The Dachshund Tumbles Yet Again, To The 10th Most Popular Dog In The United States Of America

It's all about me

 

The American Kennel Club has released its registration statistics for 2012, and we find that the lovable Dachshund has slipped from the 9th to the 10th most popular dog in The United States of America.  Via the AKC:

 

 

Proving that bigger really is better, the American Kennel Club announced today that the Bulldog has muscled its way into the top 5, becoming the fifth most popular dog in the U.S. according to AKC Registration Statistics, bumping the tiny Yorkshire Terrier into sixth place for the first time since 2003. The Golden Retriever also pushed its way back to the top, overtaking the Beagle for third place, and Rottweilers continued their climb up the top 10 list by taking ninth place away from the Dachshund, both adding to the bigger breed trend. Labrador Retriever lovers have again spoken – the playful, family friendly breed remains the number one most popular breed in the U.S. for the 22nd consecutive year, tying with the Poodle for the longest reign in the top spot.

"Bigger breeds are making their move," said AKC Spokesperson Lisa Peterson. "The popularity of the pint-sized, portable pooch just gave way to a litter of larger breeds in the Top 10. These predictable, durable, steady breeds, like Labs and Goldens, are great with kids and offer the whole family more dog to love."

We've been saving this data for years, and if we spend about an hour graphing out AKC's Dachshund registration statistics over the last thirteen years, we can plainly see the alarming trend of the fall of our popularity.  Of course, these are registration statistics, and heaven only knows how many Dachshunds aren't even registered with the AKC each year.

The Dachshund seems to have lost popularity in many major cities across America as well, most notably New York, where we were in the top 5 for many years.  In major cities for 2012, we find that only in Buffalo is the Dachshund in the top 5, reigning in at number 3, leaping from seventh in 2011.

Falling in popularity isn't necessarily a bad thing, as the more popular a dog, the greater likelihood that their numbers will increase in Rescue. And we are still in the top 10 after all.  Barely.

 

 

Who's the Fairest of them all?

 

Read all the stats at The American Kennel Club.

Vintage Wirehair Wednesday: Seppel, the Dachshund 1935

Thanks to vimeoer Malcolm for sharing some great old footage of his grandparents with their beloved wirehair 'Seppel' at Jarflotta, Sweden, 1935.

2013 South Beach Dachshund Winter Festival

Hundreds of long dogs and their humans descended on Lummus Park in Miami Beach, Florida, on Saturday for the 11th annual South Beach Dachshund Winterfest. Activities included Dachshund Fortune Telling, Doxie Funhouse (tunnels, Odor-ama, scary badgers!), a Talent Show, Singing of the Dach Song and The Grand March! We're so jealous. 

Catch a slideshow of photos at NewTimes Miami. 

The Mystic Krewe of Barkus

The 2013 Krewe of Barkus parade kicked off at 2 PM Sunday in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana - a sign that Mardi Gras celebrations have begun!  Above, The Glitter Queen Dachshund leads the way.  Photo source.

This red smooth might look a little glum only because her Dad is wearing a more outrageous outfit than she.  Photo source.

Celebrity Dachshund Watch: Hanging Out With Andy Warhol

 

Andy Warhol with his Dachshund 'Archie' in the entrance hallway of his house at East 66th Street, New York.  (Photo by Pat Hackett). 

 

Photo distributed by Los Angels Times Syndicate.

 

Related:  Andy Warhol, Dachshundist

Helen LaBuda

We want to stop and take a little time today to honor a great friend of Dachshunds who passed away this week, Helen LaBuda, of Cedar Lake, Indiana.  Maybe you are lucky enough to know someone in your life who is so incredibly passionate about animals, dogs, Dachshunds, that their entire life is devoted to their care and well-being.  This was Helen La Buda.  She worked tirelessly with MidWest Dachshund Rescue to rescue, transport, vet, foster, and rehome the canines that are dear to our heart, especially those with special needs.  Without her help, hundreds of Dachshunds would have perished, and would have never brought such joy to their new humans' homes and lives. 
We would ask that you consider donating to your local dog shelter or Dachshund rescue in her honor today.  Beacuse even in her passing, she will save more lives. This is what her life was all about.
If you have a few moments to spare, please head over to Happy Tails Books, where you can read a short story that she wrote for a book titled Lost Souls: FOUND! Inspiring Stories About Dachshunds.  Her wonderful sense of humor and love for Dachshunds really comes to light in just a few short paragraphs.  Here's the link. 

Drabble Hits The Nail Firmly On The Head

Thanks to our pal 'Princess Lea,' who hails all the way from snowy Slovenia for sending in the latest Drabble.  She says:  Drabble gets it on the spot again with the end of their vet series…

Read more Drabble at GoComics or keep up with Wally at his blog. 

Obie The Obese Dachshund Custody Case Settled

Splish, Splash!  Obie from his facebook page

 

We're quite sure that you recall Obie, the Obese Dachshund who has been at the center of a custody battle between his foster mom, Nora Vanatta, and his rescue group, Oregon Dachshund Rescue.  Lawyers and all involved met yesterday and it has been agreed that Obie will stay with his foster mom permanently.  Excerpt from Oregon Live:

 

Attorneys from both parties confirmed the settlement but said a confidentiality clause prevents them from commenting publicly on the terms of the agreement.
“Even though there’s a lot more to it than that, that’s the most I can say,” says animal law attorney Geordie Duckler, who represents Oregon Dachshund Rescue. “The terms of the settlement I can’t disclose. The only term we’re agreeing we can disclose is that Vanatta keeps the dog.”
The case was resolved relatively peacefully, and both parties are going their separate ways, says James McCurdy, who represents Vanatta.
Vanatta, an emergency medical technician who worked previously as a certified veterinary technician, took in the dog in August after responding to a plea from ODR. She promptly put him on a diet, and his weight-loss plan attracted national attention, including an appearance on the "Today Show" in September.
In October, ODR filed suit in Washington County Circuit Court, demanding that Vanatta return Obie to the rescue.
ODR founder Jenell Rangan claimed that Vanatta was supposed to take the dog only on a temporary basis. She maintained that Vanatta exploited him because of his weight, and failed to provide proper medical care for him, putting his public persona above his health.
After hearing testimony from both parties, a judge ruled at the October hearing that Obie should remain with Vanatta temporarily because he had no evidence either side could prove ownership. Obie has been staying with Vanatta since then.

Ms Vanatta also posted on Obie's facebook page yesterday:

Yes, you have heard correctly that a settlement with ODR has been reached. Obie went to his lawyer's office today and made it official. Today is a wonderful day in Obie's journey. Obie gets to stay with me and his brothers and continue his legacy. I cannot discuss the details of the case and ask for respect with that piece of the settlement. I know Team Obie will be happy to continue to support his journey to a healthier dog. Here's to the next stage of Obie's life! Thank you all for your amazing and endless support!

Obie has lost an astounding 28 pounds since he has been fostered.  He most recently weighed in at 49 pounds, down from 77.  Keep up with Obie at facebook.

Related:  Obie the Obese Dachshund

Wally Goes To The Vet

Poor Wally....we've been there and done that, little guy.  Thanks to the Slovenian Princess 'Lea' for sending in the latest Drabble cartoons.  She reluctantly says:  Looks just like me....don’t like vets much ;) 
There have been so many Drabble cartoons featuring Wally lately that we can't even share them all!  Keep up with all of them at GoComics.

NOT BAD, KONRAD

Up Pretty Boy

 

Mighty proud of Konrad the pup are Jack and Peggy Aldrich.  When Mrs. A. gave teletypist Jack the Dachshund for his birthday June 3, neither knew they would soon have a celebrity in the family.

Last week Konrad so impressed judges at the Clearwater Kennel Club's puppy show (an American Kennel Club sanctioned event) that he came home with a second place ribbon in his class.  This despite the only training he had was a few brief lessons in walking on a lead. 

Jack figures the dog would have taken first place if it had been schooled in show presentation.

 

News Release, source unknown, circa 1953. 

Dachshund History Lessons

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. ~George Santayana

On Tuesday, April 23, 1918, Philadelphia's Evening Public Ledger ran a series of WW1 photos with the title: PICTURESQUE ECHOES OF WAR AND THE GRIM REALITY ARE CONTRASTED BY THE CAMERA'S EYE.  Included among those was this shocking photo. 
The caption read:   YOU ARE CHALLENGED by this grizzled but valiant Civil War veteran to "do your bit" in helping him hang the Kaiser's pet dachshund to the gallows specially created for the purpose at the Penn Square Post office.  The price is as many Liberty Bonds as you can buy from this doughty G.A.R veteran, George Good.

Wiener Dog (Ween) Party

Thank Dog It's Friday.  Turn up the volume and stretch those little legs because it's time to dance.  It's time to sing.  It's time to party!  It's time for a Wiener Dog Party!

