An avid Three Dachshund’s reader commented on how nice our off-white carpets look and wondered how we keep our carpets clean and what the best vacuum for Dachshund hair is.  First off, vacuuming your carpet can become a taxing chore especially when you have three Dachshunds that shed and have a tendency track in outside dirt. The weekly chore can be cut down to about 15 minutes with the right kind of equipment.

Over the ten years that we’ve had our dogs, we’ve tried just about every vacuum on the market and the only two that have survived the test of time are the Oreck and Dyson Vacuum cleaners.  The amount of money we wasted on the cheaper (well known named) brands easily would have paid for our more expensive vacuums we own today.

We fell in love with our Dyson canister from the moment we got it home.  It has incredible suction and keeps the dirt and dust inside the canister instead of spreading though out the house as you vacuum.  The only problem is that the air driven bush does not work well for pet hair on our medium pile carpet.  The power cord was too short making it difficult to cover some of the rooms in our house.  Eventually we gave it away to my mother who lives in a small apartment and suffers with COPD making it a perfect vacuum for her.

We didn’t know how dirty our carpets were until we cleaned them with the Oreck XL.  The hypo-allergenic filtration system keeps the dust and dirt in the bag so it doesn’t go spewing back out into the room.  The bags hold an incredible amount of dirt so you don’t have to empty it so often like you do in bagless systems.

The light-weight design is perfect for the stairs, but again, it is designed to work on low pile carpeting.   You can get a really good workout on your biceps and triceps with this vacuum.  Even though this is probably the best vacuum for dog hair – and we continue to use it to clean our stairs — the upper body strength it takes to clean our caused us switch back to Dyson.

The Dyson Animal upright is what we use to clean our carpets every week.  The short comings of the canister were eliminated with a 25’ power cord and a motorized brush that even picks up the baby-fine fur that Molly sheds.  The large wheels make vacuuming nearly effortless and are the main reason we can vacuum our house in less than fifteen minutes.

The main problem is with Dyson is that it is a bagless system and you have to empty the canister outside.  (Remember to stand up wind when you drop the contents into the trash.)   But other than that, it is a really good vacuum for our carpet.

So which vacuum is best for cleaning pet hair?  The Dyson Animal and Oreck XL are the best vacuums that we’ve ever owned for cleaning up after our Dachshunds.  Unlike cheaper vacuums, the exceptional quality of these brands will last for many years even though the prices are substantially higher.  But do you really want to sacrifice when buying the best vacuum for pet hair?

Dyson DC 28 AirMuscle Vacuum CLeaner Animal Muscle!! US $399.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:29:00 PST Add to watch list

Dyson DC25 Animal Vacuum Cleaner *Brand New In Box* US $406.00 (6 Bids) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 5:49:14 PST Add to watch list

Dyson DC31 Animal Handheld Cleaner, excellent condition US $179.99 (1 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 6:17:39 PST Add to watch list

Dyson Pet Clean Up Kit Animal Ball Origin Attachment US $69.99 End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 9:44:06 PST Add to watch list

DYSON BALL DC 25, ANIMAL US $390.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Mar-10-2010 9:50:06 PST Add to watch list

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We receive an email from a reader with a Dachshund that shivers:

Is it normal for a dashund to shiver? Not only when it is cold outside but when he’s on your lap.  I heard it’s a sign of back problems. Thank you in advance.

Thanks for the question! First off, I’m not a Vet, and if you have any medical questions about your pet, you should seek the advice of a Veterinarian.  Your Dachshund may have injured himself or may need other medical attention.   Your Vet will perform an examination with perhaps an x-ray to determine if your pet has back problems.

However, from my experience with my Three Dachshunds, shivering is often an indication of pain or distress.  It may or may not be related to a back problem.

Odie is a short-haired and the girls are long-haired.  Odie frequently sleeps underneath a blanket because he is cold.  It could be the middle of the summer and he still requires that extra warmth to keep from shivering.  This is why we buy dog sweaters for him.

One hot summer night, Odie came out of the covers to lie on top of my chest shivering as if it was the middle of winter.  It turned out that his stomach was upset because his dog food didn’t agree with him.  After I took him outside to potty, he was back to normal.

Odie also shivers when he goes for a ride.  He seems a little nervous and insecure.  Most of his rides have ended up at the Vet due to his back problems so he tends to get scared when riding in a car.

On the other hand, when Chloe injured her back in the past, she shivered when you gently pressed along the side of her spine.  She also gets very tense and tightens her back muscles when you pick her up.  She does not shiver despite her problems when laying on my lap.

So is there a definitive answer why Dachshunds shiver?  The most common cause is to illness or injury. But the only way to tell is to have your Vet examine your pet for the distress that is causing your dog to shiver.

Dachshund Rescue Education and Mentoring (DREAM) needs your help. One of the biggest challenges they have today is to place 18 Dachshunds from a retiring breeder in a good home and family.

