Dachshund hounds are a wonderful small dog breed

When I decided to adopt a puppy, I knew I needed to research small dog breeds. Living in an apartment in the city meant that having a big dog was simply out of the question. I desperately wanted a canine companion, but I also wanted to make sure I chose one who could play fetch in the house and wouldn't require wide open fields to stay healthy and active. My friend knew I was looking for small dogs breeds and pointed me to a Dog Breed Gallery online. From there, I was able to look at all the different choices I had and make an informed decision. My first choice was a Boston Terrier. I just love those squishy little faces! Alas, I live in a 4th floor walk up apartment with one small a/c unit, and dogs with adorable flat faces simply don't function well if they can't be kept cool at all times. I was afraid the summer months in the city would be too much for a Boston buddy.

That's when I decided to think about Dachshunds. All the wiener dogs I've ever met have had nice, pointy faces, good for staying cool in the summer, but they have also had great big personalities. They are a playful breed that enjoys activity but are also happy to cuddle up with you in the evenings. Best of all, they stay small and can be perfectly happy in a house without a lot of space; in fact, some can even be trained to use a litter box or potty mat indoors which is very convenient in bad weather.

I decided to visit a small dog breed rescue site, and that's where I met my adorable new companion. She's turned out to be the perfect pet – it is simply a delight to come home to her wagging tail after a long day at work!

Warmer weather means fleas

My little dog has been bothered by fleas more now that it is warming up. In the house I use a premise spray as well as using a spot-on treatment for the dog. The problem is the warm weather - it speeds up the hatching out of the flea eggs. The spot-on treatment does work but the flea has to be on the dog for about 3-24 hours before it dies. That is a long time for a dog to put up with biting fleas running around on their bodies before they die.

My dog has gotten to the point that he prefers to be outside in the cooler evening and night time temperatures because he is bothered by the fleas. Right now as I write this he is standing near the where the corner tv stands waiting for me to get up and let him outside where it is cooler.

I need something that will kill the fleas on the dog and yet not interfere with the spot-on treatments either. I also do not want to make the dog sick from applying too many pesticides. Is that too much to ask?

Dog playing with fawn or is it really play?

Found this cute video on You Tube. To the uneducated about dogs and deer, it looks like they are playing. Watch the video first then read my comments below -


 

 The dog is happy just running around with the ball. The deer on the other hand is seeing a predator that is just a bit crazy. The deer attacks the dog with its very sharp front hoofs. That is an act of aggression in a deer, not play. At one point in the video you hear the dog yelp in pain. The deer must have gotten the dog good with the hoofs.

Another fact from the youtube video page is that the people who claim to have "rescued" the deer feed it cat food. Who in their right minds feeds a herbivore meat?

Looks like you get all kinds on YouTube. 

The advantage of owning a small breed dog

When I became a small breed dog owner several years ago, I never thought that having a small breed would cut down on grooming time and costs. I don't have to give my small dog a bath in the bath but take him to my stainless steel sink in the kitchen for a quick wash down.

Using spot on flea products are cheaper since they sell them by the ml for the size dog.

Yes there are advantages to having a small breed dog.