0_0

Over the past week, Ferguson started defecating 5-6 times per day instead of 2-3, and was going A LOT. We're talking like three full bags of poo. No diarrhea...just lots and lots of formed poo. Because I was tired of picking up so much and a little concerned at the amount, I took a sample into work with me, just to make sure there wasn't anything going on I should know about.

Well.

This is what we found:

Kinda cute, right? Uh huh. Well. It came from this:



Say "Hello" to Mr. Hookworm!!! Well, I suppose MRS. Hookworm, in this case.

For even more pleasant images, feel free to google "Hookworm" and take a gander at what is residing in poor Ferg's tummy.

$100.00 later, he's being treated (and yes, he was on preventative...the doc said hooks are only 80% or so covered by such products), and should start getting back to his normal poo schedule and otherwise feeling better very soon.

*Sighs*

Bird Catch

On Saturday, Ferguson and I went to visit our friends in Baltimore. I took him out to their small fenced yard for a potty break, but upon returning to the door, a bird that was maybe a foot away from Ferguson decided to sporadically move and jump in front of his face. Needless to say, the bird, whom we think was maybe learning to fly, will never master that skill.

I was impressed with Ferguson though. He grabbed it instinctively (I mean, come on, it was right in his face), but dropped it immediately and came back to me as soon as he was commanded to. Of course, it was probably too late for the bird, who was maybe still alive but not for long, but I was still pleased that I was able to override his instinctive predator mode as many greyhound sources say is impossible to.

So, good job, Ferguson, even though there was a casualty.

^ The mighty hunter.

Another One Bites the Dust

We were expecting a song by Queen as well, but it's Angry long-haired Dachshund eats dandelions...by Vimeoer Maxx Preston.

This reminds us of how hungry we are.

Happy 18th Birthday Toby!

May bones rain from the sky for handsome red smooth 'Toby,' who hails from Vancouver, Canada.  Toby turned 18-years-old on May 23rd.  Toby's thoughts on life:  "Yes, sometimes life can be very tough. But I'll tell you what:  doesn't matter if you have too short legs or too long nose. If somebody loves you, you are the winner . . . (I said winner, not wiener) dog!"

Read more about this guy who finally had his first birthday party at The Province.

How To Pick Up A Dachshund

Poor 'Trixie' got her nose stung.   Youtuber Myk63 notes that if you were looking for how to lift a Dachshund instead of how to pick one up in a bar there should be a video by tiggermiss on that.

Memories We'd Rather Forget

WW1 American Patriotic Postcard:  Uncle Sam Grabs Kaiser Dachshund

But it's important to remember our history so we never let it happen again. 

We hope you had a great Memorial Day.


Postcard from Joey and Maggie's personal collection.

'The Long and Short of it All' Turns Four Years Old

Prost!  It's our fourth anniversary and we're gonna party like it's 1929.  We had no idea that four years after our very first post on May 28, 2007 that we'd still be blogging about Dachshunds - day in - day out - ad nauseum for even some of the most ardent Dachshundists.  Still, we move forward, documenting all the Dachshund news, art, history, and popular culture that we can get our stubby little paws on. 
Every year at this time we examine where we are, where we've been, and where we're going with the site by looking at our "About" statement to see if we are still on course:

As the internet's first daily Dachshund news magazine, we're hoping to update this blog almost every day with Dachshund news from around the world, Dachshund stories, videos, famous Dachshunds, photos, art, and history. We hope to keep everything stress free and ad free....just a fun place for Dachshund lovers to kick back, relax, (with your doxie on your lap!) and read all about these lovable little dogs that bring such joy to our lives.

Reading over this again, we seem to be on course, but it's a pretty diverse statement - as diverse as the long dogs and their humans that we document it would seem.  So, while we may get a little off topic at times, we do of course try to focus on the dogs that bring us all together on this site.  We garner special attention to those stories which invoke some sort of deep emotion - happiness, sadness, passion, hope, despair - so that when you come here in the middle of your day, taking a break from adding up those facts and figures at the office, or dusting the collectibles on the mantel, that you at least feel......something.   
Thanks to all our loyal readers and commentors for sticking with us over the years - it's been a fun ride.  Your submissions are always the best - we've gotten great story tips, and we love to see your handsome Dachshunds and to read all about them and their antics.  Each and every dog is so unique and so special and so loved.  We also would like to apologize to all the good folks who have sent us submissions that didn't make it on the site - there are probably 3 or 4 submissions to every one posted, and we just wish we had more hours in the day to get more done. 
And so, we wrap up Long and Short of it All post number 2,428.  Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.

