It Frustrates Me

I find all of these Dachshunds on websites that need to be adopted because their owners got rid of them. It frustrates me. It really does. First of all, people talk about how Dachshunds are hard dogs to handle. I'll give them that. Out of love for the breed, I'll say there are some things you should know about Dachshunds before adopting one:
1. They are stubborn. Really. They are very stubborn. (In fact, if your Dachshund isn't stubborn, there's something wrong with it.)
2. They know it all. (Obviously they don't talk. But, you can tell by the way they act that they honestly believe they know everything.)
3. They eat too much. They don't say no to food... so you have to say no to it for them. They need strict diets so that they are not overweight and putting strain on their backs. If you are a person who likes to show your dog love through food, you shouldn't have a Dachshund, otherwise you might literally love them to death.
4. They are DIFFICULT to housebreak. VERY difficult. In fact, some of them may very well never be house broken (or at least not fully house broken). If you value a spotless house, a Dachshund is not for you.
5. They need people. (Most dogs do.) If you are a person who is gone more than you are home, a Dachshund is not for you.
6. Many are spiteful. They don't get mad- they get even. If you do something to make them angry, it WILL come back to bite you. (This may just be my 2, but I have a feeling it's not.)
7. They need to be inside. They are not meant to be outside dogs and they will bark and bark and bark to let you know that. Put them in the house. Don't leave them out. They are small and do not do well with extreme (or even mild) heat or cold.

There are so many positive things about Dachshunds that outweigh the bad. But, if you aren't willing to deal with the bad, then the good will never outweigh it for you. Above all, you must remember that a dog, any dog, is a lifetime commitment. It is not something to be taken lightly. That decision impacts another living being's life. Keep that in mind when deciding on a dog.

When I got Milly and Shelby (my precious Dachshunds) I did not know anything about Dachshunds. I have learned a great deal in the past 4.5 years. Some of what I have learned is listed in #s 1-7 above. Some of what I have learned was hard and learned the hard way. It hurt. It made me mad. It made me want to jump up and down and scream and yell and cry... but it never made me love them less... and never made me want to give them up. The fact of the matter is that Milly and Shelby bring so much joy to my life that there is nothing I would not do to keep them. They have a forever home here with me and my husband. They are loved and cared for. We understand that things happen and we have learned to take some preventative measures when necessary (like picking up shoes so they don't end up with holes in them and closing doors so the carpet isn't ruined). It's really a small price to pay for the joy they add to our lives.

All I am asking is that before you pick a dog, do your research. Make the right choice for you. If you want a dog who is full of personality, love-of-life, tail wags, sloppy kisses, funny dances, and warning barks... a Dachshund is for you. They are truly awesome dogs... but they are NOT your "typical" dog by any means. Please make an informed and educated decision.

You

You keep me sane.
You make me laugh.
You make me smile.
You come to my rescue.
You know me.
You love me.
You are amazing.
You. Are. My. Life.

I love you.

I Rarely Admit This

And maybe that's part of the problem, but it's a hard thing to admit.

I rarely admit that I need other people. I try very hard to be independent (and am for the most part). I hate to admit that I can't do it all. I cannot be everything to everyone. I cannot be 10 different places at one time. I cannot be one person to someone and another person to someone else. It is so hard. Sometimes (ok, all the time) I bite off more than I can chew, so to speak.
                         My latest example: Here's is my life as it currently stands:
Sunday- church (not nearly often enough), laundry, cleaning, grading/school work/preparing for my class I'm taking
Monday- work, meeting, get ready for Tuesday, go home, make dinner (sometimes), watch tv, go to bed
Tuesday- work, class, go home, eat dinner Jake made, watch tv, go to bed
Wednesday- work, meeting, get ready for Thursday/plan for next week, go home, make dinner, watch tv, go to bed
Thursday- work, plan for next week, make copies for next week, go home, make dinner, watch tv, go to bed
Friday- work, finalize things for next week, go home, make dinner, watch tv, get a few things done around the house, to go bed
Saturday- spend entire day doing things around the house

Through all of this I am also being evaluated this year to hopefully get a continuing contract. It is exhausting. Utterly exhausting.

Sanctus Real - Forgiven (Official Music Video)

Halloween Ribbon Wreath

Birdies and Yard Work

They were starting to rust and not look so hot...

So, now they're shining. :)

Perfect!

Before... pitiful, diseased bushes.

No more! Chopped them down, pulled them up... they're gone!