Training day for dogs

Cindy Hval
Correspondent
March 6, 2008

Yips, yaps and yelps echoed throughout the Lilac City Dog Training Club in north Spokane on Feb. 23, when the Dachshund Club of Spokane sponsored a Dog Training Day. For a $5 donation to Dachshund Rescue NW, pets and their people could participate in a variety of classes.

What started out as a hobby for Margo Mossburg, director of Dachshund Rescue NW, has turned into a passion and a calling. She was a Dachshund breeder for 25 years but eventually decided that rescuing was the best way to care for these energetic dogs. "I started checking and found a lot of wieners were being put down."

According to Mossburg, prospective owners are often not prepared for the demands of owning a dachshund. She said, "They're a lot of dog in a tiny package and amazingly entertaining houseguests," but she also cautioned that dachshunds can be quite a handful, albeit a small one. She said she owned her first dachshund when she was 5 or 6. "She was a really rotten dog! But, I had her until I was 17."

Dachshunds are a breed of hound, which means they're notorious diggers, highly intelligent, strong-willed and very vocal.

A tiny doxie aptly named Tara the Terrorist demonstrated this by letting everyone know how she felt about her time-out. From a kennel in the middle of the room, she let loose a barrage of barks that could be heard above the happy vocalizations of the assembled dogs. "She belongs to the snotty little dog club," said owner Carolyn Smelcer.

Smelcer, the assistant director of Dachshund Rescue NW, introduced herself as "the Number Two Wienie." With microphone in hand, to be heard above the excited pets, she conducted several consecutive classes.

First up was the basic lesson of teaching pets to come when called. Cries of "Here, boy! C'mon puppy!" filled the room as owners on one side of the room called to pets on the other. Some dogs feigned deafness. Others were distracted by the excitement of making new doggy friends. And others appeared a bit confused.

Dachshunds weren't the only breed present. A tiny Yorkie and a young pug named Harvey also attended. Harvey's owner, 8-year-old Shandra McGoldrick, encouraged the sweet-faced, 3-month-old pug to come. "Here, Harvey, c'mere boy!" she called. Harvey ignored her. It was his first time at the club.

Mossburg estimated that half the dogs present had been rescued by her organization. One example was Andy, a piebald dachshund. His owner, Rita Bierley, said Andy was half-starved when Mossburg rescued him. He'd also suffered a hip injury.

"I started seeing Andy at events," Bierley said. She adopted him in part to keep Opie, her 13-year-old dachshund, company. "Andy's a couch potato," she said with a laugh. "He's a true lap dog. He likes to hug and snuggle." Andy seemed to agree with her assessment and scooted closer.

In the center of the room, Smelcer called the group together for a dachshund race. She said the Wiener Dog Races are one of the most popular events each year at Pet Fest. The race was over in a flash as Smelcer's dog, Baron, retained his title of "Faster Wiener in Town."

Dachshund Rescue NW tries to host an event each month. The dogs socialize with each other, and Smelcer said, "We get to see the dogs we helped rescue – our alumni."

Their adoption program is highly successful. "In 16 years only eight dogs have been returned, out of over 400 dogs adopted," Mossburg said.

She attributes their success rate to the time she takes to match the dog's personality to that of the owner. She believes dachshunds aren't a good choice for families with young children or for those who live in apartments. "They need to run and exercise," she said. "They're notorious for not staying house-broken."