Maggie's Big Day

Thanks again so much for all the love and support for 'Maggie,' as today is her fourth day in the hospital for severe pancreatitis, and the day she will be challenged with water in the morning, and a little bit of food at about noon.  With all the prayers and well-wishes she's getting she's bound to be able to keep that food down! 

Dad and Joey go to visit Maggie in the morning and in the evening, and every day she is more and more alert and happy.  We're just hoping that her pancreas is keeping up with her spirit.  We're thinking positive that she will not be like Joey was last fall with his pancreatitis following his surgery, and that she is going to do just great with this first water and food challenge.  She does appear to be hungry when we ask her, and who wouldn't be - her last meal was Sunday night. 

It was hard to get her to go pee the last few days, and she would only go potty for Dad, but yesterday she started going for the hospital staff as well.  This was troublesome because with all the IV fluids she's getting, she was just basically leaking in her crate.  It wasn't easy for Dad to get her to go either - the first time was a stern 20 minutes outside of pointing and telling her to "go pee" and to "hurry up."  Must have repeated these phrases and actions 200 times, but that made success all the better.  Her stools have been bloody, and yesterday they gave her some intra-muscular antibiotics for that. 

Last night's visit was very pleasant - Dad and Joey and Maggie sat in the clinic's "VIP room" for about 30 minutes where there is a nice leather couch and magazines to read.  Dad read Maggie's comments and emails for her while Joey gave Maggie a face wash, which she both loves and hates at the same time. 

Dad's Little Princess

Maggie at about 12 weeks old

When we posted yesterday that we were going to take a few days off Dachshund blogging, the reason was because Dad's work has gone simply insane this week, and all our efforts needed to focus on his work.  We certainly weren't expecting any complicated veterinary issues this week by any means.  But, we wanted to update that your 'Long and Short of it All' host 'Maggie' has become very ill.

Yesterday before Dad was leaving for work, he gave Joey and Maggie their breakfast, but Maggie refused to eat.  Now, sometimes this isn't a major issue, but generally when your dog refuses to eat, they are quite ill.  Given Maggie's Cushing's issues, and the fact that her medication dose was recently doubled, odds looked good that she was experiencing an Addisonian's crisis from her cortisol levels being too low, and if her potassium were to then get too low, it could be quite dangerous. 

So, Joey was left hanging by himself as Dad whisked Maggie off to the vets for immediate care.  Once at the vets, Maggie started to vomit.  Dad had to run to work, but Maggie vomited another 10 times after he left.  The vet looked at her cortisol and electrolytes, and her cortisol was still quite high, another indication that her meds are not working for her, especially after doubling her dose.  So, she wasn't having an Addisonian's crisis, and the vet did a complete panel on her.  Turns out her lipase was over 6,000.  Maggie has pancreatitis.  This is the same issue Joey had last fall after his surgery which nearly did him in. 

Lots of tests are being performed, and it doesn't look like the Cushing's medication she's on can cause this issue.  With pancreatitis, as we know, it's a wait and see game to see if the pancreas will naturally get better after three days of no food or water.  But in the meantime, she is in a lot of pain.  She's getting pain meds, anti-nauseants, and is on IV fluids.  The vet did mention that this looks to be more serious than most of the pancreatitis issues he's seen -  Of course - Maggie and Joey don't do anything just half way.

Dad and Joey went to visit her last night.  She's stable but in pain.  She looked up at the men in her life when they entered the room, and she had large amounts of drool coming down both sides of her mouth - a sick little girl.  She didn't potty for the vet tech at all, but Dad had them unhook her IV, and was able to get her to potty outside.  Got to spend a good 45 minutes with her and tell her how much we love her. 

Thanks so much for all the heart-warming comments yesterday.  They mean so much.  Talked with the vet this morning, and Maggie is about the same as yesterday, but her temp is slightly low.  So, we wait.

A Note From Joey and Maggie: Please Stand By

Dear Gentle Readers,

We just wanted to let you know that like your 'Long and Short of it All' host 'Joey,' updates will be a bit spotty this week.  We're hoping that we may be able to squeeze in just a few as the week progresses, but we're unsure at this point.  We should be back to speed next week. 