Yours in Dachshund Love,
Joey and Maggie.....

Hot Fun in the Summertime with Turbo and Lily

As summertime draws near (yes it is coming!), we paws to reflect on that day when the humans toil to get the swimming pool ready for the season.  Thanks to our lucky pals, handsome 'Turbo,' and beautiful 'Lily,' who hail from suburban Chicago, Illinois, for telling their side of the story:

Dearest Maggie & Joey....

The short 90-day window we like to call 'summer' brings some very peculiar rituals to the humans in our household. For instance; they repeatedly burn perfectly good meat in a shiny silver box in the backyard till it resembles charcoal briquettes. Then they water the grass on purpose so it grows and they have to cut it more often. None of this makes any sense to us.
But the biggest ritual has to be opening the giant bathtub which takes up 90% of OUR backyard. When the cover goes away, we no longer get to bound across it after real (or imagined) intruders on the other side of the fence. And we lose the luxury of drinking the tepid, thick, brown water which accumulates in the low spots when it rains. But we both have different perspectives on this day of mystery....

Turboism:   Every team needs a leader and that's where I come in! What can I say, I've got a bad back and a bum hip. Have had since '04. I tried to get disability and the lady at SSI told me I was barking up the wrong tree.  

So Turbo will sit here on my perch, high above the hard hat area, and watch the humans toil. I don't aspire to be an agility dog or wiener race champion. I'm just Turbo from the hood...and life is good.

Lily the Lunatic Laborer: Get me some backup, before I blow a gasket... My ball keeps getting stuck in the skimmer basket!

And as soon as the humans get it out of the basket, a force greater than myself, compels me to put it RIGHT BACK IN!

In between these steps I have to bark at it of course. (Dr. Drew, where are you when I need you?)  How can the humans even THINK about opening the pool when there's a ball crises in our own backyard? Seems I'm always the one 'sticking my neck out' around here. Once we fill this tub up I'll send you a video of my own maniacal version of "Marco Polo". (Here's a hint: it involves a ball!)

Till then............may the pupsicle always fall your way,

From Turbo & Lily............wishing you lazy, summer dog-days!

My Blue Angel

Only he has not much to be blue about these days ^_^.

CGC test a week from Monday...still practicing, but doing well.

Also, his coat is shiner than ever.

Today, I also essentially wrote a novella for the GEGR forum on how and why I got Ferguson, and because I put so much into it, I'll go ahead and post it here. If you already know the story, feel free to skip along.

Enjoy the weekend!

"Since I was 15, I raised and trained Labradors for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. I would receive puppies at 8-9 weeks of age and socialize and train them extensively for the first year and a half of their lives before returning them to the guide dog school for even more training to become official service dogs. This worked out for me at the time, being in high school and unable to fully dedicate to having a permanent dog, and also got me much more involved in training with hands on experience and professional classes than I ever anticipated.

While I did bond deeply with my dogs (one of which I am still hoping to have back at the end of her guide dog career), there were many things about the labs, all being adolescents, that I found frustrating over time to deal with. For example, guide dogs must absolutely remain calm around other dogs, people, etc. for obvious reasons, but the number of repetitions it would take to simply get a doofy pup to calmly pass a stranger during class I found to be tiresome. Everything about life they take with such ridiculous enthusiasm, and just does not suit my own personality for my own personal pet. I also knew I'd want a dog that did not need 3 miles of walking every day to remain balanced and happy. Don't get me wrong, I loved many of the dogs I raised, but as a general rule, feel that the energy level and goofy temperament of the lab was not a perfect fit.

With my experience, I aided others with casual training and worked with terriers, shepherds, hounds, etc. What I found was that most people that had trouble with their dogs also had dogs that really were not a good match for their temperaments and energy levels...something I definitely didn't want to happen to me. So many people adopt dogs based on flashy or cute looks, but don't consider the dog's genetic background and what it takes to make that dog complete...until it is too late of course, and the dog and their owners often suffer as result.

