How to wrap a dachshunds for Christmas

Christmas is coming so we thought we'd be, well a bit silly...Milo was my Twixmas gift to myself in 2006 but he is for life! FOREVER!

Share more fun Christmas videos with us in comments! 

Lisa x

dachshunds in Dulwich

Check out our friends Londonpooch at Romeo Jones!

The dachshund card creator Joy Fitzsimmons displayed her delightful doggy prints at Romeo Jones charming Deli and dog friendly Cafe and Art space in Dulwich Village during November.

The bijou space is now filled with doggy prints including the infamous trademark pooch 'sausage'.

Guest post - WIN a simply spiffing dachshund winter coat worth £95!

Its starting to get chilly once again so we have been exploring some new friends who make fab coats.

Dachshund coats don't get posher than these! 

Simply Spiffing Dachshunds specialise in Sausage Dog coats which are handmade in England using only the finest materials. 

They are soft and comfortable so your Dachshund will be happy to strut in style! Choose from City, Country or Beach Collections priced from £40-£95.

Designs come in corduroy, velvet, faux-fur, tartan, spots, vintage florals, retro surf and more. A coat for every occasion!

Simply Spiffing Dachshunds is offering ONE lucky winner a FREE coat of any value up to £95. Just choose your favourite from the website www.simplyspiffingdachshunds.com

To ENTER the competition, please answer the following :-

How many styles of coat are available from Simply Spiffing Dachshunds? (clue: check the website!)

a) 13
b) 14
c) 15

All entries should be posted in the comment box below before Sunday 10^th November 2013

Good luck!

PS. Join Simply Spiffing on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HILDAFaceofSIMPLYSPIFFINGDachshunds  

Happy Birthday Milo!

Milo was 7 yesterday!

Here is a video (pre iphone days) of the first time I met him in Lincoln at his breeder. His is with his puppy brothers and sisters. Can you guess which one he is?

Happy Birthday my favourite sausage friend!

xxx

Dachshund boot camp with Louise Rawlinson

Dachshunds in London met in Chessington on Sunday for a fun packed afternoon boot camp complete with fresh country air and dachshund training secrets revealed by our friend dog behaviourist Louise Rawlinson.

Commands refreshed and recall mastered the club welcomed a range of large and small four legged friends and common dachshund issues on excessive barking, indoor peeing, post traumatic stress and even puppy shyness we tackled and shared together.

Thank you Louise and we look forward to many more sessions in 2014 - watch this space! Meantime here are some pics to get tails a wagging....

Lisa and dachshund team

X

Event - Dachshund Boot Camp - Sunday 6 October

If you want to get up to speed with the latest tips and tricks on dachshund training with advice on house training, diet and dog behaviour you need to come to our event this weekend!

Hosted by dachshunds in London with Louise Rawlinson our dachshund whisperer, the event costs £10 for non members and is in Surrey's Star Gun Club...

For more details and how to register for a place visit https://dachshundbootcamp.eventbrite.co.uk/?ref=estw

Duke the dashing dachshund wins the war

Duke the dashing dachshund wins the war - Press Publications: News

Dachshund sleeping bags

 

Our popular snuggly limited dachshund sleeping bags on back sale now! Just £30 or £25 for dachshunds in London members (plus p&p to uk) 

Available in four colours (above pictured) and new in navy and floral print. Subject to availability.

The sleeping bags are all handmade in uk and include a dachshunds in London gold label. Bags are approx 70x70cm and are machine washable at cold wash and made from fleece inside and lining outside.

Email dachshundsinlondon@gmail.com to order one today! 

Dachshunds in London in the Camden New Journal

We had a fabulous time on Sunday at our club race day! Thank you all members for kindly donating via just giving for Woman's Aid, Steve from the Camden New Journal for coming along and reporting the event and Matt and Louise for being great sponsors and participants!  

Milo,Lisa and Romeo and winners Holly, Penny and champion Fred! Pictures by Steve Barnett from the CNJ

Read all about our fab day here! http://www.camdennewjournal.com/news/2013/jul/sausage-dog-racing-championships-arrive-hampstead-heath

Here's to next summers!

Lisa & Milo

Guest Post and COMPETITION TO WIN signed copy of Hudson and Me

Nicola Preskett is a Primary School Teacher, children’s yoga teacher and children’s author. She has recently published Hudson and Me, the first in a series all about her little sausage dog Hudson.

