Turkey Necks, Training, and...Certification?

My lifelong habit of not wanting to load pictures from my digital camera until I have a full "roll" is impacting the amount of blogging I could have been doing...Ferguson and I are off work again, this time until Thursday...that's quite a break!  I'm not complaining though.  I enjoy the down-time.  And, if the weather is nice enough, I'm hoping to visit my friends at campus for the first time since I moved out in December, bringing along the big red dog.  I do really miss having the Guiding Eyes "Pup in Training" jackets, but we'll have to visit the old fashioned way of staying mostly outdoors.  However, we CAN go visit...

How To Live To Be 100: Keep A Dachshund At Your Side And Drink A Little Gin

Meet handsome red longhair 'Wally,' and his human Gladys Taaffe, who hail from Chipperfield, England.  We send the warmest of birthday wishes to Mrs. Taaffe, who turns 100 years old today.  When asked by the Watford Observer what keeps her young at heart, the sprightly grandmother says:  “I used to have a sherry every day, but what keeps me going now, apart from my Dachshund Wally, is a good gin and tonic.” Go Gladys (and Wally...

Krewe of Barkus Mardi Gras Parade

A miniature Dachshund puppy dressed in costume is paraded through the French Quarter during the Krewe of Barkus Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana, Sunday, Feb. 27, 2011. The parade of dogs and their owners, a twist on the Krewe of Bacchus, benefits animal welfare organizations.  Sour...

Dachshund Inception

Although the movie Inception garnered just some technical awards at the Oscars last night, we were rooting for their Original Score to take the win. Here, youtuber Coppersmithmedia notes: I wanted to prove that you can literally make ANYTHING look dramatic when set to the Inception movie soundtrack. At least one of these red smooths needs a sweat...

A Night At The Oscars

For all of our Dachshund pals popularly-named 'Oscar,' tonight is your night.  Don't go too crazy when you hear your name again and again during the 83rd Annual Academy Awards!  While we're sure that you produced some Oscar-worthy performances last year, we haven't heard that any Dachshunds are up for an award.  We wanted to profile some of the many Dachshund Lovers who have been nominated or who have won Oscars in the past, but one name shot to the forefront:  Dame Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor, or Liz Taylor, who turns 79 today.  Happy Birthday, and may there be many more.  Well-wishes are sent to Ms. Taylor,...

Those Special Dachshunds: Meet Maci, Oscar, and Dixie!

Relaxing with 'Maci,' 'Oscar,' and 'Dixie' Thanks so much to Andy B. for sending in such nice photos of his beautiful smooth pack!  He writes:Dear Joey and Maggie,We have three dachshunds that are suffering through a brutal winter here in Albany, NY.  They still manage to get a walk in just about every day but are looking forward to some warm, sunny weather.  They've quickly learned that hardly anything beats a nice warm fire.We got Oscar (red) and Dixie (black and tan dapple) from a shelter when they were 4 and 6 (not sure which one was older since the paperwork was inconsistent).  We originally were...

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

The 2011 Toyota Highlander:  "Just because you’re a parent, doesn’t mean you have to be lame."Thanks so much to Kristi Eberhard for sending in the image!  She writes: This picture is from a car ad for the Toyota Highlander!   Thought you would like it.We sure do!  Please Support Our Advertise...

Saturday Night Flashback: Art of Noise

Back in May of 1984, the Art of Noise broke new ground with their single "Close (to the Edit)."  The video didn't prove to be nearly as ground-breaking as the song itself, but the Dachshund saved it about 3:30 ...

Going Back To Cali: Our Favorite Dog On Capitol Hill

You may remember pretty red smooth 'Cali' from last summer when The Washington Post did a photo exposé of the dogs who roam the halls of our Washington, D.C. Capitol Hill.  'Cali' is named after her home state of California, and calls Rep. Ken Calvert (R) her human.  POLITICO is now offering up a series of video tributes to to these real movers and shakers (and shedders and chasers) in the corridors of power.  First up?  Our pal Cali.  You can read more about her at POLITICO.  Thanks so much to Liz Scheffler for sending in the link.&nb...

