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The dachshund breed is a proud and loyal breed. They make great pets for people who live in small spaces and desire a relatively low maintenance breed. A dachshund’s life span is approximately 12-15 years so you’ll need to follow the steps below to ensure you’re taking proper care of your dachshund.  

Step 1: Take your new pet to a qualified veterinarian to receive his/her vaccinations, flea treatment and to have him/her spayed.

Step 2: While you’re at the vet, seek his advice about the best food to feed your dog and the appropriate amount to feed your dog. Dachshunds have very small stomachs and should be feed small meals several times a day. A dachshund’s diet is very important as they are prone to obesity which can lead to other health dangers.

Step 3: Speaking of obesity, you should walk your dachshund often. Although they are small animals, and make great apartment pets, they still require quite a bit of exercise. Take them on 2 short walks, approximately 10-20 minutes, once in the morning and once in the evening. Because of the dachshund’s natural instinct to hunt, make sure you’ve leashed your pet before you head out the door.

Step 4: Groom your dachshund regularly. Long haired dachshunds should be brushed once a day to avoid matting and tangling of their locks. Short haired dachshunds do not need to be brushed as often, although they would probably love it! You will need to trim your dachshund’s nails every few weeks as well.

Step 5: Teach your dachshund limits within your home. Dachshunds are prone to spinal and hip injuries and should never be allowed to jump onto furniture. Even running up and downstairs can result in injuries to your pup. You might want to use a baby gate to make some areas of the home off limits.

Step 6: Enroll your dachshund in obedience school. Although their constant barking might make them good guard dogs, it doesn’t make them good neighbors.  With the help of an obedience professional, you might be able to curb this unpleasant behavior.

Step 7: Provide plenty of socializing activities for your dachshund. They are known to be aggressive and jealous dogs when they feel insecure or threatened.
Dachshunds make great companions because of their affectionate ways and loyalty to their owners.  Their lively nature and inquisitive spirit will bring entertainment and joy to your home for years to come.

A true Brahmin, the Boston Terrier can trace its roots back to 1865 in Boston, MA. The Boston Terrier of that time was very different than the one we know today. He was originally a cross between a Bulldog and an English Terrier and weighed around 35 pounds instead of the smaller variety today. The modern Boston Terrier was actually created by the employees of the wealthy at that time. They would “borrow” their employers’ Boston Terriers and breed them with other dogs to create a good, smallish fighting dog. Unfortunately, Boston Terriers were seen in the dog fight ring for quite awhile but their devotion to their master and his family stood out and they became companion dogs.  The French Bulldog started out as the Toy Bulldog which was brought from England to France during the Industrial Revolution. The French created such characteristics as their bat-like ears and they were adored in royal courts. They are basically a bull-and-terrier breed.

These breeds share many physical characteristics in common including size, build, and bulging eyes. They also share many similar personality traits. Both the BT and the Frenchie are very sweet dogs who love to play and act like a clown. But, both are also at risk for developing Small Dog Syndrome which is a condition where the small dog believes himself to be Alpha because of the owner’s overpampering and child-like treatment. These dogs can be stubborn so early training and establishing yourself as Alpha are imperative. It may seem contradictory to his past but the Boston Terrier is rarely dog aggressive. The French Bulldog, however, is dog aggressive more often so early socialization is important. Neither of these breeds are barkers so you can rely on having a quiet household but not on having a guard dog. The BT tends to need more exercise than the Frenchie who would rather hang out and see what you’re cooking. Both breeds are very people-oriented and a bored Boston Terrier or a lonely Frenchie is liable to be destructive.

The Boston Terrier has been a popular dog since the early 1900s. You’ll see many pictures from that time with children and their Boston Terrier, showing how quickly the breed integrated into family life instead of the ring. The BT was so popular in the 1920s that it made up 30% of entries into dog shows. In 1922, Boston University made the Boston Terrier their mascot and he still proudly represents them today. French Bulldogs were also popular between 1910 and 1915, being in the top five popular breeds in the U.S. Their popularity has emerged again since 1990 because they are such good dogs for apartment living and are excellent all around family dogs.

The Frenchie has several nicknames including “The Clown” and “Frog Dog.” He truly is a clown, often hamming it up for a laugh and some attention. “Frog Dog” comes from the way he look when he lies on his back and his legs sprawl out on either side. This breed is bound to amuse you and cheer you up on a gloomy day. The Boston Terrier was, and is, often called “The American Gentleman.” This name comes from his innate good manners with adults and children and his quiet demeanor. Owning a BT is like having a good butler. Both breeds are a joy for families as long as they’re trained and know their place in the pack.

The key to a happy and healthy relationship between you and your dog is good training. All dogs need to be trained to be obedient for their own health and well-being, just as much as making them manageable is easier for you.

