This photo is making a splash on the net - it was originally posted on Reddit a few days ago under the title "This is what you get when you cross a Dachshund and a golden retriever." Some 1300(!) comments later, it was posted to MSN where they noted:
You've got to wonder how this happened: "You've got a lot of confidence for a dog your size. I like that," a golden retriever said flirtatiously to a dachshund. "Well, today's your lucky day, because I've got a thing for tall blondes," the dachshund replied with a roguish wink. After a few dates in the park, a coy game of tug and war, the love of a lifetime blossomed between the fetching couple, and along came this guy, a gorgeous golden retriever-dachshund mix. You don't see this kind of dog very often, but we sort of want one. He makes us believe all those romantic comedies about how opposites attract.
What do you think this doggie is? An English Cream? An odd but pretty red longhair? A red longhair mix? Or is he/she really a Dachshund/Golden Retriever mix?
The Wiener Dog Races at Batavia Downs on Sunday have been all the talk in Batavia, New York after speedy black and tan smooth dappled 'Jake Arnold' earned his three-peat championship only to have the win go under review again on Sunday night. From high atop Batavia Downs it appeared that Jake had won, but cameras on the ground showed otherwise. On Monday it was announced that the race was too close to call, and for now he's sharing the win with expeditious underdog red smooth 'Gordon Ryan.' A rematch between Jake and Gordon is now in the works for Saturday evening. Stay tuned....and may the fastest dog win! Source.
Jane and 4-year-old Jake Arnold enjoy their short-lived win
There is a highly volatile story emerging in the world of Dachshund rescue - a story where such words have been thrown that it is unlikely at this point that a happy ending will ever occur. At the very center of the story is a beautiful chocolate girl named 'Alpina,' or as she was known while being rescued and fostered by All American Dachshund Rescue: 'AnnaJo.'
AnnaJo was adopted by Megan Courtney, where she was to live with Megan's boyfriend, Tony, and a Dachshund sibling, in the Lowell, Massachusetts area. Alpina, as she was now known, got away from Tony and was lost. Luckily, she was found, and a rabies tag led her back to AADR. At this point however, AADR has refused to give Alpina back to her adopters for various reasons, including breach of contract.
We first stumbled upon this story when we found this new petition on-line which as of today has over 850 signatures:
On the evening of June 8th, 2011, one of my sisters beloved dachshunds "Alpina" ran off. She had a collar, tags, she is chipped and of course, she was on a leash. After searching all night and using every resource available in order to find Alpina, my sister received a call from All American Dachshund Rescue.
Instead of being reunited with her family, Alpina is being kept at some unknown location without her owners permission. Rescue leagues work hard to place dogs forever in the care of nurturing, loving, and healthy homes. Her owners are experienced and responsible and in no way have breached their adoption contract with AADR. They have done nothing wrong.
This is a very unjust and heartbreaking situation. Im asking if anyone has any information that will help bring Alpina home to her family, it would be greatly appreciated. Diane Irwin, the president of the AADR has told me that the dog has already left the state of MA, has been fostered by several families, and already place with her "new family"... all of this happened within 24 hours. This doesnt sound very legal to me, at all.
The police don't have the time and resources to search for just one missing or stolen dog. We all understand that. But that shouldn't mean that this gets swept under the rug. I have to ask the question: has this happened before, or will it happen again?
This entire situation stinks like some sort of a scam, in order to recycle dogs through loving families, only to then say those same families are unfit, some time after. Im not argueing that adoption contracts, or the screaning methods of adoption candidates are unfair. Rather, the decision to take away a dog from an owner without any type of process or accountability.
How many times will Alpina (aka Anna Jo) go through the adoption process. How much money will this poor animal make for the people of this so-called non-profit organization. Another adoption "donation", a few shelter fees, vet costs, boardng, transportation... When will it stop? Where is Alpina?
Her owners are good people and the rescue group is taking advantage of everyone involved. Help us make this right. Help bring Alpina home.
Thank you.
If you can, please visit thefacebook pagewe set up. It's main purpose is to show compassion and support towards a family who are missing an important part of their family.