Everything is OK on the home front - Joey is doing amazingly well as we continue to treat him for Addison's Disease after his surgery last fall for adrenal-dependent Cushing's Disease and spleenectomy.  He got his monthly DOCP shot yesterday (OUCH!)  and continues to get oral prednisone and ursodiol every day.  He's a happy boy.

We wish that we had such good news to report for 'Maggie.'  We're still having trouble getting her meds stablized for her pituitary-dependent Cushing's Disease.  We took her in for levels a few weeks ago, and her cortisol level is 5-10 times where it should be.  So, we doubled her dose of trilostane, and will do follow-up levels this coming Saturday.  To top things off, she has developed a nasty tumor on her anus.  It was aspirated, and is "most likely" benign, so we are thankful for that.  She will have to have surgery to have it removed soon, but we've got to get her Cushing's under control before such a procedure.  We'll know more after Saturday's visit to the vet.  She spends a lot of time sleeping and trying to get comfortable because her big belly from her Cushing's really gets in the way.  We can't tell if she's a happy girl because she doesn't wag her tail anymore - she's embarrassed about her tumor and keeps her tail tucked in at all times.  Hoping Saturday's vet visit goes well and we can schedule to get her tumor removed.  We miss her wagging tail.

Yours in Dachshund Love,

Joey and Maggie....

Lola, the Dachshund Who Survived a Month in Burned-Out House Goes Home!

Kisses!

We're incredibly happy to report that 'Lola,' the miracle Dachshund from Boston who survived a housefire and then being trapped inside the house for nearly 30 days was released from the MSPCA-Angell Animal Medical Center on Thursday.  The veterinarian confirms Lola is in good health, but will be on a restricted diet for a few weeks while she gets completely back to normal.  Welcome Home, Lola!

Lola, the miracle dog, reunited with owner video via NECN.

Have a great Friday!

Dachshund Predicaments: Firefighters Rescue Longhair Stuck Under Shed

How on earth do we get ourselves into such trouble sometimes?  Meet handsome dappled black and tan longhair 'Snoopy,' being cradled by his Dad Robert Segersten.  The Hyannis, Massachusetts canine was playing with his friends on Tuesday morning - 'Kooper,' a German shepherd, and 'Maizie,' a standard poodle, when he went to hide.  Then came the whimpers for help.  Excerpt from the Cape Cod Times:

"I tried to get him out. I tried prying up a floor board, but it didn't work," said Larry Rayment, a neighbor and Maizie's owner. "I was outside and down on my stomach trying to coax him out, but Kooper and Maizie kept dropping balls on my behind to get me to play fetch with them.

"That's when I decided to get some help. It was my wife who called the fire department."

In what Robert Segersten, putative owner of Snoopy and Kooper, described as "the most exciting event in our neighborhood for years," Hyannis firefighters arrived ready to rescue.

"It's not exactly 33 Chilean miners, but it is nice to know the fire department will come out here to help a dog in trouble," Rayment said.

Snoopy had no comment, but when confronted by a reporter sought refuge back under the shed.

"Don't call the fire department," Segersten said. "Not yet at least."

We love it.  Read it all at the Cape Cod Times.

Training for Wiener Mania

Dachshunds across the country are busy with their Spring Training for upcoming wiener races.  Work it Dachshunds, work it.  Here, 'Gabana' shows how it's done as she prepares to take the crown at Wiener Mania, April 16th, 2011 in Tempe, AZ. Wiener Mania is a fundraising event hosted by Arizona Adopt a Greyhound, Inc.
Video by youtuber Blondesheep.

Dachshund Lover Joan Crawford on Dachshund Lover Elizabeth Taylor

Not the cat fight we were half expecting, but lots of respect. She only talks about her for about 45 seconds - we were hoping she would comment on her good taste in canines.

