NEW MINI DOXIE OWNER HELP [[[PLEASE]]]:eek:

[doxiemom]

I Have Had 2 Doxies We Just Lost One Cause Of Back Problems, We Wanted A Mini And Found One Akc It Was Born Dec 31 -2006 Is It Normal For Them 2 Walk Funny Or Be Hoppy When He Plays, Seems To Lose Balance And Hates The Kitchen Cause It Has Linolium, Can Any One Tell Me If This Puppy Is Okay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:( :( :( :(

[Carol]

If it does not look normal to you, it is a good reason to make an appt. with your vet. He is the only one qualified to diagnose something like this.
They are pretty clumsy the first few months and if he is not hurting himself or acting like he is in pain, perhaps all is okay.
The main thing is: Early vet visit is always better than waiting until something is much worse.
Has this little pup already seen a vet? If not, never too soon to start.

Welcome!
Good Luck with your new puppy.

[toppers]

when you say doxie are you refering to dachshunds? I have mini wire's and mini longs. Hopping one of their back legs when running/ exercising I've seen a couple do that. Your pup is only 7 weeks old so will still be wobbly. Mine were born 30/12/06 and fall over, look like bambi on ice!Be careful not to over feed. Excess weight puts pressure on their legs and makes their feet turn inwards, pups legs sometimes buckle if they get too big too fast. A vet is your best option for advice. I had a six week old pup who was greedy, ate too much, got fat and he went lame. I had to carry him everywhere for 2 weeks and put him on a low fat diet (advice from my vet). He recovered. Back & leg problems in mini's can be hereditary or can be due to obesity, falls or over boisterous play with other pets. If at all worried see a vet. A good vet.

[doxiemom]

Sorry its been 7 years since we had a doxie(easier for me to spell) dachshund and my 7 year old at the time just put him to bed with her and we had little problem. We never knew letting dachshunds go on the bed jump on chairs and couch's would harm the backs of dachshund, Hunter (past away a month ago) had a slipped disc and there was little we could do without doggy insurance. If any one knows good insurance companys for pets let me know as I am searching now. Yes we have taken our new puppy to the vet he is young this is why he doesn't like the tile floor. He is paper trained so its getting better. (((((DO any one Please know how long it will take for them to sleep longer at night, He sleeps in a basket and will not sleep more then 3 hours.

[k9mania]

:) Most of my friends that have Doxies have steps beside the bed and some type of stool or ottoman for the couch. You must be very careful with their backs, the same with Bassetts. I now use a step for my 11 year old border to make her last longer on our backpacking and hiking trips. You can get cheap ones from like Petco.

[Carol]

Someone told me that the # of months of age indicates how long between puppy pees.
ie: 2 months - every 2 hours
3 months - every 3 hours

Patience and persistence. Reward the good behaviour, Ignore the bad and it might be quicker.
Jake who is 10, goes every half hour I swear! I take him out in the middle of the night. He is due for a vet visit to find out why. Hope it is not too serious.
Good Luck with your little one...Bet he is adorable though.

[toppers]

Hi
My dachshund pups are now almost 9 weeks old (last one going to new home on saturday) and crate trained. Basically they don't like sleeping in their own wee and poop. So will go in the crate at 11pm and come out at 6am and go for a huge wee and poop on the paper which is now located outside the back door. I only started using a crate when I got my first dachshund 6 years ago (to prevent the dane from laying on him). I've never used crate's as I'd viewed it as being cruel to lock a dog up. But getting up in a morning to a clean house is a joy. My dachshund trained me! I only lock the crate at night for the pups until they are well and truly trusworthy and do not lock crates at all during the day ( I still believe it is cruel to remove someones freedom after all there are no bad dogs just bad owners). Remember if the pup wee's or poops in the house it's your fault not theirs. You are teaching them. Be patient. DO NOT SMACK PUPPIES!!!!!
Try taking up the water bowl 2 hours before you go to bed. I did this with my son when he was coming out of nappies. I stopped him having drinks 2 hours before bed and hey presto dry nappies! Yes it works with dogs too!