After reading this petition, we were struck more than anything with the word 'scam.' Do you really expect us to believe that a non-profit organization who tirelessly donates all its time and resources towards Dachshund rescue are out to scam anyone? We contacted Diane Irwin, President of All American Dachshund Rescue for any sort of statement against the petition. She gracefully agreed, and we thank her for taking time out of her busy schedule to respond:
Thursday morning Diane [AADR rep] got a call at 7:30am from a vets that AnnaJo was reported found in Lowell, MA and was giving the name of the lady that had her. Diane called and she was found, cold, wet and scared with a leash still attached to her. Diane contacted the person that had her and told that person that someone would be there to get her and to keep her safe until then. Diane then call Megan Courtney to find out what happened she told Diane that her boyfriend, Tony was walking the dogs and the leash slip out of his hands and then he went to step on the leash and she took off (We now believe he was trying to train her to stay with him without him having the leash in his hand and this is how she got loose). She then told Diane that Diane could call her boyfriend and get the story which Diane did and he said the same thing but went on to tell Diane he just doesn't understand why AnnaJo doesn't like him when she will let other men pet her. He also admitted that the other dachshund they have is allow off leash cause she "can be trusted and never leaves their side" but he said he turned to see where the other dachshund was and that's how AnnaJo's leash slipped/fell out of his hand. Then he tried to step on the leash and missed and then she was running off. These are TWO big red flags and encouraged Diane and another board member to not give AnnaJo back to these people that were in breach of their contract for not keeping Annajo safe. They were told repeatedly that it was not the fact that AnnaJo got loose but the fact that if their other dog is off leash so will AnnaJo and more than likely the boyfriend was trying to train her to do just that also we are concerned why AnnaJo is afraid of the boyfriend but has no issue with the man in the foster home that she's at now. They have unfortunately not taken this well and have posted a petition, set up a Facebook page and even gotten another rescue to agree that what we are doing is wrong by not giving back AnnaJo. We feel they are trying to discredit AADR and all the hard work that this organization has done in the 7 yrs it's been a rescue. We like all other reputable rescues do not just pull a dog away from a family without good reason and careful consideration. The morning that Megan was called we had plans to let her know where AnnaJo was until we heard that the boyfriend had the other dachshund out without a leash and his attention was diverted to her and the leash slipped fell out of his hand. We are inclined to now believe that he didn't even have the leash in his hand but on the ground to "step on if needed" as we believe he was trying to train her to be and "off leash" dog as well. By his own admission AnnaJo was scared of him and we do not put our dogs in homes where they have to live in fear. She is now in a foster home where the man of the house is able to pick her up, carry her around and she goes to him for attention. Do we want Annajo to live a life of fear and why after having been in the adoptive home for a month would she still be afraid of the boyfriend that lives there daily but at the foster home that she's been in less that a week is very relaxed and happy? We are not just about finding ANY home for our dogs but to find the right home for our dogs, in AnnaJo's case we are just happy that we found out that Megan's home was not the right home for AnnaJo and luckily we got her back safe and sound. Diane even tried to tell Megan about the dangers of allowing a dachshund off leash even when the owner thinks they have them properly trained, this fell on deaf ears. Then the next day when Diane was talking to Tony again she tried to convince him that Dachshunds should never be allow off leash for any reason and again he could not or would not see reason. With all this there is no reason to believe that AnnaJo would not be kept on a leash. We are here to save dachshunds and put them into loving homes where they will be loved and cared for for the rest of their life not to have their life shortened because someone feels they know the breed better than the experts.
Per her application that she sign to be true:
If you do not have a fence are you willing to leash walk at all times?: Yes Would there ever be an occasion where our/your dog would be allowed to walk/run off leash?: Only at a fully- fenced in dog park If you do not have a fenced yard, how will you exercise your dog? This answer is required if you do not have a fenced yard.: In the morning they will be taken for a walk on leash, and since I am a dog walker, the dog will be walked while I'm on my walks in the afternoon and at night the dog will be walked on leash around where we live.
Diane S. Irwin, President All American Dachshund Rescue
And so, sadness has ensued on all sides of the story of 'AnnaJo/Alpina.' We can only imagine the heartbreak and despair her adopters, Megan and Tony must feel. It takes special people to rescue Dachshunds and offer them the love of a forever home - we're quite sure that Megan and Tony have that love to offer in spades. But on the other side of the coin, we can see how the contract may have been breached. This is where rescue organizations often come into question, but what we've learned over the years is that they are the ones doing the tireless work to save the dogs, and as such, they are the ones who make the rules.
All we can do is support them in their efforts, and if we don't like the rules, we can look elsewhere. Our Dad learned this the hard way when he tried to rescue a Dachshund many years ago. He was refused by organization after organization because he didn't have a fenced-in yard. That was it. No fence? Don't bother filling out an application. Things have changed since the year 2000 however, and we will continue to support the rescues who save our Dachshunds and our animals whenever we can.
For AnnaJo/Alpina's sake, we're hoping that Megan, Tony, and AADR can come to terms for a solution. If only for AnnaJo/Alpina.
Don't get us wrong - we love wiener races. They are a great opportunity to spend quality time with your Dachshund, have fun getting their attention them from 50 feet away, and seeing whose Dachshund can dash down that track the fastest for a ball, a toy, or a piece of fried chicken. Wiener races are truly entertaining for kids of all ages, and they are a great way to socialize your dog.