When my graduation from college came nearer, I had decided I wanted a dog, but my own PERMANENT dog that I would never have to return. I also wanted a dog that would reflect my calmer personality, as well as being a prime example of what I wanted out of dogs I would train in the future, aiding me with their rehabilitation/redirection of behavior by simply being themselves and respecting my authority without question. For those of you who know Cesar Milan, I was searching for my own "Daddy" dog, if you will. Also, being a firm believer in adoption, I would only consider a dog in which I could rescue. However, with such demands, finding a low key, mellow, healthy, and fairly young dog was hardly an easy feat. I expressed my wishes to my boyfriend, and he immediately recommended the greyhound. His grandparents owned them in the past, and he always knew them for being docile, friendly, and, of course, lazy. I started my research, and was sold in no time. Here was a dog that was bred for thousands of years to be docile, healthy, and of course, a sprinter. I was pleased to learn I would have no trouble fulfilling a greyhound's needs as long as they had occasional opportunities to run and get a minimum of 30 minutes of walking each day. Once I decided, I became obsessed and enthusiastic about my eventual adoption (which, at this point, was more than 6 months away). Being a knitter, I even found a greyhound pattern and made my future dog a sweater...I priced out everything, made a budget, and started collecting dog things for my birthday and Christmas, so that when the time came, I would have everything I needed. (and yes, everyone else thought I was nuts ).

The hunt began with me looking for a small young female, a white one with patches of black or brown or brindle. The size of the female appealed to me more, but the main reason was the fear of marking; my parent's adopted westie rudely marks things all the time, particularly in new environments, which would just not suit me, as I planned to take the dog with me to visit friends and travel. I located several females that might potentially work for me, but I was regularly halted by the adoption groups and their policies; they all insisted that they would select a dog for me, bring it to my house, and that would be it. "Well, I'd much rather get to meet a few dogs, see them interact with other dogs to get a feel for their natural pecking order, and also have something to compare to," I'd try explain. The answer was the same for three adoption groups. "We ask you to trust our judgement in selecting dogs, as we are experts at identifying good candidates for you." For ME?! They don't even know me! How could they do that?! Being the dog-snob that I am, I refused this form of adoption with the belief that I have met many dogs that have been good dogs, but were not naturally on my wave-length; I wanted to find a dog that could do this without having to feel sorry for returning it to the rescue at no fault of the dog. I continued my hunt, and finally found GEGR. Yes, Prince Frederick was much farther away than many of the others, but the adoption policy allowed me to meet several dogs and choose one (!). I emailed the given address and heard back from Lisa:

[color=#400080]Hi Jennifer,

Thanks for contacting GEGR. Although there are groups that are closer to you we would be happy to work with you. We do ask that our first time adopters do travel to Lusby, MD to meet and adopt their dog. The application process does not take long - usually not more than a couple of weeks so if December is your time-line then you can wait a while before submitting your application. In the mean time you can visit some of our meet and greets and get to know our volunteers and ask questions about our group if you would like to do that.

We do adopt to families with children. The dog that you describe is out there and will not be hard to find. GEGR works really hard to match dogs with adopters and we will be happy to help you find a good match.

We will look forward to hearing from you. Please let me know if you have any more questions.

Lisa

I was thrilled and sure this was the group for me. When the time finally came, I immediately submitted my application, got approved, and was ready to meet the dogs on January 8th. As I mentioned, up until this point, I'd been fairly set on a female; we had a name picked out and everything. But, as I more deeply researched and read the blogs of the available dogs, I found myself very drawn to a big red male...my Ferguson! I loved everything Chris had to say about him, and while he wasn't white with patches, the red color was mentioned on my application as one I liked. I knew I needed to keep an open mind, since meeting the dog in person would be the moment of truth, but Ferguson stayed in the back of my mind for the next few days...

When my parents, Eric and I arrived on that snowy, windy day in January, we went to the door and were asked what dog was on our list of potential good matches. I immediately asked for Ferguson, and out he and Chris came, all bundled up. The first thing I noticed about Ferguson was how HUGE he was...much taller than I expected. However, I also noted his sense of calm. There was so much chaos and activity around him, but he never lost his cool for one second. He sniffed my parent's Westie, and then completely ignored him. He walked with us willingly, calm and steady, though would look back occasionally at Chris, showing his sense of attachment towards those he loves. He also walked like a DREAM. Something that mattered a lot to me, a big promoter of walking dogs. Ferguson was definitely on my wave-length, but since I had met so few greyhounds, I took Chris's advice and met a few others to compare him to before making a final decision. We met "Nana" next, a gorgeous yet very shy girl who just came off the track, then Pal's Superdog (Now Finn, I believe ), and Dakota Jones, also right off the track. I got it down to Superdog, Ferg, and Dakota, but ultimately, there was just something special about Ferguson that I couldn't deny. As Eric put it, "He's just so mellow. In all this chaos, he keeps it together and doesn't give two $hI+$ about any of it. I think he's the best choice for us." He was my boy, and while I very much liked the other dogs, it seemed like they were waiting for someone else (and I was right!).

Ferguson came home with us that night, and we've never looked back since. He is everything I wanted in a dog and is my perfect angel. Up until a few weeks ago, his only flaw was the "Cry" in his racing name ("Cry Ferguson") that made leaving him alone difficult, but has since been resolved with no more issues . I will never be able to thank GEGR enough for bringing us together in such a perfect match. Even though it's only been six months, I can't imagine being with out him We were truly a match made in heaven "

Dachshund Relaxation: Geneva's 15th Birthday!

Thanks so much to our beautiful pal 'Geneva,' who hails from Snug Harbor, Rhode Island, for sending in such a great photo from her special day.  You may remember that Geneva has a thing for really big trucks and heavy equipment!  She writes:

Dear Joey and Maggie,

While you're on an outdoorsy kick, I thought I'd send you a photo Mom took of me when we visited the beach at Chatham on Cape Cod recently. I had just celebrated my 15th birthday, and I got to go on a fabulous day trip and get sand stuck to my nose. As you can see, I was all smiles!

As you should be Geneva!  Happy 15th Birthday!



Patti Page would've surely fallen in love with Geneva. Put a Dachshund in your lap and turn up the volume. 

Police Buy Dachshund Puppy For Canadian Girl Scammed On Internet

What a nice gesture by the Hamilton Police Service Division Three, out of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  Laura Gallego Roldan had sent off her money to the scammers, and of course the puppy never arrived.  Excerpt from The Toronto Sun:

Laura Gallego Roldan thought her dreams of having a puppy of her own had been crushed — until some Hamilton Police officers stepped up and bought her one.

Ten-year-old Laura found a little Dachshund on a well-known Internet classified site and convinced her parents to pay for the puppy which was supposed to be coming from eastern Canada.

The financial transaction took place but no puppy was ever delivered — leaving the family without money to buy another dog.

“I was really sad when the other puppy didn’t come but now I feel great because it is nice to be helped,” Laura said. “That was important to the police so I wrote them a letter to thank them.” Laura and her dog, Marla Maples, visited the police station Wednesday to say thanks in person.

“I like taking her for walks and I am just really happy,” she said.

Laura’s family reported the scam to police on May 6 and word spread quickly about the heart-broken girl and that is when officers at Hamilton Police’s Division Three uniform patrol took action.

Staff Sgt. Glenn Bullock called the SPCA to find out how much it would cost the get Laura another Dachshund.

“The officers reached into their pockets,” Bullock said. “We try to do good things and help out when we can in cases like this where this little girl and her family get scammed.”

The officers raised enough money to buy a puppy, give it the necessary shots and make a donation to the SPCA.

Way to go. 

But......'Marla Maples?????'

Dachshund Lost In Tornado-Related Wreck Found 5 Weeks Later!

With tornadoes devastating much of the United States this spring, it's awesome to hear a story of hope when there is such despair.  Excerpt from WTOK out of Meridian, Mississippi:

Newscenter 11 told you the story of a lost dog, Ruby, who was missing after her owners were involved in a storm-related traffic mishap April 15 in Kemper County.
Amazingly, after five weeks on her own, Ruby has been found and reunited with her owner from south Alabama.
The year-old dachshund was traveling with her owner, Tabitha Ankerson, along Highway 45 when they encountered a deadly tornado. Ankerson's car was flipped over, and afterward, Ruby was nowhere to be found.
"Ruby somehow got out of the car and she has been living in the woods for five weeks now," Ankerson said.
During those five weeks, Ankerson said it was hard for her to live a normal life.
"Yeah, it was rough. I mean, especially the first few weeks when no one had seen her or anything," said Ankerson. "Not knowing if she was alive or if she was hurt, I mean, I cried every day."

Read more at WTOK.

A Note From Joey and Maggie: Maggie is Doing Great!

Maggie relaxing and reading some old Dachshund magazines, May 25, 2011

Thanks so much for all the well-wishes, thoughts, and prayers for your 'Long and Short of it All' hostess Maggie.  She is doing very well after her surgery yesterday for removal of her anal tumor.  Although it was getting pretty large, the tumor was removed relatively easy without any complications according to the good veterinarian.  Dad was surprised at how alert and happy she was when he picked her up from the vets late last night.  She needed to stay very late to get lots of hydration after surgery in hopes of preventing another pancreatitis attack.  After leaving the vets office, she immediately went pee and poop, and she didn't seem to be in any pain at all.  She is on pain meds and antibiotics for several days.  She got 2 small meals when she got home; she was quite hungry, and was letting it be known with loud whines while dad was preparing her dinner.

She also got a dental while she was under anesthesia.  Two teeth were removed.  Troubling is that the veterinarian found a large tumor mass under her tongue.  It was also removed, and will be biopsied along with the anal tumor.  It did not look malignant according to the vet.

So today she is resting after her ordeal.  She's pretty tired, but is keeping one eye open because it's thundering and raining today, so it's hard for her to relax.  Dad did put some Rescue Remedy spray in her breakfast to help her stay calm.  We'll watch her closely over the next few days for any signs of pancreatitis (not eating, vomiting).  No jumping or active play for her for at least a few days.  She needs to go back to the vets in 10-14 days to have the stitches removed.  But for now, she's so incredibly happy to have that tumor off her rear!  Even her brother 'Joey' noticed that it was gone right away.  She's already posturing her tail more normally.

A Note From Joey and Maggie: Maggie's Big Day

Maggie, May 24, 2011

The day has finally arrived - your Long and Short of it All hostess 'Maggie' gets to have her anal tumor removed, so we'll be a little short on the posts for a few days.  She's also going to have a dental while she's under; she's got a slab fracture which will most likely be removed.  It's a risky surgery for her - she's 10.5 years old, she's got Cushing's disease, a heart murmur, and she just had a pancreatitis attack about 2 months ago.  The pancreatitis is what we're worried the most about - surgery can cause pancreatitis to flare up, the same way Joey developed a really bad case after his bilateral adrenalectomy last fall.  Her lipase levels, which indicate pancreas issues, are still about twice normal, but the good vet doesn't see that as an issue - they need to be really high to indicate pancreatitis.   All precautions are being taken to prevent a flare-up, including heavy hydration before and after surgery until almost 8 PM tonight.  She should be able to come home tonight if all goes well. 
In this photo you can see how Cushing's is taking its toll on our Mags.  While she is groomed with a modified cocker cut, her hair stopped growing last fall.  She used to be fully grown out again in about 2 months, but her last cut was in September.   People keep commenting that her hair is turning more brown, but we think that's because it is just so thin from hair loss.  Her legs have been shaved for IV placement from when she was in the hospital for the pancreatitis.  She's also losing the hair on the back of her ears - her skin has become scaly from the Cushing's, and the hair falls out.  And you can't see in this photo, but her stomach is very large - she looks pregnant.  She also has extra fatty deposits around the back of neck.   One of our good friends at our local Dachshund meetup didn't even recognize her in March - she said "This isn't Maggie, is it?"  :(
But the good news is that she's really close to being stabilized on her trilostane treatment for Cushing's.  She had an ACTH stimulation test last week, and her resting cortisol was 2.2 which is right about where we want it, (before it kept coming in at over 10), and her post test cortisol is about 9.5.  We'd like to get that post test number down just a little to maybe 7.5.  So, we upped her medication just slightly.  Hoping to see hair growth and decrease in the pot belly soon, but sometimes that just doesn't happen.  At least she's been very happy and spry since her levels have been good - she runs around the house like a puppy, and when she gets excited she bucks like a little bronco.  We're hoping that her good demeanor is indicative that she's going to sail through this surgery without a single issue, and she will be comfortable enough in her nether region that she can wag her tail at full force once more. 

Who's a pretty girl?

Dachshund Relaxation: Chester and Gretel Adventureweiner: Crossing the Stream

Spring has finally sprung - we weren't so sure it was going to make it this year!  Now's the time to set aside a cool morning to take your pals on a long nature walk - just you and your dogs.  Chester and Gretel are sure having fun here at the Spruce Railroad Trail on the shores of Lake Crescent, about 20 miles west of Port Angeles, Washington.  Good exercise like hiking strengthens your Dachshund's backs, gives humans peace of mind, and is a great bonding experience with your furry friends. Via youtuber adventurejess.

Cracker Barrell Dachshund Bag

Now this would certainly be nice to take to the grocery store for your re-usable bag!  Thanks so much to 'Dean' and his mom Marissa, who write:

Hi Joey and Maggie,
Just wanted to share a picture of a large shopping bag I found at Cracker Barrel last weekend. It shows the front and back of the bag. The best part: it was only $1.99!
I love reading your blog!

Dean, the spoiled rescue Dachshund
Typed by my mom, Marissa, because we don't own a paw-friendly keyboard

Up and at  'em Dean, you've got shopping to do!

Dachshund Wearing Chainmail

Thanks to our pal 'Sasha' and her human Allen in Monterey, California for sending in the link and description:

In the ancient and medieval worlds, before firearms became prevalent, armies employed dogs to strike fear into the hearts of their foes. The ancient Romans had whole companies comprised of vicious dogs, which were often starved before battle and equipped with knife-covered collars and anklets. And according to The New Dog Encyclopedia, “During the Middle Ages, dogs were armored as completely as the knights and their charging horses. Suits of canine armor — plate, chain and canvas — were worn into battle and for the chase.” We’re guessing none were as cute as this guy, though.  Via geekosystem.

This photo and link sure made the rounds on the internet machine on Friday; some sites even referring to it as one of the top 10 reasons the world was going to end on Saturday.  Well we're all still here.

Let's Play...Where's Ferg?

Because I was a bad Mommy and failed to take nearly enough pictures, I've been fortunate enough that there were OTHER good mommies and daddies at the picnic that DID take lots of pictures...enough that Ferguson pops up in some of them! So, a few hints:
Ferguson is red (duh) though many of the dogs were. But, he has a green muzzle! Let's see if you can spot him in these pictures where I was able to.






Okay, so this one is a bit more obvious...(Thanks to Ferg's foster, Chris! These are wonderful :D)





One note to self amongst others that I will surely add on to later: Carry camera at all times and take a zillion pictures next year.

Our First GEGR Picnic :)

What a day it was. I think Ferguson and I are still a bit worn out from it!

There was lots of good food, music, and of course, a ton of greyhounds. Unfortunately, with all the excitement, my camera was not as handy for the best parts :(. But, Ferguson did get to run, wade in water, and collapse in a baby pool, all in the company of his greyhound friends.

(And Eric too, of course ;))

My little black crocheted greyhound was auctioned off, and Ferguson was able to get a new muzzle (due to a mishap that occurred while my parents were babysitting). Ferg also got to say hi to Uncle Chris, his foster.

By this point, Ferguson was quite tired, but I believe he did recognize Chris (he doesn't flop over for belly rubs for just anyone!).

We also have enough treats to get us through the winter. There were many free samples of tasty-looking things in our goody bag that I think we'll go ahead and utilize in the next few days as we gear up for our (hopefully) CGC test tomorrow evening.

As part of the test, Ferguson must appear clean and well groomed, and after some wadding through the bay yesterday, I think a bath may be in order. However, Ferg really did enjoy those baby pools. I'm thinking we may need to go pick him up one (they're like $10, right?) perhaps tonight. Then, he can run and go for a long walk to get all hot and tired and actually enjoy the coolness while we bathe him...Luckily, I think Eric will be around to help.