FINALLY! Speaking Out Against Wiener Races On Ice

Don't get us wrong - we love wiener races.  They are a great opportunity to spend quality time with your Dachshund, have fun getting their attention them from 50 feet away, and seeing whose Dachshund can dash down that track the fastest for a ball, a toy, or a piece of fried chicken.  Wiener races are truly entertaining for kids of all ages, and they are a great way to socialize your dog.  When wiener races go bad is when there is any talk whatsoever of them being organized as a public exhibition - whether for wagering at a racing facility, or where the Dachshund's human is not directly involved with the racing...

Vintage Dachshund Pride

I am W.B. YATES. This is my Dachshund.Well, aren't you proud of your Wiener Dog!1950's Rural American photo source unknown....

Remembering Fred, America's Largest Wiener Dog

Our hearts go out to Chicago WGN radio talk show host John Williams and his family, who lost their beloved 'Fred' on Sunday.  Mr. Williams wrote a beautiful memorial.  Excerpt from wgnradio:....If you've gone through this before I suspect you know that the most painful reminder of Fred's absence right now is the act of coming in the front door. It's quiet. There's no bending over. There's no happy admonishing; I don't have to say, "Okay, Okay, we're home, we're home. I know. Yes, I see you." That we should all be greeted so happily every single time we walk in a room, our days would be that much better and the world that...

All About Adele's Louie

Singer Adele speaks candidly to PEOPLEPets about her beloved red smooth Dachshund 'Louie.'  Thank the good lord above she didn't name him Britney!  She says:  Adele, 22, tells PEOPLEPets.com that her first choice for the male pup's moniker was Britney. "He was born on the night I went to see Britney Spears at the O2 in London," she reveals in the clip above. "I almost called him Britney even though he was a boy. [But] it only lasted a few hours until my hangover stopped."Other options included Aaron Lennon, one of the singer's favorite soccer stars, but once the pooch started howling along to a Louis Armstrong record, Adele knew she had to name him Louie — with an "e." Next year, she plans to get a second dog and name her Ella, after the jazz star Fitzgerald.Louie, who has lots...

Dachshund Lover Adele's New Album '21' Out Today in America

Adele and her Dachshund 'Louie' via the February 11 issue of Nylon magazineHot Hot Hot Soulful songstress and Dachshundist Adele's sophomore album '21' sees its American release today, so if you haven't already gotten your copy, head on out to your local record shop to pick one up!   Released on January 24 in the UK, the album is still Number 1 on the charts there, outselling all the other albums in the Top 10 combined.  Her popularity has pushed her first album, '19' back in to the UK Top 10 as well.  Adele is the first living artist to achieve the feat of two top five hits in both the UK Singles Chart and...

Rippin' It Up at the Victoria Texas Livestock Show

Ty Zimmer, 14, gives his piebald 'Lexie' an extra push at the start of her race in the Wiener Dog Races Saturday afternoon.Hey, easy on the Wiener Dog there, Mister.  A roaring crowd of 200 spectators enjoyed Wiener Dog races on Saturday at the Victoria Livestock show in Victoria, Texas.  Twenty-two Dachshunds competed for the crown in three categories:  puppy, adult, and senior.  Excerpt from the Victoria Advocate:  Ten-year-old Tonto was the lone competitor in the senior category, who paced himself down the lane, but crossed the finish line nevertheless."It's pretty hard to lose when you're the only one competing,"...

Mystic Krewe de Mutts

It's Mardi Gras season, and the Dachshunds are ready to party!  Baton Rouge, Louisiana, kicked off its Mardi Gras celebration Sunday with the 12th annual "Mystic Krewe de Mutts" parade downtown, with up to 10,000 folks in attendance.  Pet lovers, dogs of every shape and size, vendors and animal-rescue organizations gathered on North Boulevard between 4th and 5th streets to celebrate the event, hosted by the Capital Area Animal Welfare Society.  Read more about it at and see lots of pics at Isureville.com.Midwesterners won't want to miss St. Louis' Mardi Gras celebration with the Beggin' Pet Parade and PetSmart Wiener Dog Derby...

