Happy St Patrick's Day!Did you know that St Patricks was declared a national holiday in 1902? The orign of St Patrick dates back to 385-461 AD. We have various tales on St Patrick but it is believed he brought Christianity into Ireland. He was cannonized by the Catholic church after his death on March 17, AD 493.

"For each petal on the shamrock

This brings a wish your way-

Good health, Good luck and happiness

For today and everyday."

--Author Unknown

photo credit : http://www.zazzle.com

(wonderful assortment of gifts and cards from various artists)

Florida Wiener Dog Derby

Calling all Floridians and Doxie lovers. The Florida Wiener Dog Derby will take place on Sunday, March 28, 2010 in North Fort Myers (rain or shine) at 1:00pm. Pre-race registration is strongly encouraged.

Racing is open to all pure breed Dachshunds.This is a fun family & friendly event. Proceeds will benefit a good cause. Attend as competitor or a spectator. This is a funny race that can't be missed!

The racing wiener dog cartoon is by Bryan Ballinger. Please visit http://www.breadwig.com/ or http://www.bryanballinger.com/

To learn more about the Florida Wiener Dog Derby please visit: http://www.floridawienerdogderby.com/

Empty Nest Dog

I went to the dentist yesterday and as I waited I read a story titled "Empty Nest Dog". The title immediately caught my eye. The writer mentioned all the dogs she had throughout her life and now her kids were out of the house and she had her empty nest dog. The story made me realize about the dogs I have had throughout my life. First there was Petey, a perky and smart French Poodle. I had him during my junior high school years. Unfortunately, Petey was hit by a car and died instantly. My mom waited a few years before deciding in giving me another dog. After endless begging, she gave in. I was 19 yrs old and then came Mickey, a rambunctious Cocker Spaniel.

I know realized how well Mickey trained me for motherhood. The whimpering and wailing puppy stage moments and how I can forget the potty training incidents and accidents. And lastly, the constant gnawing and chewing of shoes and the garden hose and the ear infections. Mickey drove me up the wall. He was loud and obnoxious, but so adorable. I wanted to give up on Mickey many times but I remained loyal because he was always loyal to me. Mickey lived a happy life and I enjoyed his teachings and endless love. I put him down right before my 30th birthday. He was very sick and it was time to put him to rest. I was only a just a few months away from delivering my first baby and his passing was very difficult for me

We don't have a dog right now. But I know the day is coming when my girls get old enough and beg for a dog. Will I cave in? The answer is still uncertain. But I do think I might cave in when I hit the empty nest because coming to a empty and quiet home doesn't sound so inviting.

The love and responsibilities of fostering.

To become a foster all you need is love. Fostering varies and differs with very dog. Some of the dogs that come into the rescue come with health or behavior issues and some do not. The care, attention and retraining you give to a foster depends greatly on the needs of the dog. Fostering can bring it's challenges but with challenges comes great reward. Being part of the process gives you the satisfaction that the dog will eventually land in a stable and loving environment. Fostering is the path that leads the dog to a furever home. If you are interested in fostering, please contact your local rescue group. At Skyway Dachshund Rescue the foster homes pays for food, heat worm and flea treatment. The rescue pays for all the vet care.

February is PET DENTAL HEALTH Month

Before we say goodbye to the month of February, I want to write a bit about Pet Dental Health. Pets need routine dental care just like us. After all we brush our teeth regularly to prevent tooth decay and oral disease. Well the same principle needs to be applied to your pet. Here are few steps you can put in practice:

1. Take your pet to the vet for a dental exam.
2. Begin a dental care routine at home.
3. Schedule regular vet checkups.

If you are unable to brush your pet's teeth regularly you can incorporate special pet food in your pet's routine. Remember you have to introduce the toothbrush to your pet gradually. Praise your pet throughout process and keep it short and positive.

With a little patience, love and consistency your pet will have a pearly white smile and fresh breathe too. To learn more about pet dental care please visit: http://www.petdental.com

When I was in college I was required to volunteer in order to receive a passing grade for one of my college courses. I decided to volunteer at a "no-kill" animal shelter. To be honest, I did this more for the self interest of a passing grade. I was young and naive and it wasn't long before I realized it was the hardest but most rewarding work I had ever done. I scrubbed, hosed, scooped, walked and fed countless dogs. Down deep inside I truly felt sorry for these animals because they had no voice and relied on us to care for them. The most valuable lesson I took from volunteering was that I made a difference to a living creature. I didn't expect a pat on the back from anyone but I was content to know that I helped a facility that was looking out for the best interest of these animals. I developed a sense of inner gratitude and respect for all living creatures. Have you volunteered lately? It will do wonders to your community and your heart.

Dachshund breed ranked 8th in AKC

Welcome Doxie Lovers! I am glad to be part of this group and blog about Doxies and everything in between. So, I sit here and think. What should this first blog be about? I did some little research and I just read the American Kennel Club announced in a statement on January 27, 2010, the Dachshund breed ranked 8th in the top ten breeds in America for 2009. I am happy to read that the dachshund breed still remains high in popularity. After all, how can you resist a weiner? I did some more reading to learn the history of the Dachshund breed . Dachshunds were bred in the 1600's in Germany. The purpose of the Dachshund's elongated body was to dig into the badger's burrows and hunt. The breed lost it's popularity after WWI but breeders imported the breed from Germany into the US and slowly rebuilt the gene pool. The Dachshund was recognized by the AKC in 1885.