News From the Motherland: Dirty Dackel Rescued From Fox Hole

Uh Oh.  Bath Time.  Meet not-so-pretty wirehair 'Emma,' who hails near Berlin, Germany.  She was out on a walk with her human in Preussen Park on Monday when she took to the trail of a fox who was apparently living in a rabbit hole.  Down she went, and you know the rest.  After her human tried unsuccessfully to get her out, 2 firemen had to dig for almost an hour to free the wayward wirehair.  It may cost the human upwards of 300 Euros for the assistance, but getting your Emma back?  Priceless. 
Read more and see more pics at bz-berlin.  (If you have google toolbar installed, there are translation options available).

Polly Helps Pets in Need

Smooth black and tan 'Polly' rests on her owner Martha Gianninis lap at the Furry Friends Rescue's Tail Waggin' Walk Saturday October 11, 2008 at Central Park in Fremont, California. The rescue, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, held the 3K walk and appreciation picnic to raise money for the organization that has helped more than 11,000 abandoned and neglected cats and dogs find homes in the Bay Area in the last 10 years. Read all about the event at Inside Bay Area.

Kim Cattrall's Dachshund Photo Op at Harrods

Monsters and Critics reports: British-Canadian actress, star of the 'Sex and the City' series, Kim Cattrall poses for photographers with a couple of smooth coat dachshund puppies during the traditional Summer Sale held at the luxury London department store Harrods, Britain, 30 June 2008. Harrods sales are held twice a year and are opened by an A-list celebrity in the presence of owner Mohamed Al-Fayed.
The puppies were for sale in Harrod’s pet department, and later sold for about $3,500 apiece. Ahem. Source.

Dachshund News Roundup!

Dachshund News from all around the globe! Woof Woof! Who's a stinky dog? Not red smooth 'Lucy,' from Wellington, New Zealand. Lucy gets an environmentally friendly herbal shampoo containing olive, palm and coconut oils at her local groomers. There's a big move towards chemical-free and green products for our pets, and The Dominion Post takes a look at the trend, including biodegradable doggie poo bags, and even vegan options in the article A-rover-therapy.

News from the motherland! A red smooth dachshund takes part in the German Kennel Club Dog Show 2008 in the western German city of Dortmund over the weekend. According to organizers, the show features more than 6,000 dogs and is one of the biggest dog shows in Europe. Source.

Finally, dappled 'Hildy,' and red smooth 'Aubrey,' who hail from Salt Lake City, Utah, were blessed on Saturday, at a non-denominational event at the local Christ United Methodist Church. Read all about the event, and our spiritual relationship with our furry friends at The Deseret News.

It's Cold in Texas Too

Meet 'Phatso'

We like to talk about the weather. Maggie is hot in the summer with her long hair, and Joey is cold in the winter with his smooth coat. We're hot, cold, hot, cold, we can never make up our minds.
It's exactly zero degrees in Chicago right now, so we aren't feeling so sorry for our friend, black and tan smooth 'Phatso' in Corpus Christi, Texas, where temperatures are expected to soar to 50 degrees today. Regardless, it's cold at night, and Phatso sure looked fabulous in his fashionable sweater yesterday morning.
Read all about the return of freezing weather in Corpus Christi at The Caller Times.