So, in the next day or so, I need to seriously up my photography skills during these special upcoming events. Until then, though, I'm glad I at least thought to get a couple...

Happy Birthday, Ferguson!

Watch Ferguson get his birthday present here:

Or, alternatively, here:
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150186233141960&saved

Hopefully one of those works.

Anyway, my boy is four years old today! In celebration, he ate breakfast out of his purple egg toy with a few extra snacks, and we went for an hour long walk, partially down a trail he'd never been before. He also ran a few laps around the yard with his tire toy, and is currently hanging out on his bed, chewing away on his antler. Unfortunately, the day is a bit cloudy and rainy, but I'm glad we got to do all these things before it started raining.

Alas though, I'm going to be a terrible mom and leave him for a bit. My friends recently moved to a new house, and since I'm off as requested, I was going to go help them move in/visit/play games/eat sonic. My dad is home sick again today though, so he won't be left alone. Plus, I think it's just going to rain for the rest of the day anyway :/.

To make up for it though, we're going to the annual picnic tomorrow! Ferguson will run and play most of the day with all his greyhound friends, like a giant birthday party :). Pictures DEFINITELY to come.

Macy and Abby: Therapy Dogs

The residents at Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital in Buffalo, New York know there's nothing in the world like a warm cuddly Dachshund.  Way to go Macy and Abby.  Via NBC2 - WGRZ.

A Dachshund Family Update: Meet Deacon!

Deacon

Back in April of 2010, we helped celebrate a special Dachshund's first birthday.  His name was 'Samson,' and his mom, S. Kate Fletcher, had sent us in some of the most stunning Dachshund photos we had ever seen.  We were devastated to find out that Samson left this planet just a few months later. 
But it's a new year, and we couldn't be happier to report that a new Dachshund is with the family now, and boy is he a looker!  It's 'Deacon!'  His mom writes:

Dear Joey and Maggie,

June 5th, 2011 will be difficult. A year ago on that day, as you previously reported, I lost my dear Samson in a terrible accident. He was only a year old, but was oh-so-smart! He was only one test away from obtaining his therapy dog certification and I mourned his lost, not only for myself, but for all the children who would miss out on time with such a special fella. As the one year mark of Samson's absence from my life approaches, I find cause to celebrate.
Recently, a new little doxie has placed his tiny paws on my heart. Meet Deacon-- a chocolate and tan, patchwork dapple dachshund! Like his brother before him, Deacon is destined for therapy work at Arkansas Children's Hospital.
This is a message of hope for everyone out there who has ever lost their best, little, Dachshund friend. I may never have my Sam again, but I do get the honor of loving Deacon now. It is like comparing apples to oranges-- but lucky for me, I love all kinds of fruit!

Samson

Related:  Those Special Dachshunds: Happy Birthday Samson!

Related:  Sir Samson the Stout

Samson may be gone, but he will never be forgotten. 

You've got big paws to fill, Deacon, but we're sure you'll brighten hundreds of children's lives.  Go Deacon!

3rd Annual Hawaii Wiener Derby!

The 2011 Hawaii Wiener Derby took place on Saturday, May 14th at the Hawaiian Humane Society.  Over 130 Dachshunds came out to enjoy the event which included on-site adoptions, contests, games, food, and a mini expo!  The Hawaii Wiener Derby is one of Hawaii's leading dog events!  Thanks so much to 'Nickel' and 'Ruby,' HWD Race Coordinators for writing in with awesome photos:

Aloha!

It’s Nickel and Ruby again shouting out from Kaneohe, Hawaii. Well we had our Hawaii Wiener Derby again! Our third one was a great turnout with 130 plus doxies baking in the Honolulu sun. But we had great fun and just wanted to share our highlights with others. Photos courtesy of our awesome official race photographer Steve Czerniak of wag and snap photography. Mahalos!

Congrats to the wieners, ....err winners of the race. 

'Dash' (left) took the bronze, 'Koko' too the silver, and 'Winston' took the gold.

Now that's something to be proud of Winston!

Check the official site to see the puppy winner and lots of great photos.  We know you Hawaiians who couldn't make it won't want to miss this event next year!

The Wonderful World Of Smiling Dachshunds!

Great Grin Jasper!