She tells Dachshunds in London; 

"I have wanted to write and publish children’s books for years, but the time and inspiration wasn’t quite there. I took a break from teaching, and realised there was finally space in my life for a dog. So along came Hudson. And with him came a whole new world.

"Being a novice dog owner, following my training manual, it was a steep learning curve. But the overwhelming love I felt for him was amazing. And everything he did made me laugh; his wonderful curiosity, snuggling nature, and untiring excitement. And he just looks so sweet and comical; the leg-body ratio, the funny waddle, the long ears flapping. On Clapham Common one day, watching him chase a particularly fat pigeon, the idea for the book came to me. I love children’s books, and with many years’ experience reading to a class, I knew Hudson was the perfect subject.

"I wrote ‘Hudson and Me’, illustrating it roughly myself. Then I found an illustrator to do a much better job!  Writing the series came easily. I wanted the books to encourage interaction between parents and their children, or teachers and their class. The writing is simple and fun, and aimed at both boys and girls (the main character being a girl, but a somewhat scrappy one in shorts!)"

Dachshunds in London is running a competition to win a signed copy of the book.  

Just answer the following question in the comment box below - competition closes on Sunday 7 July- winner chosen at random.

What is the name of the star of Nicola's new children's book?

a) Hudman

b) Monty

c) Hudson

Nicola J

‘Hudson and Me’ is available on Amazon at http://goo.gl/egAu8

He also has a website www.hudsonandme.com

Post a review on facebook www.facebook.com/HudsonAndMe or follow him on Twitter @HudsonandMe

Bertie's birthday walk for Mayhew

Happy Birthday Bertie! 

dachshunds in London member Julie and her 1 year old (today!) wire haired Bertie will be braving a 5km sponsored walk on Sunday at Hyde Park in aid of Mayhew Animal Home.

To sponsor Bertie visit http:www.justgiving.com/Bertie-Greenhough-Steed

Members wishing to join Bertie on the walk can visit via the mayhew animal trust website for £10 that includes a free t-shirt; for adults sadly not the dogs! all finishers will get a medal and a certficate!

Good luck little Bertie - 5km is a long way when you weigh less than 5kg and are only 8 inches tall from front paw to shoulder!

Read all about his big adventure on his just giving page

Best Paw Forward Highgate 2013

dachshunds including Helga and team Lottie and Duke will be walking in aid of Cancer Research on the 9 June at Best Paw Forward!

To join them you can register here http://supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/BPFHighgate2013

More details on how to sponsor Helga can be found here! http://www.justgiving.com/HELGA-CHURCH1

The 4km stroll takes place in Highgate Wood on Sunday 9 June 2013. Starting at 10am, the two laps of the wood will last around an hour and allow you to explore this lovely nature reserve. 

Registration is just £8 per dog and you will receive a pack giving you all the information you need about the walk and details of how to set up your dog’s own online Justgiving page.

For more information visit http://www.facebook.com/BPFHighgate cancerresearchuknorthlondonfundraisinggroup@hotmail.co.uk

Best Paw Forward thanks the following sponsors for their generous support.

• Savills

• Nutts4Mutts

• Benham & Reeves

• Hair of the Dog

• Well animal Clinic

This event is organised by a supporter of Cancer Research UK.

So you want to buy a dachshund?

I've been in-undated with emails and calls from new owners and people interested in buying a dachshund so I approached breed expert Ian Seath, from the Dachshund Breed Council for some sound words about where to start.

If you are worried about dodgy breeders? puppy farming and health checks,  or just unsure whatquestions to ask? the read on for Ian's guest post...

We seem to live in a “must have it now” society, but the old saying“marry in haste, repent at leisure” also applies when you're thinking of buyinga puppy, re-phrased as “buy in haste, repent at leisure”.  You must do your research carefully.  If you're doing your research on-line, searchfor “Dachshund Breed Council” rather than “Dachshund Puppies”.  We like to think our Dachshund BreedCouncil's website (www.dachshundbreedcouncil.org.uk) makes iteasy for a potential owner to find out about our breed.  We have presentations and advice for buyers which youcan view on-line or download. 

There is so much advice for puppy buyers, from so many differentsources, it's difficult to know who to rely on for good advice.  When you've done your research, if you'reconvinced you want a Dachshund puppy, make contact with one of the Breed Club Secretaries, by'phone or e-mail to ask for recommendations of responsible breeders in yourarea.  For in-depth, up-to-date, adviceon Dachshunds, it's hard to beat talking to a Breed Club Secretary.