Kackel Dackel Coming to America: Branded "Doggie Doo"

The hottest kids game of 2010, Kackel Dackel, as it's known in Germany, Takkie Kakkie, as it's known in the Netherlands, or Bruno Pu Pu as it's known in Spain, is making plans to hit the shores of the United States.  Here it will be called "Doggie Doo."  Why they couldn't call it Dachshund Doo is beyond us, but at least you'll know what to get every youngster you know for gifts this year.  May be available as early as June.  Doggie Doo by Goliath Games.Related:  The Kackel Dac...

Days Off

My First Mini Ferg...more to come soon as I perfect the pattern...the body section bothers me the most : /Running...Running some more...Stopping for a photo opp ^_^Something neat I learned about Ferguson: He retrieves!!!  Yes, he chases the toy and runs a few laps around with it in his mouth before brining it RIGHT back (granted, I haven't really asked him to) but he drops it at my feet when he wants me to throw it again!  I don't know if he's fully aware he's doing it, or if he's stopping just to say "hi" to me, but it's a behavior we will DEFINITELY reward!  Better than a lot of my Labradors were!Ferguson also got to...

Friday Dachshund Fun: THE CHAMPION As Only Three Judges Saw Her

(click image to enlarge)Rounding things up this Westminster week, enjoy some dog show humor as illustrated by Sheila Dolan for The Dachshund Club News (England) some time in the late 1950's or early 1960's.Have a great Frid...

Vintage Dachshund Funnies: Muggs and Skeeter

Comic Strip Mugs and Skeeter, by Wally Bishop, ran in newspapers from 1927 to 1974.   Image source:  Joey and Maggie's personal collecti...

Dachshunds on the Big Screen: "Flawed Dogs" Picked Up by DreamWorks Animation

We love it when we're on the BIG screen, we look so much larger than we really are!  Via Variety:DreamWorks Animation will adapt picture book and novel "Flawed Dogs," by cartoonist Berkeley Breathed, for the bigscreen.Story centers around a dachshund who must reclaim his place in the family after being wrongly exiled by a jealous show dog.Breathed, who will exec produce the project, is best known for creating "Bloom County," the 1980s comicstrip featuring Opus the Penguin.DreamWorks Animation head of development Alex Schwartz and development exec Damon Ross will oversee the project."All my stories are sparked by a nugget of truth hiding...

All Will Be Better Soon Piper

Please keep our Colorado Springs, Colorado, pal 'Piper' in your thoughts and prayers as she undergoes surgery today for IVDD,  Intervertebral Disc Disease.  Here's to a complete recovery Piper!  Her human, Cynthia Morgan wrote us last night:Just because I feel like I know you and Joey and Maggie, I wanted to ask for prayers. Piper got up today and couldn't walk. She is going into spinal surgery tomorrow. The prognosis looks good, but it is still worrisome. I have lots of good thoughts about surgeries and getting better from your blog. Thank you for sharing your babies with me and the rest of the world. :)Remember, if your...

Learning to Stand Alone

Ferguson on the deck, tired from chasing his toy :)We're still working, but progress is being made :).  Ferguson is still fine in the house, in another room, and now, when I leave outside the door for a minute.  I've been following a step by step guide from the book, "I'll Be Home Soon" which has been very helpful.  Mostly, it's focus is changing Ferguson's entire attitude about being left on his own, where hopefully he can maintain a calm demeanor and optimistic and positive attitude while I'm gone.  So far, it's doing great.  Our exercises go like this:-Give stuffed kong (frozen yogurt with kibble these days)-Close...

Reunited, And It Feels So Good!

Thanks to the folks who left us comments letting us know that 'Jack' and 'Otto' have been found!  We're sure that you remember their story:  the Bristol, UK, 7-month-old Dachshunds were in a Land Rover which was stolen while their human was attending a funeral.  Appeals on national television didn't turn up any leads for 5 long weeks, but they were finally found last Friday when they updated their Two Missing Dogs facebook page:  OMG.. We have Jack and Otto back!!!! had a call today from someone, picked them up in Banbury 2 hours ago. So happy x x.They go on to note:  So so so happy. They are both very well...

