New Puppy

[DaveNV]

Some of you may know I've been looking for a new dog, after having had to put my previous dog to sleep several years ago. It's been an interesting search, and I've learned a lot about a variety of breeds and (maybe more importantly) some dog breeders.

This last weekend I brought home my new puppy. He's a dapple black and cream longhaired Mini Dachshund. After all the looking and learning, I decided to go with the breed I know best. Other than his coloration, this little guy is the same as my previous dog. I couldn't be happier.

This is Cody. He'll be nine weeks old tomorrow.

Dave

 

[DaveNV]

Another pic of Cody

 

[DaveNV]

Last one for now

 

[Jestjoan]

Congrats!

Cody is adorable. Is he a blue merle? Love the "black eye."

 

[vacationhopeful]

Congratulations on the NEW BABY! He so cute!

May the toddler and teenage years (months) go quickly and with your house not suffering too much damage.

 

[Passepartout]

He's a cutie pie. I hope he gets as much love as he gives you. There is no limit to it.

Jim

 

[Sandy VDH]

Puppies are just do darn cute, it is hard not to fall in love with all of them.

 

[DaveNV]

Cody is adorable. Is he a blue merle? Love the "black eye."

Thanks, everyone.

Yes. He is "dapple," the Dachshund equivalent to blue merle in other breeds. His coloration is black and cream (it's like black and tan, but with lighter tan points.) The dapple overlay pattern causes areas of his black coat to dilute to silver. In Cody's case, he has so much dapple effect, he appears to be silver with black patches. They call that "Reverse Dapple."

What you can't tell in these pictures is that he's only about a foot long. Small, but full of life. He's a happy puppy.

Dave

 

[slip]

He's a keeper, congratulations Dave.

 

[chellej]

adorable....congratulations

 

[JudyH]

I don't even want another dog, but I want him! So cute, so small, have fun.

 

[LAX Mom]

Such a cute, cute puppy! I've never seen the dapple coloring, but I love it. Dogs truly are Man's best friend. Thanks for sharing the pictures of your new pup!

 

[JanT]

Congratulations, Dave! So happy for you and happy for your new puppy as I know you will be so good to him.

We lost our girls 4 and 5 years ago. We want to get another dog in the future but want to get some traveling done first. Then dedicate ourselves the way we should to a dog.

Congratulations again!

 

[heathpack]

Cutey Pie!

Ok, that dog is darn cute.

Now for the serious part:
1. Keep him skinny skinny skinny
2. Crate train him so if he ever need "strict crate rest" for a disc problem, he'll be content with it
3. No jumping onto/off of furniture. Minimize any impact to the spine. Even avoid stairs if practical. "Flat ground, good footing" should be your mantra
4. Any little limping or relctanace to walk/move, take it seriously. Crate confine until you can see the vet. If the vet cannot specifically find an orthopedic problem, assume its the spine. Rest him strictly for 6 weeks
5. Sometimes back pain is referred to the abdomen- if he seems to have belly pain but no vomiting of diarrhea, consider it might be back pain. Rest, rest, rest.
6. Walking is the best form of exercise for a doxie.

H

 

[Steve]

Hi Dave,

Congratulations! Cody is an awesome looking little puppy. Best wishes to him and to you.

(You also have great taste in cars!)

Steve

 

[Gracey]

OMGosh that dog is so stinking cute! You should make him your new avatar
I had a long haired daschund for my childhood dog therefore I am very partial to them. Congratulations!

 

[jackio]

He is adorable ! Congratulations.

 

[Paumavista]

Sooo cute!

I don't want to do the puppy stage ever again......but wow is he cute!

We're planning to look for a dog once we get into our new house next year but it MUST BE an older dog - I really want to KNOW that it is housetrained; is great with kids; and isn't a "runner" (i.e. doesn't need a fence since we'll have a couple acres) on a golf course. Hope we're able to find what we want but we're in no hurry........

 

[DaveNV]

Ok, that dog is darn cute.

Now for the serious part:
1. Keep him skinny skinny skinny
2. Crate train him so if he ever need "strict crate rest" for a disc problem, he'll be content with it
3. No jumping onto/off of furniture. Minimize any impact to the spine. Even avoid stairs if practical. "Flat ground, good footing" should be your mantra
4. Any little limping or relctanace to walk/move, take it seriously. Crate confine until you can see the vet. If the vet cannot specifically find an orthopedic problem, assume its the spine. Rest him strictly for 6 weeks
5. Sometimes back pain is referred to the abdomen- if he seems to have belly pain but no vomiting of diarrhea, consider it might be back pain. Rest, rest, rest.
6. Walking is the best form of exercise for a doxie.

H

Thanks for the great advice, and the compliment. I know you see these guys every day.

