I was sitting on the couch petting Zora when I began to contemplate how different our four weiners have been.
Rudy-angel was probably the most human-like, or human wannabe of them. Rudy always had that look on his face that said "If I was a bit bigger and had opposable thumbs, I'd be the one running the show, not you". He was fanatacally loyal to me, and later to Jessica, but didn't care too much for Margie. Rudy didn't care too much for other dogs that were not red smoothies named Max. Yet for all his machismo, Max was his security blanket and would get very distressed when we separated them.
Max-angel seemed to be fine with his dachshund-ness. However, it seemed like he so desperately wanted to communicate with us. Max would give you this look that he would have something of quite deep philosophical meaning to say, but when he opened his mouth, only a bark would emit. It would frustrate him to no end as he was the most vocal and used the most vocal inflections of our dachshunds. Max was loyal to Rudy, but he got along with other dogs as well. He was far smoother with female dachshunds than Rudy ever was.
Zora is the mothering type. Her maternal instincts transcend species. Whether it is protecting Jessica or mothering a Ferret, Zora clearly is the gentile one of the group, except when her "young" are threatened, in which case she becomes fiercely defensive and prepared to intercede on their behalf. In the house, she definitely calls the shots between her and Zeke, yet outside on walks, she allows Zeke to assume the role of alpha male. Zora is well socialized and her maternal instincts prevent her from acting agressive towards other dogs, except for when Zeke bugs her, or when she has toys. Still, she gets more upset when we take Zeke away than vice versa.
Finally, we come to Zeke. Of the four, Zeke is clearly the one most at home with his dog-ness. He revels in being a dog. You can tell the sheer joy he takes in patrolling the yard, head held high, tail straight up, or how much he enjoys barooooing to the other dogs. Zeke is everything a male dachshund is supposed to be: intelligent, brash, proud and loyal. Zeke is all talk though. In a showdown with another dog, he talks big, but runs when a physical confrontation is imminent. He always defers to Zora inside the house though, talk or no talk. Of all the dog things Zeke does, perhaps nothing else derives as much pleasure as being pet by his owners (or other hoomans....Zeke is not choosy). The sheer contentedness he shows whenever being pet is evident.
Annie,Blusky,Fritz&Manny have their own personalities! When Annie is ready to eat she'll sit in the kitchen watching you fix their food and give a little wine and if she thinks you're not listening it turns into a little bark.Blusky will tilt his head when you talk to him as if he's trying to figure out what you're telling him.Fritz is a protector along with Manny.They'll sit on the back of the love seat looking out the big window and bark at anything that happens to be walking by.Manny is some what like Zeke;he likes to let people know he's there and loves all the attention he can get from other people when he goes for a ride;but when it comes to a neighbors dog Manny will sit there and bark at him but the minute the other dog (golden lab) comes near our yard Manny starts hollering as if someone is beating him with a stick.
Penny has multiple personalities :crazyeyes:! At home she is a lover not a fighter! She loves to sit with us, play with her toys and just hang out! She loves all people...even more so if they pet her. And she assumes that if you come to her house that you want her to sit in you lap and just stare at you. (Side Note...she does this to Drew and it totally creeps him out! She will just stare at you and not look away for minutes on end). She does have an OCD side to her where she just obsess about certain things - food, toys, Mr. Tucker, if you are upstairs what you are doing. It can drive you a little nuts at times! :verdict:
When she goes to "day camp" at my mom's she turns into this bossy green eyes monster. If Molly (her BFF) has a toy, Penny has to have THAT toy even though there are millions to play with. She bossy Molly around and is quite dominant which works since Molly is super submissive. :boxing:
Penny just isn't fond of other dogs (aside from Molly). We socialized her like crazy when she was a puppy, but no dice. On our walks she likes to bark at each and EVERY dog that we walk by. And given the chance she would take them on...most of the time she would lose consider they usually have about 60 lbs on her. I have to carry a squirt bottle to try and head it off which usually works. :walk2:
Even with her many sides we love her to death and wouldn't change a thing (well, maybe the OCD and barking but other than that... :wink:)
Sadie is Queen of the home... or she thinks she is anyway. Protector of everything. Nobody, nothing, or noone is gonna get in this house without everyone knowing it. She is jealous of all other dogs besides Kramer.. and is very dominate of my moms 3 doxies. Too many females when they get together. She runs out the door barking at.....nothing. Theres not a car that can drive by without her chasing after it on her leash...barking like shes running them off. She barks at Kramer when he runs out the door and she is I am assuming bossing him around telling him to get his fanny back in the house. She chews up/ destuffs/and destroys everything you give her. And my furniture is all going to have to be recovered due to her digging holes in the arms of my chairs. Im not sure what shes going after.. but I have 3 holes in 2 chairs now. Shes ornery and a pain in the butt. But when I sit in the chair and she climbs up around my shoulders and lays on my neck and the back of the chair... I remember why I wanted her. She whispers sweet nothings in my ear... and licks my cheek showing me she loves me. And her favorite baby is a destuffed hedge hog that she carries around with her everywhere.
Shes a nut.
Really interesting to read about the differences in personality.
I grew up with smooth doxies and they were delightful, very fiesty, barky, stubborn, playful and protective. When I grew up and was on my own I got my standard longhaired girl, Jessie. She was like a different breed of dog, mellow yet funny and playful, very easy to train, willing, smart and didn't know an enemy. She loved everyone and got along with all dogs, and animals of all species. Hallie is so much like Jessie I often have trouble remembering little things about Jessie because the traits are so similar they blur. Hallie also loves everyone, she never barked until I taught her to (SICK 'EM!!) out the window :grin: now she barks when there is something major to bark at, mailman, dog going by...but it stops fast. She loves company and on our walks she tries to run over to everyone she sees, when she gets there she either stands staring up at them wagging her tail or will quickly turn around and sit on their feet, then stare straight up over her shoulder at them. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body she has never growled at anyone and I can't in a million years imagine her nipping for any reason. She also has a great sense of humor and knows when she's being funny.
