Hi there. My name is Dale. I’m a 11 lbs tweenie, piebald in colour and with a short, smooth coat. I’m told I’m about 3 years old. You see, no one knows much about my previous life as I once lived in a puppy mill in Kansas. I don’t like to think about it much, and would much rather see and experience all that life is offering me now! I came to Canada in the middle of June, am staying with another of the rescued dogs from the same mill, with my foster mom out in the Canadian countryside. I can’t believe my luck!!
There is so much space here, and sunshine and grass and it’s so new to me, not to look at life through bars. My foster mom keeps me, and my friend Lois, in a penned area in her kitchen. From here I can see all the comings and goings in the house, but feel safe and secure too. I just discovered what it feels like to sleep on something big and soft, called a doggie bed. When Lois lets me, I curl up with her on it and snooze. But that isn’t my whole day! I get to go outside and run around, and that’s my very favourite thing to do. After all those years in small confined places, I need to build some more muscle tone in my legs. Each day I’m getting better and faster at running around. I’ve even mastered the stairs! There is nothing as wonderful as running around my foster mom in circles, with the wind in my ears, until I flop in the grass and roll around. I don’t listen to my name all the time, but I know that my foster mom is a good person, so I still come running over if she’s clapping her hands or kneels down in the grass. And since there is so much space here, I’m almost never on one of those leash things. I just can’t seem to understand how they work. But if you have time and patience, I’d be willing to learn anything you have to teach me!
I’ve been told that my 2 worst traits are marking in the house, and eating poo. I’m really sorry that no one likes those things – I just didn’t know any better. Sometimes there was nothing else to eat in my life before, so I still resort to that behaviour every now and then. It may go away once I learn that food is always going to be available to me. You see, I was just skin and bones when I first got here and eating was a luxury for me. I hope that won’t make you give up on me. And the marking is a boy thing. Most Dachshunds, I’m told, are never 100% housebroken, and I’m sure that I can learn better. I just need someone to love me enough to teach me my manners.
I like to bark at things that startle me or if I’m not sure of a situation. When I met the Great Dane that lives in this house, I barked and barked, until I realized that he was friendly. Now we’re buddies! I am curious about the cats, but don’t want to chase them… they’re bigger than I am! My foster mom doesn’t think I’ve ever met a child, so she has no idea what I would do… perhaps I wouldn’t mind some gentle, understanding children… I know that it would be too much for me to be around toddlers or young children, as they move so quickly and I would just be too afraid. But I do love to play with other furry friends and would love a playmate in my forever home. I’m very submissive, and would love someone to help me come out of my shell. (I like my friend Lois and would love to have her play with me, but, frankly, she can be a bit bossy at times and I get scared. Maybe a friend that just wants to play and have fun is out there somewhere for me?)
My perfect home would have such a friend. Or if not, then someone who would like to play with me and has a yard for me to run around in. I don’t bark at night, or when my foster mom leaves, but I also have friends here with me. I’m not sure how I would act if I was all alone. I would need a home that would like to help me work on my marking behaviour and teach me to walk on a leash. And I always seem to want to have something in my mouth… a toy, some shredded newspaper, a shoe….So a home that would be understanding of the fact that I still have a lot to learn. But I would be so very very grateful for a home that would love me and show me all the wonders this world can hold. My foster mom says that I have eyes that can look right into your soul, and I just want to be your friend. I will love you, and kiss you, and call you my very own… if only you’ll give me a chance!
