Top Dachshund News Stories of 2008

My New Year's Wish for you, dear friend, contains enough of everything to have you want for nothing more.

Well, where do you begin after such a busy year in the world of Dachshunds? We've been working on this Dachshund News Roundup: 2008 for a few days now, and it's nearly impossible to highlight just a few of the heartwarming news stories, the great work of our rescue and educational groups, and all the awesome dachshund events, photos, and videos. We hope you've been reading all year so that you haven't missed anything, it's been great fun. Thanks for all the great story tips over the year.
Of course, there were some sad stories sprinkled in with the good ones, and our hearts go out to all the dachshunds who have dealt with some serious issues this year, and in some cases where dachshunds are now waiting for us at The Rainbow Bridge. Rest in peace, little ones.
Probably the biggest story of the year, as it concerns the welfare of the dachshund breed, is the August puppy mill rescue of nearly 1,000 dachshunds in Parkersburg, West Virginia. This may be the largest puppy mill raid in history. How a country of dog lovers came together to the aid of these dogs is nothing less than astounding. Not a single dog was euthanized in the effort. It also shows us that as a country, the United States has a lot of work to do to wipe out puppy mills. Bless everyone who helped rescue, adopt, foster, transport, donate, and volunteer for dachshund and dog rescue in 2008.
The next biggest story to affect the dachshund breed in 2008 was the study which was released in July naming the dachshund as the most aggressive dog breed on the planet. Some readers dismissed the study as a bunch of "hoo-hah," but some wear the badge as an honor. We admit to being a bit shocked at first, but when you combine such factors as lap dog, a genetic marker for fierceness, and the learned experiences of a little dog who is often teased by children, you end up with a dog that could very well have behavior issues. Thankfully, a dachshund bite generally does little damage, but it's an important factor to consider when choosing a dachshund for a companion dog. Of course, many dachshunds don't have an aggressive hair on their long and short little bodies.
In sentimental stories, our favorite was the story and video of Sam, the loyal dachshund who found his way to his owner's funeral, 2.5 days later, 6 miles from his home, across busy highways...one of the most amazing canine stories we've ever heard. Other notables include Annie, who saved her human, and Tootsie, who was found 5 years after he went missing, some 350 miles from his home.
Thanks to all the readers who sent in news story tips and "Dachshund Love" stories over the year. There's nothing better than seeing beautiful dachshund photos and reading about why every dachshund is special and loved. These wonderful stories can be found throughout this link.
We've tried to provide other forms of entertainment throughout the year when news is slow, from finding great videos, photos, poetry, humor, art, and shopping opportunities, to researching dachshund history, posting vintage images, and highlighting famous and celebrity dachshunds. Many of these can be found by clicking on the Favorite Topics links in the right hand column of the website. There's a brand new section in the right hand column, scroll way down, which lists all the famous dachshunds we've profiled so far....pick your poison! There are more to come!

Thanks again for all your support! May you be happy, healthy, and loved in 2009.

Sincerely,
Your Long and Short of it All hosts,
Joey and Maggie

P.S. So, what was your favorite story for 2008?


January, 2008: Dachshund Lovers head south for the big Key West Dachshund Walk; New Pedigree Anti-Dachshund Commercial; The Dachshund Slips to Number 7 in AKC Registration; Dachshunds in the Ringling Bros Circus; 'The Ugly Dachshund' Actress Suzanne Pleshette passes; 'Jesus' held hostage over 'Wiener Poopie'; South Beach Dachshund Winterfest.

February, 2008: Live streaming video of dachshund momma 'Magic' and her puppies; Dachshunds compete at Westminster; Wienermobile Wipes Out; Iris Love's Dachshund Party at Tavern on the Green; Tink the Dachshund nurses Pink the piglet.

March, 2008: We meet Frankie, the Walk 'n Roll Dog; Stolen Dachshund Offered at Pawn Shop comes home; Dachshund Hero Saves Cat; Dachshunds Compete at Crufts; An E-Mail from the Empress of Iran; Viral Dachshund Video: Jerry Needs No Help Playing With His Ball; Roxy the Dachshund Bitten By Coral Snake (rest in peace little one); The Dachshund Song (wiener dog, wiener dog, wiener dog, wiener dog!).

April, 2008: Bingo, the Famous LA Dachshund passes; Loyal Dachshund Finds Way to Owner's Funeral; Buda Wiener Races; UC Davis Doxie Derby; Dachshund Gets New Grill at the Dentist; Signs of the Dachshund Revolution Surface in Washington, DC.

May, 2008: Queen of Denmark's Dachshund Hit By Car; New York's Dachshund Spring Fiesta; Two UK Dachshunds Come Home After Missing for 3 Months; Denmark's Royal Dachshund Bites Guard; Eddie's Wheels Featured on the Today Show; Annie the Dachshund Saves her Human; we meet Sylar, an Albino Dachshund; The Long and Short of it All turns One Year Old.

