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Dear Dickens Archive
Dear Dickens, Now that I have been settled in to my new home for awhile, I would like to pursue some educational opportunities for myself. My new family says I am very smart so surely there are places and opportunities for me to learn and grow. I hear that I could even learn enough to eventually compete in special dog performance activities. Is this true? Longing to Learn from Longview Dear Longing to Learn, Well! I am especially equipped to answer this question, as I just graduated from beginner's obedience class last week. I even had a mortarboard to wear at my graduation ceremony - check out my picture! You, too, can be an esteemed obedience school graduate just like your pal Dickens here. It has been said that we dogs are often the most underemployed creatures on the planet. Every breed has specific jobs, and so often we don't get to do the jobs we were bred to so. For example, there aren't too many badgers to hunt in my neighborhood. However, squirrels make a fun replacement. We need ways to exercise our minds as well as our bodies. Obedience class gives us a way to exercise our minds as well as helping us learn skills that are valuable in our homes. For example, I learned to sit and stay by the front door. Now I wait until my family says "okay" before I go out. Everyone loves an educated and well mannered dog! You can find obedience classes in your community by doing a search on the internet for your area. Sometimes dog breed clubs offer classes, as well as specific obedience clubs. The classes at area pet stores are also an option, and some junior colleges may have a dog obedience course as part of their community education program. It shouldn't be hard to find a class. Once you do find a place to take classes, have your family go out and observe the instructor first. In today's world, "positive training is the place to be" and you will want a class that uses that approach. Look for classes that encourage the use of the clicker because that is a very positive motivator for us dogs, and it is especially helpful for some of my dog buddies who are more timid and unsure about trying new things. I, of course, do not have a timid bone in my dachshund body! Once you have taken a basic obedience class; the sky's the limit; you can go on for higher levels of obedience classes (that's what I am going to do) and even compete in rally obedience. I'll do a column about that later on. Or you may want to consider investigating agility. That is also a lot of fun and I can write more on that topic at another time. As for me, I'm going off to practice my sit-stays and see if I can earn some more of those delicious treats my family was handing out! My guess is that the next time I hear from you, you will signing your letters "Loving to Learn"! All my best, Dickens Dear Dickens, My owner is ready to pull her hair out. I have a problem with urinating on the carpet. My owner can't get the smell out of the carpet and she's so upset she's pulling her hair out. I love my family and I don't want my owner to go bald! I just know you'll have some great advice for me. Hopeful Hope Dear Hope, You will relieved to know that you're not alone. We dachshunds tend to have a stubborn streak; after all - the breed standard describes us as "courageous to the point of rashness". While this serves us well in field events and other like activities, it sometimes makes us much more difficult to housetrain. We are also prone to relapses in our housetraining. The first step is for you to have a good checkup with your vet, and to make sure you don't have a urinary tract infection. An infection - even a low grade one - will certainly make housetraining accidents more frequent. The second step is to make sure that your doxie mom or dad gets all the smell out of the carpet. You may need to have it professionally cleaned first. My helpful advisors (I have lots of friends!) suggested a wide variety of products that will be helpful for removing stains and smells. Nature's Miracle (this was recommended the most) Resolve Pet Stain Simple Solutions Oxi Clean mixed in a squirt bottle Eco88 UrineOff Pfizer's Elmin-Odor Pet Accident Formula Bissell Pet Stain & Odor Remover spray A Spot Bot or Bisell Little green monster machine also works extremely well on small stains Be sure to tell your mom or dad not to use any ammonia based products on the floor or carpet because it smells like urine and confuses our super sniffing dachsie noses. Once the stains and smells are removed from the carpet and any urinary tract infections have been ruled out, it's time to return to the basics of "Housetraining 101". A good resource is a little booklet called Way to Go! How to Housetrain a Dog of Any Age 
by Patricia McConnell. It has a good review of an effective housetraining routine.