By doing careful research before deciding to buy a puppy you willincrease your chances of finding out the right questions to ask when,eventually, you do speak with breeders. You can then confidently ask them about their knowledge and experienceof the health issues in the breed.  Ifyou discover you know more about the breed's health issues than the breederdoes, that should really ring alarm bells and you should walk away. 

Finding the right breeder

Most puppy buyers use the internet to look for puppies.  There’s nothing wrong with that, as long asyou realise that bad breeders are not sticking to the Exchange and Mart or adsin the Newsagent’s window any more.  Theyknow where their buyers are and they know how to pull them in.  It’s up to you as a buyer to do yourresearch, but it can be very confusing because bad breeders will claim all thesame things that good ones do.

Never buy from a pet shop or “pet supermarket”, however “up-market”they appear to be.  Their puppies willalmost certainly have come from puppy farms or “back-yard breeders”, where dogsare bred and reared in poor conditions, purely for profit and with little or noregard for health and welfare.

A reputable breeder will, as a minimum, comply with the good practicerequirements of the Kennel Club’s Assured Breeder Scheme and willalways be happy to answer any queries you may have at any stage of your dog’slife and will like to hear how your dog is progressing.  Reputable breeders will want you to beassured that your puppy has been well reared and is a fit, healthy and typicalspecimen of the breed.

You can find lists of KC Assured Breeders with puppies available at: http://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/puppiesforsale.

Many Breed Club members list their puppies at www.dachshundshowcase.co.uk which Irun and you'll also find lists of breeders there.  Breeders who are members of a Dachshund BreedClub will comply with our Code of Ethics whichcovers matters such as health testing, the age at which a bitch should be bredfrom and the maximum number of litters a bitch should have.  Breed Club members will be aware of therelevant health tests which are recommended for Dachshunds and should be ableto talk knowledgeably about the relevance of these.  If you have any doubts about the healthadvice you are given, please contact a member of our Health Sub-committee.

You'll find a checklist of questions to ask thebreeder here and how to recognise a responsible breederhere.

Remember, most good breeders do not have to advertise their puppies,so Free Ads (internet or newspaper) are usually not a good place to look for apuppy.

Current health tests

All Miniature Dachshund breeders should be DNA testing their dogs andbitches for cord1 PRA, a form of eye disease.

Miniature Wirehaired Dachshund breeders should be participating inthe Wirehaired Dachshund Club's screening programme for Lafora Disease (a formof epilepsy).

Do not buy from a breeder who is unaware of these tests, or who saysthey are not important.

Because Dachshunds are a dwarf breed there is an increased risk ofback problems.  Always ask about anyhistory of back problems when buying a puppy. 

Always consult a Vet if you have any concerns about a puppy youintend to purchase, or health problems with an older dog.

Buying your puppy

Except in exceptional circumstances you should always be ableto see the mother of the puppy. Visit where the puppy was born, regardless ofhow far you have to travel.  Aresponsible breeder will let you see all the puppies in the litter, with theirmother, and you should be able to handle them.

Do not be talked into buying a “rare coloured” Dachshund.  Generally, anyone telling you a puppy has arare colour either doesn’t know what they are talking about, or they are acommercial breeder.

If something doesn’t feel right when you visit, walk away.  Unscrupulous breeders rely on people “fallingin love with a puppy” or “feeling sorry” for puppies, and feeling obliged tobuy one.  Don't make this mistake.

My top tips for Dachshund buyers

·        Do your homework – research the breed andbreeders

·        Get on a waiting list for the right puppy, fromthe right breeder

·        Ask current Dachshund owners for theirrecommendations – Dachshunds in London is a great place to start!

For more queries on the subject you can contact Ian Seath Chairman of Dachshund Breed Council at ian@sunsong.co.uk

Guest post: dachshund races for Battersea Dogs Home

After being inspired by this summer's Dachshund Olympics we knew we had to do something to continue the legacy. 

After much deliberation my dachshund Flea and I decided to run the Brighton Marathon in aid of the Battersea dogs and cats home. 

With Flea barking at the helm as head coach, we discussed the best course of action to get ready for the big day on Sunday. 

