Puppy Fever Quenched!

I had a really bad case of puppy fever. Well, that has since been quenched with two little wiener dogs, Heidi and Pogo. They have been so much fun!

I used to raise dachshunds years ago and when the last of the ones we had kept passed away, I decided it was too heartbreaking to have to go through that again. So I haven’t had a wiener dog in about 15 years… until now. Our 15-year-old ranch dog, Puddin’ Head,  also passed away last winter so we became completely dog-less for the first time in, like, forever. I become so attached to our pets that when they pass away, it is like losing a family member, so I had pretty much made up my mind not to get another dog. But then the fever hit! All I could think of was puppy cuddles and kisses…Fortunately or unfortunately, however you want to look at it, I had temporarily forgotten about the puppy puddles and their other mayhem and messes. If you have ever owned a wiener dog, you will know that they can be notoriously stubborn and hard to house train and Heidi and Pogo have been no exception.

I had debated on whether or not to get both of the sisters, but the puppy fever was at the boiling point by that time and I thought two must be better than one! Well, in a lot of ways they are as they keep each other entertained while I’m working, but they also make twice as many of the afore mentioned puppy puddles.

I purchased puppy training pads with some success — about half the time — and the other half of the time the puppies ripped them to shreds, making a completely different kind of mess, as you can see in this video of Pogo and her training pad assault.

As they are getting older and bigger, I have encountered a few minor problems such as they both want to sit on my lap at the same time and there’s not enough room any more. Neither one is content to sit beside me, they need to have the prime lap position! Although Pogo does ocassionally want to sit wrapped around my shoulders like a fox stole, which wouldn’t be too big of problem, except for all of the scratching, digging, and clawing that goes on as she tries to reach the summit.

I can also no longer do anything in private, like go to the bathroom, take a shower or sleep. Every time I think I have given them the slip for a few minutes, they manage to find me and if their whining doesn’t convince me to open the door or get out of the shower, they resort to barking at me.

They can walk perfectly fine on a leash and know how to come when I call them, they can also sit and lie down and be quiet, but sometimes they just choose not to do anything that I ask them to do. They will also roll their eyes at me like “really, just give it a rest, I’m not gonna do it.” Yes, unlike most other dogs, wiener dogs have perfected the eye roll. I think it is genetic in their breed.  It’s like having teenagers in the house again!

They love to be outside digging for gophers and playing, and until about a week ago you couldn’t make it out the door without two little hunters barreling out between your legs like snippy little Yosemite Sams after rabbits and other varmits.

But now that the weather is getting colder and we have had a few snow flurries, Heidi and Pogo just look out the open door and convey that they will not go out in that weather to poop or do otherwise!

Two puppies are definitely twice as much work, and anyone who has raised a puppy can attest to the work involved in raising even one. But, along with twice the clean up jobs, you also get twice the kisses and snuggles, so it all works out and I am glad that I decided to get both of them. Besides, when evening rolls around and it’s time to relax and watch a little television, my husband and I each get to have a wiener dog on our laps, so there’s no wiener dog coveting going on and everyone is content.