When wiener races go bad is when there is any talk whatsoever of them being organized as a public exhibition - whether for wagering at a racing facility, or where the Dachshund's human is not directly involved with the racing to ensure the safety of their charge. We've covered a bit of this in When Wiener Races Go Bad.
In our opinion, wiener races also go bad when the Dachshunds race on ice. Obviously, Dachshunds are prone to having some sort of back issue or IVDD problem, and we see no reason to push the envelope by asking them to run at full speed across a slippery surface of ice. It's a no-brainer.
We know that many of our readers feel the same way, but finally some folks in Huntsville, Alabama, are doing something about it with a boycott of the Havoc game. Excerpt from ABC31:
The Huntsville Havoc will host a wiener dog race on the ice this Saturday as they try to raise money for the Ryan Newman Foundation. However, Dachshund owners say that’s a bad idea. Karen Borden is the president of Dixie Dachshund Rescue. She says, “I think it's a great fundraising event, weiner races. But, I was really upset with the environment that it was going to be held in.” Borden says running the dogs on ice is dangerous because the breed is already prone to back problems. She says, “Because of the overbreeding that has gone on, many are born with the propensity to have blown discs or bad disks.” Valley residents are so upset, they have created a page on Facebook encouraging folks to boycott this weekend’s game. They say it endangers and exploits the breed. However, not everyone agrees with the boycott. Melissa Horne is a Veterinarian at the Animal Care Clinic in Huntsville. She says, “As long as they're not having any problems and don't have a history of problems, there shouldn't be any reason they can't participate.” On Tuesday, Ashley Balch, the HAVOC's Vice President issued a statement addressing the safety concerns. HE SAYS "The race will take place at the first intermission, after the ice has been cut-up by the player's skates for a full period and is no longer very slick to the people or the dogs." If the surface is not slick, Dr. Horne says running should not be a risk. “If it's agility or something like that where they're going up ramps and things like that then that may not be the best exercise for them,” she says.
We're thrilled that someone is finally speaking up about Dachshund races on ice, and we challenge all Dachshund Lovers to set up public boycotts of such events in your area. Here's the facebook page for this boycott: Boycott Huntsville Havoc Game - Endangering and Exploiting Dachshunds.
Just a few weeks ago, there were wiener races on ice at a Knoxville Ice Bears hockey game. The youtuber notes: In the second heat, watch for a guy in a blue shirt to wipe out. And in the final race watch the bottom of the screen for two dogs to crash. Hilarious!
Meet Michael Künzel and his sweet nearly 16-year-old red longhair 'Dalia,' who hail from Mönchengladbach, Germany. They are in a bit of a bind with local authorities after Dalia's vet has stated that the deaf girl should not be using a leash due to her IVDD issues - any sort of strain could lead to acute paralysis. And even though Herr Künzel has a written certificate from his vet which explains the issue, he has racked up 700 € in fines, nearly 1,000 US Dollars for walking Dalia untethered.
After going to court twice to fight the fines, Künzel must pay in full or go to prison. "There are no exceptions to this law," the city has stated.
Read more (you may need to translate the link) at RP Online.
Labels. Hhhmph. We've had a run at being called the oldest dogs as well as the most aggressive dogs, and now we're being called the noisiest dogs. What's a Dachshund to do? Certainly we are the most lovable dogs, right? Meet one of Ruth Carmelitano O'Sullivan's two Dachshunds, who are the noisiest dogs in New York City. Yep, 'Elizabeth' and 'Emily' have had 2 animal noise violations issued against them, the most issued to anyone in New York City over the last year. Excerpt from the New York Daily News:
One neighbor at the John Jay House co-op on E. 76th St. said residents "suffered through [the barking] for over a year" and it made them "miserable."
The woof-fests occurred during the daytime, when O'Sullivan was at work, residents said. After warning O'Sullivan about the noise, the city's Department of Environmental Protection hit her with a $70 violation on Nov. 17. She was slapped with another noise violation, for $175, on Jan. 14, records show. O'Sullivan didn't comment, but her ex-husband, Larry Genovese, defended his ex-wife and the dachshunds. "It was ridiculous," said Genovese, who lived with O'Sullivan when she was ticketed. "She didn't deserve what she was put through." O'Sullivan eventually paid both fines, and residents said she's taken steps that have kept Elizabeth and Emily quiet.
Read more of this blusterous story and see another pic at the New York Daily News.
Dale Fisher will host a dachshund race at the St. Johns County Fairgrounds to raise money for the local 4H club. He said he contacted Toni Gossard, the founder of the National Dachshund Races to see if they would like to help out.
