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    I_LOVE_DOGS312's Avatar
    I_LOVE_DOGS312 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Dec 7, 2007, 05:08 AM
    Getting a new Daschund
    I've never had a daschund, and I'm thinking about getting one. But right now I have a Labrador Retrever, she's crazy, I was wondering if it was possible for those 2 to get along?
    labman's Avatar
    labman Posts: 10,580, Reputation: 551
    Uber Member
     
    #2

    Dec 7, 2007, 05:44 AM
    How good of leadership you give them, their ages, sex, and individual personality are more important than the breed. If as top dog, you insist on them accepting each other, it is a big help. Many dogs are happy to have another dog to play with up until they are about 3. It varies. I actually think the older males do better with puppies than the females. Two females is the worst combination, with one of each most likely to get along. Finally it comes down to which Lab and Dachshund. Does your dog play well with other dogs when it get a chance? If it seldom has a chance, try it around some other dogs. Visit a dog park if you have one.

    Most of the regulars here agree that it is better to adopt an older dog than buy a puppy. Of course it you do buy a puppy, there is plenty of help in the sticky at the top of the forum.

    Choosing a dog is a very personal thing. You need to actually see a variety.
    You could drop in on an obedience class. Most of the people will be happy to
    Talk about their dog, and many will give honest answers about grooming and
    Nature. Browse the question board. See the problems people are asking for
    Help on. Dogs vary so much within a breed, even among litter mates. Some
    Field Labs are as hyper as any pointer. You want to look for a calm dog.

    Maybe ask to visit the breeders home. Field and show champions can be bred
    In kennels. Dogs where the mother lives in the house have the best
    Personalities. Some kids to fondle the puppies from birth are better yet. If
    The breeder doesn't want the parents in their house, do you want the offspring
    In yours? Spend as much time with the parents as you can. Nice parents don't
    Guarantee nice puppies, but don't chance bad parents. Of course ask about hip
    And eye certification or other genetic problems common to your breed too.

    Consider the animal shelter. There are many nice dogs, and you can see how
    They look with little or no grooming. You can also see how they behave. Look
    For dogs that want your attention, but are not going wild. Leave the ones that
    Retreat to the back of their cage. Look at their teeth. Look for ones that
    Still show a 3 lobed, clove like pattern on the front ones. Leave the ones
    That fight letting you look at their teeth too much. If the points are worn
    Off the teeth, it is an older dog that may break your heart by dying too soon.
    Pinch the web between its toes. It hurts. It is OK for the dog to pull away
    Or whine, but it shouldn't growl, snap or show its teeth. Since the shelter likely will kill most of the dogs, you may as well pick out a nice one.

    Finding a good breeder and purchasing a puppy that will make a good pet is very difficult. Almost nobody is intentionally breeding dogs to be nice pets. Most of your so called reputable breeders are breeding for show or something. They may say the puppies they don't keep for their purpose make great pets, but the truth is that the parents were selected for other than health and temperament. Often they keep the puppies in the kennel too long and they miss the important early socialization puppies need to live in the house with people.

    Next are the disreputable breeders. They breed any 2 registered dogs they can lay a hold of looking only at the money they can make selling them to pet stores. Pet store puppies are easy to find, but difficult to socialize into nice pets, perhaps difficult to even keep alive. You will not get what you pay for at a pet store.

    One of the best sources for dogs with a predictable personality is the rescue
    Dogs. These are dogs that lost their home, but were taken into a foster home
    To be retrained as necessary and placed in the right home for them. You may
    Find a rescue near you starting at American Kennel Club - Breed Rescue The rescues charge a fee to help cover their expenses, but is much less than the price of a puppy plus all its medical expenses the first year.
    bushg's Avatar
    bushg Posts: 3,433, Reputation: 596
    Ultra Member
     
    #3

    Dec 7, 2007, 08:19 AM
    I lovedogs, If you are interested in a dashchund there are many rescues go to pet finder, this may lead you to some or Google your state and dachshund rescues, sometimes they even have puppies.
    I surprised myself 4 years ago by adopting a black adult dog, when I was looking for a mutli colored puppy. You never know what will tug at your heart once you get to looking.

    Also if you are set on a dachshund, consider finidng out everything about the breed, health problems etc... that you can find out. Not saying that you will have those problems but it is nice to know their history. AKC's website would be a good place to start. Scattered through out my family there are 4 full stock dashchunds and my 1 mixed and there have never been any major health issues with the exception of the 18 year olds teeth.
    However,none of these dog have been allowed to get overweight.
    RubyPitbull's Avatar
    RubyPitbull Posts: 3,575, Reputation: 648
    Ultra Member
     
    #4

    Dec 7, 2007, 05:34 PM
    You have received some very good and thorough advice here.
    Just in case you wanted to take a look at the dachshunds that are available for adoption, here is the link to petfinder. Petfinder.com Type in where you live and enter the breed. There are over 3000 dachshunds and doxie mixes looking for loving homes. If you find any in your area, you can easily test your lab out and see if they get along. It is a much more practical idea than buying a puppy. What would happen if you buy a puppy and after a week or two, no matter what you do, your lab just won't accept it? You will be stuck with the puppy along with the cost. With a rescue or shelter, they will take a dog back.

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