Posted on September 07, 2024

Let me first say that for anyone considering going to a rescue shelter to potentially adopt a dog you are to be commended. Despite the fact that many of the dogs available are of mixed breeds you are looking at a much broader picture and in doing so are providing an orphaned dog with a good life and family and giving them a reason for living.In many cases your literally saving their lives. A very noble act to say the least.

However, if on the other hand you are looking to add a specific breed to your family, it goes without saying that you want to be certain that is what you are purchasing. Without either AKC or ACA registration papers there is a very good chance that you are purchasing a puppy that is not pure breed. This is directly reflected by the asking price of these puppies. The reason why the puppies from that so called breeder aren’t accompanied with papers is because either one or both of the parents of those puppies were purchased without papers. The reason why they didn‘t have papers and weren’t registered is usually because those dogs aren’t pure breeds.

The harsh reality is that if a puppy isn’t a pure breed, the chances are much higher that it’s a mixed breed consisting of more than two breeds rather than a cross bred which consists of two breeds. With mixed breeds many of their genes may be conflicting.

Suppose one of your puppy’s breeds has genes for friendliness. Another has genes for being standoffishness, and yet another has genes for aggression. What happens is the puppy subsequently inherits a jumble of conflicting genes. The problem is you don’t know which genes will be more dominant than the others. There’s also a chance that they blend together and produce some type of intermediate result.

The following are some of the harsh realities of mixed breeds:

Common behavior and training problems that arise include barking, aggression, anxiety, stress, aggression, nipping, and fearfulness. Mixed breeds have among the highest risk of biting. Also, recessive genetic traits are more likely to appear in the offspring of mixed breeds. As parents of children, protecting them is at the top of our priority list. One important fact to bear in mind is that even though a dog/puppy may look EXACTLY like the breed you’re looking for, that’s not always the case. The only way to be certain that a puppy is pure bred is if it has AKC or ACA papers. A friend and fellow breeders parents purchased a puppy to serve as the family dog when she was a child. They were looking for and purchased what they both believed to be a miniature dapple Dachshund. When the puppy was eight months old my friend who was eight years old at the time came home from school one day and upon doing so ran into the kitchen to give the puppy a hug. The puppy was caught off guard and in that split second perceived her as being a threat. As a result, the puppy bit her twice in the face latching on the second bite. After getting the puppy to release they had to rush her to the hospital where she had to be given twelve stitches to close both lacerations. To this day she carries with her both the physical and emotional scars from that day. The parents had a DNA test performed on the puppy because it was so out of character for a Dachshund to attack a family member. As it turned out the puppy was like 50% Dachshund, 30% Russell Terrier, and 20% Pomeranian. And yet it looked exactly like a Dachshund. One of the reasons my friend became a breeder was to help ensure that people looking for a Dachshund to add to their family were getting precisely that… a pure bred Dachshund.

Of course, to have the perfect miniature Dachshund be part of your family requires early socialization which we begin with all of our puppies at four weeks of age through interactions with other people, children, other pets, car rides, and of course lots of love. I’ve listed some of the benefits of early socialization below as well as providing some tips for you when you bring your puppy to it‘s forever home. In closing regarding unregistered puppies, a phrase I heard numerous times growing up which has repeatedly proven to be true throughout the course of my life is that “You Get What You Pay For!”

Benefits of Early Socialization

Early socialization has numerous benefits for Dachshunds, including:

Improved Behavior: Dachshunds who are well-socialized are less likely to exhibit problem behaviors, such as aggression, fearfulness, and anxiety.
Better Adaptability: Dachshunds who are exposed to a variety of people, animals, and experiences are better equipped to handle new situations and adapt to changes in their environment.
Improved Training: Dachshunds who are well-socialized are more receptive to training and can learn new behaviors more easily.
Increased Confidence: Dachshunds who are well-socialized are more confident and self-assured, which can help them navigate the world with ease.

Tips for Early Socialization

To ensure your Dachshund receives the benefits of early socialization, it's important to expose them to a variety of people, animals, and experiences during their critical socialization period. Here are some tips to get you started:

Introduce your pup to new people, including men, women, and children.
Expose your pup to different types of animals, including dogs, cats, and other small animals.
Take your pup on car rides, walks in different environments, and to new places.
Introduce your pup to different types of sounds, such as vacuum cleaners, thunderstorms, and fireworks.

What is Early Training?

Early training involves teaching your Dachshund basic obedience commands, such as sit, stay, and come, during their critical learning period, which typically occurs between 8 and 16 weeks of age. By starting training early, you can help your Dachshund develop good habits and behaviors that will last a lifetime.

Benefits of Early Training

Early training has numerous benefits for Dachshunds, including:

Improved Behavior: Dachshunds who receive early training are less likely to exhibit problem behaviors, such as chewing, digging, and barking.
Better Bonding: Training with your Dachshund can help strengthen the bond between you and your pup.
Improved Communication: Early training can help your Dachshund learn to communicate with you effectively.
Improved Safety: Early training can help keep your Dachshund safe by teaching them to come when called, stay away from dangerous objects, and avoid potentially harmful situations.

Tips for Early Training

To ensure your Dachshund receives the benefits of early training, it's important to start teaching them basic obedience commands as soon as possible. Here are some tips to get you started:

Start with basic commands, such as sit, stay, and come.
Use positive reinforcement, such as treats and praise, to reward good behavior.
Keep training sessions short and frequent, and always end on a positive note.
Be patient and consistent, and never use physical punishment or negative reinforcement.

Early socialization and training are essential to the health and wellbeing of your Dachshund. By exposing your pup to new people, animals, and experiences during their critical socialization period and teaching them basic obedience commands during their critical learning period, you can help your pup become a well-adjusted, confident, and friendly adult dog.

At Longwood Lakes Miniature Dappled & Piebald Dachshunds, we understand the importance of early socialization and training for your furry friend. If you're interested in learning more about our breeding program or have questions about Dachshund socialization and training, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at (689) 345-4705 or longwoodlakesminidachshunds@gmail.com. We're always happy to help!