He said Gossard agreed, and Fisher said he will pay for her travel expenses from Ohio to St. Augustine. In exchange, Gossard would provide a dog racing track and her 10 years of dog racing experience.
As the plans were laid out, Fisher said the expenses became more than he could handle.
"As the months went by, as we started to develop this more, it went into multiples of thousands of dollars," he said.
Fisher said when Gossard asked for half of the money up front, it went beyond his 4H Club budget. Fisher said he canceled his deal with Gossard and planned to go forward with the races without her help. That is when he said the war of words began through e-mail.
And that's where we stop excerpting, but if you like drama, read it all at News 4 Jax. Is this really news?
Could you debark your dog? That's the question thousands of dog lovers are answering all over the country after this article was published in The New York Times on Tuesday. Meet 'Nestlé,' right, a Dachshund-terrier mix who had his vocal cords cut by a veterinary surgeon after a neighbor in the family’s apartment building on New York's Upper East Side threatened to complain to the co-op board about the noisy dog. His human, Dr. Mike Marder, who is also a veterinarian, says that the new addition to the family, 'Truffle' will also probably be debarked unless she quickly learns to play quietly. Excerpt from The New York Times:
Although there is no reliable estimate as to how many dogs have had their vocal cords cut, veterinarians and other animal experts say that dogs with no bark can readily be found — but not necessarily heard — in private homes, on the show-dog circuit, and even on the turf of drug dealers, who are said to prefer their attack dogs silent. The surgery usually leaves the animal with something between a wheeze and a squeak. The procedure, commonly referred to as debarking, has been around for decades, but has fallen out of favor, especially among younger veterinarians and animal-rights advocates. Dr. Marder said that Nestlé’s surgery stopped the neighbor’s complaints, and “it really did not change the dog’s personality whatsoever,” adding, “He’s certainly a tail-waggy, happy guy.”
Read all about it, see another photo, and listen to Nestlé "bark" at The New York Times. Thanks to our pals at Flying Dachshunds Films (one of our favorite videographers!) for sending in the link.
The Dachshund is one of 4 breeds featured in a short photo exposé on the changing shape of dogs by The BBC News, and states: The original German Dachshund was larger than the modern variety with longer legs. Today's short-legged breed tends to suffer from knee and also spinal problems because of its long back and short rib cage.
This follows a new report which recommends that responsibility for the health and welfare of pedigree dogs be devolved to an independent body outside of England's Kennel Club, the oldest of the world’s all-breed kennel clubs. Read more about the report at BBC News.
While we agree that Dachshunds should be bred for health over conformation, we've certainly featured photos in the past of Dachshunds from around 1900, like this one, which look much more like today's Dachshund than the drawing in the insert of the BBC's photo.
Your Long and Short of it All host 'Joey' would like to share the beauty of the Piebald as it appears in animals all around the world. A Piebald is an animal that has a spotting pattern of large unpigmented (sometimes expressed as white) areas and normally pigmented patches. The colour of the animal's skin underneath its coat is both the natural color and pigmentless. This alternating colour pattern is irregular and asymmetrical. The national bird and symbol of the United States - the bald eagle - has a name derived from the term Piebald.
One day, even the Dachshund Club of America may appreciate the Piebald Dachshund for its astounding beauty, and allow them to openly compete in Dachshund conformation trials. For a history of the Piebald pattern in Dachshunds, click here.
We try to avoid controversy around these parts, but sometimes we just can't help ourselves in the interest of Dachshund welfare. Above, crowds braved the thick drizzle to watch mini Daschunds jump over hurdles during the Hot Dog Pig races at the 61st Terryville Country Fair Saturday afternoon in Plymouth, Connecticut. Excerpt from the Republican American:
With a job description combining coach, animal keeper and entertainer, Brian Cromer, 24, a New Jersey college student, will return to the Terryville Country Fair today for a final round of five sets of pig and dachshund races. Cromer, a seven-year veteran of David Feimster's New Jersey-based F & F Productions, is nearing the end of a career that began drag racing pet skunks at fairs.
Now, a few weeks ago, we featured a video where Dachshunds raced at a county fair in a circled pen, and then quickly ran back inside some sort of camper. The video was since removed from youtube, and we also removed the posting. We were curious how the dogs knew to race in a circle like that, unless they were trained to do so. We don't know for sure that these are the same Dachshunds in the above photo, but we think that they are. These sort of public exhibitions - where Dachshund owners are not directly involved with the racing has us a bit concerned. Any agility or flyball fan will tell you that the hurdles these Dachshunds are jumping in the above photo are waytoo high for a Dachshund; they will injure their backs. Does that Dachshund look happy to you? Not to us. We see a painful "help me" look on his face. It's a thin line to such public demonstrations as this and greyhound racing - something that Dachshund Lovers need to keep their eye on in the best interest of the Dachshund breed. This is also a thin line to Dachshunds performing in the Ringling Bros Circus, and Dachshunds racing on ice where they could be injured. Of course, it's easy to sit at your computer and judge things that happen on the other side of the country. But beware, Dachshund Lovers are watching. One wrong move, and we'll be all over you. Here's a link to F&F productions. We don't support them. The fairs that support such activities should be boycotted and protested.
