I’ve been a Dachshund sitter for 10 years. Whereas I sometimes watch different small canines, I select to specialize on this particular breed.

Why?

Nicely, there are numerous causes, nevertheless it’s primarily as a result of:

• I’ve been a Dachshund proprietor for over 20 years and I’m obsessive about the breed

• Dachshunds and have distinctive behaviors and traits that I perceive and cater to willingly

• I perceive that Dachshund homeowners usually deal with their canines like their “infants” and anticipate an nearly human degree of care.

Dachshund homeowners are sometimes very apprehensive about leaving their canine with a sitter and are nervous that their canine is doing okay with out them whereas they’re gone.

I get it. I’ve needed to go away my Dachshunds with a canine sitter every now and then once I journey.

Frankly, it’s excruciating. 

I waffle between worrying they’re having a horrible expertise and inflicting quite a lot of frustration and envisioning them blissful, frolicking, and having fun with each minute of their “sleepover”.

The truth is someplace in between. I do know this as a result of I’ve watched round 100 Dachshunds over time.

I prefer to assume mine are particular. That they’re higher adjusted than most. That they’re completely behaved and don’t let a unique state of affairs throw off their routine.

However I do know that may be a bit delusional. 

I’ve had canine sitters report that “they have been nice” once I know my canines. 

Actually, they aren’t even nice all the time at my very own home with me. Ha, ha.

Whereas I completely get the will of canine sitters to provide homeowners the impression that their Dachshund had a good time and a seamless expertise – as a result of who needs to depart their canine the place that they had a foul expertise final time? – I additionally assume it’s crucial to be sincere and set practical expectations.

So there’s a actuality verify on some issues that your Dachshund will doubtless expertise at a canine sitter’s home that your canine sitter could also be leaving out of the dialog (doubtless omission, not deception).

Sure, Your Dachshund is Burdened When You Depart

Whereas some Dachshunds are solely anxious for about quarter-hour, most are pressured for the primary few hours, and even the primary day, they’re away from you.

That’s regular, particularly if you happen to spend the vast majority of your time with them, earn a living from home, take them with you wherever you go, or they’ve separation nervousness.

The worst case I’ve skilled lasted nearly every week. However the Dachshund steadily turned much less pressured every day. 

It wasn’t that the Dachshund was a nervous basket case the entire time, he simply didn’t fully settle till about 7 days in.

Your Dachshund Could Not Be Enjoying With Others

I get it – I prefer to envision my Dachshunds taking part in and having a grand ol’ time with the brand new pals they meet on the canine sitters.

Or perhaps you’ve seen movies of canines taking part in with one another at your canine sitters home, so that you assume that your personal canine has “joined the celebration”.

The factor is, the inclination of a canine to play is exclusive to their character.

Some canines don’t play with different canines in any respect, some will play provided that the opposite canine’s play type matches theirs, some received’t play with one other canine till they’ve been in the identical home with them for not less than every week.

As a result of sitters solely watch a canine for every week at a time, many Dachshunds are individuals oriented and aren’t inclined to play with different canines, the prospect that your canine is taking part in whilst you’re away is lower than 50%.

In my expertise, solely about 20% of the canines that I watch repeatedly interact in play.

Your Dachshund Could Not Eat For the First Day or Two

When a canine is pressured, they’re unlikely to eat. Even when they’re extraordinarily meals motivated.

About 30% of the Dachshunds I’ve watched flip their nostril up on the first meal that I supply them.

As a result of there are a number of canines in the home, I can’t go away the dish of meals down for them to graze so I choose it up and supply it to them once more later.

If a canine nonetheless isn’t excited about consuming the second time that the meal is obtainable, I attempt to make it extra attention-grabbing.

I could attempt to hand feed them. 

It’s shocking what number of canines will take meals from my hand however not eat it from the dish.

I could add some sprinkles of dried lung, liver, or meat-based canine treats that their mother and father despatched with them.

In the event that they nonetheless received’t eat their meals, I supply real-meat treats all through the day in order that they not less than have one thing of their abdomen.

Virtually all canines will eat on the second day they’re right here as a result of they’re hungry.

Your Dachshund Could Change Their Potty Habits

Whether or not or not it’s as a result of stress, or confusion a few new home structure or yard, some Dachshunds received’t go potty for the primary day, even once I know they should go, or they could have an accident in the home.

It might sound gross – and I’ve been requested by homeowners how I might really feel if their canine peed in the home – however I don’t care if a Dachshund has an accident in our home.

I imply, in fact I do however I’ve additionally accepted that it’ll occur. It’s not a giant deal and I simply clear it up.

Typically, it’s partially my fault anyway.

The alerts a Dachshund provides when they should exit could be very delicate. And they are often very distinctive.

Till I’ve spent a while with a canine, I could miss their cues that they should exit.

And since my home is new to them, they could not perceive the place the precise” door to “sign” at is positioned.

We Can’t Comply with Your Actual Routine

Considered one of my “specialties” is following a Dachshund’s regular residence routine as intently as attainable.

However that isn’t 100% attainable.

My home is completely different. My routine is completely different. 

As a result of I’ve 3 Dachshunds of my very own, I’m managing 4-5 Dachshund personalities at a time.

I can’t level out each element that can differ however some frequent ones are:

• In case your Dachshund free-feeds at residence, that received’t be attainable at my home as a result of I can’t go away meals down all the time.

• For those who ship your Dachshund’s favourite toy, they could not get to play with it as a result of 1) I don’t need any fights over it and a pair of) I don’t need the opposite canines to destroy it.

• Their regular time for supper could change, as a result of I’ve to strike a steadiness between my schedule, when my very own canines anticipate their meals, and while you usually feed your canine.

Whereas it’s doubtless that your canine sitter will do all the things they will to maintain your pup’s routine the identical, particularly since that can make their job simpler, do know that all the things can’t go precisely the way in which that you simply do it… and your canine will probably be okay.

Ultimate Ideas

Like I mentioned, your Dachshund sitter doubtless isn’t leaving this stuff out to be misleading.

It’s simply that there are numerous causes these matters could not come up or that the sitter needs you to really feel like your canine’s keep was straightforward and gratifying.

I get that. I at all times lean in the direction of a “good report” once I discuss to homeowners after their Dachshund stays with me.

Nevertheless, I additionally assume it’s necessary to be sincere and clear a few canine’s expertise in order that an proprietor could make a extra knowledgeable determination sooner or later or handle any points that got here up.

In the long run although, there’s most likely nothing {that a} educated, skilled Dachshund sitter can’t handle in order that your pup has a great expertise.

In different phrases, know that there will probably be an adjustment interval in your canine and the sitter, however that your canine will probably be completely effective while you’re on trip.