Dachshund Dogs: Socialize Them OR Keep Them Safe

Sadie Sass Making Us Feel Guilty for Nothing

The thing about #Dachshunds is that they NEED to be SOCIALIZED. And there is this window in the puppy's development in which socialization helps them become more comfortable in the world outside their home.

But vets concentrate on KEEPING PUPPIES ALIVE. They tell you not to let your dog near other dogs until they have had enough Parvo vaccines and other puppy shots. And that takes them outside the important socialization window. You see the dilemma, right?

And my vets don't really ADVOCATE for or OFFER safe SOCIAL ACTIVITIES for young puppies. Now I suspect the reason lies in this story:

I finally broke down and asked my local neighborhood advice site if anyone knew of SAFE puppy socialization groups. People posted a bunch of puppy class information, but none seemed to meet my criteria of being up-to-date on shots AND not interacting with other dogs outside of the puppy class. Puppies require so much attention and help that Sadie's socialization needs slipped into the back seat. But then it would hit me that she was going to be afraid of other animals if I didn't solve this impossible problem.

It was a RELIEF when someone wrote on my post thread saying that THEY HAD A PUPPY who needed socialization also. Through texting, they told me that their dog only socializes with their cat. I made sure their puppy was not going for walks in public. I erred on the side of looking neurotic for Sadie Sass's sake.

We set a playdate. Woo hoo! Then the owner got sick. When you wait and wait for something important, a setback seems bigger than it is. I switched goals and started taking Sadie Sass out in a carrier to every store that allowed dogs, so I could do stranger socialization.

Sadie Sass in my Second Favorite Carrier

But the puppy parent wrote again when they were well. So we met in my yard. And after these timid dogs got comfortable enough to sniff each other's butts and play a bit, the puppy owner mentioned (LET SLIP?!?) that her husband had been taking her puppy to a puppy class.

And that her puppy had been sick a day or two ago but was now better ?!?).

And on cue her puppy left a present on the ground that indicated that the puppy was NOT BETTER. What would you do in that situation? Because I was shocked and yet I tried to act like everything was normal.

And of course, three days later they wrote to say that their dog had Giardia. (!!!) Which put our household into research, constant washing, and trauma mode. Meals that we had just made for neighbors could not be delivered. For no specific reason, Sadie Sass looked suspect when I tried to gauge her Giardia potential. Plans were canceled, as no one wants to get Giardia from a dog. Our house turned upside down.

In the end, we found out that Sadie Sass did not have Giardia. But socialization? Yeah, we were waiting. And we began to think the Vets were onto something by avoiding navigating puppy groups, varying perceptions of puppy safety, and the messy business of believing people that they don't really know.

Follow Sadie Sass on insta @doxiedogdays