New Nebraska Dachshund Rescue Shirts!!!

Nebraska dachshund rescue has released their new shirt design for 2008. It's kind of similar to the 2007 design on the front, but it's blue and has a cool design on the back. In 2008 NDR helped place 113 dachshunds in their forever homes, and the name of each one is on the back, which is then shaped into a mosaic that looks like a weenie dog. It's an ingenious design, and this is by far my favorite rescue shirt. They're only 12 bucks for short sleeve versions (long sleeve and sweatshirts aren't available yet, but hey, it's spring!). I can't wait to get mine! I LOVE NDR!!!

You can buy NDR shirts here

Sign the petition to help stop puppy mills - I did!

HSUS MySpace Page | Stop Puppy Mills Website

Good search dachshund rescue participants

I know I've mentioned www.goodsearch.com in the past, and that I support Almost Home Dachshund Rescue and Sanctuary (AHDRS) as my charity of choice when using the search engine, but I wanted to give you all more options if you preferred to support a doxie/animal rescue charity closer to your home. Here are the ones I've found that are participating on the site:

Dachshund Rescue of Houston - DROH Friendswood TX
Dachshund Rescue of North America - DRNA Greensburg IN
Dachshund Rescue Web Page Inc. Jacksonville FL
Arizona Humane Society Phoenix AZ

There are so many charities out there (in general and on goodsearch)...it just breaks my heart that my donations and time have to be spread so thin between so many worthy causes.

Someday I wish to own a house big enough to foster several dachshunds so that none of them ever have to be turned away. I know it's wishful thinking, but hey, you have to set the bar high right?

Barking

Well...I kind of feared this day would come. We got a complaint from our downstairs neighbor who works nights and is home during the day about Roger's barking. Roger barks when we leave for the day, and according to my neighbor, "it lasts 1-2 hours non stop." This is also the neighbor who asked me to not let roger pee on the rocks because "I walk on those and then walk into my home." When I said that I was like...do you tell this to every dog owner in the complex? Hes a dog, their supposed to pee in grass and dirt... That's why they made sidewalks for humans. I can understand where he's coming from with the barking, but it's just one of those things were I feel this guy isn't really suited to community living. He needs a house. I'm kind of frustrated having my only interactions with the guy being negative like this. Regarding the barking though...

It's my fault really, we haven't worked with him enough regarding the separation anxiety. We need to do more to train him, because it's not his fault. Brendan and I actually got in a fight about what the best way to go about this is. He decided that taking the dog to the vet was the best course of action because "when you have a child with a problem, you take them to a doctor. This is no different." I disagree with him though. The dog doesn't have a problem - we do. The vet is going to give US tips on how to work with Roger (which we could just get online by googling, but this is his idea, so I'll let him take care of it).

I'm doing squirt bottle training right now. We have a long list of things to try (including putting a radio in his room while were gone and such) to help his anxiety. If that doesn't improve his behavior, then (if Brendan feels ok with it, which would only be if the vet says so) I'm considering a citronella collar, but that's a last resort. Roger does have some small training issues (he's not social around other people or dogs, he's shy, and he has separation anxiety barking), and I feel that most of these could be fixed if we took him to obedience class. Brendan disagrees with this, and says its silly to pay for classes, when "we can go to the dog park for free." Problem is, going to the dog park doesn't happen with as much regularity as a class would be, and it's not as controlled of an environment for Roger.

Things you shouldn't feed your dog

I'm discovering new things on this list all the time. Perhaps people feed these foods to their dogs unknowingly...I've been guilty of this in the past. Here's a comprehensive list of things you shouldn't feed. If you see that I missed anything, let me know, or just add it to the bottom :)

SOURCE* http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/a-poison-safe-home.html

Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet

* Alcoholic beverages
* Avocado
* Chocolate (all forms)
* Coffee (all forms)
* Fatty foods
* Macadamia nuts
* Moldy or spoiled foods
* Onions, onion powder
* Raisins and grapes
* Salt
* Yeast dough
* Garlic
* Products sweetened with xylitol

Warm Weather Hazards

* Animal toxins—toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions
* Blue-green algae in ponds
* Citronella candles
* Cocoa mulch
* Compost piles Fertilizers
* Flea products
* Outdoor plants and plant bulbs
* Swimming-pool treatment supplies
* Fly baits containing methomyl
* Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde

Medication

Common examples of human medications that can be potentially lethal to pets, even in small doses, include:

* Pain killers
* Cold medicines
* Anti-cancer drugs
* Antidepressants
* Vitamins
* Diet Pills

Cold Weather Hazards

* Antifreeze
* Liquid potpourri
* Ice melting products
* Rat and mouse bait

Common Household Hazards

* Fabric softener sheets
* Mothballs
* Post-1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)

Holiday Hazards

* Christmas tree water (may contain fertilizers and bacteria, which, if ingested, can upset the stomach.
* Electrical cords
* Ribbons or tinsel (can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction—most often occurs with kittens!)
* Batteries
* Glass ornaments

Non-toxic Substances for Dogs and Cats

The following substances are considered to be non-toxic, although they may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals:

* Water-based paints
* Toilet bowl water
* Silica gel
* Poinsettia
* Cat litter
* Glue traps
* Glow jewelry

I've also heard rumors that sugar, bleached flour (which immediately converts to sugar), rawhide bones and smoked pigs ears, and other products can cause cancer in dogs due to the way the dog's digestive system processes these foods, or due to the way the food is prepared.

I've noticed A LOT of dog treats, even "organic" ones contain garlic. This is not good because Onions, garlic and chives in all forms (dry, raw, cooked) contain thiosulphate, which can irritate the gastrointestinal system of your dog. A relatively high dosage (600-800 grams) in one meal or spread apart over a few days can damage red blood cells (haemolytic anemia).

Perhaps I'm over reacting here, but Roger is my first dog (who I am the primary caretaker for), and I just don't want him to suffer on account of my ignorance. Maybe it's just a placebo effect, but I feel better knowing that I'm not feeding these foods to my little guy.