Today we are featuring a response written in the October, 1970, edition of the American Dachshund magazine which discusses the modern Dachshund and his conformation in relation to badger hunting ability. Specifically, the issues at hand are steep scapulas and short chests, and how these relate to the pet and show Dachshunds of today, or at least in 1970.
We found the reading to be fascinating, not only for the dedication that fanciers have to the breed, but also the humorous and well-written prose.
It also of course begs the age-old question: for if we are not badger dogs, then are we just dogs?
Without any further ado:
Badgers and Badgering by John Winther 6022 N. E. 107th Ave, Vancouver, Wa, 98662
I was reminded of the fancy's badger problem in July issue where George Spradling registered shock to find in the show ring Dachshunds, some of whom were low-stationed, steep of scapula, and/or short of chest. These faults were viewed as impediments to their bearers for the singular though hypothetical task of slaying badgers. Mr. Spradling's comments implied that his show placements reflected a sort of badger-killer ranking. Presumably, his winners were most suited for doing-in badgers, while the lesser specimens were perhaps better fitted for more mundane tasks. While I get a certain vicarious pleasure in the thought that my resident Teckels are keeping badgers out of the snapdragons, I must admit the matter of relating form to function still has me puzzled. Estimating performance in the field from appearance at ringside may be frightfully simple for an old badger killer like George, but my efforts in this direction are beginning to sap the morale of my pack. In a nutshell, I keep rewarding the wrong dogs for keeping the badgers away. I don't claim to be an authority on the North American badger, Taxidea taxus, much less the European form, although I will confess to a bit of clandestine checking in the local public library recently just to see what the dogs were up against. To begin with, the badger standard reads almost like a Dachshund standard. I was pleased to learn that both badgers and Dachshunds were robust mammals. Similarly, standard weights for both run 12-24 lbs., a fair match. When I learned that badger holes are about 1 ft. in diameter, I made a mental note to cull any Dachshunds whose dimensions exceeded the proper fit. I skimmed quickly over the part which said badgers 'toe-in' markedly because I remembered that their fossorial friends, the moles, 'toed-out.' Alteration of the Dachshund standard to 'toes-ahead' now struck me as a reasonable compromise. I was disappointed to discover that badgers do not climb, especially since I have Ami, a rash and persevering Smooth Standard bitch, who does. Just last week I surveyed the trees in the vicinity looking for badgers. Finding none, I praised Ami and rewarded her with a pound of choice chuck. The scapulae which permit Ami to climb are the very same that she uses for walking, running, and digging. That there remains hope for her rests on her excellence in the latter endeavor. Since badgers move around mostly at night, the thought struck me that Sally probably also deserved some recognition as she has the best nose. She tracks anything and wouldn't be caught dead with her snoot more than 3/8th of an inch from the ground. She has killed rats and cats and rabbits - and will bite on sight anyone who looks like my father - all in all, a poor show prospect, but the best hunter of the bunch, and a show champion son to her credit. Hummer is a digger, using her scapulae some, but especially her long strong nails. I'm not sure that she is more effective at excavating than say a razor clam or mole, but I am sure she looks more like a dog. I think this is what the badger killers sometimes forget - the Dachshund is more dog than digger. As my experience in the exhibition of Dachshunds increases, my respect for the placements of multi-breed judges continues to grow. The all-rounders tend to judge Dachshunds as dogs. Probably only rarely would one claim that he was able to sight-rank a class as to its potential for killing badgers. I have never heard a judge of Chows speculate as to the culinary potential of his entry, nor is it likely that a Poodle judge makes his awards with waterfowling in mind. The subject of Dachshunds and badgers must be confusing to the new fancier. If he tries to grapple with the problem of optimum scapular angle in relation to the historical art of badger throttling, it must be difficult to also monitor the realities of the show ring. Perhaps we should all be reminded from time to time that the Dachshund is first and fundamentally a dog. The experienced exhibitor eventually learns that good dogs, regardless of breed, share many features in common. Gait and showmanship, for example, have little to do with the specialized tasks for which the various breeds were originally bred. Must we lose sight of the fact that dog shows today are just that - half dog, and half show. Like George Spradling, I too kill badgers in my sleep. Most exhibitors, however, would be well advised to leave the badger killing to the dreamers. Show dogs merely have to symbolize their heritage. Until such time that someone throws a badger into the ring, it is probably best that we study the handlers who win and learn to pose the scapulae and other parts into a suitable facsimile of the attack stance. END
