DachSand is the largest weekend beach festival for wiener dogs on the west coast. Last year, over 400 Dachshunds showed up!

The event is put on by Doxies of PNW Club and it's their biggest annual fundraiser. Besides wiener madness, there are raffles, giveaways, a costume contest, doxie derby, longest weener contest, two beach bonfires, and more.

We leave tomorrow, Thursday, but I started packing Monday because I was excited and I wanted to make sure everything I needed for 1 night of camping, staying in the hotel, my vendor booth at Ruby's Friday night plus camera equipment would fit in the car.

If you're going, you can find me at Ruby's Friday night (look for the table with the orange skirt), on the beach Saturday by the contest and vending area, and Sunday morning at 9 am for the beach walk.

Last week, we encountered an off-leash dog that wouldn't leave us alone. My initial subtle "scram" signal didn't work, and the owners either didn't try to recall their dog or the dog wasn't listening, so I had to escalate my efforts. It worked.

But then the dog owner came back to confront me. Now, I did swear at his dog and his little girl popped out of nowhere and saw that, so I apologized. We both kept our cool, but the conversation quickly devolved from what I thought was a request to not swear in case a kid hears it to him justifying his entitlement.

There are two primary kinds of dog owners in this world - those that think it's ok for their dog to be off leash and go up to any dog or person because "he's friendly" and those that don't like off-leash dogs running up to them. We were clearly on opposite sides of the spectrum.

In this episode, I talk about what to do if an off-leash dog approaches you and you don't want them to, how to advocate for your dog, and how to prepare for potential consequences of doing that.

While I've slowly been shedding my identify as a "pet blogger" over the last few years, a few big personal losses, and the realization that I've never held one "career" for 15 years, makes me feel like the time for true change is now. I'm going to double down on personal connection with you and shift my primary focus from the blog to this podcast and YouTube. Thanks for sticking with us.

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It's been 2 months since we said goodbye to Gretel. In this update, I talk about the emotional balance between feeling sad but not too sad. I also explain about trying to find the opportunity in the hole left in our lives.

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Believe it or not, Dachshunds can be trained. What is often interpreted as "stubborn" or defiant is simply a breakdown in communication. Your dog needs to understand what you expect of them and have the skills to do the right thing.

These 10 things made living with my Dachshunds easier, , improved my relationship with them, and allows me to successfully manage up to 6 Dachshunds at a time in a 650 square foot home as a dog sitter.

If you have questions about your Dachshund's behavior or training, ⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for a consult with me⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you live in Washington State, and want your Dachshund to come stay with me at "Adventurewiener Camp, you can find more information HERE.

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After an amazing camping weekend, and the the best life I could have given her, I had to let Gretel go to on to her next adventure without me. My whole live has been punctuated by loss and grief. I think it's something that needs to be talked about more openly - especially pet loss when so many people don't understand that pets are family. Sometimes, the loss of them hurts even more.

In this episode, I read a letter I wrote while I was still reeling from the loss. I also discuss what giving your pet a good death means, because I truly believe giving them the best life includes what happens at the end. That stepping out of your own despair to do what is best for your dog is the last, best, most compassionate gift you can give them.

Gretel is the reason that I started our blog back in 2010, when blogs were the social media of the day. That blog, and Gretel, totally changed my life. This is the end of a 14 year chapter for me. Near the end of this episode, I also discuss ways I am considering to keep Gretel's memory alive so she can continue to help improve Dachshund's life forever.

When I had to let my first Dachshund Chester go due to advanced dementia, I wrote this letter to him the same morning. I mention it in this episode and it will give further insight into how I view saying goodbye to a pet in the most compassionate way... and the negative thoughts that I struggle with.

Love and Loss: Letting Go of My Dog With Dementia

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We all want to give our Dachshunds the best life that we can. However, even I, who left my government job in 2012 to dedicate myself to my Dachshunds and helping others, can't always give 100%. The fact is, life is crazy, unpredictable, and emotionally draining at times. At the same time my senior Dachshund was experiencing a health issue, two of my most important family members were in health crisis too. Sometimes, we simply can't do the "best", and instead, have to do the best that we can for our dogs. I recorded this to remind myself but also in hopes of helping others not feel so guilty when they are forced to shift priorities. We are all doing the best that we can. Be kind to yourself.

If you need help with your Dachshund's behavior or training, sign up for a consult or training plan with me⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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They say Dachshunds are like potato chips, you can't have just one. These cute, funny, quirky little dogs will snuggle into your heart, and you may want another. Obviously, a person can't really have ALL THE WIENER DOGS, but how many could you realistically own? In this episode, I discuss all of the things you should consider when the urge strikes to rescue another or get another puppy.

For more information about some of the things that I mention, check out these blog posts:

• How Much Does It Cost to Feed a Miniature Dachshund?
• How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost?
• Should I Get a Third Dachshund?

If you need help with your Dachshund's behavior or training, ⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up for a consult or training plan with me⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
• ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Dachshund educational blog⁠⁠