Thanks so much to our readers for sending in some awfully cute photos of your smiling little selves.  Sure puts a smile on our little mugs to see such happy Dachshunds!  'Jasper' and his mom Amy Francisco from Louisville, Kentucky write:

Dear Joey & Maggie,

Hi, my name is Jasper. I am a 2 year old Dachshund, and my mom and I love your blog. When we get online, it's one of the first things we go to. We watched the "Dachumercial" and while we agreed with a lot of what was said, we were surprised when she said that Dachshunds don't smile... of course we do!! I smile all the time, I'm a happy dog!! Mom even managed to get this picture of me smiling after playing one day.

Let's see those pearly whites Harley and Cash!

I also have two doxie cousins (Harley and Cash) that mom took a picture of once and they are totally smiling in it!! We doxies are awesome dogs!!

The world always looks brighter from behind a smile like Duncan's!

'Duncan' and 'Sophie' also write in with photos of their happy little selves:

Dear Maggie & Joey,

We just love your blog, especially when you post videos of other doxies - we love new friends in that strange machine that Mom always plays with! Anyway, we saw the Dachumerical and we disagree that Dachshunds don't smile just like adorable Ringo that we saw on your blog today. We may not be purebred doxies but here is more proof that Dachshunds do smile!

Sophie's smile is as sweet as sugar.

'The Long and Short of it All' is Brought to You by:

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Thanks so much to Kellie MJ, a friend of an anonymous Dachshund Lover for sending in the link to this Frankly Fabulous advertisement.  It's sourced from three-cents, and is noted to be a print execution for Purina by ad agency Publicis Montreal.  Can we get a woof?

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A Dachshund Custody Battle: 'We can't live without him', say Bailey's Humans

Nothing like a little hot drama to spice up your week.  Meet Gary and Moira Rowlinson who hail from Offerton, Derbyshire, UK.  They are holding a picture of their beloved smooth chocolate 'Bailey,' who they gave to family friend Steven Spencer, after Bailey bit their 2-year-old granddaughter.  They realized their mistake the next day and asked for Bailey back, but Mr. Spencer refused.  Now it's going to the courts.  Excerpt from The Daily Mail:

Now, in a bizarre and bitter tug-of-love custody battle, the fate of Bailey will be settled by a judge at Stockport County Court on June 2 after Mr Rowlinson decided to take legal action to get his pet back.

Mr Rowlinson, a joiner from Offerton, said: 'Bailey is a great dog. We can't live without him. We fell in love with him the moment we saw him. Bailey is one of the family. We'd be devastated if we didn't get him back.

'Normally, he is very playful but he is very protective of my wife and when my granddaughter came running up to her Bailey didn't realise what she was doing and bit her. We are distraught.'
Mr Rowlinson, who will represent himself in court, submitted an application to the courts under the Return of Goods Act.
He has even offered to fork out more than the £700 he originally paid for Bailey just to get him back.
Mrs Rowlinson, 56, said: 'Our children have grown up so Bailey is like a child to us.'
Mr Spencer, of Heaton Chapel, will be represented by a solicitor at the hearing. He declined to comment.

Read all about it The Daily Mail.

Ringo Says: Yes, Dachshunds Do Smile!

Smiles everyone, smiles!

Thanks so much to our friends Debi, Ellen, and handsome happy 'Ringo' for writing in to clear up some misinformation in the latest Dachumercial video by Dogster's Julia Szabo (in the post immediately below this).  They write:

Dear Joey and Maggie,

We are long-time readers of your blog - first thing in the morning we get up, have breakfast, and then get online to check out all the doxie news! This morning we watched the "Dachumercial: Understanding Dog Breeds: Dachshund" video, and felt we had to write to you. The woman in the video said that Dachshunds do not smile. That is so untrue! To prove it, I am forwarding a few recent pictures of Ringo smiling. Now, Ringo won't smile at everyone, he's a bit reserved around strangers, but with family he is so very loving! And our last Dachshund, Vladimir, used to smile with all his teeth showing! It's obvious to us that this woman has never been owned by a Dachshund, otherwise she would know better... You can't have a sweeter, more loyal dog than a Dachshund.

God bless you all, and thanks for giving us smiles every day!

We couldn't agree with you more.  We're waiting for Ms. Szabo's retraction.