Flea's strategy was simple; she would play both good cop and bad cop. We knew this winter would play a big part in our training regime and somebody had to take the lead. Some mornings Flea would opt for the affectionate lick technique to get me up, whilst other days consisted of being panicked into action by her internal marathon alarm. I knew this wasn't going to be easy, but being bossed into action by your Dachshund, who’s ever heard of that before?

It’s not that I’m new to running; in fact I ran the London marathon last year.  Its just this year we supported a cause very close to our hearts. As the founder of the City Paws Club I was shocked and saddened to hear that on average 7 lost, unwanted or abused dogs arrive everyday at the Battersea centre. 

The good news is, through their hard work, commitment and dedication Battersea Dogs & Cats Home are able to re-home as many as 14 dogs per day across their 3 sites. All of this is only made possible through the generosity of supporters like you.

Matt and Flea ran the Brighton Marathon successfully on Sunday and have so far raised over £350

Its not too late to continue helping them raise money for such a good cause - just visit

https://www.justgiving.com/Matt-Boyce1

Matt is a dog walker from Fulham and is owned by gorgeous Flea the dachshund.

Guest post: Tips for responsible pet ownership

In the early months of every year, thousands of pets are taken into animal shelters because the owners are unable to look after them. It seems that many adults still concentrate on the benefits of having a pet and underestimate the responsibilities that come with ownership.

If you are a dog owner, you have a responsibility to ensure that the animal is treated well, kept well-nourished and healthy. Yet not all mistreatment is malicious - much of it can come from a simple lack of understanding about what dogs need. For advice, the RSPCA dog ownership page is a good resource, but here are a few pointers to provide you with a starting point for some research:

Diet

Dogs are susceptible to the same consequences of poor diet - weight gain, heart problems, diabetes, etc - as humans, so owners should ensure their animal gets a balanced diet with plenty of vitamins - this means being careful with the treats.

Healthcare

When your dog develops symptoms of illness, it is advisable to get them checked out as soon as possible by a vet, as they could be the beginning of something more serious. However, some pet owners avoid doing this because vet fees are expensive; a good pet insurance policy will cover these costs so you can take your dog to the vet when you need to.

Exercise

Dogs need regular exercise - and that means walks where the animal can race around, not just letting it roam around the house. This could mean that those who lead busy lifestyles may not be suitable for dog ownership. Toys which will keep the dog entertained -take a look at the Pets at Home website, for example, to see just how many are available - are useful for those occasions when Fido must be left at home.

Behaviour

Like children, dogs need socialising but will learn very quickly if set proper boundaries, with good behaviour being rewarded.

What's in a dachshund's colour?

Ever wondered what the coat on your dachshund means? and Im not talking about the Gucci jacket he is wearing on his regular walks but the DNA in his tiny body!

This month and following Crufts 2013, there is huge talk at Kennel Club about views on colours listed in Breed Standards and those available on lists for Registration.

Here are Ian's views from The Breed Council, who is asking the KC for changes to both the Breed Standard and Registration Lists.

"Our Breed Standard describes those colours which are considered undesirable in the show ring: “Pied, tricolour and the dilute colours isabella and blue are highly undesirable. ” This amendment was made in 2012.

In Dachshunds, registration is not refused on the grounds of colour except in the case of Double-Dapple (merle to merle matings) where there are health risks associated with the merle gene.

The Council has taken the view that lists of colours for Registration should reflect as accurately as possible the actual colours likely to be found in the breed. This is important so that when anyone looks at a pedigree it is clear what colours are present so that undesirable mating combinations can be avoided. For example, we were recently made aware of a litter of Double Dapple puppies that were produced because the breeder was unaware that her bitch was a Red Dapple.

Currently, anyone registering a Dachshund of a colour not included in the Registration Lists has to register it as “Colour not recognised by KC”. We are happy to hear from anyone who wishes to make a case for amending the lists of Registration Colours.

Helen Geeson's presentation on the genetics of Dachshund coats and colours is available here.

dachshund masterclass with Louise Rawlinson

dachshunds in London held its first dedicated breed master class for club members at London's Ring Cross Community Centre on Sunday.

Louise talks to dachshund owners about the importance of a balanced diet

Problems on feeding, walking and barking were aired and shared with other members and with support and tips given by dachshund lover, owner and dog trainer Louise Rawlinson daughter of famous dog listener Stan Rawlinson.

