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Adopt a Senior Dachshund!
 We sometimes find that
people who want to adopt a dachshund are reluctant to take a dog who is older
than four or five. There seems to be a misunderstanding about the life span
of dachshunds these days! A five-year-old dachshund is only about a third of
the way through its average life span; that is akin to a human who is 25 years
old!
Because most of us who
volunteer in rescue have had a few older dogs in our care, we know what
absolutely wonderful companions they are. On this page, we share our reasons
for loving the older dogs, and provide information about adopting and caring
for an older dog.
Top 10 Reasons
to Adopt a Senior Dog *
1.
Older dogs are housetrained.
2. Older dogs are not teething puppies, and
won't chew
your shoes and furniture while growing up.
3. Older dogs
can focus well because they've mellowed.
Therefore, they learn quickly.
4. Older dogs
have learned what "no" means. If they
hadn't learned it, they wouldn't have gotten to be older dogs!
5. Older dogs
settle in easily, because they've
learned what it takes to get along with others and become part of a pack.
6. Older dogs are
good at giving love, once they get
into their new, loving home. They are grateful for the second chance they've
been given.
7. What you see is what you get: Unlike puppies, older
dogs have grown into their shape and personality. Puppies can grow up to be
quite different from what they seemed at first.
8. Older dogs are instant companions -- ready for
hiking, car trips, and other things you like to do.
9. Older dogs
leave you time for yourself, because
they don't make the kinds of demands on your time and attention that puppies
and young dogs do.
10. Older dogs let you get a good night's sleep because
they're accustomed to human schedules and don't need nighttime feedings,
comforting, or bathroom breaks
*The Senior Dogs Project,
www.srdogs.com; used with permission
When Is A Dog A
Senior Dog?
 Well, no one can say,
exactly. Like people, individual dogs age at different rates. Life
expectancy is increasing for dogs, just as it is for humans. And when it
comes to age, size does matter—a miniature dachshund might not be considered a
senior until it is eight or nine years old, while a Great Dane is a senior
when it’s only five!
In general, vets usually
recommend geriatric screening tests for dachshunds beginning at eight or nine;
geriatric screening for Labs, golden retrievers, and other larger dogs is
usually started around age six. However, people are often reluctant to adopt
dogs who are older than five. A five- or six-year-old dachshund is just
middle-aged. Remember that, with good care, dachshunds usually live to be 15
or 16 years old. Some live to 18 or 19, and occasionally, we hear of
dachshunds who make it past 20 years of age.
Many rescuers have also
observed how older dogs perk up and seem to regain some of their youthful
energy when they are placed in loving homes. Dogs that receive attention and
affection and are stimulated by daily play time and exercise stay young, just
as older people do.
In
Loving Memory of a Very Old Man
Schwartz was Yolanda
McIntyre’s beloved “old man” for two and a half years, until his death at age
21; that’s about age 100 in human years. He almost didn’t make it to 18.
Whoever owned him decided he was too old to keep, so they abandoned him,
chained to the fence surrounding an animal shelter with his vet records next
to him. Schwartz went to live as a foster with Yolanda, who promptly fell
totally in love with him and decided to give him a home for the rest of his
life. They were very happy years for Yolanda. And, needless to say, for
Schwartz too.
It’s Just Icing on the Cake!
by Sandy Clabaugh
The grey hair of an
aging dog, spreading across the muzzle and over the eyebrows, is known as
“frosting.” And to me, there’s nothing more wonderful than a frosted face
with all the wisdom and experience it communicates and all the love it speaks
of that is still there to give.
We understand the
heartbreak that results when people are forced to put an older pet in a
shelter. But regardless of the cause of the dog’s being relinquished, our
hearts melt for these senior citizens. We know they have earned security with
age, not change. We also know it’s likely that they will be waiting for a
forever home much longer than the youngsters in the shelter, because many
people are reluctant to adopt an older dog.
People give many reasons
for not considering the older dogs available for adoption, but in fact, an
older dog may be the perfect pet for you.
People say…”An
older dog won’t bond with me like a young one will.”
It’s true that an older dog doesn’t bond as a
young one does; an older dog usually bonds with new guardians even more
than a young dog. This statement is
actually true—an older dog usually bonds with new guardians even more
than a young dog. Animals who have experienced loss or a difficult past often
display their desire to form new and stronger attachments. They have found
someone to love them and they have no intention of letting go!
People say…”An
older dog up for adoption must have problems, or it wouldn’t need rescuing.”