June, 2008: Ft. Wayne Wiener Nationals; Lady the Dachshund Warrior Protects Family from Bear; Summer Wiener Races and Festivals; Sophie Rescued After 3 days in 16-Foot-Deep Hole; The Wheelchair Pushing Dachshund.

July, 2008: DRNA wins $1,000 Donation from iGive.com; New Study Finds Dachshund the Most Aggressive Dog on the Planet; Wiener Races and Summer Festivals; Bella the Dachshund Recovers from Rare Brain Surgery; We meet Bubba, the Dachshund on Mole Patrol; Fred's Journey to the 2008 Olympics; Mighty Dog Commercial With Dachshund.

August, 2008: Possibly the Largest Puppy Mill Raid in History, 1,000 Dachshunds Rescued in Parkersburg, West Virginia; Who's Your Dachshund begins; Dachshund Gene Mutation May Help Humans With Blindness; Dachshund Digs Up Wallet Lost for 60 Years; Wiener Takes All Released on DVD; BBC Announces Review of Crufts Dog Show; Dachshund Club of America Supports West Virginia Rescue Efforts.

September, 2008: More Fallout From Parkersburg, West Virginia Puppy Mill Raid; The costs of Owning a Dachshund; Eleven Dachshunds Left at Over-Crowded Ohio Shelter; Wiener Races and Festivals; Our Dedicated Folks in Dachshund Rescue.

Dachtober, 2008: Still More Fallout From Parkersburg, West Virginia Puppy Mill Raid; Election Fun, Dolly's Incredible Story; Dachshunds Are Blessed; Savannah Wiener Dawg Races; Dachshund Dream Team; NYC's Dachshund Fall Parade; Halloween Fun; Dachshunds Versus Bees; Lots of Wiener Races.

November, 2008: Dachshunds Rescued From Hoarder Are Reunited; George Clooney is All Wet; Dachshunds in the White House; Veterans Day and Dachshunds; Dachshund Champion Dash is Lost and Found; Doxie Digest Magazine Debuts; Texas Dachshund Rescued From Carbon Monoxide Poisoning; Edgar, a Stolen Dachshund; Dachshunds Feeling Economic Crunch; Tootsie, A Lost Dachshund, Found 5 Years Later, 350 Miles Away.

December, 2008: Christmas and Holiday Dachshund Shopping; Maggie's Dachshund Babies, Live Streaming Puppies Video; Awesome Dachshund Videos; The Longing Eyes of a Puppy Mill Dachshund; BBC Cancels Crufts Coverage; Holiday Dachshund Fun; Dachshund With Half A Pack of Cigarettes a Day Habit Killed by Car; Dachshund Lover Literature: Mrs. Astor Regrets; Neglected Dachshund Now a Picture of Health; Daisy Revived with CPR after House Fire.

Celebrity Dachshund Watch: Agyness Deyn

Who? Agyness Deyn is an English model currently living in New York, hailed as "the fashion industry's next great supermodel" and an "ambassador of British youth culture." She recently announced her engagement to Albert Hammond, Jr. of The Strokes, and was just voted number one in the BBC's Most Annoying People 2008. Oh yeah, she's a dachshund lover. The Daily Mail gave her a ribbing in a story today for wearing a 'Cruella De Vil' coat after sporting an anti-fur sticker just last month. We're hoping the coat is a convincing fake.

We don't know the names of her pretty smooth black and tan dapple or chihuahua, but if anyone has any more information, please send it in!

PetSugar notes that the couture canines sport matching Louis Vuitton leashes and collars which would total about $1,290 for both dogs.

English clothes, German dog, American Airline (click any image to enlarge)

Agyness Deyn and Albert Hammond, Jr. walk the dogs in New York City.

Dachshund Miracles: Daisy's Story

Meet pretty red smooth 'Daisy,' and her human Jessica Cagle, who hail from Carlisle, Arkansas. A fire destroyed their home, and it was thought that Daisy was deceased, but some local heroes changed her fate. Excerpt from The Carlisle Independent: “I knew I had to get as much of our stuff out as I could, before the fire got any worse,” Jeff Cagle said. “I went to the back porch, opened the door and there laid my daughter’s miniature dachshund. It wasn’t breathing so I presumed the dog dead. I picked the dog up and placed it on the ground.”
After returning to the house to retrieve more personal items Cagle said he saw two men over the dog, working with it.
“They gave it CPR and once they got the dog breathing again, they rushed it to the vet in Hazen and put on an IV. I mean, it was a miracle,” Cagle said.
Read more about the family's blessings at The Carlisle Independent.

