Having Doxies are like having additional furry children to rule your life, each dog is unique and has it’s own quirk or temperament. They all do share Doxie traits yet there are things that they define as theirs in the long run. Just like when it comes to dog beds, dog crates or designer pet carriers , thinking one style would be a general preference by a dog breed is common to pet owners who are just starting or just plain clueless. For dog crates, any style may not be the problem unless you’ve got one that’s just too small for your dog. There are doxies that take to the crate training faster than others, just one “rest crate” or any other mark command and they’d just obey right off the bat. And then there are some that just make like deaf or cock their head to the side as if to ask what the mark means! What I’ve learned so far is…
A. Crates can have a dog bed in them if preferred by a pet that doesn’t want to part with their movable snoozing space.
B. The joy of discovering crate toys that make the mark command the nicest words they’ll hear. Putting their favorite toys work, its like having their best buddy in the same class with them. Or just like bird cages that have play things in them, arm your pet’s crate with a treat or two, a chew toy or an interesting piece of thingie that is non-toxic, not easily swallowed and fit for dog use. Words of caution though, a child’s toy is best a child’s toy, get your pet a doggie toy to be sure it doesn’t have stuff that can harm your pet.
C. Some Doxies out grow the toy or the need of one and never was I able to wean any out of not having their regular dog bed in-crate.
As convenient as it would be for pet dogs to have a factory-like commonality, all dogs just aren’t their lovable selves if it were. And besides I just love them being their quirky furry selves.

As a favor to a neighbor, I volunteered caring for their pet pooch for several hours. It was great therapy for me since I just lost the Best Dog I’ve ever had…The neighbors pet is named “Boogie” but to me he would always be a goofy-lookin’ dog. My nose was kind of clogged when I greeted my ward with a praise and a rub down when Boogie greeted me with a well behaved sit/stay. When I put my hand up to flick away hair from my eyes, the odor of a dog that needs a bath attacked my senses…
I’ve given away my pet’s things so I either had to drive out to the grocery or just look for immediate solution. As far as I can remember the family cupboards never run out of baking soda, which is good for neutralizing overwhelming odors, specially the pet kind. Straight from the box, I sprinkled Boogie’s fur with baking soda, then started to give it  a body rub. In a matter of seconds the smell is undetectable. Past and future the Baking soda revolves into  a whole line of these Baking Soda variations. The variety has gone from pet clumping bi-carb rocks to one that changes color (-it marks where odor is strongest for litter boxes) or another that acts as an effective cleanser when mixed with water.
From my pet cupboard to yours, this is one compound a forever home can’t do without.

Dachshunds are portly and very much prone to being overweight. Like most Doxie owners, at first spoiling our fur-kids seem to make sense, its when the scales indicate well over the permissible weight that gets us thinking. Too much protective love and attention can cause weight gain and slow metabolism in pet dogs.
I have met lots of dog owners and most of the first-timers (some old timers too) don’t know that their pets do not sweat. If they do know, the information just fails to register as an important fact. As a saying goes, its all relative…Overweight and obese dogs have more fat stored in their bodies. Since they have more fat to burn, their bodies double the effort to get rid of unwanted fat. Limiting your pet dog to staying indoors doing no activity whatsoever or just snoozing by your feet all day is the worst way to show your fur-kid love.
If your pet i on the weighty side, include lots of exercise and activity for shedding off fat and eventually toning your pets body.
Agility sports and Dock Diving are great dog activities where pet parents can meet up and enjoy. For home activities, having a pool helps or a pet treadmill, both are good for exercise.
Simple activities such as distance walking  or hiking in the forest may not be as rigid as a work out yet it can also keep off shed pounds.
Keep in mind: a fit dog is a loved dog while a fat dog is a sick one. Doxies rule!!!

Unlike training pet dogs to sense, smell and avoid a snake, there is not a safe way to train your pet against porcupine quills. It is only through experience that they would learn to leave the little porky alone. Hearing your pet bark as if agitated must get your attention specially when you live near porcupines. Ignoring the curious agitated barks would have you hear a shriek and whimper, expect your pet to have several or a lot of toothpick like quills hanging from your pet. Doxies are very small breeds and at times when not cautious enough end up having the tops of their heads imitate Don King’s hair. Fortunately, on record most Doxie porcupine battles do not involve more than one porky-unlike the worst cases where the pets face was lost in row upon rows of quills.
Removing the quills can be done at home or at the Veterinarian’s clinic depending on how much of your pet’s face you can see and if the eyes are unharmed. Quill removing needs you to have a long nose pliers or regular pliers handy and eye cover for your pet, not to mention nerves of steel and an empty stomach.
Position yourself near your pet where you can move freely once you yank those quills out. Having someone else to soothe your pet or hold him still makes it easier.
Start from the top, picking on quills that are embedded superficially. Those your can yank off, do it swiftly. If it doesn’t budge, leave it.
For deep quills and stuck barbs, you’d really have to bring your pet to the Vet since the pain of having a quill 2 inches in bone needs anesthesia.
Check if there are some barbs left in, then apply antiseptic. Have a nice meal ready for your pet, some would want to while others would just like to rest because of the pain.
Call your veterinarian for antibiotic prescription.

Rarely do dogs break their spirit after a quill attack, though sulking is common. Never heard of a Doxie suffering the same fate twice, they’re just too smart for that.