These are some tips for helping your new doxie transition
easily into your life in a happy and positive based one for
both of you.
Remember...Generally, the first day is great, the first
week is horrible, the first month is tentative, but after
that you'll wonder how you lived without this wonderful
little being in your life.
General Information
Most adopted doxies have just been through some type of
emotional trauma. They may have been separated from a loved
one through death, may have lost a family they loved, may
have been abandoned and bounced through the shelter system
or some other tough situation. This means they need
patience, love and guidance to fit into your world.
Doxies are bright, intelligent and loyal creatures and make
wonderful life-long companions.
Diet
What to Feed
The diet you choose for your dog should be a balanced one.
There are many excellent dog foods available on the market
today. The goal is to provide sound nutrition while
maintaining stable weight. Here are some guidelines:
Mini Doxies: Weigh between 6 and 12 lbs.
Tweenie [small standards]: Weigh up to 20 lbs.
Standards [Full Sized]: Can weigh up to 30 lbs.
The following is recommended for feeding :
Mini : Up to 6 oz of food per day
Tweenie : Up to 8 oz of food per day
Standard: Up to 9 oz of food per day.
I like to recommend a mix of moist and dry in a 50:50
proportion, but check with your vet. Generally, we
recommend Iams Mini-Chunks and Pedigree Choice Cuts. Both
are available at PetSmart or PetCo. Be sure and look for
the Choice Cuts symbol on the Pedigree or you will be buying
a can of fat. Also stay away from the lamb variety canned
food-it can lead to digestive problems.
When to feed
Feeding time should be as consistent as possible. I feed
once a day, but many people feed twice a day. Whatever
frequency you choose, be consistent and remember the
following rules:
A dog will digest what he is fed in 3-4 hours. If you do a
morning feed, be sure you will be there 3-4 hours later to
let the dog out.
A dog will drink and process that fluid in 20-30 minutes.
Be sure that you are available to let him out when he needs
to go, or you will assume he has a housebreaking problem.
If feeding twice a day, split the above mentioned volume so
that the daily total equals the recommended amount. Do not
feed the amount recommended twice.
Treats and Table Scraps
It will not take your doxie long to start begging at the
table. Doxies are bottomless pits when it comes to anything
edible. I have been told that they are the only breed that
can eat themselves to death.
The decision to give tablescraps is a personal one. I
personally don't allow begging while I am eating, but will
always save my little ones a bite each from my plate. I
make sure their scraps have no spices such as salt, pepper,
onions or garlic. I also avoid gravy or anything fried.
Here are some treats they might love. They are low calorie,
no fat and have lots of vitamins.
Carrots [cooked or raw]
Grapes [red or white, no seeds]
Tomato [fresh]
Grapefruit
Strawberries
Dog Bones for small dogs [one per day limit]
Here are things to never feed:
Cantaloupe
Onions
Garlic
Peppers
Bones, chicken especially
Some meals can cause an upset in the digestive system for my
guys. Here they are:
Lamb
Pork
Anything Fried, except fish and then only small amounts]
Eggs
Milk
Chocolate
House Training
Some adoptees come housebroken, some do not. I always try
to set this up as an early part of the transition process.
It is one of the things that can make the first week a
trying experience.
I use the crate training method but you can confine the pup
to an area such as a kitchen or well lit bathroom if that
works better for you. Start by placing the pup [they are
all pups to me, no matter the age] in the crate for an hour,
then taking him out to go. If he goes, praise him and then
allow him some freedom for an hour or two. Then back in the
crate for an hour. Repeat the process. Each day lengthen
the amount of freedom until the dog has free run of the
house. This may take about 1-2 weeks.
Avoiding accidents....First I try to help the pup by
observing his eating/drinking patterns and getting him out
before he has a chance to have an accident. When he does go
successfully outside I praise him and stroke him so that he
learns that going outside is a great thing and will be
rewarded with extra lovings.
Accidents do happen. They are a fact of housetraining and a
fact about the transitioning process. Don't dwell on the
negative. Typically, if the accident has already happened,
I will show it to the dog say 'bad' once and take him
outside. I praise again if he does it outside. Lots of
love for good behavior, no attention on the bad. Remember
he is training to your house and that can take some time.