Here is the column to which Mr. Winther replied, from the July, 1970, edition of the American Dachshund magazine:
TWO WERE 'DOUBLE-YOUR-FUN' By George C. Spradling 923 First National Bank Bldg., Wichita, Ks 67202
The Longshore-Southport show held June 7 at Wilton, Ct, had an entry of 90 dogs with few absentees. If we may consider the entry as a fairly good cross section of the present dogs in the area, it might be interesting to compare them with the dogs shown in shows I have judged or attended in that vicinity during the past few years. On the plus side there were several improvements. Thus, a goodly percent of the dogs shown had good to excellent feet. The reverse was true a few years ago. Back lines and heads were above average; front stance about the same but a little improvement in width of rear stance. It was, however, shocking to find a large percentage of dogs with steep scapulas. Some of them were so bad the scapula laid right along the neck. Improper layback of the scapula causes padding. In extreme cases it results in substantially a hackney pony gait. Steepness sufficient to cause padding is a fault that seriously impairs the dog in doing the work for which it was bred and hence should be penalized accordingly. Another serious fault that was more prevalent than average was the number of short chests. A short chest or inadequate ribbing is also a serious fault in that it affects stamina, a necessary requirement for a hunting dog such as the Dachshund. It should be heavily penalized. Too many of the dogs were too low in body stance with the depth of chest at or even below the wrist. One of the rewards of judging is occasionally finding an outstanding specimen. It doesn't happen too often, but here there were two splendid specimens. sort of a "double-your-pleasure-double your-fun." One was a longhair dog in the Open Class named Bayard L'Aquilon. He was placed Best of Variety and later Third in a strong Hound Group by Mrs. Van Court. the other was a Wirehair bitch who appeared in the Specials class. Her name is Ch Westphal's Donnybrook. Both of these youngsters are of such superior quality they should make spectacular wins in the future. They approach perfection of the characters specified in the Standard. It was a delight to see them.
We've been pretty curious about the dachshund act in the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Thanks to youtuberellieperry1 for documenting it. She notes: This video was taken at the Ringling Brothers Circus...They have definitely gone low budget but it was still cute.
Is the grand age of 73 too old to adopt a shelter dog? Apparently it is in Bonn, Germany. Meet 73-year-old Lilo Weisser, and her new companion, 5-year-old 'Maja.' Mrs. Weisser recently lost her dachshund named 'Dorle,' and was looking for a new friend. She didn't want a puppy, but she had heard that it was hard for elderly people to adopt from the local shelter. Sure enough, even after a family friend said they would take the dog if anything happened to Mrs. Weisser, she was told that she was too old to adopt. This is a woman who still drives, and walks for an hour every day. So, she contacted the breeder where she got Dorle, and was given a chance with beautiful Maja. The dynamic duo are said to be getting along well after a week, and enjoy 3 twenty-minute walks around the block and a longer walk through the woods every day. Read more at the translated General-Anzeiger.
Note: Some of the accuracy of this post may have been lost in translation.
Last year's dachshund champions from Crufts: smooth, wirehair, longhair; minis and standards (click photo to enlarge)
With just about a week to go before the 2009 Crufts Dog Show, more drama around pedigree dogs is surfacing across the pond in the UK, and this time it involves miniature dachshunds. As we recall, the broadcast of the UK television program Pedigree Dogs Exposed has resulted in the BBC canceling its coverage of Crufts, dog welfare groups RSPCA and Dogs Trust pulling out of Crufts, and the pet food company Pedigree ending more than forty years of sponsorship of Crufts. Now Jemima Harrison, the producer of Pedigree Dogs Exposed is back in the news with headlines about "Size Zero Dogs", saying that miniature dachshunds are deliberately deprived of food and water prior to weigh-ins at dog shows. Excerpt from The Telegraph:
The row centres on Miniature Dachshunds, which breeding guidelines state must be no heavier than 11lbs – a limit drawn up in the days when the dogs were sent down rabbit holes. The Kennel Club has banned weigh-ins for the breed at Crufts in response to fears that owners were denying food and water to dogs in the hours before they were due on the scales. It has also relaxed the regulations for other shows, leaving it to individual judges to choose whether to hold a weigh-in or not. It recommends that bowls of water be provided to prevent the dogs from dehydrating but critics say this has done nothing to stop the problem. "This is Size Zero for dogs," said Jemima Harrison, producer of a BBC documentary which in 2008 exposed breeding techniques which led to genetic illnesses that affect pedigree dogs. "I am inundated with owners and judges who say they are seeing dehydrated or malnourished dogs on the scales, all for the sake of a rosette. It sounds funny to think of dogs having the same issues as fashion models but it is a serious welfare issue.