Those Special Dachshunds: Meet Natalie!

We sure do love these "Dachshund Love" stories, especially around the holidays! Get ready to meet 'Natalie' "Little Bit" Messner, a cute little rescue who has found her loving forever home.

Hello, Boys! My new name is Natalie. I am one year old. I love my new Mom and Dad and my new pet cats, Bash Lee and Captain Spaulding! And they love me, too! Here is my picture, so you can see how pretty I am!
I love my new home, and I have been here for three weeks. My new Mom taught me how to go potty outside, and I have been a good girl. I was born in a kennel and when I was 5 months old, the kennel people left me there all alone and some nice people came and got me. I was scared because I was inside my cage for a very long time. Now I have lots of toys, and good food, and I get to take lots of walks and play whenever I want to. I really love to go to bed with my new Mom and Dad and I love to sleep under the blankets. I am very glad that my new Mom and Dad wanted me and I didn't have to go into another cage in a place they call the pound...Merry Christmas! Sincerely, Natalie "Little Bit" Messner

What Dachshund Lovers Do With Their Blackberry

New Verizon Blackberry Storm Commercial. Dachshunds are Everywhere.

Merry Christmas!

May All Your Dachshund Dreams Come True.

Wiener Wonderland (to the tune of Winter Wonderland)

Dog tags ring, are you listenin'?
In the lane snow is glistenin'.
It's yellow, not white - I've been there tonight,
marking up my Wiener Wonderland.
Smell that tree? That's my fragrance.
It's a sign for wand'ring vagrants:
"Avoid where I pee, it's my property!
Marked up as my Wiener Wonderland."
In the meadow Dad will build a snowman,
following the classical design.
Then I'll lift my leg and let it go, man,
so all the world will know it's mine-mine-mine!
Straight from me to the fencepost,
flows my natural incense boast:
"Stay off of my turf, this small piece of earth.
I mark it as my Wiener Wonderland."

Be safe and Merry Christmas!

Photo source unknown. Poem slightly modified from a poem around the net, original source unknown.

A Beautiful Christmas Portrait

We Wish You a Merry Christmas! by our good friend geckoam at flickr. Make sure to check out more great holiday photos of 'Mocha,' 'Levi,' and 'Pepper' at flickr!

Neglected Dachshund Now a Picture of Health

It's amazing what a little love can do. Meet little red longhair 'Sylvester,' who was found as a stray in South Cave, UK. He was emaciated, flea-infested, with little hair, and in a condition which brought the vet who saw him to tears. He was taken to Hull Animal Welfare Trust, where a special human volunteer, Leah Elvidge, nursed him back to health and eventually adopted him. Well just look at Sylvester now! His age is unknown, as he has no teeth, which is how vets normally determine a dog's age. Read more about this special guy at This is Hull and East Riding.

Dachshund Lover Literature: Mrs. Astor Regrets

Reviews are popping up all over on the new book Mrs. Astor Regrets, described by The Washington Times as: a saga about sex, avarice, jealousy, betrayal, infidelity, alcoholism, social position, gossip, power, vanity and ultimately money - lots of it, and Brooke Russell Kuser Marshall Astor, the doyenne or queen of New York City, is at the center of it all.

Sigh. We regret that the book isn't just about her love of dachshunds. Still might make a good read though, as most reviews are quite positive, even on Amazon: This is a fabulous book. Not in the dictionary sense of "hard to believe" or exceptionally good. It is fabulous in the "must be read with a bonbon and preferably a cocktail nearby." This is the perfect diversion from the hassles of the holiday season. Think of it as Mrs Astor's last bequest to the common folk.

Has anyone read it, and what did you think?

Related: NY Socialite Brooke Astor Dies at 105

Related: What Ever Happened to Brooke Astor's Dachshunds?/Who is Iris Love?

Related: Dachshund Lap of Luxury

A Note From Joey and Maggie: It's Our Birthday!

(click photo to enlarge)

Your Long and Short of it All littermate hosts are 8 years old today! Dad promised that he'd take us to McDonald's drive-thru for a hamburger, but there's another snow storm outside. We WILL hold him to that promise for a later date. But now it's time for cake!

Photo details: Grooming by Central Bark Chicago. Oatmeal shampoo by Dachshund Delights. Artwork by The Dachshund Revolution. Framing by Mars Gallery. Cake by For Dogs Sake.

Dachshund in New Holiday PetSmart Commercial

Thanks to our pals 'Oscar' and 'Hans' for sending in the tip about the dachshund puppy in the new Holiday PetSmart Commercial. It's no Bobo ad, but still nice. Don't blink or you'll miss him!