Dachshund Lover Elizabeth Taylor Passes

We're so sad to report the passing of Dachshund Lover Elizabeth Taylor, who died today at Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Hospital. She was a legend of the likes we will never see again.   
Her son Michael Wilding stated:  "My Mother was an extraordinary woman who lived life to the fullest, with great passion, humor, and love," he said. "Though her loss is devastating to those of us who held her so close and so dear, we will always be inspired by her enduring contribution to our world. Her remarkable body of work in film, her ongoing success as a businesswoman, and her brave and relentless advocacy in the fight against HIV/AIDS, all make us all incredibly proud of what she accomplished. We know, quite simply, that the world is a better place for Mom having lived in it. Her legacy will never fade, her spirit will always be with us, and her love will live forever in our hearts."  Source.

Related:  Dachshunds in Pop Culture:  Elizabeth Taylor, Part 2

Dachshund 'Lola' Survives a Month in Burned-Out House

Photo:  Boston.com

Thanks so much to Geraldine Larsen, Barb, and Lauren Boucher for sending in links to this fantastic and heart-warming story which will make your week! 

Meet pretty little dappled black and tan longhair 'Lola,' who set up residence in Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood.  Her house burned down on February 23rd, and it was thought that Lola perished in the fire or ran away.  Her human, Terisa Acevedo, spent several days after the fire posting flyers and searching the neighborhood for her sweet girl to no avail.  But on Monday of this week, she returned to the home only to hear Lola's scratching at the boarded-up front door! 

Lola is currently in the care of Angell Memorial Animal Hospital.  She is recovering well, and may come home as early as today! 

The over-joyed Miss Acevedo claimed:  “I’m never going to tell her no ever again. You want a treat? Here you go. You want to go out? Yes, sure. I’ll go out with you right now.”

Read more at CBS Boston.

The Boston Globe's Brian Ballou tells us the incredible story.

2011 Florida Wiener Dog Derby

Congratulations to all the Dachshunds who raced at the 2011 Florida Wiener Dog Derby on Saturday, March 19 at the Lee Civic Center in Fort Myers, Florida.  Judging by the 58 photos of the event posted at the News-Press, a great time was had by all.  Special congrats to 'Karmyl' for taking the crown this year.  Also catch a fun and spirited professional video from the event at the News-Press.

Buy Dachshund Art and Support the Tsunami Relief Effort

If you're looking for a little something to brighten up your space, you can't go wrong with these Dachshund and Bunny Linocut Block Prints being offered up by our pal 'Baxter' at his mom's kalyxcraftopia etsy shop. The artwork is titled "tomodachi", Japanese for friends, and will only be made in this color combination (white ink with red ballie, reminiscent of the flag of Japan) for the tsunami relief effort.  Whether you keep it for yourself, or give it as an Easter or Mother's Day gift, $5 of each print purchased will be donated to the Red Cross.  Awesome!  While there are just 4 prints left in the etsy shop at the moment, more will be added soon, or contact Baxter's mom.

Vintage Dachshund Fun

(click image to enlarge)

Spring has sprung!  The birds are chirping and the daffodils have awakened from their winter slumber. The glorious smells of spring have returned, and while we sniffed and sniffed on our morning walk this morning, we'll be darned if we couldn't sniff out any Dachshund news to report.  So, let's head back to the 1950's when this humorous little illustration was published in The Dachshund Club News (England), as illustrated by Sheila Dolan.

Have a great Monday!

Dachshunds in the Wake of Devastation: Our Friends, Our FAMILY

Often times a photo can express more than mere words.  Here, a woman comforts her Dachshund during an aftershock at an evacuation center for pets and their owners near an area devastated by an earthquake and tsunami in Kesennuma, north of Japan, March 17, 2011.   Hold your little ones tight.

Here, another woman holds her Dachshund at the evacuation center.  Thanks so much to our friends at Dachshund Delights for sharing the shots.  See more photos at Reuters.  Please consider making a donation to our Japanese friends in this time of need.  WorldVets might be a great organization to consider. 

Zeppelin

Zeppelin napping just a few weeks ago

Our hearts have been heavy this week with the passing of one of our very dear friends, handsome frosty-faced 'Zeppelin.'  It's never easy to write of the passing of Dachshunds here, and it's especially harder when you know them personally and count them as friends.  Zeppelin lived to the ripe old age of 17 years, 7 months, and 13 days; we should all be so lucky, and his longevity is a testament to the love and care given to him by his humans. 