The reality is that pets enter shelters and rescue societies for every
imaginable reason. Often it’s not the dog that has the problem, but the
human. Many people get a dog because it seems like the thing to do, not
because they truly appreciate the qualities—and needs—of the species. Others
are forced to surrender their pets for personal reasons. There may be a
problem with a particular dog, but you are much less likely to find a
senior dog that isn’t housebroken or a senior dog that snaps; older
dogs have usually overcome any bad habits they had when they were young.
People say…”An
older dog will have more medical bills.” To some extent, this may be true, in
that older dogs need more medical “supervision,” such as geriatric testing
during their annual exams. But there is no health guarantee for a dog of any
age. One-year-old dogs can die of cancer. And puppies have larger immediate
medical bills because of their need for vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery.
And don’t forget the bills for chewed shoes and shredded drapes!
People say…
“We won’t have much time to enjoy her.” There are no more guarantees for our
dogs than for our human loved ones. You never know how long a beloved pet, or
person, will be with you. Love is what matters, no matter how long we might
be able to share it.
So the next time you
consider getting a “new” dog, don’t pass those frosted faces by so quickly.
You might be giving up the sweetest dog that has ever graced your home and
your life.
Caring for Your Senior Dog
One big reason people
give for their reluctance to adopt an older dog is their concern that the dog
will be sickly or debilitated, and they will incur large medical expenses.
-
First, be aware that
the average life span of dogs is increasing, just as the average human life
span is. A dachshund that is well cared for usually now lives to be
14 or 15 years old; many live longer.
-
Second, all dogs require regular medical care, including annual physical exams,
inoculations, heartworm tests and preventive medication, and dental care.
-
Third, illness and
debility affect dogs of all ages. It is unlikely that the dog you get as a
puppy will live out its life without some illness or injury.
Here are some tips on
keeping your older dog healthy and dealing with age-related problems. You
will find that there isn’t much difference between these health hints and
those we follow for ourselves.
Nutrition.
Regardless of your dog’s age, a high-quality food in the appropriate
amounts can lengthen the dog’s life and prolong good health. Cheaper dog
foods are often heavily processed and do not provide the best nutrition;
they’re just junk food for dogs. Many high-quality foods are available in
formulations just for seniors; they usually contain less protein and are
formulated to promote digestion. Kibble for seniors is usually smaller, so it
is easier to chew.
Exercise.
Dachshunds, in particular, should not be overweight, because excess weight
increases the risk of a severe back injury. Keeping your dog’s weight down
also reduces the chance that the dog will develop diabetes as it ages.
Exercise helps keep your dog trim and improves heart and circulatory
function. A senior dog may not want to go jogging with you (although some
may), but walking is excellent exercise. Even if you have a fenced yard, it’s
a good idea to take your senior dog for a walk at least once a day.
Dental Care.
When we rescue dachshunds that have been neglected, their teeth are in bad
shape and they almost always need a dental procedure. But a little
maintenance can help keep your older dog’s teeth and gums healthy, so that you
don’t have to spend a lot of money on frequent veterinary cleanings. Feeding
high-quality kibble, rather than soft food alone, is a big help. Hard chew
toys (NylaBone, Booda Velvets, Greenies, meat bones) improve dental health
too. You can also clean your dog’s teeth, either with a cotton ball or dog
toothbrush, regularly to help promote dental health.
Arthritis.
Most people develop some arthritis as they age, and so do many dogs. Regular
exercise helps to delay the development of arthritis, as does keeping your dog
at a good weight. And gentle exercise for dogs who already have arthritis
helps too; be sure to demand only as much exercise as the dog can reasonably
perform—a walk down the block and back might be all that one dog can do
comfortably, while another dog may enjoy a longer stroll. But the good news
is that a relatively inexpensive supplement is now available to help relieve
arthritis pain and restore joint function. Your vet can help you find the
right solution to this common problem.
Comfort
Like
older people, most old dogs get cold more easily than younger dogs. Be sure
your older dog has a soft blanket to curl up in, and you might want to put its
bed in a warm place. In cold weather, a sweater or coat is a good idea for
those outdoor walks.
A Soft Bed.
Old
dogs, like old people, lose muscle mass and fat, which means less cushioning
for their bones. Be sure that your older dog has a thick, soft bed or cushion
to curl up on.
Bathing.
Bathe
your older dog less often than a you would a younger dog. Their skin, like
ours, gets drier with age, so frequent bathing can cause flaking and itching.
Touch.
Older dogs love and benefit from massages.
Gentle massage relaxes the muscles and promotes a sense of well-being just
because it feels so good and because YOU are touching them. Older dogs
may want to curl up next to you or on your lap; your physical presence is a
comfort to them.