Rocky: A Rescue Dachshund

We've got a real special post today, just in time for the holidays. Woof, Woof! Dachshund Lover Steve Kissinger writes of his newest love, handsome wirehair piebald 'Rocky,' with some awesome photos, and a fun desktop theme to save as your background! Thanks so much, Steve. Needless to say, looks like Rocky has found his perfect forever home. Without any further adieu, Meet Rocky!
(click any image to enlarge)

About 6 months ago I adopted a wirehair dachshund named Rocky. He was rescued from a breeder in South Carolina. When I met him, he was only 12 lbs, which was very thin for a 17" long doxie. We could tell right away that he was very grateful to be taken in by loving humans. He is now almost 16 lbs. He loves to eat, sleep, and play. He also loves his new brother Baxter and likes to take naps while I play guitar. He does have some issues such as: being very scared of most people besides those in our household, and barking and intimidating anyone who comes in the house. We are working on those though (any tips?). I also found out that his mother died when she was giving birth to him. Only Rocky and one sister survived. But don't think for a second that I would trade this little guy for anything in the world! We have a very special bond that I don't expect to find ever again. I very highly recommend adopting a rescue dachshund. You might want to have some extra time and money to spend though. You never know what unexpected woah's from the dog's past will have you taking a trip to the vet (Worms and allergies in our case). Rocky is a very special doxie and likes to have staring contests with humans. His eyes alone will make anyone fall in love with him. Rocky and I along with Baxter and his human Brittany, are both very excited to celebrate what I bet will be his first Christmas. And there are lots of presents under the tree for him and his brother! Rocky has had a pretty tough life, but he is a poster pup for rescue dogs. It just goes to show how far a little compassion and a lot of love can go.

Happy Holidays!

Dog Days, indeed.

A Rocky Collage (click image to enlarge)



To save this image as your desktop background, click on image to enlarge. Then right click, and select 'Set as Desktop Background.' Works best with a screen resolution of 1280 X 800.

Christmas Walkies with Dachshunds

If you have 5 minutes to spare, don't miss this nice UK holiday dachshund relaxation video, featuring some cute little wirehairs. Are you feeling that holiday spirit?

Dachshunds To Watch Out For: Meet Poppy

Meet longhairs 'Murphy,' left, and 'Poppy,' and their human Nancy LaVigne, who hail from the Tucson, Arizona region. Poppy beat out 48 other dachshunds to win the Tucson Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals on October 11th,, and will be traveling to San Diego, California, to race in the finals on December 29th. Way to go Poppy! Excerpt from the Arizona Star: "I couldn't believe it, I was shocked," LaVigne said about Poppy's victory and the all-expenses-paid trip to the national race. But the dog enjoys the exercise. "Since she was a puppy, she's loved running," LaVigne said.
The winner will receive $1,000 and will be featured during a timeout of the Holiday Bowl the next day. LaVigne plans on giving a percentage of the proceeds to the Sahuaro Dachshund Rescue and World Vision (an anti-poverty organization), should Poppy be victorious.

Read all about Poppy, the big race, and see a great slide show of photos at The Arizona Star. (One note of warning, if you hit the newspaper link more than a few times, you have to register with the paper, but it's free.)

Happy Hanukkah!

May your latkes be crispy...save some for the dachshunds! Above, this dachshund menorah would sure add a festive touch to a dachshund lover's home, just $38 at AHAVA USA.

Related: Hanukkah Dachshunds

Dachshund Fight Club

Feisty Christmas Mood: Father 'Otto' and Son 'Bubba' throw off the gloves in the rug ring by the Christmas Tree.

It's The First Day of Winter

Hold on to your hats! At least the days are getting longer - and that means more time to lay in the glorious sun that flows through the windows.

(Image details unknown).

Related: Dachshund Jokes: The First Day of Winter is Here

Smoking Hot Dachshunds

We can't stop thinking about yesterday's post with 'General Edi,' the dachshund with a half pack of cigarettes a day habit. Thanks for the great comments, especially what P.J. wrote: But it also points out how all the precautions--and worrying--in the world on the part of us dachshund owners can be for nothing in the end. He was TWENTY-TWO years old, the canine equivalent of a heavy smoker, and what did him in? Being hit by a car!!! It reminds me of the (supposedly true) news item about a health nut who died as a result of choking on a handful of vitamins and dietary supplements.

Yep, LOVE is the most important thing in a dachshund's life. Thanks to our pal 'Sampson' for sending in this funny photo. (Original source unknown)

Have a great Friday!

Dachshund Humor

I went to the movie theater the other day and in the front row was an old man and with him was his dachshund. It was a sad, funny kind of film, you know the type. In the sad part, the dachsie cried his eyes out, and in the funny part, the dachsie laughed its head off. This happened all the way through the film. After the film had ended, I decided to go and speak to the man. "That's the most amazing thing I've seen," I said. "That dachshund really seemed to enjoy the film." The man turned to me and said, "Yeah, it is. He hated the book."

