Let’s face it, pet shelters are overpopulated. Unfortunately, this trend will seemingly continue.
The sad truth is- doxies are a part of this population. Doxies are still the most popular pet dogs, thanks to their cute and energetic nature. But despite this, many of them are still stuck in shelters.
Most of them are found abandoned, and some returned to the shelters by the owners.
Why There Are So Many Dachshunds in Shelters
Curious to know why there are so many dachshunds in shelters? Consider the following reasons.
1 – Ownership Costs
Well, owning a dog is expensive, and doxies are no exception.
Getting your pup from a shelter could be inexpensive. As a matter of fact, you hardly spend a buck. Raising your dog is the most demanding part.
First off, feeding your dachshund will cost you around 50 bucks a month – including special diets and treats for rewards. But that’s not too expensive. Yeah? That’s not all.
Because doxies are playful, and there’s a need to keep them a little busy and less bored, you’ll need to get your pup a toy. This won’t cost you an arm and a leg, though.
Your dog, just like you, needs proper medical care – and this can be costly. Regular vet check-ups and dental care could cost more than $1000 per year.
Guess who loves taking naps, and goodnight sleeps on a cozy bed – that’s right, doxies. Getting a bed specially designed to grant your pup the comfort it needs could cost up to 100 bucks a year, and that’s not all…
Your pup also needs grooming and cleaning.
These and other expenses could prove costly – enough to scare away those thinking of adopting a pup. Similarly, those who already adopted them could find it more expensive than they anticipated, ultimately returning them to the shelter.
2 – Yes, They Need Training
You don’t want your dachshund misbehaving and causing trouble. Training is, therefore, vital.
Training a dachshund can be one heck of a task – a process that requires lots of patience, time, and love.
Training a doxie can be physically and emotionally draining. Not to mention that it can cost a lot of money too.
Depending on the environment that your doxie grew up in, your dog might have behavior issues. Getting rid of such requires a lot of patience and time.
Dachshunds are also known for their stubbornness. Thus, turning your doxy into that sweet, obedient baby requires a lot of work and possibly the intervention of a professional trainer.
This process could scare away aspiring dachshund owners. Owners could also resort to returning them to the shelter when they face behavioral issues that they don’t seem to easily get rid of.
3 – Inability to Make Time
Dachshunds are playful, entertaining, and they love cuddling. This means that you need to make time with the little buddy- and, well, many people have busy lives.
With crazy work schedules, lots of time needed to attend to businesses, and personal issues, creating time for the doxie may prove to be a daunting task.
Cases of overweight among doxies are common. This can result in health complications and accidents. To avoid this, you need to exercise your pup. Regular walks and play are the perfect ways to exercise a dachshund. Sadly, many owners hardly have time for this.
For owners who are hardly home because of the nature of work and other commitments, having a doxie around can be a little tricky.
Dachshunds love company- and they tend to be bored and anxious when left alone. They may demonstrate this by barking endlessly- and this could cause problems with the neighbors.
Inability to grant the dog the attention it needs could force the owner to take it to the shelter.
4 – Change in Circumstances
Getting married? Beautiful. Welcoming a baby? Amazing. What about your doxie? Not sure? Getting married or welcoming a baby are some of the things that will completely change circumstances at home.
Such require financial, physical, and psychological commitment- and so does your dog. If you initially had only your doxie to take care of, it could prove challenging to split your attention between the two.
Owners incapable of caring for their dogs and the new family circumstance, easily give them up to the shelter.
Similarly, individuals battling health complications that may make them allergic to dogs, or render them incapable of taking care of them, might give up the dogs to the shelter for proper care.
Further, owners changing residence might find it hectic moving with the dog. Owners moving to places where landlords don’t allow in pets, or with roommates that are allergic to pets might be forced to drop them at the shelter.
5 – Many Animals at Home
A little too many? Well, many people simply can’t get over the obsession of having pets around- and so, having one more won’t hurt.
Dachshunds are natural hunters – and it might take a while to train them to live with other pets at home. Taming the natural instinct of viewing your cat or rabbit as prey, requires lots of patience.