Now, we've met a lot of Dachshunds in our own ten years on this earth, but we've never met one quite like our pal Zep.  He was just a bundle of energy and quite the talker - even as he grew older he didn't really slow down that much, always looking for that scrap of food that the food gods may have dropped on the floor for him, or enjoying his plethora of toys.  And he pranced when he walked.  Yes, he pranced - we've never seen another Dachshund do that; but like a prancing pony his paws would rise high in the air, channeling the great spirit of famed Dachshund Royalty. 

Rest in Peace Sweet Prince.

Brooke Astor's Beloved Dachshunds Won't Use The Doggy Door

The late Brooke Astor's Dachshunds, 'Girlsie' (left) and 'Boysie,' eat a gourmet meal at the Iris Love residence in Lincoln, Vermont, 2009 

Archaeologist and Dachshundist Iris Love was dining with friends including Liz Smith and Helen Gurly Brown on Monday night when the subject of 'Girlsie' and 'Boysie' came up, the Dachshunds who belonged to the late Brooke Astor, and who are in the care of Iris Love.  NYMag reports:

So how aaaare the Astor dachshunds — Boysie and Girlie — these days? Apparently they take after their original owner. "I was with Girlie [should that be Girlsie?] over the weekend," Love said. "She's DIVINE. The only thing is, although I have dog doors all over, Girlie will not go out a dog door. She sits in front of any door and barks for someone to open the door for her, and then she goes outside and plays and does what she wants to." Wait, an Astor wants someone to do things for her?! "She comes back and barks again, because the door has to be opened," Love continued. "I said to someone who didn't believe this, 'The only thing that Girlie would prefer more is that the person who opens the door wears white gloves!'"

Related:  Dachshunds and Brooke Astor

Clover All Over

Thanks as always to Kay Taylor and her Sheridan Avenue Boys for sending in photos to keep the holidays festive around these parts!   How on earth does Kay take such nice shots?  She offered up some tips in an intereview at Examiner just a few weeks ago, check it out.

Everybody's Irish on St. Patrick's Day!

Thanks to our pals 'Sampson,' 'Tommy Lee,' and 'Gina Marie' for sending us this great St. Patrick's Day card!  The green flap opens to reveal the greeting:  Everybody's Irish on St. Patrick's Day!  We'll say.  Even us little German Dachshunds enjoy a little wearin' o' the green once in a while.  Is it beer o'clock yet?

Don't be shy Maggie, wear your green with pride!

Have a great one.

Check the archives for lots of festive St. Patrick's Day Dachshunds.  You'll be glad you did.

Help Find Returning Veteran's Missing Dachshund

If you live near Brunswick, Ohio, please keep an eye out for 8-year-old red smooth 'Drew.'  He went missing on Saturday, and someone even called the police when he was found, but he was never turned in.  Excerpt from wkyc:

The Brunswick police are still trying to find Drew, an 8-year-old mini-dachshund who belongs to SSgt. John Mathatas.

The Mathatas family said someone called Brunswick police Saturday, saying they found the dog wandering near the Circle K on W. 130th Street. Police told him to bring it to the police station because the dog warden doesn't work weekends.

Twenty minutes later, the Mathatas family called police to report their missing dog and were told the dog was being brought to the station but the caller never showed up.

Drew belongs to the local minister's family and their son John is coming home Friday from Afghanistan and has not been told that his beloved Drew is missing.

John's mother says John is due home Friday from Kuwait and "I don't want to have to tell him that, while he was serving his country, a man thought it would be a good idea to pick up this dog and keep him."

Find out more including contact info at wkyc.  We're hoping to have a great reunion update on this story. 

Wirehair Wednesday: Rescue Edition!

Smiles!  If you live in the MidWest, and you're looking to add to your pack, you couldn't go wrong with this cute little black and tan piebald wirehair named 'Basil' currently being fostered by MidWest Dachshund Rescue.  A MWDR associate writes: 

Dear Joey and Maggie,

Last weekend MWDR got 9 young dogs from a St. Louis puppymill raid and this one is so cute she's hilarious. Meet Basil, a 6 month old piebald wirehaired puppy mill rescue who's a foster at Midwest Dachshund Rescue. She's got these loooong Groucho Marx eyebrows. You can tell her I called her funny-lookin', just don't call her late for dinner!

