Dachshund's Best Life

While I've slowly been shedding my identify as a "pet blogger" over the last few years, a few big personal losses, and the realization that I've never held one "career" for 15 years, makes me feel like the time for true change is now. I'm going to double down on personal connection with you and shift my primary focus from the blog to this podcast and YouTube. Thanks...

It's been 2 months since we said goodbye to Gretel. In this update, I talk about the emotional balance between feeling sad but not too sad. I also explain about trying to find the opportunity in the hole left in our lives. Follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dachshund educational blog⁠⁠

Believe it or not, Dachshunds can be trained. What is often interpreted as "stubborn" or defiant is simply a breakdown in communication. Your dog needs to understand what you expect of them and have the skills to do the right thing. These 10 things made living with my Dachshunds easier, , improved my relationship with them, and allows me to successfully manage up to 6 Dachshunds at a tim...

After an amazing camping weekend, and the the best life I could have given her, I had to let Gretel go to on to her next adventure without me. My whole live has been punctuated by loss and grief. I think it's something that needs to be talked about more openly - especially pet loss when so many people don't understand that pets are family. Sometimes, the loss of them hurts even more. In th...

We all want to give our Dachshunds the best life that we can. However, even I, who left my government job in 2012 to dedicate myself to my Dachshunds and helping others, can't always give 100%. The fact is, life is crazy, unpredictable, and emotionally draining at times. At the same time my senior Dachshund was experiencing a health issue, two of my most important family members were in health cri...

They say Dachshunds are like potato chips, you can't have just one. These cute, funny, quirky little dogs will snuggle into your heart, and you may want another. Obviously, a person can't really have ALL THE WIENER DOGS, but how many could you realistically own? In this episode, I discuss all of the things you should consider when the urge strikes to rescue another or get another puppy. For more i...

(Part 2 of 2) Whether you are a first-time Dachshund owner, haven’t owned one in a long time, or are thinking of getting one, you’ll definitely want to know these 25 important facts about Dachshunds. I wish I knew some of the things I know now from the beginning so I am going to share them with you below. Knowledge is power and it makes for a happy healthy life for both you and your Dachshund. In...

I'll be back next week with Part 2 of 25 Dachshund facts every owner should know, but I wanted to share a short episode on how to help your anxious Dachshund cope with houseguests. Entertaining friends and family may bring you joy, but those occasions can be some of the scariest times of the year for your Dachshund. I'll share three of the biggest keys to helping your dog have a good time too. If...

(Part 1 of 2) Whether you are a first-time Dachshund owner, haven’t owned one in a long time, or are thinking of getting one, you’ll definitely want to know these 25 important facts about Dachshunds. I wish I knew some of the things I know now from the beginning so I am going to share them with you below. Knowledge is power and it makes for a happy healthy life for both you and your Dachshund. In...

Crate training your Dachshund simply means training your dog to be comfortable in a crate (or small enclosure). While the crate can be used as a tool to help with potty training or as the place your dog sleeps at night, those are totally separate choices. In this episode, I discuss the 5 crucial reasons that you MUST crate train your Dachshund. You just never know when you might need to use it. Re...

Today, I talk with Christy Caplan, vet tech, freelance writer, and author of the blog WagAndCluck.com . Christly helped me a lot when I was navigating life with my first senior Dachshund, Chester. In this raw and real discussion, we define what a senior dog is to us, share how we navigate care when a cascade of things start to go wrong, and share insight into how to know when it's time to let a be...

I was lucky enough to land an interview with THE Dr. Adam Christman - internet celebrity, vet educator, winner of the 2023 Bright Minds Industry Influencer Award, and Dad to 4 Dachshunds. In this episode, we discuss what causes back injuries in Dachshunds, how to keep your senior Dachshund healthy into their senior years, plus more! For more great tips and advice from Dr. Adam, follow him 👉 On In...

Canine Good Citizen (CGC) is a test that "proves" that your Dachshund is well-behaved and resilient when faced with unfamiliar people, dogs, sights, and sounds. Believe it or not, Dachshunds are capable of passing this test! In this episode, I talk with Chelsea, a long-time follower of our blog about the requirements of the test, how to prepare for it, and some advice about taking it. He...

It's easy to fall victim to puppy fever once you decide that you want a Dachshund. But being emotional about your choice and wanting one right away can mean you ignore red flags! Before you know it, you could find yourself without your money OR a puppy. Or you can discover that your puppy has health and behavior issues because they came from a puppy mill. In this episode, I talk about what a p...

Welcome to the first interview podcast episode. Today, I talk with Kerisa Tiongson of @wheretonextbutters (Dachshund IG account) and @ ⁠travelingtiongsons⁠ . She has been traveling full-time for several years now in her popup camper with Butters the Doxie, Tiskies the cat, and her husband. In this episode, she shares what inspired her to embark on her full-time travel adventure, the steps she took...

Dogs are our teachers. Each of my Dachshunds has taught me something important, and I share those "ah-ha" moments in this episode. Some of what I learned sometimes helped improve the life of my Dachshund immediately. Other things I realized only in hindsight, so they improved the lives of Dachshunds that came after him or her. I also share a special announcement: I recently became a cert...

Did you know your Dachshund is trying to tell you something with their "bad behavior"? Growling, bearing teeth, nipping, or biting are often labeled as aggression when, in fact, are just "dog speak". Dog's primary way of communicating is through body language, and it's very important that we "hear them". Today, I share an incident that happened in January that...

Being a Dachshund sitter fun and games, but it's also a lot of work! I take my job very seriously, and I don't think people understand that snuggling lots of weenies is only a small part of what I do, so I thought I would share some details. In this episode, I discuss introductions, schedules, management of multiple personalities, and tools I use to help keep everyone safe and happy. If yo...

In this episode, I discuss 5 lessons I learned that have helped me understand my Dachshunds better, improve our relationship, and compel me to train with intention. If you have questions about Dachshund behavior, training, diet and health, or just need to talk through something with a fellow doxie lover, you can sign up for a ⁠1-on-1 coaching session⁠ . Follow us on: ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Faceboo...

In this first episode of the Dachshund's Best Life podcast, I discuss learning gaps - you don't know to learn more about something you don't even know exists - and how misinformation about Dachshund care can spread online. I also discuss when to spay and neuter your Dachshund & how assumptions and stereotypes can harm your dog and your relationship. If you have questions about Dach...