With Dachshunds for Company, Christmas will be Merry

From The American Dachshund, December, 1965

This is Putschi, head through wreath. The picture was taken by Laurence Alden Horswell for Christmas 1941.
Putschi, then nearing seven years, was Mr. & Mrs. Horswell's "favorite red bitch." She accumulated a championship, three champion puppies out of her only litter of four, and 12 field trial 3rd and 4th place ribbons," writes Mr. Horswell.
"The only reason she didn't place higher was that when we lived in town, with cats in the apartment, we had to train her not to give tongue, to keep peace with the neighbors."
Mrs. Horswell had just come home from a walk with Putschi, and Mr. H. was about to hang the wreath on the front door. The picture was impromptu.

Dachshund With a Half Pack of Cigarettes a Day Habit Killed by Car on Way to Tobacconist's Shop

Well, where do you start with a story like this? Meet 22 year old 'General Edi,' who hailed from Graz, Austria. Our hearts go out to his friends and family for their loss. Excerpt from Telegraph.co.uk: General Edi has been munching his way through half a packet of cigarettes every day since he was a puppy, said owner Wolfgang Treirler. But Edi has died after he was hit by a car during a walk to his favourite cigarette shop. Mr Treirler said:"His old owner abandoned him and so we took him in 17 years ago, and noticed straight away that he was in the habit of eating cigarettes.
"He eats the tobacco and the paper, and then chews a while on the filter before spitting it out."
Note that nicotine normally leads to poisoning in dogs. Read more at Telegraph.co.uk.

Rudolph Visits Metro Detroit Elementary School

Yes, it's the holiday season, but we're not talking about that Rudolph! Meet handsome blind and deaf 'Rudolph' the dachshund, who hails from the Metro Detroit area. Rudolph and his human, Marcia Fishman, visited Roosevelt Elementary School on Monday to promote his message about disability awareness. Rudolph is the subject of a new short story written by his human called Rudolph's Nose Knows. He was such a hit with the kids that he will visit other schools soon! See more pics and read all about it at HOMETOWNlife.com.

Dachshunds in Pop Culture: Alan Ladd

Who? Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American film actor. Mr. Ladd was a short (5' 5"), unexpressive lead actor with icy good looks and a resonant voice. He worked a variety of odd jobs -- in addition to radio and in local theater -- before entering films in his late teens as a bit player and grip. In the mid-'30s, he began appearing regularly in minor screen roles.
Hollywood agent Sue Carol discovered him and began trumpeting him as star material, and the actor eventually landed a major role in This Gun for Hire (1942) opposite Veronica Lake. He quickly became a major star, and was teamed with Lake in other films -- all hits. Ladd and Carol married in 1942, and she remained his agent for the rest of his life.
Although his star-power waned after World War II, his most famous performance came as the title character in 1953's Shane. In 1962 Ladd attempted suicide, and in 1964 he died from an apparent overdose of alcohol and sedatives. Find out more about Alan Ladd at his official site.
Above, Alan Ladd is seen with his red smooth dachshund 'Fritzie II.' Fritzie II is 3 months old here, weighing all of 3 pounds. Fritzie II replaces Fritzie I, who was run over and killed by a motorist. Mrs. Ladd (Sue Carol) bought number 2 after the house seemed so lonely following the demise of number 1.




Enjoy the trailer for the 1953 Western "Shane." Directed by George Stevens and starring Alan Ladd.

Related:  Dachshunds in Pop Culture:  Alan Ladd, Continued

Dachshund Etiquette for the Holidays

Meet 9-year-old smooth black and tan 'Clyde,' his grandma Kelly Johnston, left, and human Kristi Springer, who hail from Allendale, Michigan. Clyde is invited to the Christmas party again this year even though he urinated around the Christmas tree a couple of years ago. Ooops!
While a tad humorous in retrospect, it's not that funny when you find your wiener dog on the dining room table chowing down on the family roast right before you sit down to eat Christmas Dinner.
MLive offers up some great tips to make visiting friends and family around the holidays with your dog go a little smoother, and here's an excerpt: Clyde likes to party at Christmas.
He unwraps presents with his teeth. He gets a little unruly when he's had too much to drink.
Yup, it's all fun and games until this 9-pound wiener dog from Allendale loads up at the water bowl and lifts his little leg under the Christmas tree.
Merry Christmas party hosts, are you ready for a canine guest?

Prepare for the holidays by reading the canine etiquette tips at MLive.

Christmas Badger Recipe

OK Badger Dogs.....you've caught and killed your poor badger, so now what?
'Bad Boy,' a dachshund in the UK, offers up a simple recipe that would make a nice addition to your holiday table this year in lieu of typical standards like turkey, ham, or beef. This can only be the dachshund's favorite dish: The Christmas Badger.

