Q&A

 
 
 
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Q&A with Kaleena

The following are a collection of questions submitted via instagram and my website.

How long have you been breeding Dachshunds?

I purchased my first Dachshund in 2010 and had our first litter the following year. I have been a dog breeder for 18 years though. I started with American Eskimos and Pomeranians.

We just had our first litter, what was something you wish you knew before you started?

I wish I learned tube feeding right away. There are puppies that I could’ve maybe saved if I had learned that process at the beginning. It’s completely vital in my opinion. It’s also easy and a fairly quick task. My 11yr old can do it (under supervision).

What is your favorite color Dachshund?

It changes for me often. For a long while it was chocolate/tan dapple. Then for a couple years it was cream brindle. I really love black or chocolate piebalds with heavy ticking. But I’m currently in the mood for beautiful creams with gorgeous blonde fur.

How can I keep my Dachshund from getting bored and upset in their crate while i’m at work?

There are a few things you can try. Start by always having some excercise or playtime before you leave, that will expend some excess energy. Crate should be large enough that they can stretch out. Include an all natural meaty bone or chew, something that can last a whole day. We like yak chews. You could also try a puzzle ball with treats that take effort to dispense. If their anxiety is significant you might try calming treats or place a pheromone diffuser nearby to reduce stress reaction.

Are puppy tear stains permanent in lighter coats?

No, most puppies grow out of this quickly and the stains will fade or can be washed away with a few sessions of gentle scrubbing. If tears persist they may be allergen related, possibly food or environmental. A vet can assist with that determination and narrowing down the cause.

Best ways to socialize a pup?

When you first get your pup introductions should be limited to family/friends/pets that you know for sure have had their vaccines(the pets not the people). Show people the right way to hold or pet your dachshund and be sure your pup always has a good experience with new people. Bring treats and let others give them to your pup. Once your puppy has been fully vaccinated they can benefit from going with you as many places as possible. Parks, trails, petco, ice cream shops, camping, etc… Introductions to other pets should always be supervised and dogs should be leashed until you can be sure of their reaction. If the other/older dog seems annoyed, give them a break and try again later.

Our mini is coming up to a year old in August. Knowing the issues with their backs do you try to keep them from jumping off things at this young age? If yes how do you do it? We have a nice ramp for him to use but he jumps more often than we would like. Are we right to worry at his young age or are we being over protective?

I believe a strong muscular system can help support a healthy skeletal system. In my pack being active and exercising their agility is encouraged and that does include jumping within reason << key words. I provide a ramp, which they use willingly, but it doesn’t stop them from taking a flying leap sometimes. I am personally more concerned with an older Dachshund or a tiny puppy jumping than I am with a strong young adult.

What’s your favorite postpartum calcium source for your ladies?

During whelping I provide Oral Cal Plus after each puppy is delivered. This paste is quickly absorbed into their system and can help avoid labor complications. After delivery I like to give snacks like cottage cheese, eggs, sliced cheese(good stuff not processed crap), and chicken or beef broth on their food.

Will new Lovebug Doxie owners get a tour of the new Doxie suite when they pick up their new baby?

No, in order to maintain some sense of privacy for my family members we have always limited my clients to the living room which is where you’ll enter the house. Kiddos didn’t sign up for strangers in their home, so we feel strongly about giving them the privacy they deserve.

Some cream puppies with black noses turn liver and some keep the black nose. Any way to tell which ones will stay black?

That is typically a sign of poor pigment and can be more common in ee red or ee cream. Beyond looking at the parents and grandparents for a history of poor pigment I’m not aware of any way that you can predict it. Sometimes the change in pigment can be temporary or seasonal and is referred to as “snow nose”.

How can I get our dachshund to not want to kill our kitten?

Dachshunds are a hunting breed. If they are introduced to cats as pups they can be buddies without issue. But if they didn’t get that introduction early on you’ll be hard pressed to change their mind about the cat being prey. Hiring a professional trainer would absolutely be your best and safest option.

What is it like for you when you retire a dog and they move to another home? Is it an easy adjustment for the dog as well, or are they sad to leave?

Alot of my retirees are placed with family, friends, or someone that already owns a Lovebug Doxie. So in many cases I still get to see them often. It’s a little sad for me, but I know they’re in good hands so I don’t worry. The dog typically adjusts really quickly especially if they go to family they’ve met before. There is some potty training and routine adjusting, but they always do well. Going to homes with only 1-2 dogs also means more one on one attention for them as they grow old and they love that.

When “this fall” will you be opening your waiting list?

I don’t have an exact date in mind at this time. I’d like to fit it inbetween summer litters leaving the nest and fall litters being born. Likely October.

Do you think you’ll ever add a different breed?

I have no intention or desire to own any other breed. I’ll continue to focus on the improvement of my Dachshund program.

I’ve read that there are personality differences between coat types. Do you find this to be true?

In my experience this is a complete myth. Personality has no correlation with hair length. A smooth can be just as sweet as a long, and a long can be just as high spirited as a wire.

Why do you sell your puppies so young?

Every breeder has their own style of placement. Some don’t offer pups till they’re ready to go, this could be for physical evaluations for show purposes, or to allow pups to pick their own families in person. Some accept deposits prior to birth, or even prior to conception and assign 1st pick, 2nd pick, and so on. Some wait a few weeks after birth to know the coat types. All have different reasons and different goals in mind. My personal goal is for families to watch their puppy grow from birth. So I offer pups for reservation when they are a few days old as long as they appear healthy, strong, and gaining weight as expected. This style means I am not the right breeder for everyone, but for others that type of adoption process exactly what they are looking for and creates a strong bond with their puppy. It’s all about preference.

That’s all for now. This was fun. I hope you guys enjoyed picking my brain. I look forward to sharing another soon.

If you’d like to submit a question for a future Q&A please pop it in the box below.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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