By youtuber ianmonat

Best Friend

Everybody needs a best friend.  Who's yours?

Video by youtuber instinctiveshooting.

Celebrity Dachshund Killed in Freak Revolving Door Accident

What a cutie

 

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Alan TBH Plumptre, aka 'Alan,' who had a day job at UK's Tatler magazine, which focuses on the glamorous lives and lifestyles of the upper class. Alan met his fate in a horrible revolving door accident at the magazine's office in central London.  Via The Independent:

 

Staff at the high-society magazine Tatler are in mourning after their in-house dachshund came to a grisly end, killed by the office revolving doors. Alan TBH Plumptre, a hound often ferried in the best designer handbags, was doted on at the monthly publication and had gathered 2,500 followers to his own Twitter account.

Eyewitnesses said that Alan’s last hour was spent outdoors, taking a walk with a Tatler underling.
When the dog approached the revolving door at Vogue House, he saw a man walking through and bolted towards him.
Alan tried to rush through the revolving doors but got his neck caught. The male worker also became stuck in the door.
Two fire engines rushed to the plush Hanover Square offices, where onlookers crowded round the accident scene.
A team of ten firefighters freed the man. However they could not save Alan, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Jennifer George, who owned the dog and is Editor’s assistant at Tatler, tweeted: “Yesterday my tiny much loved man Alan passed away in a tragic accident. Thank you to all that were there to help, all the kind wishes and all who followed @TatlerAlan.’”

Read more at The Independent, or check out The Daily Mail for more photos and a video.  Alan's twitter:  TatlerAlan.

Thanks to Christopher Derer for sending in links to this sad story.
 

'The Long and Short of it All' is Brought to You by:

 

 

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Circa 1950s

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A POEM FOR HARRY

 

A Poem For Harry - March 22, 1998 - October 16, 2012

by An Anonymous Dachshundist

 

When I first met you on the third of July
I was amazed that, though little, you stared into my eyes

All through your life, every picture I took
Your eyes were on me with that same special look!

I was never alone with you by my side
Whether happy or busy or just when I cried

You found a best friend in Miss Murphy Brown
And I know that you missed her when no longer around

When we went to grandma’s to mow and to chop
You followed me faithfully til it was time to stop

You made us all laugh with a rug on your head
And when you stole stuff you ran under the bed!

When I went to the hospital and came home to rest
You stayed by my side and snuggled…you were the best!

When we went to Auburn to fix up your spine
You were so brave…not a whimper or whine!

You swam in the tub and flexed out your paw
Of your will to recover, I was amazed and in awe!

With all the hard work we at last had success
You walked and you ran about four years, I guess

But again your back failed and you couldn’t stand up
Just one more challenge for my brave little pup!

We got you a wheelchair made specially for you
With your unstoppable spunk, you mastered this too!

For three more years we traveled together
We went out for our walks no matter the weather

I became your legs when you couldn’t walk
But you were and ALWAYS will be MY HEART!



Thanks so much to a special reader for sending in these beautiful words.  

'The Long and Short of it All' is Brought to You by:

 

Treat Yourself Right at Dairy Queen.

 

Thanks to our pal 'Toby' and his mom Pat for sending in this amazing retro image.  We love it!

 

 

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Dachshunds in Pop Culture: Christine Kaufmann

 

Who?  Christine Maria Kaufmann (born January 11, 1945 in Lengdorf, Styria, Austria) is a German actress. Her father is German and her mother is French. In 1961, she won the Golden Globe Award for New Star Of The Year - Actress, the only German to be so honoured.

Kaufmann started her film career at the age of seven in the 1952 adaptation of Im weißen Rößl (White Horse Inn). The film which brought her fame was Rosen-Resli, released in 1954, when she was only nine. She gained international recognition when she starred with Steve Reeves in The Last Days of Pompeii (1959) and with Kirk Douglas in Town Without Pity (1961). The following year she appeared in Escape from East Berlin.
In 1963, Kaufmann married Dachshund Lover Tony Curtis, whom she had met during the filming of Taras Bulba (1962). They had two daughters, Alexandra and Allegra. They would divorce in 1968. Kaufmann resumed her career, which she had interrupted during her marriage. Kaufmann is also a successful businesswoman, promoting her own cosmetics products line that sells well in The Motherland. She has written several books about beauty and health, as well as two autobiographies.