We
Love Our Senior Dogs!
BARNEY
 I
want to encourage anyone who might be considering adopting an older dog. Yes,
your time together might be shorter, but it will be very rewarding, and the
seniors seem to appreciate having a new home so much. It is just hard to
explain, but it seems as if they know they have been given a second chance at
a loving home. Please don't be afraid to try an older dog.
I want to tell about one of our senior dogs, Barney. What a joy he was and so
much FUN!!! After our first adopted dog, Teddy, passed away, Rena Bonem,
foster mom to both, said "I have another dog for you!" Barney had been given
up by his previous owner and had been in Rena's wonderful care for several
months. He was a silver dapple with one black ear and one dappled ear and with
a personality like no other! He was 13 years old when he came to live with us,
but acted like a two-year-old. When we met Rena to pick him up, he rode home
in my husband Gene's lap and licked his face all the way home. He joined our
other five dachsies and one Dalmatian and kept us entertained for two years.
Barney was very verbal - he talked about everything and loved to play with us,
especially Gene. Gene would wrestle with him and Barney would growl and make
all kinds of noise, but it was in fun because he didn't have a mean bone in
his speckled body. He woke up happy and talking and went to bed happy. He
loved to sleep on Gene's arm or by my side when Gene was out of town.
Now one of our other doxies, Rimshot, is diabetic and his vision has been
impaired by cataracts, but he thinks he is top dog and Barney thought he was
too. Every morning and every night while I was fixing their food, Barney would
bark and bark and herd Rimmy down the hallway to the bathroom where Rimmy
eats, then run back down the hallway and bark some more. This was a daily
ritual. Then, when they went outside, Rimmy would hurry back in and stand at
the doggie door to keep Barney out. Every once in a while they would have a
serious argument, mostly noise, but it was an ongoing game.
Barney loved to sit in my lap and I would hold him on his back and he would
look at me with such love and affection. He loved to lick your face especially
behind your ear until he would make you laugh. I called him the Steve Martin
of the dachsie world--a wild and crazy guy!
Barney passed away on October 26, 2006, very suddenly after a one-day illness.
Our hearts are absolutely broken and Rimmy is wandering around looking for
him. What a huge void he has left. When Barney was available for adoption, he
was passed up evidently because of his age. How lucky we were that Rena had
him and sent him to us! It is very painful right now, but we wouldn't have
missed having him for the world. No one knows what they are missing out on
with an adopted older dog. Please don't forget them--they need a forever home
too!
--Roxanne Anderson
Winnie, age 10+
 Back in
August of last year, my first dachshund, Sandie, passed away. She was very ill
in the end and she passed away without my being there with her. I was just
distraught. My house was so empty, and my beagle was so morose over being
alone. Then someone asked if we could foster a little girl who desperately
needed a home.
Winnie started out in a nasty puppy mill and remained there for the first four
years of her life. She lived next with an older gentleman, but he passed away,
and his granddaughter took her for the next several years, but she was
overwhelmed with seven dogs, so she decided to part with some of them. We
picked up Winnie and brought her home with us. She was a chubby little girl,
and very scared. She had been attacked by one of the seven dogs in her
previous home, and has a scar on her tummy that is a war wound from that
event--it required 15 stitches!
While Winnie was going to be a foster dog, I failed Fostering 101 miserably.
She followed me all over the house and became so very attached to me that the
idea of moving her to still another home was too much. She loves to sit on the
couch with me and wonders why she isn't on the couch when I am. She bounces
around the yard since she's lost weight, and likes to sit in the sun at the
picnic table.
She dances in circles for her food, and her ears flop all over her head--it's
so cute! She has finally gotten comfortable enough with me to wag her tail,
which I had begun to think was glued to her rear end from having been kept in
a cage during her formative years. She is a sweetheart, and she is here to
stay.
--Jennie Hartley
Simon
 Adopting
a senior dachshund has been such a blessing to my family. We didn't know how
old Simon was when he came to us, but various vets guessed anywhere from 10 to
16. Simon was rescued from a shelter and was my foster dog for a summer while
he went through a complete geriatric workup and dental surgery to extract nine
rotten teeth and clear up the infection. Because Simon stayed with us for so
long, he had many opportunities to enjoy visits with my mother, who, although
only 53 years old, was recovering from two heart surgeries and dealing with
the daily discomforts of both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. My father is a
long- distance truck driver and Mom spends quite a bit of time alone. Mom had
met many, many fosters in the previous years but she really had a thing for
Simon. My parents are serious animal lovers, but throughout their 35-year
marriage, they had had only cats, so having them adopt Simon never crossed my
mind.
