Despite advocates of “natural” dog food offering sometimes bizarre warnings, commercial dog foods are fine and recommended by veterinarians to feed your Dachshund.  Some of those concerns are well placed, though.  A diet that is not too rich and not too lean, full of healthy ingredients is best.  But that advice is far too vague as it stands.  What does it really mean?

- Ingredients

Any commercial kibble food will have a list of ingredients on the package, starting with the one present at the highest percentage listed first.  Ensure that the ingredient listed first is some kind of animal protein.  Chicken, beef or lamb are the most common.  Vegetable proteins are harder to break down into useful components and contain smaller concentrations of needed amino acids.

Like other dogs, Doxies are by nature meat eaters.  But fresh meat isn’t required.  Anything that provides enough protein is fine, since what is really needed are the amino acids that go to make them up.Any protein digested is broken down to those constituents then “re-constructed” again to useful products by the dog.

Besides amino acids, there are a number of essential vitamins and minerals required for good functioning.

Foods rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are good not only for humans but Doxies, too.In most cases, those compounds help improve joint and skin health.

Antioxidants perform a role similar in a Doxie’s life that they do in their owners.Vitamin E, beta-carotene and others help protect the immune system by clearing something called “free radicals”.  These are elements or molecules with an extra electron that can harm cells when they exist in too-high concentrations.

Fat, far from being the villain it is sometiems (incorrectly) painted in discussions of human diet, is a necessary ingredient.  Fats provide compounds vital for good nerve function.They are broken down to form the hormones and enzymes.  They also provide a source of calories that Dachshunds need to pwer all those activities, just as people do.

- Amounts

Puppies that have been weaned should eat 3-4 meals per day.  Smaller amounts, fed more often, are preferable to large helpings at one time, even though that is a little more inconvenient for the owner.This routine is best for Dachsunds about 8-12 weeks old.

When you puppy reaches 3-6 months of age, you can reduce the feeding frequency to three or possibly two meals a day.  Even puppies can get fat, so keep an eye on the waistline behind the rib cage.  It should have a slight curve.If your Doxie is perfectly straight (no waist line) you may be feeding too much.

That advice is a little more difficult to follow in the case of Dachshunds than some other breeds, since they are a bit more tubular by nature.  Even so, the curve can be seen if you observe closely.  Aid your eye by feeling the puppy in front of the rear legs.Become familiar with your dogs shape and it will be easier to see small changes.

By the time they’ve reached a year old, one meal per day is fine.  If they seem eager to eat more often two meals is fine, but divide the portions in half.

Feed your Dachshund a premium brand food.  Those contain a more appropriate quantity of calories and less “junk food” than cheaper brands.  For fussy dogs, or just for extra flavor, mixing a spoonful or two of wet food with dry is fine.

Never give your puppy chocolate, raisins, grapes, onions, macadamian nuts or xylitol which are toxic to dogs.

Just for Dachshund Lovers has gifts and supplies for the pampered Dachshund

Many people purchasing a dog house for the first time start to wonder just how complex it needs to be. It can be challenging to figure out what you really need in your doghouse. This first thing you will need to determine is if you need an outdoor doghouse at all.

Dogs that have spent most of their lives indoors will probably not be interested in moving into the nicest dog house. Since dogs are very social animals they will probably want to stay near you indoors. While your dog may not move outdoors permanently many outdoor dog houses can give your dog shelter if they need to spend a short time outdoors.

Some dogs, such as guard dogs, will need to live outdoors all the time. Dog houses for dogs that spend all their time outdoors should be very comfortable and strong. It does not matter how long a dog is used to being outside always check him regularly so you know he is safe.

Don’t think a dog house will be more comfortable simply because it is larger. This is especially true for those who live in cold climates. A dog house which is exceptionally large will not allow your dog to generate enough heat to warm it up. The ideal size of an outdoor dog house is just big enough for your dog to turn around and stretch out without touching the walls. The door to the dog house should be large enough to enable your dog to enter it without scrunching down.

The floor should be at least several inches off the ground the keep water runoff and moisture out. Inexpensive straw makes a good bedding although you will need to change it regularly. The roof should be sloped to allow snow to slide off. Pressure treated wood contains toxic chemicals and it should not be used for any part of the dog house that your dog comes into contact with. Before you decide that your dog should live outdoors make sure it can handle it. Many of the smaller breeds are not hardy enough to live outdoors while larger working dogs should be fine.

No training is more basic for pet owners than that first important lesson: Do it outside!

Teaching your new puppy to eliminate outside the home, not in it, can start between six and eight weeks of age. Dogs as young as four weeks can start house training, but at that age few have the muscular control to succeed.

With any dog training program, trainer patience is just as important as the dog’s temperament. ‘Sit’, ’stay’ and other behaviors can often be learned in a few days. House training usually takes weeks - sometimes as short as two, often a month or more.

As with other learned behaviors, it helps to watch for signs of the desired actions and enforce and direct them with a voice command followed by praise. In this case that technique works even more to the trainer’s advantage, since all dogs will naturally eliminate. The trick is to get your dog to do it when and where you want!

Watch for circling or squatting, then pick up the pup, say ‘outside’ and take him outside. The puppy might circle some more, but will often squat immediately. When your puppy eliiminates, say ‘Go potty’ ( or some other unique phrase) in a clear, firm (but not angry) voice. Wait until she is finished and then her praise lavishly.

You won’t always be able to catch the puppy about to potty, but don’t become angry or impatient when the dog eliminates indoors. It takes time for your puppy to learn to tell you it’s time to ‘go potty’. It also takes time for the muscles needed to control the bladder and bowels to develop.

Young dogs need to go every 2-3 hours, on average. If you haven’t spotted pre-elimination behavior within that time, take the dog outside anyway. Issue the command ‘Go potty’ and wait. At first, usually, the dog will have no clue what you want.

Again, even when outside, it helps to wait and watch for the desired behavior then issue the proper command. That helps the dog associate the command with the behavior. If your puppy still has not relieved himself after a few minutes and a few ‘Go potty’ commands, take him back inside for an hour. Of course, if you notice the pre-elimination behavior sooner, go outside again immediately.

Puppies have an astounding ability to quickly learn what their ‘alpha’ (the leader of the pack) wants. This is almost always accomplished by associating a verbal command with behavior, followed by praise. Punishment is usually counter-productive, and nowhere more so than in waste elimination training. Never rub your dog’s nose in waste.

Paper and/or crate training is preferred by some. A puppy can be trained to go on a newspaper, or on one of the chemically treated pads designed for the purpose. Some small breeds that live all day in the apartment may not need to go outside at all.

The technique has a couple of downsides however. Unlike cats, dogs prefer not to go in a scented litter box. Newspapers (even with the top layer removed after the dog goes) will eventually leave an unpleasant odor in the house.

Also, long before the odor becomes unattractive to humans, dogs can smell their own distinctive aroma. They don’t find their scent unattractive - quite the opposite. And therein lies the problem.

Dogs that are paper trained will often prefer to eliminate indoors. Every now and then, they will miss the paper by only an inch, creating a mess to clean up.

Once the smell is in the carpet, the dog will often seek that area out as its proper ‘place to go’. This makes training the dog to eliminate outside even more difficult. Best to suffer a few accidents than to create a hard-to-overcome habit.

Praise, patience, and consistency are the keys to any dog training. House training is the first test for you and your dog.

Get more tips and advice on housetraining or dog training at Luvurdog.com/dogtraining

If you don’t have a favorite dog, it isn’t easy deciding which breed to get. The first step is to think about the size of the dog you prefer. Can you manage a large dog where you live? Or do you only have a courtyard? Small dogs can be a great source of friendship. And there is a lot of variety in the temperament and look of a small dog. Whilst toy dogs are amongst the most well known of the small dogs, there are others that are similar to their larger cousins.

We’ll discuss three different breeds in this article - brussels griffons, whippets, and welsh terriers.

Brussels Griffons

Rumors have it that the big, human-like eyes of the brussels griffon were part of the inspiration behind the creation of the ewoks by George Lucas in the Star Wars films. And looking at pictures of them, you can see the resemblance.

