my first doxie

[gregs317]

Hi all, and thanks to everyone for your replies to my previous post.

I have done a lot of looking around, and some emailing as well in the past few weeks. I may have found just the right girl for me. I'm still looking, but I am interested in a pretty girl named Bridgette. She lives at a breeder's home with other doxies in N. Carolina. She is an isabella & tan female. I don't remember her exact age, but she is older than a puppy.

I am pretty excited, a little nervous as well. But I feel like i'm moving in the right direction. I am still gonna look at a few more rescue sites as well, just in case. I probably won't be bringing her home until mid-march for personal reasons. But it will give me time to prepare myself and my home. I'm gonna try to make a visit to the vet, to let him know I'll be bringing a dachshund home, and ask questions.

So far, I'm planning to buy a doggy bed, toys, food dish, food. Please help me, what else will I need to have on hand? I can't remember everything that I'll need. Do you feed your doxie 2 or 3 times a day? How often do you bathe him/her - once or twice a week? Thanks, I'll have more questions later. Greg

[Cassiepeia]

Congrats on the new addition.

Along with the bed, toys, food dish and food...you should get a crate.

How often do you bathe him/her - once or twice a week?

Unless the dog is a show dog, has a skin problem or gets so dirty you can't brush the dirt out of its coat, you shouldn't bathe a dog more than once a month (some you bathe even less).

Cass.

[rmci]

Is Bridgette a short haired doxy? short haired require less grooming, a quick brush to remove loose hairs. As for bathing, doxy's have an oil to their coats that helps insulate them from the elements, so bathing should not be done every week. Once every couple of months should be fine unless the dog gets into something yucky

[gregs317]

Thank you, and yes Bridgette is a short-haired girl.

[rmci]

Oh, and as for feeding, it's up to you whether you feed once a day or twice. The doxy's I have known have all been notorious pigs when it comes to food so leaving food out all day is not a good idea. Plus, with the longer back, weight gain is bad for their health.
Is she a standard or a mini?

[Cassiepeia]

I always think (as far as feeding is concerned) twice a day is better. How would you like to have one meal a day?

Cass.

[Barrett]

I feed my dachshunds twice a day. They get bathed about once a month unless we have been to the beach. Then I rinse the salt water off and condition them. I find my dogs tend to get dandruff and itchy skin if I use shampoo every time I bath them. They only get shampooed if they are filthy from digging or rolled in something stinky. A rinsing in warm water and a good conditioner is usually enough once a month. I love that they are small enough to bath in the kitchen sink!!

[Rivsky]

I agree with Cass about feeding twice a day - I don't know if bloat is a problem in dachshunds or not but feeding the meal in two separate sessions apparently helps reduce the likelihood of it occurring (among other things as well).

[calgal]

Twice a day for sure, and if your feeding a kibble, try the INNOVA small bites. (this food can't be beat) Most dogs don't chew, and the kibble will swell inside of them. This causes bloat if they only eat once a day because they eat way to much at one time and the stomach turns over on itself from the swelling of the food.
If you want to bathe the dog in a very gentle soap that is mild enough to use on a new born baby, and is gentle enough to use every day without stripping the natural oils, is Dr. Bronners pure castile liquid soap. You can just squeeze a little into your palm, rub your hands together and stroke from top to bottom. (I use a baby washcloth for their ears and faces.) They have it in eucalyptus, tea tree and lavandin & lavender fragrance which repell fleas. http://www.drbronner.com/drb_sai_liquids.html

[gregs317]

I checked and Bridgette is about 2 years old, 8 lbs., and a mini dachshund.

What is the typical length for a mini? I'm wondering in terms of buying a bed. Do some doxies like to curl up to sleep like other dogs? I wasn't sure because of their longer bodies. Greg

[IceyBlueSibes]

I'm not sure about the bed, but Barrett's doxies love to "burrow" in a bunch of blankets She posted a few pictures a while back of it. It was too cute.

Don't forget a leash and collar Along with an ID tag that has your contact info on it in case she ever gets lost.

[rmci]

I love mini's! They do like to burrow as IceyBlueSibes mentioned. As for sleeping posture, they're like any other dog. Sometimes they sleep curled, other times stretched out. If one is on the bed with you, it seems as though they can stretch 3 times their size and take over the bed Peaches was a pro at this. She'd nudge you out of her way and before you knew it, you were on the edge of the bed.

[gregs317]

haha, that's funny (about the dog taking over the bed). Bridgette will probably sleep with me on some nights, but I'm not sure about every night. I'm starting to get excited now, about having a new 'roommate' hehe. Greg

[Punkygirl0101]

Dachshunds are definitely little pigs when it comes to food, so definintely feed at sessions.

Smooth coated dachshunds require almost no grooming. I wipe mine with dog wipes once a month, or when dirty..and they get an actual bath maybe once every 4 months.

Every dachshund I have ever had (currently 7 dachshunds, 12 dogs total, but have had several others) did not like sleeping on just a bed, they LOVE to burrow.

[puppylover1089]

dachshunds are burrowers, yes. My little girl, Buttercup before she got pregnant and even now she loves to go all the way to the end of bed under the covers. they are great companions and they are very protective of their owners. I just love them I hope your new doxie brings lots of love to your home. best wishes.