Proving once again that there's no other love like Dachshund Love, here's a dachshund news roundup on a seasonably cool Monday, February 16th, 2009. Happy President's Day. Woof! There were a couple of big pet-related Mardi Gras celebrations over the weekend, with Barkus Pet Parades in both New Orleans and St. Louis. The St. Louis event also featured Wiener Races! Above, revelers take pictures and pet 'Teenie,' a red smooth dressed as a hot dog, at the Mystic Krewe of Barkus Mardi Gras parade in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009. Source.
PETA. Love 'em or hate em, they know how to get your attention. PETA says that Wieners come out Winners by not being asked to run across the ice in Columbus, Ohio. Here is their press release: Ohio State University Athletics Department marketing director Brian Flenner has earned a Compassionate Action Award from PETA for canceling a "dog race on ice" promotion scheduled for last Sunday's Buckeye vs. Notre Dame hockey game. He made the decision after learning that dachshunds are particularly prone to painful hip, joint, back, and leg problems. Promoters had been seeking dachshunds to participate in the race. PETA points out that in addition to the risk of serious injury to the dogs--who have been bred to have spines that are too delicate for strenuous activity and sometimes snap--the bright lights, screaming fans, and loud noises that make sporting events exciting for fans can also be stressful for small dogs. As a token of its appreciation, PETA has also sent Flenner a box of vegan chocolates. "We applaud OSU's Athletic Department for recognizing that little dogs and ice races don't mix," says PETA Assistant Director Kristie Phelps. "With this compassionate decision, the Buckeyes scored big even before the face-off."
Meanwhile, we're guessing that the 2nd annual Sioux Nation Pet Clinic "Wiener Dog Ice Races" took place as planned for last Saturday night in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. How do you feel about dachshunds racing on ice? Is PETA on the mark here? It seems as though they are against any wiener races, but do you think dachshunds should be running on ice?
In the news we don't like to talk about department, but mention in case someone would like to make a donation, a dachshund was found badly injured in a dumpster in Black Hawk, Iowa. Caution, the photo is hard to look at.
And finally, handsome champion mini wirehairs sit at the feet of breeder Celli Jones of Thornton, Colorado, after competing in the Rocky Mountain Cluster Dog Show on Sunday in Denver. How's the view from down there? Read more about the event at The Denver Post.
At his first press conference yesterday, the President-elect, Barack Obama, dealt with the biggest issue to date: The Dog. Seems like every dog discussion board wants their breed chosen, and every shelter and rescue organization is eagerly stepping forward to to provide the perfect canine as The First Dog for The First Family. But let's face it folks, we hate to be the bearer of bad news, the "merchants of doom and gloom," but a dachshund probably isn't going to make it to the White House this time around, as a dachshund isn't commonly "hypo-allergenic," a necessary requirement because of Malia's allergies. We're hoping at least that a perfect "hypo-allergenic" dog or puppy can be found through a great rescue organization.
This of course begs the question: Has there ever been a dachshund in the White House? Has a dachshund ever been First Dog? We can answer this with a resounding YES!....a dachshund HAS been First Dog!
John F. Kennedy: John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy, often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963.
This photo shows a young JFK, on a tour of Europe just before the outbreak of war, where he bought "a dachshund of great beauty" in Germany. The dog became a mascot on the journey. Source. We aren't aware that JFK had dachshunds while President however.
Dwight D. Eisenhower: Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the thirty-fourth President of the United States from 1953 until 1961 and a five-star general in the United States Army.
While there is a rumour floating around the internet that Eisenhower had dachshunds before becoming President, we unfortunately don't fully trust the source. The disclaimer at this website reveals: Not all of the information on this page is entirely accurate, and not all the photos are in exactly their original state, but we believe, nonetheless, that it makes for an entertaining read.
Theodore Roosevelt: Teddy Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States, serving from 1901 - 1909. A leader of the Republican Party and of the Progressive Party, he was a Governor of New York and a professional historian, naturalist, explorer, hunter, author, and soldier.
This is a photo of Teddy Roosevelt relaxing and reading with what is often attributed to be his pet "dachshund" on his lap; photo taken in 1905. The "dachshund" in this photo appears to be 'Skip,' a mongrel black and tan terrier of unknown breeding. We see some dachshund genes there though, and he sure is happy to be on his master's lap. You can read more about Skip and see more photos in a nice article at Terrierman.
