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I'd like some advice please. I want a small dog, preferably a dachshund, but my husband is so adamantly opposed. I'm really ticked off about this and so is he.

I grew up with a dachshund and then my husband got me one about 13 years ago for Christmas. She was my baby and she went everywhere with me. She really was the best dog I've ever had and I was totally devestated when she died in a house fire. It was horrible!

Since then we've made a couple of attempts to find another dachshund, but it hasn't worked. Their personalities didn't fit for children, which is pretty common with that breed. It was also very emotionally draining when it didn't work out.

We now have a black lab who owns my son. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> We laugh because it's not a boy and his dog, it's a dog and her boy. She just "took" to my son and that really pleases me. She's also a great dog, with a very sweet disposition and excellent manners.

We also have 4 cats but they are outside cats. The neighbors tend to bring us the strays in the neighborhood. They know we'll take care of them, heal them, etc. until we can find them homes.

I really feel like I'm ready to try again with another small dog. I want a dog that I can spoil rotten, love on, take places, walk daily with, sit and read with, and just plain love unconditionally. I miss having that companionship, that friendship.

I've been looking at adult dogs in rescue, not puppy's from breeders. My Peanut came to me as an adult and was being rescued and that little dog put out more love and friendship than any other animal I've ever had. I'm also looking for the right match for our family so I think a rescue organization is the best way to go because they will give me time to spend with a potential candidate without making me feel like I have to choose now or the dog will be put down. Plus the rescue organizations already have a really good idea of the temperment and personality of the dog, and that's important to me too. I'm looking for a forever pet who wants a forever home and I think the best chance of finding that is with a rescue organization.

My husband is still adamantly opposed. We've really had some serious disagreements over this and I'm as mad as a wet hen! It's not like he'll have to take care of the dog. Half the point is that I want to take care of it. It's also not like we're living in a flea infested pig stye either. I keep the house clean and I admit our lab sheds like crazy but I do clean up daily. I don't think a small short haired dog is going to contribute so much shedding hair that we'll be drowning in it, but that's also another excuse I'm getting.

We do live out in the country on two acres. The kids and I are die-hard animal lovers (except I do NOT like snakes). We have plenty of room and love to give. I'd be a foster home for rescue animals if I could. My youngest goes to school in the fall so that could have something to do with how I'm feeling, but I've been wanting a dog of my own for about 2 years.

Am I being unreasonable? Do I want a dog for the wrong reasons? Why do most people want a dog? Any advice would be appreciated.

Fighting over it will not do any good. Respect the fact he doesn't want another dog.

However every now and then talk to him about it, have a discussion.

Ask him to make a list of why he doesn't want a dog.

Ask him if he wants a dog at all, if so what kind. then go from there.

Glad to see your into the rescue orgs. Thanks

I think this is definitely something you and your husband really need to iron out before you put a dog in the middle of the argument!

I don't think you want a dog for the wrong reasons at all. Why do any of us (responsible owners anyway) want a dog except because we're feeling the need for a certain type of friendship that dogs are oh-so-good at providing? And it sounds like your lab picked your son and left you still wanting that special bond.

I didn't understand the basis of the disagreement though. Is your husband adamantly opposed to another dog altogether? Or just a new SMALL dog? Did he say WHY?

How long ago did your dachsie die? Maybe he feels you're trying to replace her and isn't ready for that yet... some people take longer to mourn than others. I dunno, just a theory.

All you really hinted was that housekeeping might be an issue, but I hope that's not all. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

A healthy marriage needs to be able to work out issues like this respectfully. I'm sure you'll come up with a resolution you can BOTH be happy with. Just make sure that after you get advice and sort yourself out, you resolve things finally by talking to HIM about this.

Good luck and hang in there!

I am so glad I posted and really thank those of you who posted in reply. I took some time to think about both posts in reply and then took a longer look at why I want a dog. I approached my husband again and we've talked some more.

He was opposed to another dog because we've got a house full of kids and one dog and some foster cats already. Once we got down to his reasons for not wanting a dog and my reasons for wanting one, we took time to consider both sides. We came back and talked again and he has agreed that we have enough love, time and attention for one more.

I've found a couple of bassets that I've narrowed my search down to. I've talked with the organization and really gotten some great advice for my son's dog. There is one yearly shot that our vet doesn't normally do and we're getting it anyway. The vet also doesn't do a heartworm preventative unless the dog tests positive. After talking with the Bluegrass Basset Rescue and doing some more research we've decided our lab will get on a preventative whether she tests positive or not. Once a dog has heartworms they can't be cured, only prevented from getting worse.

Anyway, I just wanted to post and share my happy news and say thank you for the advice. I'll post when we have our newest family member. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Hi, I was just "passing through" and read your post. First of all, thank you so much for considering an adult dog from a rescue/shelter. I foster dogs for our local humane society and I can't tell you how much these dogs need homes. Our shelter currently has over 200 animals in foster homes. Without our foster parents we'd be putting down so many dogs. We currently have three dogs of our own and three foster dogs. I too live out in the country and we have plenty of room and plenty of love to care for these needy animals.