Haute Dogs

There's only been snow on the ground for a few days in Chicago, and we're so tired of it already. Boots don't fit our fat stubby paws, and the Musher's Secret doesn't always help prevent the sting of that salt on the sidewalk. Joey has no hair on his belly and chest....it's so cold! It's dachshund torture!
Take us to Florida, we need a spa. Take us to Lap of Luxury with Karen!
Lap of Luxury with Karen in Delray Beach, Florida, offers full-service spa grooming to top-of-the-line, exceptional items your dachshunds expect. Owner Karen Grossman owned Karen's for People + Pets in New York City for about 30 years. The best part is that her 5 long-haired dachshunds are usually wandering around greeting the customers and clients.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel had a look: If ever there was a pampered pet store fit for the likes of Paris Hilton, this is it. You can find everything from mosaic inlaid pet beds to Australian crystal collars and designer duds for doggie. What also makes this store stand out is the glass-enclosed grooming salon, which allows clients to see how the poochies are being handled.
The pet furniture is elegant — with options such as the mosaic bed ($2,500) and chaises ($595-$795). But what really will blow you away is the selection of pet clothing with brand names such as For Pets Only from Italy and Ruff Ruff Couture. Expect to pay $225 for a cashmere sweater, $75 for a hoodie with a toy in the pocket and leather outfits with Chanel and Sgt. Pepper themes ($495-$550). And don't miss the crystal collars ($175-$450), bassinets in pink or blue ($150) and a huge selection of dog carriers, including a gold leather Chrombones with fringe ($1,100).

You must be joking. It looks like a Dachshund Oasis.

Dachshund Puppy Rescued by Photojournalist!

This is a screen capture of the video out of Ionia, Michigan, where News 8 photojournalist Bilal Kurdi climbed into a hole to rescue a tiny dachshund puppy. We love happy endings! Excerpt from WOODTV: Down a muddy and steep ravine on the side of the hill near Ionia Middle School, a fortress of twisted branches, a virtual slip and slide of sludge, children peered through a fence where the dachshund was stuck.
"Well, we've been trying to get the dog out of the hole and it seems to be barking a lot. It would stop and growl, we've been digging down there but we're not sure where it's at," said Tara Bush, a curious little girl.
Reports of a small dog around this area poured into Ionia County Animal Control. They were unable to catch the animal, but widened the hole to make it easier for it to escape.
"We hope to have it come out and into our live trap, which is baited with some wet dog food, and hopefully in an hour or two the dog will be safe and sound," said animal control Officer Erik Kelley.
24 Hour News 8's Kurdi put a camera down the hole and saw a little face peering out from the darkness.
That's when Kurdi realized the puppy inside the hole was within reach.
"He's going to get his shirt all dirty and that's not going to be good," said a child's voice as our photojournalist dove head first into the hole.
Kurdi braved the mud and rain by crawling into the hole, legs flailing to pull the dog out.
"Got her!" Kurdi exclaimed as he pulled the little Dachshund shivering and hungry from the ground. The dog gratefully kissed him.
Animal control officers suspect the young pup has been living off of scraps in the cold for days. For this dog, it's going to be a happy holiday.
"Dream outcome is to get the dog into our shelter, give it some food, and water, evaluate its health and get it adopted," said Kelley.
The Ionia County Animal Shelter said they will hold onto the puppy for about five days to give the owners a chance to claim it.
After that, it will be up for adoption.

Watch the remarkable video at WOODTV right here.

Celebrity Dachshund Watch: Josh Duhamel and Fergie

Celebrity Dog Watcher dug up this photo of Josh Duhamel and Vanessa Marcil, as Vanessa arrived for Josh's birthday party. Both Josh and Vanessa star on NBC's Las Vegas.

Josh, whose most recent movie was Transformers, is currently living with pop singer Fergie. This is their black and tan (dapple?) dachshund 'Zoe.'

According to Blender, Josh and Fergie have 2 dachshunds: "purebred Zoe and mutt Dylan."

By all means, if anyone has any better photos of Zoe and Dylan, send them in!

Shopping at the pet store with Josh and Fergie. They bought an Earl "farting" rubber chicken!

Dachshunds Auctioned Off For Charity in the News

We're not so sure of what to make of this, but a female black and tan smooth dachshund puppy was auctioned off this week in Azle, Texas, to raise money for a local hospital expansion. Regardless, it looks like her new mom, Betty Ralls, will love her lots. Excerpt from Azle News: The term “live auction” took on more of a literal meaning when a registered female dachshund puppy donated by Eagle Mountain Veterinary Clinic went to Azle resident Betty Ralls for $600.

