Frequently Asked Questions*
There are many questions we receive from other pet lovers, to help address those questions with others who we may not have the opportunity to speak with first hand, we have created the FAQ page. Please feel free to send us questions if they are not listed below. We will do our best to assist you in any way.
Q What should I use for flea / tick control?
A We address this topic with our vet and recommend you do so as well. There are some flea / tick products on the open market that can harm your pet. Please do not underestimate the importance of this topic, we almost lost our first dachshund because of his reaction to a product purchased from a local store. We learned that some flea / tick preventatives include pesticides that have been known to be fatal to some pets. Since that date we have always purchased flea / tick preventative from our vet.
Q I have a pet that already has fleas, what can I do?
A The first thing we would suggest is to wash the pet with liquid dish soap. The dish soap kills the live fleas immediately (we use Palmolive). This will offer some instant relief for your pet. The flea eggs will hatch 3 days after being laid so it is important to consult your vet and apply the chosen flea/tick preventative. Any bedding the pet has had will need to be washed. Carpeting in your home will need to be vaccumed at least once daily - more often if possible. The yard can be treated with a pesticide but it is important to discuss this with your vet as well. The infestation will take days if not weeks to clear up, just continue to treat the pet and any areas that the fleas can be inhabiting. On a side note, dish soap can dry out your dog's skin. Make sure to use only if absolutely necessary, treating fleas in this manner repeatedly can cause dry skin problems and that can be extremely uncomfortable for your pet.
Q Some breeders immunize their pet themselves, is that o.k.?
A Many breeders immunize their pets themselves. It is expensive raising pets and as long as the immunizations are received on time there are (most times) no problems. We choose to have our vet immunize our puppies. The vet visits allow us the opportunity to discuss the babies and the mother and have them checked over. It is just an extra step that we take to be as certain as we can that our puppies are healthy when they leave our home to go to yours. If we have any concerns about the pet we will not hesitate to have him/her checked out and we will update you if there are any questions or concerns with your puppy prior to delivery.
Q What can I expect if I reserve a puppy with you?
A Once you reserve a puppy, we consider that puppy yours and will keep you updated with their progress until they are able to go home with you. We will do our best to send out a weekly email update on your puppy and attach an updated picture with the email so you can see how they are developing and change as they grow. If you do not want to receive the emails, please let us know and we will omit that update for you. As they go to the vet we will update you on their vaccinations, if there were any concerns as well as informing you how well they respond to their vaccination. The 8 weeks of the puppies development are an exciting time and we look forward to watching them grow and keeping you updated along the way.
Q I have a dachshund puppy and want to add another, do you have any advice?
A Dachshunds are absolutely addictive so this question is a common one. First, if you plan to breed puppies you need to make sure that you do not breed more than 1 dapple. If both dogs are dapple you risk having severe deformities and we will not knowingly sell a dapple puppy to a person who intends to breed for double-dapples. Some breeders do take the risk, but in our opinion, the results are not worth the risk. If you do not want puppies, please make sure to spay or neuter your pets, it is extremely difficult to keep two pets from reproducing. If you choose to breed we recommend you do your research. There is a lot of responsibility that comes with breeding and you should make an educated decision prior to breeding your pets.
Q I have decided to bring a second puppy home, now what?
A Congratulations! The one thing you should remember is that your other pet will, most likely, be a little unhappy with the new addition. Make sure to pay attention to your previous pets and try not to increase their anxiety by spending so much time with the new addition. Try to ease the two pets together and increase the attention with the new pet a little more each day, continuing to give your first pet(s) the attention they will be longing for. Eventually they will both learn to share your home, it will just take some time to adjust.
Q My new puppy is here and he/she is not sleeping at night, what can I do?
A A new puppy is much like a new baby. The good thing to remember is that your new puppy will, most likely, sleep through the night before a new baby will :-) Your new puppy has been sleeping with his/her mother and siblings before going to your home. You will be tempted to place them in the bed with you, and that is fine, as long as you intend to continue sleeping with them from that point on. If not, it will be necessary to find a way to make this transition as easy as possible for all of you. First, check with the breeder to see what their schedule was prior to coming to your home. If possible try to keep a similar schedule, that will relieve some stress as the puppy is in a routine that is familiar. Second, if the puppy has an item from their previous home let them have that item at night (a blanket or towel would be perfect). Let the puppy go outside to relieve themselves before placing them in their sleep quarters. Provide water so they can hydrate, as needed, throughout the evening. If you can play a little before bedtime to help tire them out that would be helpful towards getting the puppy to sleep. If the puppy is in a kennel, cover it with a towel / blanket to help them feel secluded and safe, sometimes it's scary being in a new place. As soon as you awake in the morning make sure to take your puppy outside to relieve themselves. Making and keeping a schedule for your pet will allow you the best opportunity at getting a full 8 hours of sleep.
Q What type of schedule do you have for your pets / puppies?
A We keep a fairly standard schedule. Our puppies are all kennel trained, and all but 2 sleep in the kennels each night. Belle and Ozzie were two pets we allowed to sleep in the house. Our dogs are up each weekday between 6:00 and 6:30. We feed them and let everyone outside. The puppies have a doggie door from their kennel area so they can go in and out as they like. The dogs are allowed to come inside during the day as they like. If we leave our home they go to their separate kennels and rest. The children play with them as they can, if there is no school the playtime is on and off throughout the day, if in school they play after homework is done. Each evening around 6:00 we feed them again. Then we have family time where they each choose their favorite location with the family member of their choice. After that we have the dogs go out and play again then it's off to bed between 9:30 and 10:00. They sleep throught the night and stay in their kennels until the next morning. On weekends the schedule may adjust a little with a little later wake up time and bed time.
The puppies are on the same schedule as the adults, we just adjust their outside time for the first 3-4 weeks to allow them time to explore without worrying about the other dogs playing too rough with them. We introduce potty pads to the puppies as soon as they explore outside their birthing pool. They are in our immediate living area 24 hours a day for the first week or two so we can keep an extra close eye on them. At week 2 they all go to the enclosed area we have for the dogs each evening. They share their day in the immediate living area and the kennel from that point on. It is essential to divide the time so the puppies are not expecting attention 100% of the day when they go to your home. They learn to entertain themselves and interact with family during their time in the two areas. Week 5 we introduce the older dogs into the play area and allow the puppies access to the doggie door so they learn to venture outside and explore. At this time we expect the puppies to be well on their way to eating all food themselves, drinking water as needed and not feeding from their mother. The mother is removed from the puppies each evening at this stage to better prepare them to be away from her as they go to their new home. The puppies will all sleep together the entire length of their time with us.
* Please note, the FAQ's are our opinion and are in no way expected to replace your addressing these issues with your vet. The answers are based on our experience with our dachshunds and are not intended to replace your seeking advice from your vet.
