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Foster Update 6/25 - Taco is doing quite well.  He saw Dr. Wayne again last week for another allergy/itching shot and continues to get twice weekly baths.  He is now housetrained, and can hold all night quite well.  He has gained weight and is becoming more playful.  His skin is still pretty dreadful, though.  His back, head and neck are pretty well filled in but his throat, chest, abdomen and hind legs still look more like a rhino than a dog.  He gets on well with my other dogs, cats, sheep and horses and is very sweet.

Taco came from a local kill shelter with "some sort of skin condition"...once our vets took a look at him we now understand its a combination of uncontrolled thyroid, skin infection and general lack of care! Who knows how long this poor baby was out wondering the streets! He is thin as a rail and needs some time to heal! If adopted our vet will provide any inmediate care for his skin! He is mostly bald and has a funny smell to him! Were hoping with some TLC, medicated baths, regular thyroid meds and a loving home he will get healthy quickly!

According to www.dogbreedinfo.com, the Dachshund (pronounced dak sund) originated in Germany many hundreds of years ago. "Dachs" is the word for badger. The Dachshund was bred to hunt and follow these animals to earth, gradually becoming highly evolved, with shortened legs to dig the prey out and go down inside the burrows. Smaller Dachshunds where bred to hunt hare and stoat. Dachshunds have many "terrier" characteristics. They are versatile and courageous dogs and have been known to take on foxes and otters, besides badgers. Lively and affectionate; proud and bold, almost rash. Tenacious. Can be willful and clownish. Curious and mischievous, they are very clever and may attempt to train the owner rather than allow the opposite. Devoted to his family, some fanciers feel the long-haired variety is calmer than the other two types. The wire-haired variety is more outgoing and clown-like. All are slightly difficult to train. Dachshunds are good dogs to travel with. They are best with older, considerate children and are moderately protective. These little dogs like to bark (their barks are surprisingly loud for their size) and are compulsive diggers. They are generally okay with other pets, however, they can be jealous, irritable, obstinate and very quick to bite. Sometimes they will refuse to be handled. They should not be over fed, for this breed tends to gain weight quickly. They have a life expectancy of 12-15 years.