Christmas Badger

1 30lb – 35lb badger
4 litres Holts bitter
1kg sausage meat
17 shallots
8 large onions
4 sticks celery
8 tbsp wholemeal breadcrumbs
zest and juice of 1 orange
2 tbsp thyme
3 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
2 tbsp allspice

Eviscerate and skin the badger. Soak it in a fast flowing river for at least 48 hours. This will help to degrease it more easily. Hang the badger over a smudge fire for at least another two days until the meat has begun to stiffen.

Gather the seasoning. Mix the stuffing ingredients and allow to cool for 36 hours. Dice the onions and place the badger in a cooking bag (a washed, empty Fisons bag will do). Insert the stuffing at the rear and line the bag with the onions. Pour the Holts bitter over the meat.

Place the badger in a stone pit oven or conventional cooker set to 325º F/ gas mark 6. Allow plenty of time because a 30lb badger will take 6-8 hours to cook. Use a meat thermometer, if you have one, to ensure thorough penetration of the heat.

The result is a gamey, very Christmassy roast.

Happy Holidays!

Recipe Source

BBC Cancels Crufts Coverage

This has been an interesting story to keep up with to say the least, but the British Broadcasting Corporation has kept good with its threat to drop the broadcast of the prestigious Crufts Dog Show. Here's an excerpt from UK's The Guardian: Crufts will not be televised by the BBC next year after the Kennel Club refused to accept the broadcaster's "insupportable conditions" for certain breeds of pedigree dog to be excluded from the show.
The club said yesterday it had "regrettably" suspended its 46-year relationship with the BBC because the corporation had failed to take account of the measures it had introduced to improve the health of pedigree dogs or the fact that judges would ensure that only healthy animals would be awarded prizes.
The move follows the screening of a BBC documentary in August [Pedigree Dogs Exposed] that claimed that the breeding process used to produce pedigree dogs had resulted in a high incidence of inherited genetic disease.
The club said it could not discuss which breeds it had been asked to exclude, but they are thought to include: basset hounds, clumber spaniels, dogues de Bordeaux, mastiffs, neapolitan mastiffs, pekingese, rottweilers, shar-peis, St Bernards, chow chows, and bulldogs.
Dachshunds have not been mentioned at this point.
Read more at The Guardian. He said: Kennel Club UK article. She said: BBC article.

Related: Dachshund News Roundup! with link to watch Pedigree Dogs Exposed

Related: The Quest for the Perfect Dog

A Note From Joey and Maggie: SANTA!

So on Saturday we had our holiday party with Chicago Dachshund Lovers, our local dachshund meetup group....talk about fun! There were about 60 dachshunds to play with! Dad was busy taking photos while we were busy scoping out the food table, when who should walk in but Santa Claus!

We got several awesome photos taken with Santa by a great local professional photographer, Clara Sauerman, of Furry Finesse. Below are Clara's two pretty dachshunds, 'Otis' and 'Isabella.'

If you're in the Chicagoland area and need some great photos, make sure and check out Furry Finesse! If you're NOT in Chicagoland, just make sure to have a look at all the fine professional photos of dachshunds and dogs on the site.

The Rise of Beds, and Falls of Dachshunds

Thanks to our pal 'Ali' for sending in the link and reminder about dachshunds being in "The Big Bed." Today's beds are taller than they were the last decade, when standard mattress and box springs were each about 8 inches thick. Today, thanks to the 'Princess and the Pea' phenomenon, mattresses can be 20 inches thick.
As beds are rising, so is the percentage of dogs sleeping with their humans, and we're betting that dachshunds average much higher here than the 2006 national average of 47%!
Arizona Central reports: veterinarians across the country report among house dogs a rise in such disorders as elbow and shoulder arthritis, hip dysplasia and degenerative disk disease. As the lifespan of pets rises thanks to better food and medicine, the old dog that once leapt with abandon now hesitates on the edge of bed - or jumps and hurts itself.
Read more about the trend at Arizona Central. Got those stairs or a ramp? What brand do you recommend?

Junior Handlers Give It Their Best This Weekend

Best of luck to all the dachshunds competing in this weekend's American Kennel Club Eukanuba Dog Show, in Long Beach California. The show will air on Animal Planet early next year. Above, meet 'Prince,' aka 'Hialeah’s Red Corvette V.,' a nearly 2-year-old long-hair, and his human, trainer Ben Gold, 12, of Yucca Mesa, California. Ben had to have five first-place wins and a 3.0 grade-point average to compete, and Ben has seven first-place wins! Way to go! Read more about Ben at the Hi-Desert Star.

