My family has been raising dogs since I was 2 years old. I have grown up with dogs always being a big part of our family and we had a houseful of them.
Whenever I was 6 years old my Mom got me my own dog. She was a tri-colored Collie. By the time I was 10 years old, I had 3 Collies and so I started raising them. When I turned 14 I started showing them as well. Although I loved raising and showing the Collies, it could take up 2 full days just to groom 1 of them. Also, I was getting sick a lot with very bad ear infections.
So at the age of 15 1/2, I decided I needed to raise something that was lower maintenance. I started researching different breeds and after several months of looking around, going through books and talking to different breeders, I was set on Miniature Dachshunds. They need very little grooming. Just clip their toenails, give them a bath and they are good to go. Also, they rarely need a c-section.
So, I got my very 1st Dachshund when I was 16. It was a black and tan male that I named Slinky and I have been raising them ever since.
At the beginning of raising them I got my self into a lot of messes, I got ripped off and people would sell me dogs promising that they were one thing and they turned out to be just awful. Well, I learned from my mistakes and grew from them.
For about the last 2 years I have really been working on getting the best quality of Dachshunds that possibly can. I have had a good friend from a show kennel that went over all my dogs and helped me to choose the best dogs for my breeding program.
I do not breed for color, I breed most of all for health, confirmation and good personality. All of my puppies are raised in my home with lots of hugs and kisses! We have 2 small children , so the puppies are well socialized with kids, adults and other dogs. I start trimming my puppies' toenails at 2 weeks so they will get used to that. Deworming starts then too. I use Safeguard. They start eating soft food at 4 weeks and they get their 1st shot at 6 weeks. I also start potty training them between 6-8 weeks.
All of my adult dogs inside at night and play outside during the day. We also go on walks together.
My husband says that I spend all my money on my dogs. "If I'm not buying food or shots, I'm buying blankets, toys and bones!" He says I buy more for them than I do my kids. I tell him, "their my kids, too!"
All my dogs are my pets and I only want their babies to go to people who truly are going to love them and give them the best home possible.