We would like to help, but we already have three cute Doxies and my wife would just kill me if I got another. But if you’re in the Atlanta area, please contact DREAM.

Clare just started a new blog that looks like an excellent source of information. Her blog is a resource “devoted to helping new and existing dog owners have a long and rewarding relationship with their dog.”

I really enjoyed her articles especially, “How to Puppy Proof Your Home.” I found that keeping our Daschunds in confined areas when they were puppies really helped protect them.

This is especially true with Molly who was always chewing on electric cords and our expensive coffee table legs.

Summarized from from 5 Common Mistakes When Buying a Dog Bed by Ethan Edison.

1. It’s not chew proof – Doxies like to chew on things
2. It’s cheap – Doxies like really expensive things
3. It’s not the right size – Doxies are long but small
4. It’s not washable – I wash their beds more often than they get baths.
5. It doesn’t suit your dog – All Doxies sleep under the covers, they’re cold natured.

I know this is a shameful pug for dog.com, but they are an excellent resource for getting the poop scoop on the dog food recall. If you don’t know if which dog food was recalled, just follow their links to the recall page.

Dachshunds are stubborn dogs. Especially when it comes to potty training. Molly still has her occasional “accident” when she forgets to go #2 in the morning. When she was first learning, every night she would wander upstairs and find that special spot in the guest bedroom and leave #1 or #2.

Needless to say, we have a nice urine stains in the room making it somewhat embarrassing to have guests stay in that room.

I just got a link request from PetStainRemoval where they are offering a free sample of their urine removal solution they want you to try. You apply it to the spot and 1 to 8 hrs it’s gone! With three Dashunds, I’m sure I’ll need the gallon solution to clean up that guest room.

When Odie ruptured his disk, we did not (still do not) have pet insurance. His surgery ran into the thousands. Lucky for him, we were able to afford the necessary care to ensure a successful recovery.

But for many dachshund owners, they cannot afford the cost of surgery which leads to putting down their favorite doxie or leaving him paralyzed for life.

Check with your Vet to see what plans are offered.

You want a pet health insurance plan that will meet your financial needs as well as be accepted by your local veterinarian.

Many readers of Three Miniature Dachshunds find their way here via MSN, Yahoo and even sometimes Google. But without the help of Free Website Traffic Expert Tinu Abayomi-Paul, Three Miniature Daschunds would be forever lost in the search engine pages nobody ever sees.

Reading Tinu’s blog over the past two years has given me insight on how to SEO Three Miniature Dachshunds – even if it’s an insignificant blog about three special Dachshunds – whom I love dearly. Because of her, you found that Lost Dachshund Site on Yahoo.

Thank you Tinu, you’re #1.

Chloe, Odie, Molly and Howard

By Laura Kiemele, Veterinarian Technician

(NC)-Recent research has shown that when pets and people exercise together, they achieve greater success and are more likely to stick with a weight-loss program. Pet owners can truly make a difference for their pets by involving them in The Pet Fitness Challenge, a joint initiative between Hill’s Pet Nutrition Canada and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). This summer, commit to help dogs and cats achieve a balanced life through proper food choices, exercise and visiting the veterinarian.

How to Take the Pet Fitness Challenge

1. Weigh-In
• Determine the pet’s current and ideal weight. Visit a Veterinarian for a complete check-up.
2. Get Active
• Dogs require 15 to 20 minutes of physical activity at least three times a day and cats require the same length of activity at least twice a day.
3. Make it Regular
• Schedule a time each morning, afternoon and evening for physical activity. Developing a routine means greater success in sticking to it and seeing results.
4. Proper Food Choice is Key
• Exercise alone can’t do it all which is why food choice is so important. Several products now offer “light” varieties to help a pet achieve and maintain desired weight loss. When selecting a “light” food, ensure the product meets the labelling standards outlined by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). For dry foods, a true light formula should not exceed 3,100 kcal (canine formulas) and 3,250 kcal (feline formulas) per kilogram of food. For canned foods, the formula should not exceed 900 kcal (canine formulas) and 950kcal (feline formulas) per kilogram of food. Hill’s Pet Nutrition markets a variety of foods that meet these standards, and include formulas specifically designed for both weight maintenance and weight loss.
5. Follow the guide
• Before feeding a pet, check the recommended serving amount listed on the package. Use this as a guide and adjust as necessary for proper weight management. Always measure the food carefully to avoid overfeeding. Be aware of snacking and never feed a pet junk food or table scraps.
6. Encouragement goes a long way
• Pay extra attention to the pet, encourage them with praise and playtime.
7. Fun and Games
• Take the time to get outside with dogs and play indoor games with cats. Play hunting is a great way to increase a cat’s level of activity.
8. Checking In
• Keep on track with regular visits to the veterinarian and by keeping a log. Track the progress of both the owner and the pet, and keep the weight off together.

For more information please visit www.hillspet.com, www.petfit.com and www.animalhealthcare.ca.

- News Canada (www.newscanada.com)