Many Dachshunds are waiting patiently for new homes in breed rescue programs. Adopting a Dachshund from a rescue organization is a great way to find a lovable companion. Many of these dogs are wonderful, devoted, well-trained family members who just got the short end of the bone for one reason or another and no longer have a place to go.
The Dachshund Club of America (the DCA) is the country's leading Dachshund rescue program. You can find rescue information on the Dachshund Club of America Web site. You can also check out DORG and Petfinder for an extensive listing of shelter and rescue groups that allows you to search by your location and the breed, age, and gender you prefer.
Like adopting through a shelter, expect to fill out a detailed application and answer a lot of personal questions. Remember rescue workers want to ensure that the dogs are going to be going to a great home. They may even want to come to your home to make sure that is suitable for a Dachshund.
These organizations are manned by people who work long hours, usually for no pay, to find a good home for every Dachshund they believe would make a good pet. Because rescue workers are usually unpaid volunteers, remember that they work out of their home. Be considerate when calling and don't be surprised if they call you collect when returning your phone calls.
The great advantage to working with a rescue organizations that they know the breed better and are able to better screen the dog for health and behavior problems. They can tell you what they've observed about the Dachshunds' behavior, temperament, and health status.
Take advantage of their knowledge and ask a lot of questions. You want to be sure that the Dachsie in question will be a good fit in your family.
Most rescued or shelter Dachshunds are a little older, which can be a great advantage. Older dogs may already be housetrained, they may be used to kids and other pets, and they may even know a trick or two.
The costs to adopt a Dachshund vary widely depending on the organization and the part of the country you're in, but they usually simply cover the costs the rescue group has incurred to take in, house, heal, and train the dog.
Some rescued Dachshunds have been abused or neglected and may need some patient, kind, and positive retraining and behavior modification. If you're determined not to give up on your rescued Dachshund, you'll find that with some hard work and TLC you can heal old wounds and develop a life-long friendship with your rescue Dachsie.