Dachshund Love Stories

The Vintage January Dachshund

 

 

People don't notice whether it's winter or summer when they're happy. ~Dachshund Lover Anton Chekhov

 

Calling All Girls, January, 1961

Breaking Wiener Dog News: Wally Gets His Own Blog

 

It's no secret that we love the adventures of 'Wally' in Kevin Fagan's Drabble cartoon strip, and now you can keep up with this smooth dude at his very own blog.  This is his very first post:

 

I am a wiener dog. We were bred to hunt badgers. We corner them and then bark real loud to alert our masters. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen a badger, so I just bark at everything to be on the safe side. Ok, time for a nap!

 

Wally has been pretty prolific in Drabble since the start of this new year, and as always, thanks goes out to our pretty friend from Slovenia, 'Princess Lea,' who has kept us up to date with his shenanigans.  Here are a few of his new ones:  

 

 

Read more Drabble at GoComics.

Bad Taste Bears

If you've got bad taste, or maybe just an odd sense of humor, you might appreciate the newest Bad Taste Bear figurine:  Dachshund.  It'll cost you about £18 and is available on the Bad Taste Bears website or eBay.

Thanks to an Anonymous Dachshundist for sending this in!

Remembering Miss Patti Page

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of a legend - Miss Patti Page - who passed away Tuesday at the age of 85.  Regular readers of the Long and Short of it All will know our fondness for her fine voice, often featured amongst our boring old posts over the years.

As we stated in 2008 in Dachshunds in Pop Culture:  Patti Page:   While we don't think that Ms. Page was ever owned by her very own Dachshund, her accomplishments certainly require that she has a special place in Dachshund history. The above promotional photo was taken in January of 1953; she is "holding a dachshund in a pet shop, trying out her new song, How Much Is That Doggie in the Window."

Miss Page would go on to re-release and re-name that iconic song in November of 2008. Have a listen:  Patti Page Releases "Do You See That Doggie in the Shelter"

We would even romanticize our friend Geneva's 15th Birthday on Cape Cod:  Dachshund Relaxation: Geneva's 15th Birthday!



Which leaves us with one of the finest songs ever recorded, Tennessee Waltz.  What a huge impact Miss Page left on so many peoples lives through her art.

Key West Dachshund Walk 2012

It must be the beginning of a New Year, because as sure as that big ball dropped in New York City (ball...did someone say BALL?!), Dachshunds converged in Key West, Florida, on Monday for the 8th Annual Key West Dachshund Walk. This year's event attracted about 200 long, short, and agile canines, and about 30 impostors!  
Video by:  KeysHomeShow

'Sadie' sure was festive

 

Can you spot the impostors?  

Photos by: AP Photo/Florida Keys News Bureau.

Dachshunds in Modern Politics: Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr.

Our hearts go out to the family and friends of Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. who passed away December 27, 2012 in Tampa, Florida, at age 78. Mr. Schwarzkopf was a United States Army general who, while serving as Commander of U.S. Central Command, was commander of coalition forces in the Gulf War.  With all politics aside, when notaries pass, we often have to ask ourselves "were they a Dachshund Lover?"
Well, it turns out that he was.  Mr. Schwarzkopf had a beloved wire-haired Dachshund who responded to the name of "Grizz."  Mr. Schwarzkopf would later reference Grizz in lectures on leadership, this one in 1996:

"People say to me, `you've got a lot of nerve talking about leadership,'" he said. "`You're talking to very successful business people who are obviously leaders,' and many of you in the student body are leaders."
Schwarzkopf debunked the myth that people must be born leaders to be effective.
"There is no such a thing as a born leader," he said, "They are made."
To illustrate his point, Schwarzkopf explained how Grizz, his "wire-haired Dachshund who weighs 15 pounds and looks like a dust mop," is the "undisputed leader in the Schwarzkopf household," and his other dog, a 90 pound well-bred German Shepherd, is not.
"Grizz has never looked at the mirror," he joked.
"It doesn't matter whether you're tall or short, or whether you're brilliant or not... if you start thinking like a 90 pound German Shepherd then by-golly you are going to be a leader," he said.

To Greet You With A Happy New Year

This may be a dog-on way of expressing it, but I trust it will not incur your displeasure.

Best for 2013,
Joey and Rowdy,
The Long and Short of it All

What a perfect vintage postcard from around 1910. 

2013: The Year of the Wiener Dog

But wait...EVERY YEAR is the year of the Wiener Dog!

Read more Drabble at GoComics.