My name is Joy and I'm a Doxykeeper.  I bought my first Dachshund in 1968 from a neighbor who had a litter of puppies.  I wasn't particularly fond of this breed, never having had a Dachshund, but I really loved the personality of the mama dog and was young, married with no children, and wanted a dog for company.  So I bought my first Dachshund for $25.  I named her Doxie, which I thought was very original at the time and I spoiled her rotten.  She was a very destructive dog and back then we didn't know there was a name for separation anxiety.  Doxie was my shadow for 6 years and went everywhere with my husband and I. We couldn't leave her home, she'd tear up the house!  Doxie came with us to the hospital when I gave birth to my son, she came to the hospital when my son had his tonsils out.  If I visited friends, I brought my dog.  Doxie died suddenly after only 6 years.  I was so devastated at losing her, the thought of getting another dog was out of the question.  But after a week, I couldn't figure out what people did with all their leftovers and missed having a dog so we took in a dog whose owners were being transferred overseas in the military and couldn't take Sam with them.  Sam was a shaggy mutt and for the next 20 years there were no doxies in my life, just mutts and Cocker Spaniels.

My father started a collection of Dachshund figurines while I had Doxie and continued adding to my collection for many years after Doxie went to the bridge. My Dachshund collection has grown to quite an impressive one with some rare pieces and other wonderful memories of my father.  Many people whose Dachshunds I have taken in when they could no longer keep them have also given me some wonderful Dachshund items.

In 1994, after losing our 17 year old cat, I decided I wanted another Dachshund. After all, I had a whole collection of fake doxies, it was time to have a real one.  I called the local rescue and let them know I was interested in adopting a rescued Dachshund. I, like everyone else, wanted a young, mini, red female.  After waiting a year, I still had no Dachshund. So I started checking the newspaper and one Sunday saw an ad for an 11 month old red female.  I called, went to see the dog whose name was Penny and gave the lady my deposit.  We were going out of town for a few days so I needed to wait until we returned home before bringing a new dog into the house.  Boy, was I anxious to get home to get my new dog!!  Penny came to live with us in July of 1995 and is still the matriarch of the doxies here.  The bad thing was after just a matter of days of Penny living here, it was very obvious to me what I had been missing by not having a doxie for nearly 20 years.  I'm still kicking myself for all the doxie years I missed out on. 

About a year after Penny arrived, I was approached by a friend of a friend who had 2 doxies and lived in a condo. Her brother had a Dachshund who was not being treated very well and it was causing tension in the family. She couldn't take the dog because she was at her limit.  I heard the words "I'll take the dog" and realized they had come out of my mouth.  I was told he was not housebroken, not neutered, was a biter, was hyper and generally not a very nice dog. He was also a very poor specimen of the Dachshund breed coming from a back yard breeder. Why should all that matter?  The dog's name was David but we changed it to Farfel, after the wooden puppet on the Howdy Doody Show of the 50s.  You know, the one in the Nestles commercial.  Farfel is definitely a psycho dog with a lot of issues that most people would never tolerate but with his sometimes strange behavior comes love and protection.  I wouldn't want to be the person trying to get near me with Farfel in the way.  And watching his contentment while he's curled up asleep on my husband's lap every night is a joy to behold.

At this time we had a Cocker Spaniel named Mariah, Penny and Farfel.  I received a call from a co-worker telling me that someone she knew needed to give up a Dachshund and a Great Dane. I told her I would take the Dachshund named Lucky, whose name we changed to Luvy.  Luvy was a black and tan doxie with no manners who we quickly fell in love with. She made us laugh everyday.  We only enjoyed two years with Luvy until she went to the bridge.  But after Luvy, the Doxies just kept on coming.  I didn't realize I was doing Dachshund Rescue, it just kind of sneaked up on me.  Over the last several years I have taken in many wonderful doxies from owners who could no longer keep them or doxies in shelters from young dogs to seniors.  Each one holds a special place in my heart.  I receive letters, cards and pictures from many of my adopting families giving me an update on their beloved dogs.  Most of them are treated like spoiled children.  I see several of them at the Dachshund Picnic in Southern Calif. twice a year and I'm amazed at how many still remember me.  Rescue is very stressful but hearing about and seeing the dogs I've saved is what keeps me going.  I think about the dogs I've saved and wonder what would have become of them if I hadn't been there for them.

Through my rescue I have met so many wonderful, compassionate people.  Some have come in and out of my life but many still remain and will have a special place in my life always.

Dachshunds are smart, stubborn, affectionate, intuitive dogs. They are small in size only.  In their minds, they think they can do anything. The breed is not for everyone. If you're not ready to have a dog who requires as much time and attention as a two year old, and aren't willing to be "owned by a dog" this might not be the breed for you.  But if you find yourself falling in love with this breed, more than likely you'll end up with more than one.  Once you get hooked, you're addicted and you will never regret it.  Personally, I feel very blessed that I have found the perfect breed for me.