This is the room where we place our pups that we will "run on" for six to twelve months before deciding who ultimately will become a part of our active breeding program. What determines who stays and who will go to a new home? There are many things to be considered before we can make the final choice: First and foremost do we like the pup; his or her personality, can we live with them? Does the pup "fit in" with the other dogs? Are they happy being one of a dozen or more dogs, sharing our attentions, or would they prefer to be in a one or two-dog family? Do they like to show off? In other words, will they have fun in the ring or do they have to be dragged around fighting the whole way? And, of course, we have to stand back and forget this is our precious puppy and really look at him (or her!). Has he/she lived up to his/her potential? We "assess" our pups many times over the months starting as young as only a few weeks old. We also like to have another breeder help with the assessments as often as possible; not necessarily a dachsie breeder. A good breeder will know what makes a worthy dog regardless of the breed (some just have a better "eye" than others).
Not all pups will stay with us permanently, of course. There wouldn't be enough room! Some, like "Striker", have gone to co-ownership homes where they can get the one-on-one attention they adore. Periodically they'll come for a visit to be shown or perhaps to "play house" with one of the girls. Most others will be placed into companion homes with our regular "Non Breeding" contract; a select few may be offered to a show or breeding home.
Here are the young dogs we will continue to work on through Fall 2009 and the cold of winter months into 2010.
"Cali" 16 months old
"Cali"; DOB June 29, 2008; Cream. Circumstances prevented us from showing this year except for a couple of week-ends. Cali has been in the ring five times acquitting herself well all but once ... that time she had fun! A couple of reserves and one 3-point Best of Breed ~ we're pleased! Hopefully personal injuries won't prevent a good show year in 2010!
"Toad" ~ 11 months old
Wow! This boy is turning into a VERY handsome young fellow!
"Toad"; DOB November 17, 2008; Black & Cream. Toad hales from Zarcrest Dachshunds, one of the top kennels in the UK. He's beautifully put together with one of the best personalities ever! Toad is maturing into a superb specimen of the breed and has produced his first litter for us out of our own *Ella* resulting in four lovely boys. Before the 2009 show season ended we did manage to attend two more days in which Toad won his first four points taking Best of Winners both days! We'll start his show career in earnest next spring 2010.
"Star" 4 months old
"Star" 5 months old
"Star" 11 months old
"Star"; DOB February 04, 2009; Cream. Pictured at four, five and almost eleven months old; Star is the little sister to our Cali shown above. When you have a litter the caliber of that out of Harvey and Stella last spring it's ever so tempting to repeat it though the results are not always quite as spectacular. However, we hit the jackpot with this second litter too! Star and her litter brother, Danny (recently gone to start his show career for his new owners in central Canada garnering his first two points taking two reserves and a Winners Male) are as exciting as Cali and Flag were! Star attended the same shows as Toad the end of November acquitting herself well.
"Fern" pictured at eight months old
"Fern"; DOB June 08, 2009; Black & Cream Pictured at eight months old. Fern is the only pup we've held back from Breeze when she was retired last fall, she's also out of Boo who has gone to wow the ladies in Brazil! We've waffled, back and forth, forth and back, whether to run her on and we're thrilled with her progress to date. This is one we were lucky not to let get away!
"Meme" 4 months old
"Meme" 6 months old
"Meme"; DOB August 19, 2009; Cream Brindle. Pictured at Christmas 2009 and again at six months old; Meme hales from Houston, TX; my Christmas present to myself. She's an active, out-going, wonderful little girl from superb lines. Weather permitting we're hoping to attend some training classes over the cold winter months with aspirations of entering the show ring Spring 2010 all trained (now that would be a novelty!)
"Ram"
9.5 weeks old
"Ram"; DOB December 06, 2009; Cream. This was Ella's last litter and we had high hopes of producing a beautiful little girl to fill her dam's shoes, however Mother Nature, with her usual sense of humour, gave us four handsome, strapping boys. No matter, Ram is a wonderful pup with lots of potential and big shoes to fill. We will watch his progress over the coming months looking forward to a summer of playing in the grass with the other youngsters and, perhaps, attend a few shows - just to see how we like this special attention.