Happy 10th Birthday Phoebe!

May bones rain from the sky!  Thanks so much to this cute little black and tan gal for writing in about her special day:Hello Joey and Maggie!Just wanted to share my birthday picture with you--I turned 10 on February 13 and with all the excitement of Valentines Day and the Westminster Kennel Club Show, this is the first opportunity I could get to send you a photo. We had a great party Sunday evening with a couple of special guests, dachshund birthday cards, presents (lots of new plush toys to chase and squeak!) and a special birthday dinner of raw carrots and stew meat-Woof! Glad to see you are both doing well--hopefully the snow is melting...

Dachshunds Around Town: In The Pawn Shop

Pretty little 'Chili Dog' climbs up to owner Steve Bray's stool for a scratch and a pat at A&A Pawn Shop in Owensboro, Kentucky. "She can't stay up too long usually," he said. "Her legs'll get tired and she's done, but she can never get enough lovin,' that's for sure."  Excerpt from the Evansville Courier & Press:"That's my guard dog. That's Chili Dog," Bray said of his 12-year-old Dachshund who was napping under one of the shop's counters. "She's in there layin' on her heatin' pad. She's always cold.""She doesn't move around too much anymore," he continued. "She used to come out and see all my customers, but not anymore. She's...

Westminster 2011: One, Two, Three.....You're Out!

As nearly expected, the Dachshund failed to place in the Hound group at the 135th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show last night in New York City.  Smooths:  You're Outta Here!  Longhairs:  See Ya Later!  Wirehairs:  You made the initial cut, but better luck next year!  Regardless, night one of the event was exciting to watch, and congratulations to all the stunning Dachshunds who strutted their stuff in the prestigious show.  Catch Best in Show tonight 8-11 p.m. (ET) live on USA Network after the Sporting, Working, and Terrier groups.  Enjoy the 2011 Best of Breed videos for the Smooth, Longhair, and Wirehair Dachshund - such Champions!Relive the Dachshund (Smooth) breed judging at the 2011 Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show.Relive the Dachshund...

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Dachshund's affectionateHe wants to wed with you:Lie down to sleep,And he's in bed with you.Sit in a chair,He's there.Depart,You break his heart. ~Dachshundist E.B. White Thanks so much to Kay Taylor for sending in such great shots of her boys - those Sheridan Avenue Boys!  Your 'Long and Short of it All' hostess 'Maggie' usually refers to them as Handsome, Handsome, Handsome, Handsome, and Handsome, but today it's Sexy, Sexy, Sexy, Sexy, and Sexy.  All you need is lo...

Westminster Starts Today: Disappointing Dachshund Lovers For 135 Years

One Hundred Thirty Five Years on, not a single Dachshund Best in Show.  Oh, Westminster, so much to answer for.  Will this be our year?  Don't hold your breath.  According to NBC Sports, a terrier is expected to take the crown this year, as they have done 46 times:  According to Johnny Avello, the famous Las Vegas wizard of odds who has correctly predicted the winning breed for the past five years, a Smooth Fox Terrier is likely to take the top title in dogdom.However, this year, there will be a further battle within that breed, as Smooth Fox Terrier contender Dodger will go leash-to-leash against a fellow Smooth Fox...

Celebrity Dachshund Watch: Liam Gallagher to Save Sausage Dogs From Extinction

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher has vowed to save Dachshunds from extinction.  Huh?  Via UK's The Sun:  The BEADY EYE frontman has leapt to the defence of dachshunds - or sausage dogs as they are better known - after hearing the breed is endangered. He and NICOLE APPLETON have one of the four-legged friends called Ruby and on a recent trip to Germany Liam said he would be a crusader for their cause. He ranted: "Extinction of sausage dogs? I will prevent that! When I'm back in England I am gonna buy 900 of them. I am gonna prevent them from downfall." That's a lot of poo bags on Primrose Hill.All we can guess is that Liam must...