But one day, in October 2002, Mom casually said, " Why don't I adopt Simon?
Maybe he can get me out of the house to take long walks. He's about my speed,
after all." I couldn't believe what I was hearing! Even though Simon was
housetrained, Mom and Dad have beautiful carpets, gleaming hardwood floors
and Sox, the not-so-much-a-dog-lover, 10-year-old, very spoiled cat. Could it
work? What would Dad say?
Mom talked Dad into it in two minutes and now Simon is enjoying his "second
life." He now has mild Cushing's disease and diabetes and is losing his
eyesight, but for all we know he is 18 years old! He is happy, loves his
walks and his treats and has even become relaxed on car trips-- especially if
he knows he's on his way to my parents' lake cottage. I can't adequately
describe the happiness he has brought my Mom and Dad over the past two years,
but the picture tells the story! He can make Mom smile on her most miserable
day and is very in tune with her feelings. Even when he tips over the trash
can looking for a treat or pees on the throw rug in the hall, he's still
their baby. Please consider adopting a senior dog! You won't regret it.
--Ali Crawford (and Mom and Dad, Gail and Doug Maker)
Benny, age 14?
 Last
Thanksgiving, someone dumped an older red, smooth dachsie
gentleman in a very rural woods that is full of coyotes. Somehow, he found
his way out of the woods and ended up at the house of a friend of mine. She
lives in the middle of nowhere, and the old, tick-covered dog was barking at
her horses.
He was my
first really senior foster and I kept him and called him Benny. He has a
really bad heart murmur, had heartworms and almost died from the treatment,
is very bowlegged in front, and is lumpy and bumpy. But he is such a sweet
fellow, and he fit right into the household with all the young wirehairs.
Benny is happy as long as he gets fed and has his comforter; he likes to
wiggle in between its layers. Oh, and he also loves to chase bugs at night
on the patio.
My dogs get
to take turns going to the pet store for a treat. It's a dachshund
wonderland, full of kids, food, toys, and bones--not to mention the birds,
ferrets, and mice in their cages. Benny loves going for rides, it matters
not where, and on his first trip to the pet store, he ignored the toys and
bones at eye level in favor of the mice. A lightbulb went on over my
head. I got an ILP number (a special "registration" for unregistered
dogs) for him so he could participate in an earthdog trial when we went
the next time.
Benny
qualified at his very first trial! He went right into the tunnel and
made it to the end, where the "bait" rats are in a cage, barely in time
(dogs have 30 seconds maximum to go the 30 feet to the end of the tunnel),
started "working" the rats right away, and did not want to stop when his
60 seconds were up! He was so excited, and had such a good time
So, at age
14 or thereabouts, he is now the proud owner of half a Junior Earthdog
title! We hope he will be able to finish when the next trial is held in
the spring, at which point, he will not be just Benny, but Benny JE!
Actually, his "registered" name is Sweet Benediction, because this dear
old gent has truly been a blessing to me.
Can't teach
an old dog new tricks? Don't try to tell Benny that!
--Rhonda Landry
Hershey, age 13
 Hi there, all you
dachshund lovers! My name is Hershey, and I don’t have a sad tale to tell
about coming from a puppy mill or being abused. My life has been pretty comfy
right from the start. Well, almost from the start. My mom bought me at a pet
store before she knew about the connection between pet stores and puppy mills,
because I had been sitting in a small wire cage in the store for months. My
price had been slashed several times, but no one would buy me because I didn’t
look like what most people think of when they think of dachshunds. That’s
because I’m a wheaten wirehaired dachshund.
Because of my sweet
disposition and my love for everyone and everything, my mom started taking me
to the nursing home twice a month to visit the residents. I acquired a
whole raft of new friends and got lots of hugs and kisses. Today I don’t
hear quite as well as I used to, so my trips to see my older friends aren’t as
frequent, but life is still good. When the weather is nice, I can walk a
mile or two every day, and I love to play with my tennis ball. I play hard for
about 10 minutes, then it’s nap time! I’m the patriarch of my family,
and all the newcomers have to pass my inspection. I have two siblings
who are much younger and I have shared my space with a multitude of foster
friends who have passed through, staying overnight or a couple of months.
I have given much love to everyone who has been in my wonderful life, and in
return, I am loved dearly. I plan to stick around for several more years
to enjoy the comforts of my wonderful home. There are lots of rewards to
being a senior – you get more attention and you get into a lot less trouble
--Hershey (assisted by
Kathy Hawkins)
Ben, age 14
 I had lost a dachshund
after back surgery and had a really tough time dealing with her loss, so I
decided to join rescue in her memory. Ben was my first rescue. I was sitting
at work when I got a call from the local humane society. They told me that
two young girls had just dropped off an old dachshund and that if I didn’t
want to take him, they were going to put him to sleep immediately. He was
labeled “unadoptable” because he was “too old.” I told them to give me five
minutes.
Off I went in the pouring
rain to check out this dog. At the humane society, Ben came waddling down the
hall just as proud as he could be. The sight of him brought tears to my eyes,
but there was no fear or malice in Ben. He came right to me and crawled into
my arms and started to lick me with a wildly flailing tongue. The tech who
had brought him out told me that the two girls who had brought Ben in had seen
him thrown out of a car window into a ditch.
When I got home, I
checked Ben out carefully. His right ear was torn in half and his left ear
was jagged and torn from exposure. His tongue hung out the side of his mouth
because all of his teeth—ALL of them, except for a few in the back that were
rotten—had been ground down completely to the gum. My vet said that either
his teeth had been filed down intentionally or he had been chewing on a cage
for years, trying to escape. His body was scarred all over from old
injuries. And he was positive for heartworms. The vet guessed his age at
about 11.
We treated Ben’s
heartworms, and he had a rough time of it when his lungs filled with fluid
during the treatment, but he is a trouper and he pulled through beautifully.
He never complained during this period of misery; he was always the sweetest
dog you could ever hope to meet.
 Ben has been a part of
our family for three wonderful years. Although he obviously suffered terribly
in his former life, he has never shown anything but love toward any person.
He adores my daughter, who called him “my Jinjamin” (she was two when we got
him), and I adore him and am fiercely protective of my old man. He is so
clearly grateful for every day of his good life. There is nothing better than
a senior!
--Tanya Anderson
Farfel, age 11, and
Beena, age 18
Like many people, I used
to get puppies. I didn’t give it much thought, really; if I was going to have
a dog, a puppy seemed the obvious choice. And all the trials of having a
puppy—the accidents, the chewing, the crying through the night—were just part
of the package. I adopted Farfel when he was two and Beena when she was 16,
and if you think an older dog can’t bond with a new person, you haven’t met me
and my dogs! 
Farfel was very bonded
with his former owner, and she worried that he would not accept a new mom and
might pine away. On the long ride to his new home, he sat in my lap, pressed
against me as hard as he could be. He has never looked back. Everyone
comments on what a “mama’s boy” he is, but the truth is, Farfel bonds to
whoever loves him and cares for him. When I’m out of town, he is in his
sitter’s lap most of the time. He’s just a very loving dog who craves
physical contact. And aside from the frosting that is spreading across his
face, he looks pretty much as he did when I brought him home nine years ago.
He no longer runs flat out across the big field in the park, but he runs
halfway across it and can still do a long hike through the forest preserve.
He is a healthy, active dog who loves to play and is wonderfully well
behaved.
 I adopted Beena, a tiny
dachshund/Chihuahua mix, when her 91-year-old owner had to go into a nursing
home. No one would take Beena, so the poor woman was going to have to have
her only companion of 16 years put to sleep. Her vet told me that Beena had
an enlarged heart and would probably live only a few weeks or a month, or a
couple of months at the outside, but the only medication she required was
one-quarter of a generic tablet for her heart every day. I took her for her
owner’s sake and thought I was giving Beena a comfortable place to die when it
was her time to go. Well, Beena fooled everyone! Finding herself in a new
home, with a couple of dachshund buddies and someone new to dote on her, she
perked right up. She loved her daily walks, but mostly she loved her meals,
and on our morning walks, as we were turning the corner toward home, she would
start to run, in anticipation of her breakfast waiting inside. After a year,
her heart murmur had disappeared and the vet declared her to be in amazingly
good health.
Beena lived for a year
and 11 months after coming into our home. She died, peacefully, painlessly,
and with no fuss, wrapped in her blanket in my arms one morning. No prolonged
illness, no increasing debility. She just took a deep breath and passed from
this world. I would not have missed my time with this dear old girl for
anything.
Adopting an older dog is
a true joy. I’m through with puppies! Maybe it’s because I am getting older,
but it’s strictly senior dogs for me from now on.
--Pamela Erbe
Links
Here are some links to
wonderful web sites that can provide lots of information about adopting and
caring for senior dogs.
The Senior Dog Project
www.srdogs.com
Senior Canine Rescue Society
www.seniordogrescue.org
The Sanctuary for Senior Dogs
www.sanctuaryforseniordogs.org
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