Lacey Lou is a sweet, gentle soul with a soft and loving heart. Her long, flowing hair and silky touch add to her delicate charm. Once you earn Lacey Lou’s trust, her love and affection are incomparable, forming a truly special bond. Yet, she does have her stubborn moments, often stemming from anxiety and insecurity, particularly in socially challenging or high-distraction environments like busy streets or parks. These fears have shaped some of her behaviors, but with patient and consistent training, she has come a long way.
Lacey Lou is diligently working on mastering her basic commands such as "sit," "down," "stay," and "come." Her training incorporates marker-based communication, which has been a game-changer for reducing her stubbornness and helping her understand expectations. Using the verbal markers "yes" (for correct behavior) and "no" (for incorrect or incomplete actions), Lacey Lou receives instant feedback, which provides her with much-needed clarity and guidance. This method has significantly sharpened her responses and improved her engagement during training sessions.
In addition to her training, Lacey Lou is fully crate-trained. She enjoys the cozy, safe space her crate provides, especially when her people are not home. It’s her little haven, often filled with blankets galore and perhaps a personal worn t-shirt that smells like her favorite person. This thoughtful touch helps soothe her while you’re away, reducing any potential separation anxiety. The crate is not a permanent feature of her life, but it’s been an incredibly positive tool to help her transition and feel secure in your absence. She also enjoys using her crate when she needs a quiet place to nap or relax, preferring the small, comforting area as a peaceful retreat.
Lacey Lou is fully potty-trained and won’t have accidents in the house, provided she is given regular opportunities to go outside. She’s a proper young lady, but if we wait too long, she may struggle to hold it. As with everything, patience and consistency are key, and she’ll thrive with a regular routine.
One of Lacey Lou’s biggest challenges is overcoming her anxiety in unfamiliar or overwhelming situations, especially around strangers or new environments. When she feels unsure, she may retreat into herself, becoming less responsive. In these moments, her training focuses on reinforcing calmness and building trust, using gentle encouragement and positive reinforcement to coax her out of her shell. While she is still cautious around new people, she is learning to trust more easily through proper introductions and structured exposure.
Despite her occasional hesitation, Lacey Lou has made tremendous strides in her training. She’s learning to walk calmly on a leash, though she can still be a little nervous in busy areas with lots of distractions. Her handler has focused on giving her clear direction, reducing her anxiety and overthinking by keeping her engaged with cues and commands. Her natural tendency is to pick one person to bond with deeply, but through training and socialization, she’s become more open to new people and experiences, learning that she’s safe even outside her comfort zone.
In addition to her marker training, Lacey is working on improving her impulse control. This includes tasks like waiting at doors, holding a stay despite distractions, and learning not to react to sudden environmental stressors. She’s making great progress in these areas but requires consistent guidance from a calm and gentle leader who can provide the stability she needs. Her stubbornness often comes from moments of indecision or fear, but clear communication through her marker system has helped her become more decisive and confident.
Lacey Lou’s ideal lifestyle includes regular walks, though she may need a bit of coaching to get started. Once she’s moving, she enjoys being outside and taking in the sights and smells. While she may prefer a more laid-back, couch-potato lifestyle, it’s important to keep her physically and mentally stimulated. She has shown some initiative in exercising on her own, but she benefits greatly from structured daily routines that involve physical activity and continued training.
Though Lacey has a few dog friends, her play style is very low-key. She enjoys walking alongside her canine companions rather than engaging in active play. She would likely thrive in a home without other pets, as she tends to bond deeply with her human and doesn’t need the extra social pressure of a busy, multi-pet household.
One area of continued focus in her training is how she responds to being picked up. Lacey can exhibit pain-elicited aggression if she feels discomfort when lifted improperly, so her handler has worked diligently to teach her both to be more comfortable with touch and to ensure she’s lifted in a way that avoids triggering her discomfort. This has been a slow and careful process, but she’s made great strides.
Lacey Lou is in a much better place mentally and physically than she was before training. With the right leadership, continued structure, and an understanding of her unique quirks, she’s blossoming into a well-balanced companion. While she may always be somewhat reserved with new people, her progress in trust and communication has been remarkable, and she’s ready to continue her journey with a patient, loving home. Lacey Lou is a bright and special dog who just needs parents, teachers, and coaches to help her thrive as the confident young lady she’s meant to be.
If you are interested in adopting Lacey Lou, you can fill out an application right on our website! Go to our
online adoption application. Lacey Lou's adoption fee is $500.
All adoption fees go directly to veterinary care for DREAM dachshunds. Lacey Lou will go to his / her new home microchipped, spayed/neutered, heartworm tested, up to date on vaccinations, and with all other medical needs addressed.
Almost every dog's veterinary expenses exceed our adoption fees; we are a non-profit.
DREAM is an all-volunteer rescue group. We focus on the metro Atlanta area and can assist throughout the state of Georgia.
Since our rescue is entirely run and staffed by volunteers, our ability to travel long distances for adoptions is somewhat limited. We focus on Georgia, but if you are in a neighboring state, we might be able to work something out - we'll expect you to do your part.
DREAM does not recommend purebred dachshunds for families with children under 5, or families planning to have children during the dog's lifetime. Dachshunds are often not patient with little kids, and kids can accidentally hurt a doxie's back.
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