalities vary widely from dog to dog. We try to match the correct puppy to your lifestyle and situation; there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to this breed.
Feeding
Garbage in... garbage out. Pretty sure this phrase was coined by a dog owner. Over the years, we've tried pretty much every food you could imagine- from low-cost to exorbitantly expensive. We've now been feeding Big Country Raw for four years- and we will NEVER go back to kibble. Raw may be slightly more work- but only slightly. As to expense- we find it certainly saves us money. Our dogs are in perfect condition- and maintaining it is truly simple. If a dog starts to look a little lean- we'll give them a bit more; too heavy- cut back slightly. We've settled on about 1/4 cup per dog for breakfast, and another 1/4 cup for supper. Most of you that have dogs on kibble will not believe the following statement- but, since we switched to BCR, NOT ONE OF OUR DOGS HAS EVER HAD DIARRHEA. Not once. Not even when we switched them all at once. Our Shepherd had a terrible skin condition when we got her, and we had her on 2 Apoquel pills per day, at just over $3.00 a pill. Doesn't sound too bad- until you realize that's north of $180 a month. Since we switched her over, we average two pills PER MONTH. The BCR diet is paying for itself...
We top it off each morning with a bit of Thrive Herring Oil, and that's it. Easy- Peasy. The only things our dogs normally get besides their food and fresh water daily is raw beef rib bones once or twice a week, and raw carrots daily for their treat. Unless you have a specific requirement, there's no need to use any additives beyond these as this is everything you need to give your dog great nutrition for life. The pic at right is an example of one of those "specific requirements". Our dams with puppies get a few extras- chicken or duck feet, whoile sardines or- in this case- a quail egg, complete with shell.
Our puppies are weaned from mother's milk directly on to BCR. I believe all of our puppy owners will confirm- they're super healthy, and LOVE meal time!
Health
Everyone gets the dog that they deserve. Your new puppy's health and wellbeing is absolutely connected to your willingness to give him the small amount of exercise he'll require. Dachshunds, in spite of being a hunting breed, do not require hours of daily work. That said- they are NOT an ornament, nor are they delicate. They should be treated like any other dog- controlled walks on leash, accompanied by periods of freedom to run, jump and enjoy life.
There are people that are wary of owning a Dachshund because of the impression that their backs are exceedingly prone to issues. We've had almost a dozen- and never had a back issue. Lucky? Sure... but we also ensure their lifestyle lends itself to happy, healthy dogs. We keep them lean, we give them the small amount of exercise they need each day- and we DON'T carry them around all the time. They're dogs. Let them jump on the furniture. Let them run up & down the stairs. Let them live their lives like dogs- they aren't made of glass.
The concern people have for Dachshunds -and, indeed, several breeds- having back issues is the result of a genetic anomaly called CDDY
(Chondrodystrophy). This gene can result in IVDD- Invertebral Disc Disease. There is an excellent website dealing with IVDD here:
https://www.dachshund-ivdd.uk/
The thing is- the CDDY gene is what makes Dachshunds... Dachshunds. It gives them that long & low body style. There's simply no getting around it- every Dachshund has the inherited risk, so, as responsible owners, we must do what we can to provide them a lifestyle that minimizes that risk. Feed them a healthy diet. Keep them lean. Keep them fit. Avoid neutering until after they reach one year. Supplement their diet with Cod Liver Oil (our dogs get it every morning). Use a collar (we highly recommend a Martingale Slip style) as opposed to a harness. Finally- let them be dogs. Run. Jump. Go nuts. If it DOES happen- deal with it. IVDD isn't a death sentence- it's a lifestyle change for the dog, for sure, but the majority of dogs that suffer from IVDD recover well in time. If you're concerned about the expense- we recommend Trupanion- as a matter of fact, all our puppies leave here with a one month of free Trupanion insurance because- you know. Puppies...