[shell]

Just a thought, I mean, I know I'm new around here, but has anyone ever tried portable dog pens instead of crates? I have one for my pup because its bigger than a crate and I'm one of those annoying people that hate to lock up their critters. I rarely use it because Bandit was so easy to potty train, but it is nice to have around if I know that I'm going to be delayed at work. Even then, Bandit will usually wait until I get home- he's really good about sleeping through the nights too.

[May209]

Crates are still important for them to have their own space. We have bedrooms for our own space and just like us they need space of our own. They need their own den so to speak. It offers they a scence of security. Good luck:)

[toppers]

hi
just to clarify my crate is Great Dane size, I prefer a large crate for my mini daxies, I have kids and although they are trained to let sleeping dogs lie their friends are not, the dogs only use a crate at bed time or in emergencies (e.g sick/injured dog) and as it fits under the kitchen work surface what would be the point of having a pen? The only difference is a lid - a pen still takes away your dogs freedom!

[Carol]

I am a believer that since dogs are social animals and bladders can only hold so much, it is much better if someone is at home.
I went without dogs for many years due to my schedule and my habit of travelling so much on weekends.
Now I have two adopted senior dogs and they each suffer a little separation anxiety when left alone. Together, they are okay to be left for a couple of hours as they are company for each other.
I think it would be very difficult to train a puppy properly on a work schedule and leaving it alone. In fact I doubt that a puppy would turn out to be a stable secure pet under these conditions. The first month of training a puppy is non-stop monitoring and training and nurturing. I cannot imagine trying to do everything in a couple of hours after work that normally would be done all day long repeatedly.
Years ago, when I had a 130 lb. Labrador and I worked, I had a dogwalker/sitter come in at noon and take her out for a walk and play with her for an hour a day. It was worth every penny and my dog was happy with the arrangement. I was able to work and not have guilt pangs. She was 4 yrs old but only being walked at night in the dark was not fun for her.
I am retired now and have adopted these 2 wonderful senior dogs 6 & 10 and I am so happy I have the time for them and it is so rewarding for me.

[shell]

I leave Bandit's pen open; It's his own space. The only time I end up using it is if I have to go back to work later for a once-a-month staff meeting. When the oppotunity arose for me to have Bandit, I made sure to discuss it and clear everything with my family as I knew that I would need help. I work a 9-5 job with a lunch break, so I go home to check on him then. Thing is, I have a very large family that has a lot of affection for my pup. We have been able to set up a nice schedule where some one usually just "hangs out" at my house (Always the same people). Bandit is rarely alone and I have people that I trust to help me out with him.

[Carol]

I am always stumped when people are of a negative opinion of crates.
Dogs in a crate in a vehicle are safer and will more likely survive a crash.
Dogs in a crate at home are safe from excitable kids and inattentive adults.
Dogs in a crate are more prepared to be at the vet's in the event of surgery.
Dogs with access to a crate from 8 weeks are bound to use it for safe secure naps away from the hubub going on in the house.
I have a crate standing in my kitchen and I have the door open all the time unless I am leaving the house for a period longer than one hour.
Every once in awhile I will find Casey and Jake curled up together in there.
They treat the crate like their private little den.
If it is never used for punishment or associated with anger from the owner, it is their haven and respite.
My 2 dogs sleep in doggie beds most of the time but they love the crate too.
I could not use a pen for Jake as he jumps over baby gates so it would have to be a pretty high pen.

[shell]

I don't have problem with crates at all... I just prefer the pen for a little dog like Bandit. It gives him more room to move around and like a crate its his own safety zone. The big difference is that I'm able to adjust the size by folding or unfolding the panels if I have to. As for travelling... well, we use a doggie seatbelt. I tried a crate and all he did was get sick in it. I've had no trouble with that since I switched him to a seatbelt.

[Carol]

I agree. I also use the harness and seatbelt. No room to be thrown about in a collision.
Crates are great upon arrival though.

[shell]

I agree; unfortunately, I don't travel very often. I guess that I'm kind of a homebody at heart.