When most Dachshund owners hear the word enrichment, they think of puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, or a stuffed Kong. These tools are great, but here’s the truth: enrichment isn’t the toy or the activity itself – it’s the positive change that activity creates in your dog’s welfare. A dog doesn’t experience enrichment because we buy...

The post Why Most Dog Enrichment Misses the Point first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

Whenever I say I don’t enjoy dog training, it surprises some people because they think my Dachshunds are very well behaved. Let me clarify: I very much enjoy teaching my dogs life skills, but I am not interested in teaching obedience for obedience sake. I want to be able to hike without my Dachshund pulling...

The post 10 Essential Skills Every Adventure Dachshund Should Know first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

Imagine this. You’re on a beautiful forest trail. Your Dachshund happily trots ahead, nose buried in the leaves, tail wagging, clearly in their element. They pause to sniff a fallen log, climb over it, and continue exploring. Then a thought flashes through your mind: “What if they hurt their back?” So you call them back....

The post Helping Your Dachshund Live a Fuller Life Without Ignoring Risk first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

When people say their dog hates the car, I always want to ask one question: What part of the car ride? My Dachshund, Otter, doesn’t hate the car. He happily jumps into my SUV, enjoys neighborhood drives, and is usually comfortable while we travel through town at lower speeds. Then we merge onto the highway....

The post Why Is My Dachshund Anxious on the Highway but Fine in the Car Around Town? first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

Many of the experiences that enrich our Dachshund’s lives require a car ride to get there: Hiking trails, quiet parks, training classes, beaches, sniff spots, and other natural spaces often aren’t within walking distance. For many dogs, the car is the gateway to exercise, enrichment, adventure, and spending quality time with their family. That’s why...

The post Why Your Dachshund Gets Sick, Shakes, or Whines in the Car (and What to Do) first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

When you brought your Dachshund home, you dreamed of hiking together, camping together, exploring new parks, or spending lazy afternoons at dog-friendly events together. Instead, every car ride begins with whining, drooling, panting, pacing, trembling, or maybe even vomiting. It’s heartbreaking. It can also leave you wondering whether it’s kinder to just leave your Dachshund...

The post Is the Trip Worth It If Your Dog Hates the Car? first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

Honestly, I am absolutely pro “make your Dachshund walk” whenever you can. Walking is good for your Dachshund’s health and it can help keep their spine-supporting muscles strong. However, there are times when carrying your Dachshund is appropriate. Let’s discuss them. Reasons Your Dachshund May Need to Be Carried It makes sense to carry your...

The post Should You Carry Your Dachshund? 9 Situations Where a Backpack Makes Sense first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

I’ve been hiking with Dachshunds for over 20 years and I hear the same 10 comments over and over. I’m sure people think they are being original, but I hate to tell them they’re not. They’re predicable to me now. It’s almost a game trying to guess which one of these 10 comments are coming....

The post Hiking With a Dachshund? Prepare to Hear These 10 Things All the Time first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

Besides bringing variety, and a “thrill” to your dog’s taste buds, there are many reasons why you may want to rotate your dog’s food. Why Should I Switch My Dog’s Food? Dog Food Advisor sums it up perfectly, “Since there’s no such thing as a perfect dog food, it’s reasonable to assume every product is...

The post How to Properly Transition Your Dog’s Food (and Why You Should) first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

My first Dachshund Chester was neutered at around 6 months old before me sexually matured. I honestly don’t remember him ever marking in the house. Fast forward to life with Otter, my 2.5 year old intact male, and things look a little different. While I do consider Otter to be potty trained, he occasionally urine...

The post Help! My Male Dachshund Keeps Peeing Indoors first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

My first Dachshund Chester wasn’t actually mine at first. He belonged to my roommate, but I helped raise him. I was there for the walks, the training, and the everyday care. When he was around six months old, my roommate had him neutered. That seemed to be common practice at the time, or at least...

The post When Should I Neuter My Dachshund? A Breed-Specific Look at Timing and Health first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

One of the most common questions I receive about my photos is, “How do you get your dogs to look at the camera?”  I’ve been photographing my dogs for over 15 years, mostly outdoors in a high distraction environment, so I thought I would share some of what I have learned about taking good photos...

The post 9 Tricks to Get Your Dog to Look at the Camera first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

As I wandered the floor of one of the largest pet industry trade shows, a veterinarian from one of the booths caught my attention and showed me a new dog toothbrush design. I explained that I was attending the trade show as “media”, not as a buyer like most attendees, and that I don’t brush...

The post How I Help Keep My Dachshund’s Teeth Healthy Naturally first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

I get it how frustrating it can be when you’re ready for bed and your puppy suddenly decides it’s time do zoomies around the living room. Many Dachshund owners are surprised when their pup seems to get a sudden burst of energy in the evening instead of winding down. This behavior is so common it...

The post Why Your Dachshund Puppy Goes Wild at Night (and How to Help Them Settle) first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

I rarely travel without my Dachshunds. Honestly, I don’t have much interest in going if they can’t come. Although I have flown with each of my dogs on a few occasions, my preferred method of travel is driving. In fact, we’ve taken several big road trips that most people only dream of. UPDTATED: Article originally...