We don't see that Basil's photo is up yet on MWDR's site, but get your application in for Basil or one of the many beautiful and loving Dachshunds waiting for their forever home.

Dachshund News Roundup!

The countdown is on!  With four days to go til Spring, we couldn't be more excited to reacquaint ourselves with all the wonderful sights and smells the warmer weather brings.  This is a Dachshund News Roundup on a relatively cool March 16, 2011.  Sixty-degree weather is right around the corner!   Above, dog owners take advantage of the nice weather at the dog park at George Ward Park in Birmingham, Alabama, Saturday, March 12, 2011. The city of Fultondale has a new dog park making it the third municipal dog park in the area. A Dachshund runs with a ball as a Doberman closes in.  Source.

This Dachshund was so important to someone that he received a bust! (Rosa Bonheur Memorial Park, Elkridge, Maryland).  Via The Symbolic Beauty of Elkridge Cemeteries, the Elkridge Patch.

On Tuesday, March 15 at 7:30 AM, eight local heroes and one organization were honored at the American Red Cross' signature event – the Fred Meyer Breakfast of Champions in Portland, Oregon.  While 'Missy' the Dachshund had no formal training, her barking definitely made the difference when her owner collapsed.  This is her story via the Oregon Red Cross:  An 11-year-old dachshund, Missy is a tiny dog with enormous persistence. Last September, she showed up at Charles Mitchell’s house, barking furiously and refusing to leave until he followed her across the street to where Missy’s owner, Charlie Burdon, a heart attack survivor, had collapsed in his bedroom after suffering dizziness and nausea. Burdon had managed to reach his wife at work, who called 911, but by the time she and the paramedics arrived, Missy and Mitchell were at his side. Burdon, who was later diagnosed with vertigo, rewards Missy with her usual treats, walks, car rides and trips to Home Depot. The two men, who have known each other for years, both agree that sometimes the biggest hearts come in the smallest packages.

And finally, when the Schoch family’s 5-year-old dachshund, 'Happy,' goes for a run, the little dog actually goes two wheeling.  Recovering from back surgery, the Baytown, Texas, black and tan has her own custom wheelchair to help her get around and boy, does she get around.  Here, Sarah Schoch and son Christian, 9, go on a walk with Happy.  Source. 

Remember, if your Dachshund shows signs and symptoms of back issues, or goes completely down where they can't walk, there are options out there!  Take your dog to your vet immediately, and listen to the good advice offered at Dodgerslist, your Dachshund disc disease/IVDD resource.  There's always a link to them in the links column on your right. They have a very active discussion list, and are real pros when it comes to offering advice for IVDD Dachshunds and general Dachshund health.

HER DACHSHUND

HER DACHSHUND

The pampered pup my lady keeps

Upon a silken cushion sleeps.

She feeds him with her dainty hand

Upon the fatness of the land.

She bathes and combs him every day

And pets him in a loving way.

For many reasons, I would like

To be that happy little tyke.

But I should really like to know

What makes her love that Dachshund so.

Is it because the dog loves her?

No more than I, of this I'm sure.

Oh, would my lady care for me

If I like him should strive to be?

He's ugly as the greatest sin,

So looks do not her affection win;

I think he's like a threshold mat;

To me he's lazy and very fat;

His temper bad, he barks and growls

And most unmusically howls.

How can she like him?  It beats the band,

It's something I can't understand.

I think if I should growl and swear

And cultivate rank growth of hair

And put on lots of adipose

And walk about so that it shows

She would not think I was improved

Or find herself to pity moved.

But if she wants, I think that I,

To emulate that dog would try.

My willingness I therefore tell

To my lady in this doggerel.

By Bill Sole for the American Dachshund magazine, October, 1972.

Unrelated mid-Century photo source unknown.