Our foster parents call this routine "No Pee/No Play" - like they have in schools where they call it "No Pass/No Play". Before you start this routine, your owners will need to make a simple housetraining chart where they can record what happens throughout the day. They can make their own, or search online where they will find several websites that have downloadable forms. Using a chart helps figure out each dog's unique bathroom habits and helps time the trips outside. In the morning, your owners need to make sure you do all your business before returning inside. They will need to go with you and make sure that you take care of business rather than get distracted by other things - like the neighbor's dog or that pesky squirrel. If you don't do all your business, then your owners need to return you to your crate and try again in about 10 to 15 minutes. Getting a good start on the day helps establish a good housetraining routine. Have them mark down all of your business for the day on the chart. At the end of the day, they can review the chart and notice any patterns. Some dachshunds like to pee twice when they go out, so it's important for your owners to know your preferences and plan accordingly. Using the chart, your owners can figure out how frequently you should be going out. The smaller and/or younger you are, the more frequently you'll have to go out. I should know - I was only 6 pounds when I came to the rescue program! Have them take you out about 10 minutes before your estimated "potty time". If your owners are consistent in using the chart and timing trips outside, you will do well. It takes patience, but it will be worth it and soon your home will be "smell-free". Now I'm off to show some of that courageous behavior I mentioned earlier. I'm going to retrieve my ball from under the big cabinet! Love, Dickens Dear Dickens, I have a very embarrassing problem. I live with a wonderful couple and have a great life with them. They feed me a premium dog food, give me lots of exercise and plenty of attention. My vet even tells me I am the perfect weight! I also have a dachshund sibling for companionship. In short, I have everything I need for a great life. However, I have this compulsion to eat poop which is really bothering my family. What can I do to stop this behavior? Blushing Rosie from Dallas Dear Rosie, You might not believe me, but this is a problem that you actually share with other dogs. People don't like to talk about this (we dogs are more "upfront" when it comes to things like this) because the behavior is disgusting to them. "Eating poop" actually has a fancy name, it is called "coprophagia". This has been studied before, but there is still no definitive answer as to why dogs do this. Dogs don't find the taste of feces objectionable - otherwise they would stop this on their own. The best method for your family is to always clean up right away so that there is no poop available to tempt you. If they do that consistently for about a month it may be enough time to break the habit for you. You are already eating a premium food; so your nutrition needs are being met. Some dogs aren't as lucky as you, and they have nutritional deficiencies from eating poor quality food that may contribute to the problem. I'm so glad that isn't a problem for you! You also have an active, fun life and that is something else that distracts dogs from eating poop. There are some products you can add to a dog's food to discourage this behavior, but most of the reports say that these don't help all that much. With what your family is already doing and the suggestions in my letter, things will work out okay. Next time you can sign your letter to me as "Smiling Rosie" from Dallas. Now, back to a game of ball with my family - they're waiting for me! Love, Dickens Dear Dickens, I just went for my annual checkup at the vet and I heard the vet tell my owner I was much too fat! Oh, I was mortified! I have always thought of myself as "pleasingly plump". I have to say though - I do love to eat! What should I do now? Is losing weight really that important? From "Plump in Pennsylvania" Dear Plump in Pennsylvania, I totally understand your enjoyment of food. We dachshunds seem to share a special enthusiasm for the gustatory pleasures of life. Although it was hard to hear, your vet was right. Since we are considered a "dwarf breed", carrying extra weight is a special problem for us. Our long backs pre-dispose us to back injury and that is definitely something we want to try to avoid. Keeping a trim waistline helps reduce the possibility of back surgery and/or long weeks on crate rest recovering from a back injury. (Crate rest is boring; I know - I had to be on crate rest when I was going through heartworm treatment.) You may have seen my friend, Gabe, on this website not too long ago. He was a plump fellow when he came to rescue, but he started his own campaign called "Get Ship-Shape with Gabe". Over time, he became a svelte, handsome gentleman and now he lives an active life with his new family. He has been an inspiration to many dachshunds, like you, that want to slim down so they can enjoy an active, healthy lifestyle. Keep in mind that dog food bags recommend much more food than a dachshund truly needs. Have your owner talk with your vet as well as experienced dachshund people and find out what portions would be right to help you lose weight. Exercise helps too! Finding and chasing those pesky squirrels is one way to get some exercise; and daily walks where you can check out the great scents in your neighborhood are even better! I'm rooting for you and I bet that soon your letters to me will be signed "Slim and Trim in Pennsylvania". Love, Dickens |