Owners who are not patient enough might resort to returning the dachshund back to the shelter for fear of it being a threat to the other pets.
Further, many people neglect the need to spay or neuter the dog. Such leads to overproduction, more pups than needed, that eventually could be taken to the shelters.
The same case is with breeders, whose intentions are to sell dogs – all of which depend on making the dogs reproduce. The number of pups could end up being more than the demand.
If found by good samaritans, or animal control, they are taken to the shelters for proper care.
Can You Help?
Dachshunds are lovely pets. Their loyalty, love for their owners, overprotective nature, and intelligence make them adorable companions.
Adopting a doxie is a lifetime commitment – not something to be taken lightly.
These pets need love, attention, and care. A slight change in these will result in them being depressed. Keeping the following in mind before and after adopting a doxie will help eliminate the chances of them becoming ‘inconvenient.’
1 – Are You ready?
Having a dachshund is a full time commitment that comes with responsibilities. Lots of them.
Financially, you should be ready to buy food, take care of its medical expenses and toys. You’ll also spend on grooming your dog as we saw earlier.
To have an easy time with your doxie, you’ll need to train it- and that would require the help of a professional trainer, which can be costly.
How much time do you have? Can you spare some for your doxie? Before adopting one, ensure you can spare some time for frequent walks, and play with your dog. That way, you’ll keep it healthy and make your bond stronger.
Being financially and emotionally ready will help eliminate instances where a dog is “no longer needed.”
2 – Don’t Buy – Adopt
Instead of buying and enriching the breeder, save a doxie by adopting one from the shelter.
Breeders keep dogs for only one purpose; making profits. They’re kept under poor condition- mostly caged, and once they can no longer breed, they’re disposed of by either being killed, or abandoned.
When you adopt, you give a doxie a chance to be part of your family and experience the warmth and love.
That way, you’ll also leave a chance in the shelter for another dachshund that might be in more need of shelter.
Animals in shelters receive special care and attention. Adopting means getting a healthy pet. Youll, therefore, save on medical costs and make it easy for the pets left in the shelter to receive better care.
The satisfaction and happiness that comes with knowing you’ve saved more than one doxie’s life is out of this world.
3 – Spaying and Neutering
If you are a Dachshunds lover, then you probably wouldn’t mind additional cuddling from adorable doxie pups. But, are you ready for additional responsibilities?
Sadly, owners who end up with more pups than they need resort to leaving them in shelters.
Neutering or spaying will help eliminate the chances of getting unwanted puppies, hence reduced dog population in shelters.
Male dachshunds looking to mate are more likely to be aggressive, with territorial behaviors. Neutering will help solve this problem and improve the health of your doxie.
Killing the urge to mate in male dachshunds will also help eliminate the need to mark territories. Therefore, you’ll experience less of such behaviors as pulling to trees, humping people’s legs, and spraying urine around.
Spaying female doxies, on the other hand, reduces the chance of uterine infection and breast cancer. The bottom line is, spaying and neutering will help maintain a number that one can provide better care for.
4 – Research
Dachshunds are adorable – but less knowledgeable people may think otherwise.
Such people may find it hard to keep up with their ‘personalities’ and end up returning them to the shelter.
Knowing in advance the behavior, needs, and response of dachshunds in different situations will help you provide better care.
You’ll also be able to take note of false alarms, know potential risks, and provide a safe, loving environment for your doxie.
5 – Train
Don’t overlook the need to train your doxie.
Dachshunds are known to be strong decision-makers. Getting them to obey your command can be a hassle, but worthy.
Taking time to teach these adorable pets how to relate with other family members, including pets, will make their company even more worthwhile.
That way, there won’t be a need to return them to the shelter because of behavior issues.
Ready for a Change?
As a doxie lover, it would be hard to understand why this is happening. In fact, it’s the desire of every dachshund fan that these adorable pets get to be part of a family where they’re shown the love and care they deserve.
Many reasons contribute to this, as shown above. But you can change the narrative. The above tips will help curb the situation and save a doxie’s life. Over to you, my friend. How can you help?