One important thing. No matter how angry or frustrated you
may be never use the dogs name with the correction. He will
only learn after time that his name means 'bad' and will
eventually never come when called.
Exercise and Play
Doxies love to play and need exercise. Walking is a good
form of exercise as is playing with toys. You have to find
what works best for your lifestyle. Please remember doxies
will not be marathoners and even walking a mile may be tough
at first. Stick to short walks and increase a little each
day. Play time should be filled with fun and love and
should be a bonding time for you and your doxie.
Here are some good toys:
Small stuffed toys
Balls
Bad toys include:
Anything plastic
Always supervise play! You never know what can happen.
Having a doxie is like having a toddler. They are so cute,
but they can get in trouble fast!
Abandonment Syndrome
Most adoptees go through something called abandonment
syndrome. Because they are such a loyal and loving breed
they will want to bond with you and be with you at all
times. In short, they are afraid of being left yet again.
Be understanding and loving. Once the comfort level goes
up, the need to act like Velcro will go down.
Love
Doxies want and need love, lots of love. Their favorite
hobbies include being held, being stroked and cuddling.
Don't let them down. You are guaranteed to get back your
input a thousand fold.
Golden Rules
Doxies are very curious. Always give them on a leash when
out of a fenced area. You never know when a darting
squirrel could spell tragedy for your little one.
Doxies are very protective. Always assure them it is OK
before letting someone into your home.
Doxies need love. Always love them.
Collars and such...
Outside the fence, yard and house - a collar is a must.
Inside their domain the collar can be deadly. All too often
I hear stories of a dog that has ended up with a broken jaw
or worse, dead from getting a collar caught on something.
Please take the extra time and leave the collar off in the
house.
Also remember, choke chains are for training only. A choke
chain can cause serious damage to the windpipe. Many people
tell me they have always done it that way and it has been OK
for them. To these people I can only say you are due for a
disaster. There also is a right and wrong direction to put
a choke chain on a dog, but the trainer you are working with
will be more than happy to teach you this.
Best thing to use for a doxie is a harness. It is kindest
to their long backline and gives you the best control.
Again, not for constant wear.
Children
Doxies are wonderful dogs around children; however, no
animal should be abused in the name of a child. It is not
OK it pull ears or tail or pinch the dogs coat or pull hair
or use them as a pillow or pick them up and drag them around
or anything along those lines. Eventually the dog will snap
and will turn on their aggressor. You shouldn't want that.
Each year I hear stories about and pull dogs out of
situations of abuse. Remember there are varying degrees of
abuse and if you can say to a friend or neighbor: 'My dog,
ah, the baby is all over the dog, yanking and pulling....',
then you are an animal abuser. Plain and simple.
Teach your children respect for the animal you have in your
home. We are all living creatures and deserve at least
that.
Picking Up Your Doxie
Never pick the dog up by the scruff on the neck or in some
other haphazard matter. Many people will say that this is
OK as their mothers lifted them as puppies this way and
after all this is extra skin. Look at a baby and look at an
adult. Excluding gymnasts, who are more limber? I rest my
case.
Here is the correct way to lift a dachshund: place one hand
under the chest and use the other to lift the rump section.
Support the dog as you would a small child. Back surgery and
rehab can run in the neighborhood of $1500-$3000. Oh, and
children should not be lifting a doxie. It is tempting to
them as the dogs are small. Please teach your children not
to do this.
Submissive Urination
Some dogs suffer from a condition known as submissive
urination. How do you know if your pup has this condition?
Does he pee when excited, especially when you touch him;
does he roll over and pee; does he pee when he is afraid or
is being corrected? All of these are symptoms of submissive
urination.
What to do? Submissive urination is a mental block, not a
physical problem. The best cure is time. It is the dogs
way of saying 'you rule, I would do anything to have your
love'. The best method for avoiding accidents is to ignore
the pup during emotionally excited times and removing the
pup from emotionally challenging moments. Examples include:
when you first get home from work and the pup is very
excited-allow him to calm down for a minute or two before
letting him out of his crate. When company visits take the
dog outside for the greeting and always talk to your pupper.
Your voice is the steady factor that will allow him to
outgrow this problem over time.
Questions
Please do not hesitate in calling me if you have any
additional questions about your dog. I can be reached at
215-321-4218. If I am not here leave a message and I will
call you back.
Cindie Kura