Members were also given the chance to practice common dog training skills including sit, stay and down.

dachshunds can be hard to train so perseverance is key to training any dog. The message learnt "keep calm and carry on training"...well done all who took part we had a fun filled afternoon - out of the rain!

For more pictures of the afternoon see below slideshow

Doggy style Harlem Shake

Just because everyone is talking about the Harlem Shake! we thought we would amuse ourselves with some doggy style versions perfect for the lunch break! We want to see your favourite dachshund Harlem Shakes - send them into dashindogz@gmail.com or copy link into comments below! Share the wagging shakes!

WIN a dapper Italian coat for your dachshund

Sponsored post

Everyone knows how difficult it is to find a coat let alone any item of clothing for our long, slinky, short legged friends. 

Diddy Dapper Dogs specialises in high quality dog products and accessories including harnesses, coats, personalised collars, grooming products and health supplements. 

www.diddydapperdogs.co.uk

The company is owned by a Standard Schnauzer and 2 Miniature Dachshunds who road-test products to give them the paws up.

One of few dog clothing shops that understands  the difficulty in dressing dogs that are 1/2 a dog high and 1.5 dog long! Check out their wax jackets and the new Italian Collection of coats and jumpers for long and lean dogs, all designed and made in Italy.

For your chance to WIN a £35 shopping voucher for Diddy Dapper Dogs and help you pimp your pooch just answer the following question in our comments box (make sure you are following our blog/are signed in via google or enter your email address or we wont be able to contact you if you win!) 

What is the name of the smart dog shop?

a) Diddy Dachshunds 

b) Diddy Dappy Dog

c) Diddy Dapper Dogs

Best of luck

T&Cs
Competition closes on 17th February 2013 - winner chosen at random - prize non refundable and only redeemable on diddydapperdogs.co.uk

CompRetweet - Free UK Competitions

Snowball dogs

What you get when you mix dachshund and snow...Snow dachs

Best caption (in comments box below please) wins a prize! Hurry you have until Monday 28th Jan!

Yelena Baird's Luna looking cute in snow balls 

Free Thermal Imaging of your Dachshund's Back at SDA Show

Do you have a Smooth or Mini Smooth Dachshund? then this weekend there is an opportunity to participate in a new research project to investigate the health of Dachshunds' backs.

The first screening opportunity will be at the Southern Dachshund Association's Championship Show on January 19^th, in Slough (Montem Leisure Centre).

Thermographer and veterinary nurse Anna Schumann will be attending the SDA (Ch) Show to take thermal images of Dachshund backs for a long-term study. The aim of the study is to see if thermal imaging can used as a diagnostic predictor for future back problems in the breed. You can read more about this research here.

If time permits, we will also be able to take some images from the other four varieties of Dachshund.

There is NO CHARGE to participate in this research and it is completely non-invasive. All your dog needs to do is stand still for a picture to be taken using a Thermal Imaging camera.

Please download a Registration Form, fill it in and bring it with you to the Screening session.

Owners of dogs not entered at the show can also bring dogs for screening, but will also need to register as “Spectators' Dogs” at the show.

For more information, please e-mail Anna Schumann.

www.dachshundhealth.org.uk         

www.dachshundbreedcouncil.org.uk 

Celebrity Tatler Alan Dachshund dies in tragic accident

Everyone was horrified to hear about poor little Alan, Tatler's very own office pup. This freak accident could have happened to anyone. 

Alan, who was often pictured asleep at a desk, was listed online as “Office Manager at @TatlerUK byday, The Badger Hunter by night”.

The dog had become a firm favourite in the world of women’s magazines, fashion and PR for its regular photographs and commentary about life as Tatler’s favourite pet. Fans included Rosie Fortescue, an actress who features in Made in Chelsea and called Alan her “ideal man”, and Jo Elvin, the editor of Glamour, who called the dog a “dreamboat”. (Telegraph link)

Our heartfelt condolences go out to owner Jennifer George. 

Bringing pet dogs to work can reduce stress levels and Alan naturally played a huge part in bringing a huge smile to everyone's faces.

Happy New Year and a new home for Fritz

Great news, Fritz, whom was published on the blog last November was happily ensconced in a new home in time for Xmas! 

Maureen (his previous owner) informs me he has already made lots of new friends both human and four legged...

Well done Maureen and thank you everyone for your attention.

x

Lisa & Milo