Read more Dachshund Poetry

Crufts, 2011

Katerina Belova from Moscow, Russia with her Dachshund (Smooth-Haired) called 'Chester,' who won Best of Breed March 12, 2011, the third day of dfs Crufts 2011 at the Birmingham NEC

Congratulations to all the Dachshunds and dogs who competed at the 2011 Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham, UK over the weekend.  A beautiful Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit) took the hounds, and a striking Retriever (Flat Coated) took Best in Show.  See all the Best in Breed Dachshunds at the Crufts official site (scroll down to select Dachshund under the Hound group).


Of the six Dachshund "breeds," Crufts just released the video judging of the Dachshund (Min Smooth-Haired), seen here.


And congrats to Sue Ergis from Poole, Dorset with her Dachshund (Miniature Smooth-Haired) called 'April,' who took Junior Warrant winner on March 11, 2011.

The Vintage March Dachshund

Sometimes it feels futile and pointless to go on about our daily lives, detailing the modern life of the Dachshund, when the events of the world are so massively tragic, and all you feel is despair and hopelessness. 

But we March on, hoping that The Long and Short of it All provides some sort of relief from that world - if only for a brief moment in time.

Calling All Girls, March, 1961

Dachshunds: Delivering Chaos Wherever We Go

Scouts Learn About Pets - article in its entirety via The Cross Timbers Gazette out of Flower Mound, Texas:

The Nosey Dog Pet Spa & Boutique in Flower Mound recently hosted Girl Scout Troop 761 and their Troop Leaders Mark and Kay Charles on to help them earn their Pet Care Badge.

During the two-hour session, the scouts learned about pet responsibility and the cost of owning pets from Patricia Debarros-Kari, owner of The Nosey Dog.

Charry Lackey, owner of The Pet Depot – Pet Sitting & Dog Walking Service – taught the Girl Scouts how to keep their pets healthy and how to communicate with them by learning different behavior reactions.

The Girl Scouts then had the opportunity to get some “hands on” training by bathing four dogs: Allie, a beautiful Black lab; Broden, a handsome Wheaten Terrier; and Henry and Geoffrey, two very naughty Mini Dachshunds.

Well - whatever we did, we'll wear that badge with pride, thank you very much!  Looks like we didn't even make the photo-op.

Running

The middle one is my favorite.  It is SO hard to catch them in mid-air like that, and my camera really isn't that good.  It doesn't look very impressive small, but the larger version looks awesome as the background for the desktop :).

Overall, I think he had a great time.

What's funny is that right after I published my Mail Stuff post, my first copy of Celebrating Greyhounds Magazine arrived shortly after.  Go figure.  I am quite excited though, because the pictures and articles are just gorgeous.  Also, the article about how a woman intending on having two greyhounds ended up with five makes me realize I may be doomed to own a zoo...but for now, it shall just stay the two of us. I am thinking of fostering though... ;)

It seems I always am updating on Sundays...

Mail Stuff

Yesterday, my checks (yes, my first checks ever) arrived in the mail.  Because they were my first ones, I decided to go all out and get cute greyhound ones advocating greyhound rescue ^_^  And how did I use my first check, you may ask?

(specifically formatted for security purposes)

It got sent out today, so hopefully we get our fancy certificate in the mail within a few weeks :).  Then Ferguson shall officially be my dog, never to be raced, bred, or used for sport again (because I was so worried).  In any case, we'll have to get it framed, along with my degree that came in the mail that I still have yet to look at. 

What's funny is that my college still thinks I'm there, apparently.  Yesterday we got an envelope trying to get my parents to buy care packages for me during my "exam week." *rolls eyes*

In other news, Ferguson's raincoat came in the mail very recently too!  The coat is quite cute, and the day it came was super rainy, so we got to use it right away.  His face still gets wet, with that long nose and all, but the rest of him stayed much dryer, so hopefully he appreciates it.  He really didn't want to pose for me to take a picture, but there is one:

"Urg...MOM..."

To redeem him, I'll include a much cuter picture of him below.  One thing I have learned about greyhounds is how funny their ears are.  Most of the time, Ferguson's lay back at rest, but when he hears something, they perk forward, and then sometimes....

...They go whichever way they feel like!  I think they're adorable ^_^

Anyway, we'd better get up and going.  I have my first kennel shift today, and because it's Saturday, Ferguson is going to stay home with my parents, especially since it's just a 4 hour shift.  Before I go, we're going to go to the giant fenced in baseball field again to let Ferguson run to be super mellow the rest of the day.  This time I will TRY to remember my camera.

Happy Saturday!!!

Celebrity Dachshund Watch: Kelsey Grammer

Woof Woof Woof!  We had no idea 5-time Emmy Award-winning American actor and comedian Kelsey Grammer was a Dachshund Lover!   The star who worked himself into our hearts playing Frasier Crane has been in the news as of late, with a bitter divorce from wife Camille, and recent wedding to Kayte Walsh.  This marriage will surely last - with a Dachshund involved, right?  Here's the scoop on this photo from The Daily Mail, where Kelsey and his new wife check out a New York apartment:

They celebrated their marriage with a lavish wedding reception at New York City's Plaza Hotel last month.

And now newlyweds Kelsey Grammer and Kayte Walsh are apparently looking to set up home there.

Kelsey, 56 and Kayte, 29 were spotted walking into the Plaza yesterday, where they are said to be viewing one of the apartments.

As well as being a high end hotel, the famed Plaza also offer private residences for sale.

They start at approximately $2 million for a one bedroom residence to duplex and triplex penthouses starting at $15 million.
The couple took along Kelsey's five-year-old son, Jude, from his marriage to Camille Grammer, and their dachshund dog.

Smiles!  A photo from last fall details this cute red smooth pup in one of our awkward growing stages!  If anyone knows the pups' name, or has any more info, by all means leave a comment!

Gauis Rocks the Henrico Pet Expo

We're sure that you remember our pal Gauis, the tricky little Dachshund who starred in the fun video Play?, and later went on to be the first-ever Dachshund to win a trick title?  If you're keeping up with him on his blog, Untrainable Dachshund, you know what a busy boy he is, but here's a great update from his mom:

Hey Joey and Maggie!

I thought I'd bring you some Dachshund news from the Virgina Henrico Pet Expo. Our little long haired miniature Dachshund Gauis Baltar participated in both the trick demo and the dog agility demo. He was quite a hit, especially since he was the only small dog to participate in the tricks demo. This video highlights some of the highlights of his performances (With a few new tricks since our last video).

Yours truly,
Elizabeth and Gauis

Gauis jumps over his friend 'Lindie,' a black and tan lab.

Go Gauis!

NATURE'S NOBLEDOG

NATURE'S NOBLEDOG

by Lee Avery for the American Dachshund magazine, January, 1972

"Noble" is the word for Newsy-

A Dachshund gentleman to his toes-

For in a sweetness of the spirit,

Even in dogs, nobility shows!

Deferential to elder brother,

Patient with roguish sister's pranks,

Giving up toys without a protest,

Expecting, and getting, no sort of thanks.

Guarding his house with husky barkings,

Friendly with guests, and circumspect,

That's our Newsy, who daily earns

Love, admiration, and respect!

Unrelated 1940's photo source unknown.

Related:  To A Prospective Dachshund Owner by Lee Avery

Read more Dachshund Poetry

In the doghouse!

Today, Ferguson has decided, completely out of the blue, to try his luck at everything that isn't his.  In the past three hours, he's attempted/succeeded to steal/chew:

My Wii Carrying Case

A loaf of bread (he only had this one for about a second before he was corrected)

My dad's NICE leather shoes.

Unfortunately, the shoe is what he had the longest, and managed to chew off about an inch off the end of it.  >:( !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Needless to say, I'm not at all pleased.  When he took the Wii case, the correction was only minimal, because he took it into his kennel and it wasn't clear he was going to chew on it.  He got a firm correction for the bread, and didn't even lift it out of the bread box (it is within his reach) before I stopped him with a firm poke and "NO."  But the shoe?  He got quite a scolding.  He's now in his wire kennel (not as punishment, par-say...he had 10 seconds in-between the events so shouldn't associate it as such) so he can't get in to any more trouble.