I know the risks of an overweight Doxie. This one will benefit from the lessons I learned the last time around. The food I've got him on is Natural Balance Bison and Sweet Potato kibble. http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/product.aspx?ProductId=16 He seems to really like it, and it seems a smart choice to keep him lean. (My two rescue cats I've had for eleven years have been on Natural Balance their entire lives, and they still look and act like kittens.) No table scraps or high-calorie treats.

He is already crate trained, thanks to the excellent, nurturing breeder. She did great by him. He sleeps in his crate every night, next to the bed. Close, but not too close, and under control. Has a quiet toy and a sleeping blanket. He seems fine with it so far.

The running/jumping/stairs has been very limited so far, partially because he's too small to jump off anything yet, and also because I'm not letting him run loose in the house. He's confined to a safe, exercise pen play area during the day while I'm at work, and he's highly supervised when I'm home. I've been there before with a puppy, and I don't want him eating the furniture or hurting himself.

We're playing only in the yard right now, since he's smaller than the smallest harness I was able to find. Leash training and walking will come when he's a bit bigger.

I've already scheduled a "well puppy" visit with my Vet, to coincide with the date for his second distemper shot. I'll also have him microchipped the same day. He'll be neutered when the time his right. This little guy will be with me his entire life, and I want it to be a good, long life for us both.

Thanks again, everyone, for the encouragement. I'd forgotten how much fun having a well bred puppy can be.

Dave

 

[heathpack]

Thanks for the great advice, and the compliment. I know you see these guys every day.

I know the risks of an overweight Doxie. This one will benefit from the lessons I learned the last time around. The food I've got him on is Natural Balance Bison and Sweet Potato kibble. http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/product.aspx?ProductId=16 He seems to really like it, and it seems a smart choice to keep him lean. (My two rescue cats I've had for eleven years have been on Natural Balance their entire lives, and they still look and act like kittens.) No table scraps or high-calorie treats.

He is already crate trained, thanks to the excellent, nurturing breeder. She did great by him. He sleeps in his crate every night, next to the bed. Close, but not too close, and under control. Has a quiet toy and a sleeping blanket. He seems fine with it so far.

The running/jumping/stairs has been very limited so far, partially because he's too small to jump off anything yet, and also because I'm not letting him run loose in the house. He's confined to a safe, exercise pen play area during the day while I'm at work, and he's highly supervised when I'm home. I've been there before with a puppy, and I don't want him eating the furniture or hurting himself.

We're playing only in the yard right now, since he's smaller than the smallest harness I was able to find. Leash training and walking will come when he's a bit bigger.

I've already scheduled a "well puppy" visit with my Vet, to coincide with the date for his second distemper shot. I'll also have him microchipped the same day. He'll be neutered when the time his right. This little guy will be with me his entire life, and I want it to be a good, long life for us both.

Thanks again, everyone, for the encouragement. I'd forgotten how much fun having a well bred puppy can be.

Dave

Ask the vet to put the microchip between his shoulder blades or even lower, more over his thorax. The metal in the chip can cause an artifact on a MRI should he ever need one. Extremely unlikely he will ever need an MRI of any structure in this thorax (normal breathing causes MRI motion artifact and degrades image quality) but there's a small chance he might need an MRI someday in his neck (ie if he has a disc problem). It's always nice if there is not microchip artifact on the MR study.

Doxies are the best. I do indeed see them very frequently in my practice, so it's a good thing I like them. I even have two of the little buggers myself.

It sounds like your guy is off to a great start!

H

 

[falmouth3]

Congrats, Dave. I'm so happy you have a 4 legged love in your life again. Nothing better than puppy kisses.

Sue

 

[siesta]

Congrats, Dave. I'm so happy you have a 4 legged love in your life again. Nothing better than puppy kisses.

Sue

Yes, and the soft feet before they turn rough and callous is the best.

Congrats on the new pup!

 

[DaveNV]

Ask the vet to put the microchip between his shoulder blades or even lower, more over his thorax. The metal in the chip can cause an artifact on a MRI should he ever need one. Extremely unlikely he will ever need an MRI of any structure in this thorax (normal breathing causes MRI motion artifact and degrades image quality) but there's a small chance he might need an MRI someday in his neck (ie if he has a disc problem). It's always nice if there is not microchip artifact on the MR study.

Doxies are the best. I do indeed see them very frequently in my practice, so it's a good thing I like them. I even have two of the little buggers myself.

It sounds like your guy is off to a great start!

H

Thanks! I'll definitely go that route. I hadn't considered the location could be a factor.

Any opinion on the food I've chosen? It seems good, but I have no reference other than that label data.

Dave

 

[siesta]

Thanks! I'll definitely go that route. I hadn't considered the location could be a factor.

Any opinion on the food I've chosen? It seems good, but I have no reference other than that label data.

Dave

I'm no vet, but we've always used "Natural Choice" dog food. Happy with the inggredient list.

 

[mrsstats]

He is so adorable. Makes me want to get a puppy right now.