Toby Joins the Pack-Adopted!

Foster Update: Toby has really blossomed. He loves kids, avoids my cats and so far is doing pretty well with house breaking. Toby loves attention and would love to snuggle up on the couch with you while you watch the Olympics. He is a puppy and has lots of energy but he is able to settle down and chew on a bone or amuse himself with a rope toy. He is a fun little guy who wants to meet everyone and doesn’t want to be left out of the action.

Toby is a six month old Dach-shund puppy. About 20 pounds and quite the runner with longer legs, we’re thinking that he has some Italian Greyhound in him. I know it is hard to believe, but it appears that someone has abused this poor little guy. There looks to be cigarette burns on his head and, according to his initial foster, “he is frightened to come out of his crate or go back in the house. If he is loose in the dog room he hides under a chair. He’s hard to coax out of the crate.

When he’s running in the yard he’s a very happy boy. The pack of little dogs scare him. he likes being outside or in his crate. He will sit for us to pick him up and put him back in the house, but struggles if we try to pull him in the doorway on the leash.

This sort of thing makes me soooo mad! How could someone be so cruel to such a little puppy???? We’re confident that with tender loving care, Toby will regain his confidence and trust. Do you have the love he needs?

Dachshunds are as cute as buttons, but like all breeds, they have their little quirks. Make sure you thoroughly research any breed that you are considering for you home, to ensure that it will meet your expectations and fit well into your lifestyle. If you are considering a mixed breed, research both breeds ~ the dog will likely have traits of both! There are lots of online resources to help your research. To get you started, here is some of what www.dogbreedinfo.com has to say about dachshunds. The Dachshund is curious, clever, lively, affectionate, proud, brave, and amusing. Devoted to their family, but can be slightly difficult to train and housebreak, but not impossible. Dachshunds travel well. This little dog needs an owner who understands how to be his pack leader or he will take over the house, and begin to try and tell the owner what to do. If the dog is allowed to take over, many behavior problems will arise, such as, but not limited to, guarding furniture, separation anxiety, food, toys or other objects, snapping, biting, and obsessive barking. They will become unpredictable with children and adults they do not know. If it gets really bad, they may become unpredictable with their owners. They are usually recommended for older, considerate children, simply because most owners do not display proper pack leadership to small dogs, causing moderate to severe protectiveness. A behavior that can change if the humans start being their pack leader. If they do get the proper leadership, they can get along well with children. This breed has an instinct to dig. They are generally okay with other pets, however, once again, without proper leadership from their humans, they can be jealous, irritable, obstinate and very quick to bite. Sometimes refusing to be handled. If you allow your little dog to take over your house, the dog will try his hardest to keep all of his humans in line. A weight which should not be placed on any dog’s shoulders, especially one as sweet as a little dog like the Dachshund. These negative traits are not Dachshund traits, they are small dog syndrome traits. Meaning, most owners treat their small dogs like babies, rather than giving them leadership. Rules they need to follow along with limits they are, and are not allowed to do, which all dogs instinctually crave. Dachshunds who have human leadership along with a daily pack walk are wonderful family companions, with excellent temperaments. These are active dogs with surprising stamina; they need to be walked daily. They will also enjoy sessions of play in the park or other safe open areas. Be careful, however, when pedestrians are about because Dachshunds are more likely to be stepped on than more visible dogs. They should be discouraged from jumping, as they are prone to spinal damage. Good for apartment living. They are fairly active indoors and will do okay without a yard. They have a life expectancy of 12-15 years. The Dachshund originated in Germany in the early 1600s. Bred to hunt small game such as badger and rabbit, the Dachshund has shortened legs to hunt and follow these animals to ground inside the burrows where they could fight the prey to the death. “Dachs” is the word for badger. Smaller Dachshunds where bred to hunt hare and stoat. Dachshunds have many “terrier” characteristics. They are versatile and courageous dogs and have been known to take on foxes and otters too. The breeds population dwindled during World War l, but dogs were imported from Germany to the USA and the gene pool once again increased. The Dachshund was recognized by the AKC in 1885. Toby is up-to-date with routine shots and neutered.