The post Best Websites and Apps for Planning a Dog Friendly Vacation first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

Back problems are one of the biggest health concerns for Dachshunds, and about 1 in 4 will experience intervertebral disk disease (IVDD) in their lifetime. Unfortunately, many Dachshund owners are unaware of this risk. Of those that are, a significant portion are either terrified it will happen to their Dachshund and/or it’s happened to theirs...

The post Breeders in the US That X-ray for Spinal Calcifications in Dachshunds first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

Dogs have come a long way from the farmyards, porches, and backyards of the past. In just a few short decades, our relationship with dogs has shifted dramatically from outdoor companions with loads of freedom to “fur-babies” living inside our homes. On the surface, starting to treat our dogs like family seems like a life...

The post Opinion: Is Treating Our Dogs Like Children Making Them Miserable? first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

If you’ve lived with a Dachshund for any length of time, you’ve probably noticed them stopping mid-activity and lifting one front paw off the ground. To people new to the breed, it can look a little odd or even concerning. But for Dachshunds, it’s a very common behavior. There are several possible reasons your Doxie...

The post Why Dachshunds Lift a Front Paw: Decoding the Behavior first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

The concept of enrichment for animals has been around since the 1950’s and has gained in popularity for domestic pets in the last few years. If you want to know how enrichment got it’s start, and why it’s extremely important, read my article Dog Enrichment: Why All the Hype? In summary: BTW: I can help...

The post 15 Enrichment Ideas for Dachshunds first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

In 2016, my rescue Dachshund Gretel suffered a back injury and was diagnosed with Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD). I knew about IVDD because I had researched back issues in Dachshunds extensively a year prior and was hyper-vigilant about keeping an eye out for any sign that could indicate a disk rupture. On average, 25% of...

The post The Surprising Truth About Dachshund Back Problems first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

I’ve known for a long time that probiotics are helpful in maintaining my Dachshund’s gut health. They help support immune system function, promote digestion and nutrient absorption, help maintain overall health, and more. Probiotics are a supplement that I don’t consider optional. However, I don’t have a favorite. For many supplements, I have a go-to...

The post Dog Supplement Review: PetLab Co Probiotic Chews first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

My Dachshund Chester developed dementia, which is similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans, and is officially called canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) syndrome, in his senior years. It was heartbreaking to watch my little sidekick start to lose his mental faculties. In the end, that is the reason that we had to say goodbye to him....

The post Canine Dementia: Signs, Symptoms, and How to Help Your Aging Dachshund first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

I know how concerning it can be when your Dachshund coughs after drinking water. I’ve owned 4, and only my girl Summit does it, so it freaked me out the first few times. Perhaps like you, my primary concern was that something was wrong with her. Maybe she had a malformed or collapsed trachea. She’s...

The post Why Does My Dachshund Cough After Drinking Water? first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

Every Dachshund owner knows that you can’t go to the bathroom alone! But why is that? Is your Dachshund worried that you might fall in? That there is a boogeyman hiking behind the shower curtain? Or that you might not “do it” right? In all seriousness, there are logical explanations for why your Dachshund follows...

The post Why Are Dachshunds So Clingy? first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

When you go on vacation, of course, you want to bring along your dog. After all, they’re part of the family. But what if you’re planning on heading overseas, instead of somewhere close to home. Traveling internationally with a dog is a big step to take, and there are many extra things that you need...

The post 7 Tips for Traveling Internationally with Your Dog first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

I already own 7 dog strollers (yes, 7, I like to test them and loan them to people in our Dachshund club whose dogs are recovering from a disk herniation) but I jumped at the chance to try out the Ibiyaya Evolution Speedy Fold Pet Buggy when they contacted me. My favorite strollers that I...

The post Honest Review: Ibiyaya Evolution Speedy Fold Pet Buggy (Upgraded Version) first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

Like most of you, I believed that the Dachshund is a scent hound. After all, the American Kennel Club (AKC) classifies them as one, it sounds like there is “hound” in the name, and they love to follow scents with their nose like a hound. Then my my mind was blown! I learned that some...

The post The Dachshund is a Hound, Right? Maybe Not first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

My first experience with Dachshund skin issues was with Chester, my first Dachshund. He was my first dog as an adult and I didn’t know how often I should give him a bath, so I just assumed he needed them frequently. I noticed that he always itched for a couple days afterwards and he often...

The post The Top 3 Dachshund Skin Problems and What to Do About Them first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

Pet owners who are frustrated with their Dachshund’s behavior often seek out a dog trainer for help. The owners have usually been living with an issue for a long time, have reached a point of desperation, and want or need a fix now. There are two primary ways that dog trainers can help – they...

The post Want to Improve Your Dachshund’s Behavior Without Training? Try These Two Things First. first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.

I’ve been camping with my dogs for 20 years and have camped with dozens of other dog friends. When I got my first dog, I obviously couldn’t leave him at home alone for several days at a time, so I just took him with me. Although it was fun, the purpose was utilitarian. Luckily, the...

The post How to Know If Your Dog Ready to Go Camping? first appeared on YouDidWhatWithYourWiener.com.