She kinda reminds us of 'the dachshund Kohler ad lady,' so we're hoping that it's a match made in heaven and wish them the best of luck. We love this ad! Have a great Friday.

The Bold Look of Dachshunds (click image to enlarge)

Dachshunds Get Wet in the News

Hundreds of dachshunds and friends descended on Danville, Illinois on Saturday for the 11th Annual Midwest Dachshund Festival. It rained and rained and rained. Your 'Long and Short of it All' hosts, Joey and Maggie, can attest to the downpour, the first time it rained at the event in 11 years. All things considered, the doxies still had a great time. Photos courtesy Chicago Dachshund Lovers. Excerpt from Commercial-News: Hundreds of little legs ran as fast as they could Saturday as a drizzle turned into a downpour at Lincoln Park.
The annual Midwest Dachshund Festival moved into the park’s pavilion, but many of the pint-sized participants and their parents packed up and headed for home.
The annual event seeks to publicize the plight of abandoned dachsies. Previously called Dachsiefest and held at Kickapoo State Park until this year, more than 300 dogs and their owners were expected to attend. But as with any outdoor event, weather plays an important role. This year, Mother Nature cut the festivities short, as short as the little dogs’ legs.
Neil Cortus served as the event’s emcee. He said as soon as the lightning started, he had to shut down all his electrical equipment and cover it up.
“It’s been a tough one today,” Cortus said, as he and his wife loaded their nine dachshunds and all their supplies into their camper.
“Once the weather got really bad, we moved into the pavilion. We still had a few events, and the people who stayed had fun.”
Those events included contests for: the farthest travel to the festival — dog and owner from Washington state; most dachsies brought to the event — 13; oldest dog — 20-years-old; and everyone’s favorite, the costume parade.
Although Jill Blasdel-Cortus, president and founder of Dachshund Rescue of North America, felt disappointed that the weather interfered with the event her group sponsored, she and her husband Neil remained optimistic.
“We spoke with the mayor (Scott Eisenhauer) right before things got really bad,” Neil Cortus said. “He said he’ll help us find an indoor venue for next year.” Read the rest.
More information on dachshund rescue and an event calendar for Dachshund Rescue of North America can be found at DRNA.

Doodle Bug wins Branson Dachshund Races

"It was Awesome!"

Way to go 'Doodle Bug!' We're betting that you got a bath on Saturday to boot! Madeline Turner, 9, proudly holds up her winning red long-hair dachshund, who took first place at the Humane Society of the Branson, Missouri Tri-Lakes Area’s second annual Dachshund Dog Race on Saturday. Excerpt from Branson Daily News: Short hair, long hair, wire hair, 30 barking dogs were at the second annual Dachshund Race from double dapple to plain-Jane black and tan held by the Humane Society of Branson Tri-Lakes Area.
At least 150 dog owners came through the gates at Celebration City before registration closed but race organizer Sue Dillard estimated there were about 250 people, including spectators in the stands before the first race started. The event raised about $3,000.
The races, divided into four heats with a final race for the winners, didn’t always go as planned.
The dogs were put into the red starting boxes, the announcer counted down and the doors sprang open — the dogs didn’t always race down the white chalked lanes to their owners. On the first heat one enterprising dog led the pack — out the side and across the field before they were caught.
Several dogs couldn’t figure out what the fuss was all about and decided to play tag with each other. Then there was the mild-mannered puppy who was bullied into jumping the fence, opting out of the race all together. A few stragglers just refused to go from the start gate to the finish line.
But at least three who “got it” and raced down the track at break-neck speed — for a Dachshund — into the thrilled arms of their owners. Doodle Bug was the number one fastest dog at the race.
“It was awesome!” nine-year-old Madeline, daughter of Mark and Ann Turner, of Branson, said, hugging her now muddy dog. “This is my dog, and he loves his tennis ball — that’s how I got him to run. He won’t be two until November.”
Lainey, owned by Pam Ingram of Hollister took second place and Ginger, owned by Kim Najera of Everton, Ark., won third. Read the rest.