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Dachshunds (Mini Smooth)
Above is a shot of Ella and "Solana My Mr Beginagin" aka 'Benny'
The Dachshund breed is actually responsible for my now forever more interest in Basset Hounds. If you read my 'History' page, you will get to know the whole story but in short, throughout my childhood, I was raised with Dachshunds as the family pet before being involved with the Bassets. Although I initially embarked on campaigning the Basset, I always had the intention of purchasing a Dachshund (or two) down the track. As Ella (my now 6 year old daughter) is just so keen to show, the larger size of the Basset made a difficult task even harder for her - the Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund is just the perfect size for her to manage and with many thanks extending to Mrs. Kathy Anderson of "Solana Miniature Dachshunds" for breeding such excellent temperaments and types in her Dachshunds and allowing us to have her beautiful lines to work with.
'Benny' ("Solana My Mr Beginagin") is the man of the house AND farm - no one has told him he is only four inches high! As far as he is concerned he is ten foot tall and bullet proof. He spends his days here parolling the fence line, ensuring NO ONE enters without letting me know. He has an ongoing love affair happening with my closest girl friend Tina and when she drops in for a visit, Benny is just beside himself! He just LOVES his cuddles and scratches and makes the most delightful noises when he is getting them! He has the most fantastic temperament and is such a little gentleman - if only they made human men that good! It is quite a well known fact that the Dachshund can be a bit of a guts when it comes to their food and that they can accummulate more weight than they need but 'Benny' would be the exception to that rule. Due to his mandatory duties of running around the property, he tends to be a bit on the lean side which has stopped me from campaigning him as I would have liked to in the show ring. He is a bit of a grey hound - all be it with very short legs! Non the less, he is an exceptional type and if and when I manage to get some weight on him, he will be shown!
I have been so fortunate to have met Mrs Kathy Anderson (Solana Miniature Smooth Dachshunds based at Bargo) whilst attending shows with the Bassets and I admired the quality of Dachies that she was showing. I have so much I owe to Kathy for her knowledge, understanding, support and caring nature that I can't begin to explain. To top this off, she just so happens to have some of the best temperaments amidst her collection of dogs. Kathy's babies and adults display amazing patience with children and Ella was also encouraged by her to handle them at shows when we would meet up, so I was confident that it was a positive move to get involved in this breed again especially under Kathy's watchful eye.
I don't like getting "picky" about colouring so to speak but I confess that I did put in "an order" with Kathy for a Black and Tan girl that could perhaps be matched up with our 'Benny' down the track and during 2010, Kathy was able to produce an exceptional bitch that we named "Solana Miss Razzamataz" (aka 'Raz') that we added to the ranks of our family. Although we have experienced trials and tribulations with her, nearly loosing her to an electrical shock early on with her biting through my mobile phone charger cord, she has come through with flying colours. Only left unattended for a matter of literally seconds, she got herself into trouble! Just goes to show that one can never be too careful and she has been under constant serveillance ever since!
Kathy's expertise in her field has shone through in the progeny she has produced within her Miniature Dachshunds and her knowledge of correct conformation, movement, balance and type is proof on its own. I truly thank her for allowing us the opportunity to include two of her very special little hounds into our lives.
Hopefully, 2011 will afford us a bit more luck and enable us to get to some more shows, along with all the crew, Dachies and Bassets so that we can meet some more new friends and have a bit of fun all round. The boarding kennels I now have may restrict this activity somewhat but we will do our best to get there!
Both Benny and Raz share all the creature comforts inside our home so they form an integral part of our family unit. Benny spends his day "protecting" the two road frontage boundary of our property, so he is one very fit little Dachie! No one has ever told him he is only four inches high! Raz on the other hand is my shadow - she is never far behind me and is the Queen of Delsharla - just ask her! Both of them insist on a reasonable bed time hour especially during winter as they love the electric blanket on my bed! It never ceases to amaze me just how much room two very small dogs can take up in a Queen size bed! Raz will snuggle in under the blankets to begin with but always ends up with her head on the pillow next to mine! If 'Benny' is the "Patrol Officer" here at Delsharla, then Raz is certainly the Princess! She is quite the prima donna, bursting with personality and exuding quality, she is my little gem! She doesn't want attention, she DEMANDS it!
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Check back later to view more photos and updates on the Miniature Dachshunds. Susie Muhleisen Goulburn, NSW, Australia Phone : 02.48 220 654 Email : delsharlakennels@bigpond.com |