She is very motherly with smaller animals, LOVES to train, is very quiet in stores, etc. Today for instance I carried her into a framing shop and the owner ran over to see her and kept saying how good and calm she was and that she was better than most kids that come in there...I told him we get that a lot. He said she is welcome to come back anytime. Nothing riles her up really, she is so easy to take everywhere because she is so well behaved and quiet. The other day I was going a few blocks away so did a big no no and let her sit in my lap with the window down. She had her head draped over the door with her head out the window, and she actually fell asleep while I was driving. I saw a lady walking a dog up ahead and the dog was barking...as we passed them, Hallie heard the barking, her eyes blinked open for a second then she went right back to sleep.
She is the cuddliest dog I have had, we can't get enough of each other. I love bedtime when I can carry her to bed and we can snuggle undistracted. Waking up with her is even better, she curls right up next to me and turns upside down. When I put her under her chest and go to pull my hand away she will place her paw on my wrist and curl her little toes into my arm to keep me there. She is always up for cuddling, and gives the best around the shoulder head hugs on command. She gets me to come out of the computer room to her by squeaking her toys. She loves her walks and runs most of the way. We are perfectly matched for each other I couldn't have asked for a better little girl.
OK I know this has gotten so long no one is still reading LOL I could go on for pages yet. :grin: :heart: :heart: These doxies are a very varied and colorful breed.
Can I have Hallie???? She sounds wonderful.
I have renamed Sadie... Satan.
Good question.
Emma Angel, our first toe into the water with dachies was a down the line text book short hair. Cuddles etc were on her terms, she was head of the house, would bark but no agression. Big A alpha was our Em. Saying that she adored us, but I think we were hers not the other way arround. Emma seemed to favour me, even though it was Nick who adored her. I think they choose who is their favourite. We have always given them songs Emma's was "MY Way"
Angel Angus was our second and the most gentle little man you could want, he had the long haired temperament, laid back, soft, gentle adored Emma and Nick, even though I was the one who idolised him. He was the swimmer, runner and couch potato when you wanted him to be. We called him our blonde bombshell. Angus's song was "JUst one look, thats all it took"
Oliver, our current little man is ADD(Attention Devousite (?spelling) Disorder) but has the same temperament as Angus, but he bounces of walls, and always with you Another word that discribes him is velcro, even more than any other he has to be with you or in sight of me in particular. His biggest joy is having one of us to sit on the floor or setee and cuddle and make a fuss of him, he does get a bit jealous if Amy is getting attention. Olivers is obious "I only wanna be with you"
Amy is a very mellow version of Emma, she is happy to be the follower, but in certain things Oliver lets her take the lead, possum chasing for example. Amy is also a cuddler, but likes it to be just a head on your shoulder when I sit and stitch in front of the setee, I think its a way of knowing if I move. Since her op in August she has found her voice, but its not a deep throatie one but an arfffffff. She is a pint sized warrior, our little Ninja lets nothing get past the front of our house without her knowing. We think she makes the bullets and Oliver fires them. Amy's if "I love you and don't you forget it"
Lastly a little wee one who just barely grew up Ingrid, all I can say is I think she would have been the same as her mum, Amy down to the hair. Oliver grieved for her the most of all of them that have gone. Ingrids was "Whats a Girlie do"
All are diffrent, but all are the same in way.
Roberta
Roberta that is it...you HAVE to write a book. That made me smile and get teary and in just a few short paragraphs!! Love the songs they get....it would be fun for us all to think up one for our kids too. Hallie and my main song has always been "All I Need is the Air that I Breath and to Love You." (LOL CHEESEball...I know :grin: but it fits!). I sing love songs to her and cry...gads is that sick or what? (bet I'm not the only one though LOL). Seriously though I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post, I feel I know those kids a little better now!
Ha ohhh Sadie! I think that was supposed to say "Sweetie", "Satan" was just a typo. LOL!! You look anything but in your photo. :heart:
I love reading about all the other puppers. My Rudy is a social butterfly - he loves all people and only a few dogs. Most dogs, he will take the defense and let them know HE is in charge - no matter how big they are !!!! There are a few that he will just love right off the bat - haven't yet figured out why. He is my talker....and he will look straight at me and carry on a conversation. He will bark at me when I am getting treats, and I will say something back to him and he will answer in a completly different tone - it is really funny. He is usually so busy - exploring, playing with toys, chewing on a chew stick - and will finally cuddle with me when he is tired. I think he "knows" Sunday is our day of rest.... he will snuggle all day and if I have a fire going - he is in a bed right in front of the fireplace.
Brandy is just like Penny - she will get in my lap facing me and just stare.... for a long time !!!! I talk to her and she doesn't cock her head or answer back, she just stares. She is vocal when someone walks by the house and I swear she and Rudy talk to each other. If she is barking and I can't tell why, I will ask her "Sister, why are you barking?" She will turn her head away from me and keep barking - like I won't see that it is her - LOL !!! She is my little snuggle bunny and will snuggle all the day long. Anywhere I sit, there are blankies and she is there. You say the word nite-nite to this littel Princess and she runs down the hall, up the ramp to the bed and bounce bounce on her pillow. She would let me sleep in in the morning, but no way would Rudy !!! If we are not moving by 7:00 - he is licking me in the face letting me know it is time for the morning walk and their breakfast !
I love those with all my heart !!! And yes, I too, sing to them - I make up all kinds of songs and put their names in.... I know my neighbors think I am the CRAZY dachshund woman !!! :funnyup: