This topic contains 4 replies, has 3 voices, and was last updated by 
-
Posts
-
We just added a new member to our geo-team this past Wednesday … Scooter … he’s a “rescued” mid-size (tweenie size) Dachshund.
Photo at home: http://my.core.com/~energysaver/ScooterB122205.jpg
Link to his first cache find (with photo): http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?guid=70309ec2-f775-4ab8-9db7-b882d65be76e
Any tips on caching with dogs, especially small dogs would be appreciated. I read that while they have short feet, they have lots of energy and staminia. So far that seems to be the case. I think he will be a great asset to pull the lower caches out of hollow trees.
Big kudos on your family addition… He’s so quiet.
tb
Congrats on the newest member of your family! What a cutie!! My brother has a mini dachshund that is also dapple in color — dapples come with a very special personality!
Despite my username, I infrequently geocache with my greyhounds. Instead I take along rugged little Peanut:
Peanut’s the white dog on the right (that’s her big sister Kiki on the other end). She’s about 12 pounds, about 2 feet high (probably a little less, I used a fork to measure her — she’s almost 2 forks high), and a Jack Russell-Rat Terrier mix. She an all terrain dog (haven’t tried water yet, but she has a terrier coat, so she’s probably a bit water repellant…)
As you now own a hound — be prepared for your pup wanting to investigate what it finds interesting, and not always what you want to investigate. I believe dachshunds are ground dogs (makes sense, as they are the badger hound), so small holes and buried object will be of interest (could be a geocaching bonus!!)
You also own a small dog, and with it comes the small dog symdrome — or in other words, “I’m really a big, tough dog!” Most little dogs are afraid of nothing. They might try to take on an oppossum or skunk while you’re looking for the cache.
Depending on your dog’s level of obedience, you may want to keep him on lead when out caching. I have to do this with Peanut only because a rabbit or squirrel or turkeys is sometimes just to hard to resist and must be chased. She does obey a recall command in town areas, but I don’t want to test this in the woods and risk losing her.
As silly as some think, please be sure to keep your pup warm in cold weather with a sweater or jacket. You can find some pretty fancy ones out there that are good in WI cold weather (they can be pricey though). Winter boots are a good consideration too. They take some getting used to (this is quite a humorous time for the humans – have a camera handy!) and small sizes that fit right can be harder to find. But little feet get cold very fast, and the boots also protect against the salt used to melt ice (parking lots and what not) which can burn dog feet.
I’m sure you’ve read up about dachshunds and know about their particular little personality and health quirks to keep an eye out for. I just want to emphasize to be careful about letting your little one make jumps from a high (for him — this could be only 6 inches!) place, which can cause damage to the spine.
Off the top of my head, that’s all I can come up with, I’ll stop babbling…
Again — congrats!!
Becquote:
Originally posted by greyhounder:
But little feet get cold very fast, and the boots also protect against the salt used to melt ice (parking lots and what not) which can burn dog feet.
The salt dries the pads on your dog’s feet. this results in their cracking and the pain (salt in the wound.) Many dogs tolerate boots poorly. to protect their feet, rub a little vasaline into their pads before you go out. Then they can run without the boots and not suffer the effects of the salt. ~tb
Thanks for the tips, thus far!
Especially the one about vasoline to avoid salt. Luckly we live in the country, so around out house there isn’t salt to deal with, but when out and about elsewhere that’s good to know. Scooter was a “rescue” to so he’s almost 1 1/2 yrs old … the “foster” family indicated that he doesn’t leave the boots on. Also we already have a fleece coat for him, for longer walks and geocaching. He’s a very high energy (and lean) guy, so he likes being “in the hunt”.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.