Which brings us to Grover Cleveland: Stephen Grover Cleveland was both the twenty-second and twenty-fourth President of the United States. Cleveland is the only President to serve two non-consecutive terms (1885–1889 and 1893–1897) and thus is the only individual to be counted twice in the numbering of the presidents. He was the winner of the popular vote for President three times—in 1884, 1888, and 1892—and was the only Democrat elected to the Presidency in the era of Republican political domination that lasted from 1860 to 1912. Cleveland's admirers praise him for his honesty, independence, integrity, and commitment to the principles of classical liberalism.
Joey and Maggie, your investigative journalist hosts of The Long and Short of it All, did some research on dachshunds in the White House at a local University, and we found this interesting piece of news about Grover Cleveland from the Chicago Daily Tribune, February 12th, 1894, here's an excerpt:
PETS IN THE WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS: Besides the two babies, Esther and Ruth, there are innumerable pets at the White House. Scattered through the broad demesne belonging to the Chief Magistrate are myriads of hares running wild in the grounds and furnishing rare sport for the foxhounds and dachshounds (sic) belonging to Mrs. Cleveland. In the limpid pools of the rose and orchid houses attached to the conservatories are hundreds of imported fish, the principal being the many-tailed Japanese variety of goldfish and the famous paradise fish from Siam. Game chickens of the shawineck breed are conspicuous whenever a visit is paid to the stables attached to the White House, and Coachman Willis is justly proud of the success which has attended his efforts in raising these pretty fowls. In quadrupeds there is almost every known specimen at the little pagoda-shaped sentry box on the east side of the mansion, where the White House babies in charge of their nurses can be seen every fair day. Gamboling about toddling Ruth, or hiding under the carriage containing infantile Esther, can be seen a cocker spaniel, beautifully marked in white and brown, or a collie, which, though a new arrival, seems perfectly at home amid his new surroundings. Hector, the well-known black French poodle of Mrs Cleveland, is at Buzzard's Bay for the winter, as a companion for the St. Bernard, famous as a medal winner. A bow-legged, squat-figured Dachshund, with long flapping ears, is a great pet with the occupants of the White House, being a recent importation from Germany. Until a few days ago, a voracious tulip-bulb fiend in the shape of a raccoon could be seen climbing up and down the trees facing the Treasury Department, but he made one foray too much, and the story is that a gardener's spade cut his earthly career short. Mrs. Cleveland's ponies, a handsome pair of animals, which their mistress usually drives to a low and easy going phaeton, complete the list of pet animals contiguous to the White House, birds being tabooed inside the mansion.
So, dear dachshund readers, that's the long and short of it all, and all we can state at this time is that the last time a pure-bred dachshund was in the White House was under the leadership of Grover Cleveland, over 100 years ago. That's about 8 - 10 generations ago for us dachshunds....way too long! If anyone has any more information on a Dachshund First Dog, by all means please send it in!
The BBC, the world's largest broadcasting corporation, has announced that it is reviewing its coverage of the Crufts dog show in light of a program which aired yesterday, Pedigree Dogs Exposed, that they commissioned on canine health. Excerpt fromThe Times: Two years in the making, the documentary shows many dogs suffering from genetically induced illnesses, including epilepsy, and compares practices at the 135-year-old club to Nazism in its emphasis on breed purity. A spokesman for the club dismissed the idea as offensive, “not just to us but to the people who suffered at Hitler’s hands. What we are talking about is dog breeding – let’s get this into perspective.” But the BBC fears it will not be able to defend its coverage of Crufts after the showing. A spokesman for the broadcaster said that it would be seeking a meeting to discuss “the impact of the matter raised by this film”. Steve Jones, Professor of Genetics at University College London, told the BBC: “People are carrying out breeding which would be first of all entirely illegal in humans and secondly is absolutely insane from the point of view of the health of the animals. In some breeds they are paying a terrible, terrible price in genetic disease.” Read all about the drama atThe Times.
In lieu of being able to see the program yourself, check out Time Magazine's take on the topic in 1994'sA Terrible Beauty. We're woofless.
Controversy! Black and tan longhair 'Budrick Von Brat' says something was stinky about Saturday's Wiener Nationals in Fort Wayne, Indiana. 3-year-old smooth chocolate(?) 'Zeus,' who took the prize for the third year in a row, had a close run against Budrick. Frommac2ace: This is a race between Budrick Von Brat(as in Bratwurst) on the lower part of your screen and Zeus, the self proclaimed fastest Weiner Dog in America, on the upper portion of the screen. The race took place on 6/7/08 at the Weiner Dog Nationals in Ft.Wayne IN. The judge said Zeus won, we and many of the crowd felt Budrick won. What do you Think? The track is about 50ft. long and ends at the end of the fences. The camera was about halfway. The angle is poor but its all we have. So, was the judge right on, did Budrick get the shaft, or is it too hard to tell?
