Adopting an Adult
In order to be sure you're getting a healthy, well-adjusted dachshund, there are several things to check for and be aware of before you commit to an adoption or a sale. If you're dealing with professional breeders or rescue workers, they will check many of these things for you. But if you're looking at a pound or shelter, you may be on your own, so you need to know what to look for. Also, when you visit the shelter, you'll need to bring along someone who really knows dachshunds to help you evaluate your potential new dog's temperament.
Take Time Out to Play
It's critical that you are able to observe the dachshund outside of the kennel surroundings. Some shelters have a secluded, fenced-in area away from the din of the kennels. Take the dachsie here and first just observe her for a bit. Is she interested in you? Is she fearful? Aggressive?
Once she's warmed up to you, stand up and walk away from her. What does she do? Does she follow you, wanting more attention and affection? Or does she run off in the other direction? Bring some toys out, and see if she enjoys playing. Will she take a biscuit from your hand? Does she allow you to handle her ears and paws? You'll learn a lot by spending this quiet time with the dachshund.
If the dachshund has been surrendered, the former owner should have filled out an information card, which should include the reasons the dog was given up for adoption. Interestingly, relinquishing owners tend to fabricate bad habits so that they feel justified in getting rid of the dog. So take what you read on this card with a grain of salt.
Talk to Everyone
Talk to everyone who has come in contact with the dachshund you are interested in. If you hear wonderful praises about this dog and how sweet and affectionate he is, odds are you have a dog with a nice temperament on your hands. If the staff and volunteers aren't too sure about the dachsie, it doesn't mean he isn't a nice dog — he just may be one of many dachshunds who doesn't do well in crowded, noisy conditions with strange people and dogs. Or he could be an ill-tempered dog. If you're getting mixed answers, that dachsie will require more extensive observation to determine his true temperament.
Make a Physical Check
Oftentimes the condition of dogs found in shelters and pounds ranges from sad to deplorable. Though the shelter may have treated its dogs for fleas and ticks, they could still have the scabs from infestations and raw, swollen wounds from scratching and biting themselves. Of course, these problems are mostly cosmetic in nature and will heal with good grooming, quality food, and excellent veterinary care. What you want to look for are any signs of disease, injury or chronic conditions that may be difficult or impossible to treat.
Check the dog all over for lumps and bumps under the skin. Lumps could be allergic reactions to bites or stings; they could also be fatty tumors, or worse, malignancies. Does the dog have any tender areas? Any signs of scarring that may have been the result of fighting with other dogs? The eyes should be clear, and all orifices (eyes, nose, ears, and genital and rectal areas) should be free of any discharge. Any signs of lethargy or listlessness could signal an underlying disease.
Watch as the dog moves around the holding area. Is she limping? Does she stumble as if she can't feel very well in her rear legs? Does she have any signs of back pain, such as holding her head lower and moving slowly? If you can, take notes, and ask the dog's handlers and shelter volunteers what they've observed, too.
Be careful when you are handling and looking over a strange dog. You might unwittingly touch a “hot spot,” or an area of intense pain. A dog's natural reaction to this will be to snarl, snap, or bite.
Visit More Than Once
If you're really interested in a particular dachshund, make at least two trips — three if possible — to see the dog. The first can be by yourself. The second should be with an expert to help you evaluate the dachsie. And the third trip should be with family members to see how the dachshund responds to your significant other, children, parents, or others in your household. If the dog and any family member are at odds with each other (if you sense instant distrust or hate), do not adopt the dog.