Brussels griffons are particularly sensitive and devoted dogs who will bond with one person in particular. They need to be socialized when they are young pups. Their sensitivity and one-person nature mean they aren’t suited for families.

One of the great things about the brussels griffon is that they get along well with cats, as well as other dogs, although you need to be careful they don’t challenge for dominance with a bigger dog.

Welsh Terrier Information

Welsh terriers have been described as calm for a terrier, but probably not as calm as other dogs. They have a sturdy look, and lots of personality, especially the males. Welsh terriers are affectionate, inquisitive, extroverted, happy, and fearless.

Initially, Welsh terriers were used to keep the rat and vermin population down, and as a result welsh terriers love to chase things - including cats. So,, if you already have a cat, or are planning on getting one, this may not be the best pet for you.

Excellent with children,  welsh terriers really need a ‘dog proof’ yard as they do love to dig, and may thus escape. When walking a welsh terrier, be sure he stays on the leash, because his road sense when distracted by fun is not good at all.

Welsh terriers require quite a bit of time from their owners. They have to have regular grooming, and get bored when left alone for many hours in a day. They probably suit someone with a part time job instead of a full time job. When they’re bored, they can cause destruction around the house.  

Whippet Dog Breed

Whippets belong to the family of dogs known as sighthounds, which are named because they hunt using sight and speed instead of smell. whippets are small, elegant dogs, ranging in height from 18.5 to 20 inches for male whippets, or 17.5 to 18.5 inches for female whippets. And the whippet dog breed look just like miniature greyhounds!

In temperament, whippets are like toy dogs, in that they are happy to sleep on your lap. They are very loyal to their owner, though still good natured around strangers and children. Whippets are gentle dogs, and as such they have been used in aged care homes.

Whippets should be kept indoors. Their coats don’t keep them warm enough outside, and they have a strong bond to their owners. If you’re prepared to exercise them regularly, they are great for apartment living.

As a human, flying is sometimes one of the most nerve-wracking experiences, even when you know it is safe, efficient and generally very pleasant. If flying can be that troubling for humans, we can only imagine how tough it is on our pets. Both dogs and cats can be transported by plane, as can many other types of pets, providing they are in the correct and approved crates or cages.

Preparing your pet for a safe airplane journey does require some advance preparation that can help minimize the stress that your pet experiences. The following strategies can work with either dogs or cats, plus they also work with other species of pets. Prior to the trip, a trip to the dog groomers is a nice way to begin

Food and Exercise

It is important to restrict both food and water for approximately 12 hours before a flight. This means that the pet should be fed normally and on schedule and then kept from food or water for approximately half a day. If you only feed once a day in the morning and if you are not flying out until the next afternoon you may wish to adjust the feeding schedule to the evening at least a week before the flight to avoid the pet going for over 24 hours without food or water. Withholding food and water for 12 hours will prevent messes in the carrier and will also prevent vomiting and possible choking concerns while the pet is in the air.

Exercise the pet really well before they are put in the crate or carrier to get on the flight. Most pets are used to moving around a lot during the day or night and being confined in the carrier will be a bit stressful itself. Cats can be enticed to chase a piece of string or play with a favorite toy before going in the crate and dogs can always go for a long walk, jog or play time before travel.

Make the crate positive

A crate can appear claustrophobic to humans, but for a pet it can feel like a safe and comfortable haven. If the pet already sleeps in the crate or carrier at home or when staying at a dog boarding facility, your work is done as the pet sees this as his or her den. If the crate or carrier is new, start encouraging the pet to spend time in there by placing some tasty treats, toys and comfortable bedding in the crate and praising the pet for spending time in the crate.

Use puppy pads in the crate

Placing highly absorbent puppy pads, on the bottom of the crate will help keep any accidents away from the pet. Covering the puppy pads with a thick towel or blanket will help as well. If you are traveling with a cat, invest in one of the small, travel sized litter boxes that can be attached to the side of the crate that will provide a bathroom area as well as a dry, clean place to sleep.

Finally, try to stay as calm as possible yourself. Your pets are very attune to your emotional state and if you are nervous they are much more likely to pick up on your emotional state.