But, because he doesn't understand me and I need to vent without being cruel: 

WHAT ON EARTH DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING FERGUSON?!  YOU HAVE NEVER EVER NEVER EVER NEVER TAKEN ANYTHING THAT DOESN'T BELONG TO YOU BEFORE WITH THE EXCEPTION OF MY STUFFED POLAR BEAR AND THAT WAS MONTHS AGO.  WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR HEAD?!!!!  YOU GOT NOT ONE BUT TWO 30 MINUTE LONG WALKS TODAY, SO YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE TO BEHAVE BRATTY AND/OR BORED.  SO CUT IT OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I feel less bad now that I'm making him go to work with me tomorrow.  Perhaps he needs the outings, and that's why he's never acted out before...since had to go to work with me every day in the past. 

Oh, right, and I got the job I was hoping for ^_^  They said there is also a receptionist position available, so they are training me for both to see which I prefer.  I work tomorrow morning from 6:45am-1pm.    Hurray for employment! 

And hurray for Ferguson having a rather exciting outing.  I just hope he doesn't have a panic attack for being alone, but he will be next to other dogs he can at least hear and smell, and people come and go fairly frequently.  I do love him, but after tonight, I think he can live and could use the change in atmosphere >:(.

Veterinarian Heroes: Dachshund's Surgery Goes On Despite Massive Earthquake

'Jonah' is a lucky dog

Meet Dr. Kirsten Wylie, nurse Amber Walker, and 'Jonah,' the handsome black and tan smooth.  Jonah was undergoing surgery for tumor removal on February 22nd in Christchurch, New Zealand, when the massive 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck.  But our dedicated professionals, our heroes, did not leave Jonah's side.  Excerpt from stuff.co.nz:

Kirsten Wylie was in the middle of a delicate operation to remove a cancerous tumour from a small dog when the earthquake struck. 

Wylie refused to leave Jonah, an eight-year-old dachshund, in the Linwood surgery, completing the 45-minute procedure to remove a thyroid carcinoma by the light of a torch, along with nurse Amber Walker.

Nor did she flinch when she had to blow air into a tube to keep the dog breathing until an oxygen bottle could be connected manually.

Wylie said the "fiddly" operation had been made more difficult by the big jolt, but she never thought of leaving Jonah.

"From where I was standing, I could look out the window and see the fence falling down," she said.

However, the dog "was blissfully unaware of the earthquake".

Wylie was yesterday reunited with a recovering Jonah.

Wirehair Wednesday: Meet Bóris and Yara!

"Badgers? We don't need no stinking badgers."

Thanks so much to Ricardo Mineiro for writing in all the way from Portugal with a great little photo of his beautiful beloved gals.  He writes:

Dear Joey and Maggie,

This is the first time I´m submitting something to your blog, although I tend to check up on it on a regular basis...Great work!

I only wanted to send you this picture we took today of our two wirehairs (Bóris and Yara) mother and daughter, 4 and 2 years old...

They look soooo cute in those sheriff outfits... Hope you like them too!

Best regards.

Pumpkin: A Gift From the Gods

(A happy, content greyhound who doesn't notice I'm gone)

The stuff has me fascinated.  After being left in the freezer for a day over night, Ferguson did our usual "practicing being alone" exercise (we're up to 15 minutes now!!!).  When I returned after 15 minutes, even driving around the block, he was still going at it, which really surprised me.  Normally, he finishes kongs with peanut butter or cheese after a few minutes and is often just sitting there until I get back.  This one, however, blew even me away.  When I took it back (as I always do when I return...kongs are only enjoyed when I'm not there to give him something novel to look forward to), it was STILL frozen and more than halfway full!  At the touch, it was like an Italian ice dessert...not at all sticky or pliable.  Does it always do that, or did I just get some mutant pumpkin? 

In any case, I LOVE it.  I was having a hard time creating kongs that last a long time, and I'm SO happy to have found the answer in a healthier snack than peanut butter, cream cheese, or cheese wiz.  Ferguson seems to like it too!  I just hope he doesn't get tired of it.  Perhaps we can try mixing in some honey too...the kong recipes will have to continue development, but for now, it is pure bliss <3