Often, if dogs are not trained correctly, they will become unruly, aggressive and in some cases completely unmanageable. This is not just bad for the dog’s owner, it is also incredibly distressing for the dog. We humans intentionally bred only the submissive traits of wolves when creating the domesticated dog. Therefore, when it comes to leadership, it is not a role that our dogs feel comfortable in. However, all packs must have a leader and if its not you, then a dog will feel that it has to occupy the post even though it finds it confusing and stressful.

Moreover, a well-behaved dog is a pleasure to be around for all people, even non-dog lovers. Therefore, it is in everybody’s best interest to train your dog and ensure that he, or she, recognizes you as the boss.

The Basics of Training Your Dog

Because a dog is genetically programmed to want to please its master (you), the very best way of training is with positive reinforcement methods, such as clicker training, using treats as rewards or simply providing praise for good behavior. Almost all dog trainers recommend this approach to training rather than punishment of negative or naughty behavior.

It is advisable to begin training your dog as soon as possible. If you have a puppy, then training will be easy if you start from day one. However, even if you adopt an adult dog training is not difficult as long as you begin as you mean to go on. In other words, do not get carried away by the joy of having a new pet and spoil him, or her, because you will be making life difficult when it comes to enforcing rules. For example, if a house rule is no dogs on the furniture, make sure this is upheld from the day a new dog is welcomed into your home. Remember, mixed messages will simply confuse and distress a dog.

Manners All Dogs Should Have

Of course, each home will have its own rules. However, there are some basic rules that all dogs should abide by, partly for his, or her, safety, partly to reinforce your position as boss and partly to ensure that no visitors to the home are distressed by your dogs behavior. For example:

Dogs should never jump up on people – you may think of it as an affectionate way to greet you, but if a dog puts its paws on your shoulders, it is likely to think this is an acceptable thing to do to anyone who walks through the door and not everyone enjoys being leapt on. Additionally, jumping up to your height can be a gesture to challenge your authority, so it is advisable to make a dog wait patiently until you are ready to greet him, or her.

Dogs shouldn’t beg at the table – begging will often occur if your dog has been fed at or under the table in the past. Therefore, if you do not wish your dog to drool at the sight of you eating, do not offer him, or her, sneaky treats.

Dogs should never be possessive over bones or toys – In case your dog gets hold of something it shouldn’t, it is important that you are able to take any item away from him, or her. Moreover, this is a great way to establish your authority and gain your dog’s respect. Therefore, it is a good idea to take a favorite toy, bone or food away from your dog at random points when he, or she, is a puppy. This may seem a little cruel, but if the dog behaves well, you can replace the item straight away and give him, or her, lots of praise. If, on the other hand, the dog growls or is aggressive, you may need to take things from him, or her, more frequently and for longer periods. The aim is to get the dog to recognize all items as yours – you just let him, or her, play or chew them.

Obviously, these are just some of the things that a dog owner should consider. However, they are great foundations from which to expand your dogs training. If you are having difficulty with your dog, seek the advice of a animal trainer, behaviorist or veterinarian.

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Owning a large dog can be a wonderful experience. These dogs can be fun and bring endless joy to the family. Unfortunately, these loving family members can also let their size work against them and cause unintentional damage when they get too excited or too curious. A good solution for many people is to invest in a large dog kennel. This can be your dog’s own special space. Both you and he (or she) will be able to relax knowing that there isn’t much harm that can be done in their living space.

There are some special things you need to consider when purchasing a large dog kennel. Primarily you need to make sure that your large dog kennel will stand up to the strength of your family friend. The door/gate area is of particular concern since it must be able to stand up to the strength of a large dog pushing against it. Many dogs are capable of mastering simple latches so your tall fellow needs a latch that is a little more challenging than a typical swing gate latch.

Your large dog kennel must be installed securely to ensure that it will not collapse or come loose at the side connections. The proper installation will include being secured to the ground. The preferred method is to install it on a concrete slab with the posts security anchored either in the ground or in concrete. Not only will an escaping dog cause you headaches, a collapsing structure can cause injury to your dog.

You need to consider how much time you expect your dog to spend in his kennel when deciding how large it should be. A dog should never be confined in a small space for extended periods of time. Your pet needs room to stretch and exercise. This is the reason that many large dog kennels are also referred to as runs. You should always include some type of roof covering. This will ensure that your dog is protected from the elements and the hot sun.

The cost of your large dog kennel will depend on the size and configuration you choose. Most people find that the investment is well worth it. This one time cost will save you the cost of replacing damaged furniture, carpeting, or landscaping! A large dog kennel can also be installed for far less than fencing your entire yard.

Large dog kennels are readily available as modular systems where you purchase the number of panels you need to suit your design. Many people find that a square or rectangular configuration works best but you can arrange your large dog kennel in any number of ways. Door panels with a variety of different types of latches are available to work with these modular set-ups.

Regardless of the shape or size of your large dog kennel, if you make sure that your large dog kennel is properly constructed and your materials are adequate, your large breed dog will have a safe haven to call it’s own and you will have the peace of mind of knowing that this special family member is not getting into trouble when you aren’t looking