Love Is In the Air

Scooby the LoverboyThanks so much to 'Scooby,' 'Milla,' and 'Pepper' for sending in some festive Valentine's Day shots - there's no love like Dachshund Love.  And it's Pepper's 6th birthday to boot - have a great day Pepper!The Birthday G...

Vintage Dachshund Lovers

.....asking one of those Age Old Questions.Very early 1900s postcards - thanks to an anonymous Dachshundi...

Traveling for the First Time

Ferguson and I went to visit Eric's parent's house Friday-Saturday, and I got to see how he did traveling with his collapsible oasis.  If you can gather anything from the picture above, Ferguson was great.  He even put up with Jasper/Rusty, the most annoying, thick, and aggressively friendly dog ever (though we did keep them apart during the day, they walked fine together on walks). We then went to visit the house in College Park, where Ferguson and I may move to in the future (six months or so).  For Ferguson, it is probably the best option compared to apartments; the yard is decent sized and fenced in, he has a whole...

Jimi's Sundown: Our Dachshund's Last Day

There is nothing in the world like the Love of a Dachshund, and there is nothing so devastating as the loss of that love.  Via youtuber AdoredAustin:  Jimi Hendrix Adams was the best dog in the entire world. Once dubbed the hummingbird of dogs, we had a very full and very loving but very short five years with him. Jimi became suddenly afflicted with a GI disorder and IVDD that turned out to be inoperable. He loss the use of his legs, was in a lot of pain and was suffering complete incontinence. After much prayer and veterinary consult, we made the heart wrenching decision to let him go. Before we had him put to sleep we took him all around Austin, Texas to say goodbye to all his favorite spots. We chose to hire a mobile vet who specializes in at-home pet euthanasia. We laid him on...

Vintage Dachshund Lovers

Who, being loved, is poor?  ~Oscar Wilde Photo Circa 1943; Source Unkno...

I MUST love him...

Day one of our three day vacation :).  And I've already started it by shopping.  This morning, I've bought Ferguson:A Bully StickA "Hard Boiled Softy" (soft outside, hard rubber inside)A "Cool-it Bandana" (for our future summer excursions)And three large compressed rawhides I also purchased a special calming spray that can be sprayed on soft surfaces.  The spray contains a special hormone that is released in dogs during early experiences with their mother, and supposedly helps soothe and relieve anxiety by making the dog feel "a general sense of well-being."  Honestly, I'm not usually a fan of using drugs, even natural ones...

Deaf Dachshund Learns Sign Language in Prison; Adopted by School for the Deaf

Meet 'Sparky,' a 1-year-old deaf double dapple and two of his friends, Catherine Slinkard and Michael Miller, where he now resides at the Missouri School for the Deaf in Fulton.  Sparky was surrendered to a shelter by a breeder, and when the shelter couldn't home him, he was sent to prison - the slammer, the pokey, the big house, the joint, Club Fed - where he was trained in the Puppies for Parole program.  Excerpt from the Fulton Sun:After eight-weeks of training at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking, the prisoners decided they wanted Sparky to find a home at a school for the deaf so he could help others. When Barbara...

Good Luck, Schultz

We don't often profile abandoned Dachshunds in need of a home - there are just so many who are in the loving care of our dedicated rescue groups - but boy does 10-year-old 'Schultz' ever tug at our heartstrings.  He was recently dropped off at the Agoura Animal Shelter near Los Angeles, California. His owner thought he was just too old. And before leaving, he patted Schultz on the head and said: “Good luck, buddy."  Source.Rescue...

Run, Don't Walk, To Your Nearest Target for Dachshund Valentines

Show your love with incredible Dachshund style this year by picking up these awesome Dachshund Valentines at your nearest Target.   Thanks so much to 'Pepper,' 'Scooby' and 'Milla' (the Dachshund with a heart marking on her neck!) for sending in the shots of these little beauties just waiting to be crafted! ...