A bassett hound is not a very small dog. They aren't tall, but they can get long and put on the pounds. However, they are very loveable and affectionate.

Your current dog will be very happy with a new friend. I often tell people that it's actually easier to have two dogs than just one. One dog relies on you for food, water, shelter, love, and entertainment. When you come home tired and need to rest, it needs your attention and wants to play or walk, because it's been sitting around all day waiting for you. But if you have two dogs, they entertain themselves and comfort each other while you're gone. Also they play together, so you don't feel pressured to entertain them. Of course, you still need to give them love and attention, but you won't feel as guilty if you're too tired. Getting my second dog was the best thing I ever did for my Smiley Girl.

Good luck with the dog and with the spouse.

Cheryl,
I'm so glad that you and your husband worked thngs out about a second dog! I too think dogs are happier and easier to care for when they have a full time canine companion. I think you'll be happy that you chose a Basset. I have a few Basset grand dogs that I adore. I've used pictures of Verna and Stanley a few times in my articles and postcards. They are both very easy going, laid back, and affectionate.

You will be getting a lot more dog than the small one you originally wanted... Basset bodies are actually about the same size as my Weims, but their legs are only a few inches long. I really don't think you could find a better dog for kids though.

I just want to clarify something about heartworm preventative. A dog must test negative for heartworm in order to be started on a preventative. If a dog who already has heartworms takes a heartworm preventative, it could have a life-threatening reaction. If a dog tests postive, it can be cured. My Dad's dog had heartworm. Treatment was expensive and involved staying at the animal hospital for a few days for IV meds, but he was fine. If a heartworm test is negative, the dog can be started on a preventative right away. My dogs take a once a month chewable pill. Since they take it year round, they must only be re-tested every 2 or 3 years.

I clicked on your link for the Bluegrass Basset Rescue. They are all so adorable! Who couldn't fall in love with any one of them! I'm sure your whole family will be happy with whoever you get. Good luck. I'll be watching for pictures.

I wanted to drop in and give an update. We did get a Basset but it didn't work out. She didn't seem to like the younger children. She wanted their stuffed animals and one night she went in and took one of my youngest sons animals that he sleeps with. We went and bought her own but she didn't like those. Anyway, I took his animal back and the doggie got upset and bit him in the face. He was just laying there, not talking, not moving, and she just suddenly bit him. Thankfully he wasn't hurt! She went back to the rescue the next day. We had already been concerned because she had snapped at all of us at some point. I also called the foster mom and talked to her about the snapping. Thankfully the Basset went to a single older lady who had a male and didn't have plans to have any children.

Two days later a lady called from a shelter and asked if I would consider a Dachshund that had been "dumped". I had found a small Peek-a-poo that I was planning on getting, but after all the prayers over this and my real desire for Dachshund, I knew there wasn't any way possible to not go see her.

When we got to the shelter, the poor Dachshund was a mess! She's a wire-haired little girl who was missing patches of hair and she stunk to high Heaven. She has a cyst on her leg that is going to be removed too. She was SO lovable! She snuggled right up to all of us including my little boys!

We knew she was the one when one of the shelter folks left a back door open and she shot out of it. She went all the way around the building to the front with us right behind her. She went around a big truck straight under our van. We opened the door and she jumped right in! I was able to pick her up from under the middle seat. I took her back in and asked to fill out the papers.

We've had her a little over a week and she's doing fabulous!! I asked what they had been feeding her and it was a low-grade food. I put her Iams mini-chunks mixed with canned Iams. She needs dental work done so the canned works well for her. I had just about 1/2 tsp of olive oil and her coat is growing back in soft and silky. I'm also using a doggie moisturizer so that's helping too. Her skin isn't dry and flaky anymore. She makes the rounds at night and takes turns sleeping with my little boys, my daughter and prefers to wake up in the mornings with me.

Our lab must have thought she was a toy at first because she's so small. They are buddies now though! As soon as our lab comes out of my son's room in the morning she comes to tell the Dachshund good morning. They eat together, play together and love taking walks together. She's a real blessing!

Cheryl,
I'm sorry the Basset didn't work out, and so glad you're son wasn't badly hurt!

It sounds like the little Dachshund was just meant to be though. She found the people she wanted and she wasn't about to let you go without her! Now you have the little lap dog you wanted too. I'm so glad you found each other and things are now going so well for all of you!

You're feeding her right too. Iams is excellent dog food. When my Fritz was a puppy, we almost lost him twice. When we brought him home from the animal hospital after surviving meningitis at 4 months old, he was literally skin and bones. His coat was thin, dry and dull looking. He thrived on Iams Lamb and Rice Puppy Food, recommended by our Vet. In just a few weeks his weight was back to normal and his coat was perfect.

My dogs eat nothing but Iams since then and they both have exceptionally shiny, beautiful coats.

Good luck with your new little one. Wire-haired doxies are so cute! I'll be watching for her picture in Rate My Dog.