And meet Ashley and Carson Wilde, who will show their doberman 'Spartan,' and dachshund 'Chilidog' in the AKC/Eukanuba Dog Show this weekend, traveling all the way from their home in Lawrenceville, Georgia! "I thought it was really cool to see all the dogs, and since we were getting a wire-haired Dachshund, I thought maybe I would just give it a shot," Carson said. "Dogs are just interesting to me, I like them," he added. Read more at the Gwinnett Daily Post. Good Luck!

Related: Dachshunds and Junior Showmanship

The Longing Eyes of a Puppy Mill Dachshund

"Number 23" peeks out from within a sheltered cage at Angels of Assisi in Roanoke, Virginia. Number 23 is one of 63 dogs seized from a Hillsville kennel. There's a rotten custody battle over the animals between the state and a man who used to be chief dog warden. Read the troubling story at The Roanoke Times.

Dachshund Slippers

Thanks to our pal 'Clancy' for sending in the link to these warm and comfy looking women's dachshund slippers! Classic German-made slippers of soft, natural boiled wool conform to the foot like a second skin and breathe for year-round comfort. Flexible wool soles have non-slip coating and an arch support. What a nice gift for the holidays. $67.95, also in gray at Plow & Hearth.

Vintage Dachshund Fun

Nice colors on this early 1900's postcard. Apparently this is what our ancestors did on their holiday weekends back in the day!

Dachshund Hipsters

If you've got a trendy young soul on your holiday shopping list, or if you're a trendy young soul yourself, you can't go wrong with the dachshund designs from Univ, out of Encinitas, California. Above, the "famous braided skate slang spitter," Sal Masekela, host of ESPN's x-Games, and E! Television's Daily 10, sports the Spine T-Shirt on E! Network. Looks like on-line purchases can be made at Robust Flavor. It should be noted that there's even a Morrissey design for you Morrissey fans.

Buddy: The Smartest Wiener Dog in Town

This is 'Buddy' Sanders driving. Ever since he was a young puppy, he has known how to drive. He can drive any car and has also driven a pontoon boat. Buddy is the smartest wiener dog in Fort Collins, Colorado. Source.

Maybe Buddy learned how to drive from 'Sugar Bear,' a MidWest Dachshund Rescue piebald fostered by our pals 'Disco,' 'Peanut,' 'Sweet Pea,' and 'Patrón.' Sugar Bear finally found his forever home, but he's still in our hearts.

Related: Dachshund Drives Car Into The Lake

ON THE DAY

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ON THE DAY
by Elise L. Levine for The American Dachshund - Twentieth Anniversary Edition, September, 1959

Upon the bench she howled and whooped
And scratched herself 'most hairless,
So, in the ring, she sure looked pooped...
And we looked very careless.

She hunched her back and dropped her head
And squatted on the table;
Her tail was gay, and I must say
She sure was far from able.

To gait with ease or show with style
Her quality had vanished.
She nipped the judge and said, "Oh Fudge!
Why not? I'm simply famished!"

The hours we'd spent with brush and oil,
The days and days of schooling,
The endless walks and solemn talks,
She must have thought were fooling.

Our dreamed of Champ, the little scamp,
Came home without a ribbon...
She walked on air...SHE didn't care...
'Twas US that took a ribbin'!

We took her home and once alone,
Our charming little sinner
Just posed and stood and moved as good
As any top flight winner.

We're sure that we could win at shows
And none could e'er begrudge 'em...
'Twould not be hard...if OUR BACK YARD
Was only where they'd judge 'em!

Above photo, cover of the January, 1965 American Dachshund: Champion Lucene's 'Lantana' with artist and dachshund lover Jeanine A Sudinski, of Lucene Dachshunds.

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

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Zippo Lighters - "And you can tell your Dad it always works"

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Dachshund News Roundup!

Proving once again that you can't keep a good dachshund down, here's a dachshund news roundup on a cold and very wet Tuesday, December 9th, 2008. Woof! Above, we've featured artist Dee Dee Murry before, but she's in the news in a nice article over at The Chronicle, out of Centralia, Washington. She is seen here in her studio with her pretty black and tan longhair 'Hallie.' Read all about her award-winning art and love of animals at The Chronicle.

Related: Dachshund Gifts and Fine Art by Dee Dee Murry

In politics, dachshund lover Donald Rumsfeld had a party a few months ago, and The Washington Post noted: The low-key brunch for 50 or so included Democrats and Republicans (although next-door neighbor Dick Cheney was not spotted), according to a guest; a "very relaxed" Rumsfeld greeted everyone by name and directed them to the lawn, where a little fleet of dachshunds zipped through the crowd. Related: Famous Dachshund Quotes: Donald Rumsfeld.

The crisis facing Britain's Kennel Club and Crufts continues after the BBC aired its documentary Pedigree Dogs Exposed a few months ago. Still yet to air on BBC America, you can watch the troubling documentary in six 10 minute clips at Daily Motion. Related: The Quest for the Perfect Dog.

Need a job? The perfect job? Oscar Mayer is now hiring wienermobile drivers. Submit that resume! Photo Source. Related: Really fun Wienermobile stories.

Remember the unfortunate story of the bees which attacked and killed 2 dachshunds and seriously injured their human in Florida a few weeks ago? Meet their human, Nancy Hill, in a follow-up at the Palm Beach Post. Related: Dachshund News Roundup, 10.27.08.
And finally, that nice E.B. White Dachshund Bookend by Levenger has SOLD OUT, and is no longer on their website! It was a limited edition of 1,000 which sold out in a few weeks. As a consolation if you didn't get your order in, these new bookends are available at Target.

Have a great day.

Awesome Dachshund Videos!

News is scarce, but you dachshund filmmakers have really out-done yourselves lately.....there are so many nice new vids on the net at the moment, it's hard to highlight just a few. Thanks to the reader who let us know about this one, where a baby pushes a doxie in a stroller. Scroll down the page for many more, including Maggie's Dachshund Babies - LIVE Streaming Puppies Video!

Above is a super fun video for the Central Texas Dachshund Rescue 2009 Calendar: All proceeds go to sweet dachshunds in need. Many of the models are hospice dogs that need lots of medical care. Each dog has a short story below their photo on the calendar. Visit http://www.ctdr.org/ to purchase calendars, cd's, and more! Help a little rescue doxie today!

Have a great Monday!

Dachshund Relaxation in High Definition

Well, the wide screen doesn't fit so well in our column size, but enjoy this nice dachshund relaxation video....and a beautiful Irish Wolfhound. To fully enjoy this hd video, Dog Days by 'wienerworld,' go to youtube here, and enlarge to watch full-screen.

Animal Planet Dogs 101: Dachshund

Thanks to the reader who let us know that Animal Planet's recent look at the Dachshund is available on-line over at Animal Planet. It's a bit shorter than the actual program that aired, but it's very well done. Don't miss it.

Maggie's Dachshund Babies - Live Streaming Puppies Video

Streaming live video by Ustream

Get ready to meet pretty longhair black and tan piebald 'Maggie' and her new puppies 'Bently,' 'Belle,' and 'Lilly Rose,' born December 1st, 2008. Read their progress notes and chat with their friends and family at USTREAM.TV. (This is a live-stream video feed, and the camera may not always be on).

MidWest Dachshund Rescue - "The Adopted"

In these troubling times where dachshunds are being abandoned every day, thank goodness for our great dachshund rescue organizations like MidWest Dachshund Rescue. We've heard that the 5 dedicated representatives and a host of wonderful volunteers and supporters have taken in an astounding 175 dachshunds this year alone. Thanks MWDR! What a heart-warming video....look at all those smiles!

Related Stories: MidWest Dachshund Rescue

Dachshunds Around Town

Theresa Taylor (manager), Jennifer Peters (owner), and 'Lily' the red smooth dachshund will greet you at the new Green Bee Boutique in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Tell 'em Joey and Maggie sent ya. Source.

Viral Dachshund Videos

This cute and short little video was posted all over the net this week with various titles on multiple video sites. Orginally Dachshund Puppy Frito Feet Dog Smacks Camera by youtuber doxzens4ever.

Dachshunds in History: President Nixon

OK, so this isn't actually President Nixon, but rather a scene with Frank Langella, who plays Nixon in the new film Frost/Nixon, released today in the US. The story goes: It's 1977, and disgraced former president Richard Nixon, played mesmerizingly by Frank Langella, has lost his public swagger. He emerges from the final bout in a series of interviews with British talk-show host David Frost looking beaten down and bewildered.
A crowd gathers as he heads for his limousine. Nixon walks up to a woman holding a dachshund and pets the dog, tapping it gingerly, then tugging clumsily on its ear. With this wordless gesture, he conveys a palpable sense of defeat and social awkwardness. Read more at USA TODAY.

Also from LA.COM: Following his last interview with David Frost, Nixon is seen leaving the suburban home where the conversations were taped. Shaken and emotionally vulnerable, he tentatively approaches a woman holding a small dog.
"Is that what they call a dachshund?" Nixon asks the woman in a characteristically awkward moment of public interaction.
Nixon then pats the dog and walks to his waiting car.
"Everybody mentions that moment with the dachshund," says Frank Langella, who plays Nixon in the movie. "It's just 35 seconds, but that's the power of film. There must be something in all of us that responds to that need for some form of contact with another living creature after feeling failure." Read more, including director Ron Howard's take on the scene at LA.COM.

Slightly Related: Dachshunds in the White House