Our Favourite Things
T r i e d a n d T e s t e d a n d o c c a s i o n a l l y
s t o l e n b y T i d y
All recommendations have been reviewed by management. Management is four inches off the ground, strongly motivated by food and reserves the right to change his mind.
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Tidy would like to point out that it has yet to cover the extra treats he was promised in exchange for sharing some rather humiliating photographs.
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People
& Places
Hyde Park
Sausage Walk
D a c h s h u n d s o n P a r a d e
One of the loveliest things about having a dachshund is discovering just how many other people are equally obsessed with theirs.
We particularly enjoy the dachshund meet-ups in Hyde Park, especially the Halloween and Christmas walks. They're wonderfully chaotic occasions, with an extraordinary number of sausages and almost as many humans hoping to cuddle them.
For Tidy, they were brilliant for building his confidence around people, particularly those equipped with treats.
These events can become extremely busy, however, and a young or nervous puppy might find the crowds overwhelming.
Our tip? You don't have to join the main procession. A walk through the park on the same day can bring you into contact with plenty of dachshunds and their owners, but in a much calmer setting.
Sometimes the best socialising happens on the sidelines.
HOLLAND
BARK CLUB
L u x u r y D a y c a r e
Good dog daycare is in such demand that prices seem to keep rising, but Holland Bark Club has earned our affection.
This mother-and-daughter team genuinely goes above and beyond. We've seen them help dogs and their owners in emergencies, even taking dogs home when necessary.
Their walks take place in Holland Park, and they carefully group dogs according to their walking styles. Sniffers and striders are matched with suitable companions so everyone gets the outing they enjoy.
They're also selective about which dogs join the group, because the happiness and safety of the whole pack comes first.
Quite right too.
So, humans, be on your best behaviour if you'd like your dachshund to become a member.
Bone Daddies
H i g h S t r e e t K e n s i n g t o n
One of our favourite places for an informal meal with Tidy.
Bring a little dog bed and you may find the staff remarkably accommodating about your dachshund settling beside you. We love the idea of their photo wall celebrating local dogs, and naturally hope Tidy will make an appearance.
The food is excellent, particularly the bao buns. The cocktails and beer are good, the prices are reasonable and booking online is straightforward.
It's also an unexpectedly comfortable environment for Tidy. The background music softens other noises, and the entrance doesn't announce every new arrival.
For a dog who considers every unexpected sound a potential security incident, that makes quite a difference.
The Treat Edit
High-value rewards for dogs with selective hearingDachshunds are hunting dogs, and their enthusiasm for food can be quite extraordinary. In our experience, meat and fish tend to be particularly effective training rewards, especially when you're competing with something considerably more interesting than yourself.
There are exceptions, naturally. Tidy is obsessed with fruit and vegetables and once attempted to mug a fellow passenger on the Tube for an apple.
But when it comes to recall, a really good meaty treat can make all the difference.
Keeping our dachshunds at a healthy weight is particularly important because of the strain excess weight can place on their backs. We therefore try to choose treats carefully, break larger ones into small pieces and account for them in Tidy's daily food allowance.
Some owners roast chicken and freeze individual portions for training, which can be an economical option. Chicken doesn't entirely agree with Tidy if he eats too much of it, so we tend to use other proteins more often.
Here are our current favourites.
Hollings Gourmet Sausages
R e c a l l B o m b s
These are our serious negotiating sausages.
Recall, baths, particularly unpleasant experiences - anything requiring exceptional cooperation may call for a Hollings sausage.
Tidy knows perfectly well when I have one in my pocket, and the improvement in his behaviour can be remarkable.
They're made predominantly from pork, break into small pieces easily and can be sliced in advance to carry in a treat pouch.
Because they're rich, we use them sparingly rather than as everyday treats.
There was, admittedly, a period during Tidy's adolescent regression when we had to rely on them rather more heavily. Fortunately, he eventually remembered who he was and how recall worked.
Mostly.
Skipper’s Fish Training Treats
E v e r y D a y T r e a t s
These are much more practical for regular rewards.
We like the high fish content, the small size and the fact that they're made in Britain.
They're useful for all those small but important achievements: walking past something without barking, practising tricks, coming when called and, most impressively, agreeing to go outside for a poo when it's raining.
Fish can be a useful part of a balanced diet, and Tidy certainly enjoys it.
Most importantly, these treats are small enough that we can reward good behaviour without handing out an entire meal every time he does something right.
Treat Pouches Cloth
P o c k e t S a v e r s
Some of the best training treats are also the smelliest.
This clip-on pouch is a wonderfully practical solution. It attaches to the lead, keeping treats accessible without sacrificing your pockets.
It's also supposed to accommodate poo bags. In practice, my bag roll doesn't fit particularly well, so I simply tuck five or six loose bags inside and pull them out as needed.
Not exactly revolutionary engineering, but it works. I love best that it is big enough I am not having to restock it for each walk and can just grab the lead and go.
Treat Pouches Silicon
P o c k e t S a v e r s
This is particularly useful for summer walks when you don't have a coat with pockets.
It's compact enough for a small pocket or to carry around your wrist, and it's ideal for those especially fragrant rewards you'd rather not carry loose.
It also comes with a clicker.
I used clicker training when Tidy was younger and going through a reactive phase, and found it helpful for marking the behaviour I wanted to reward.
These days I still find a quiet signal useful in situations where shouting across a room or blowing a whistle might be considered socially unacceptable.
Family gatherings, for example…
Favourite Food
Boosts
Vitamins and Supplements
This is probably the section I'm most cautious about recommending, because every dog's health needs are different.
We use several products and supplements with Tidy, but I've only included a few here that we've discussed with vets or personally found useful.
We're not veterinary professionals, and this is simply our experience rather than medical advice. Supplements aren't automatically appropriate for every dog, so it's worth discussing them with your own vet before adding anything to your dog's diet.
Super Solvitax Pure Cod Liver Oil for Dogs
T a b l e t F o r m
We use fish oils as part of Tidy's routine, but travelling with bottles of oil isn't always particularly appealing.
The thought of one leaking into my suitcase is enough to make capsules seem like an excellent invention.
They're also useful when Tidy stays with friends, particularly one very generous friend who adores him but absolutely cannot stand the smell of fish.
We use salmon oil at home and find these cod liver oil capsules a convenient alternative when travelling.
Tidy will even take them as treats, which makes life easier.
Fish oils contain omega-3 fatty acids, although whether a particular supplement is suitable depends on a dog's diet and individual needs. Cod liver oil also contains vitamins A and D, and some studies show it is even better than salmon oil for dogs bones.
Seaweed For Dogs
T e e t h C l e a n i n g
Tidy has always had a peculiar enthusiasm for seaweed.
Even before we started adding it to his food, he would attempt to eat it whenever we visited the beach.
We use a small amount of dried kelp as an occasional addition to his meals, sometimes sprinkled over dinner, mixed into a lick mat or added to one of his ‘summer drinks’ (to get him to drink more when it is very hot).
The tub lasts an extraordinary amount of time, so we decant a little into a smaller jar with a scoop.
Kelp contains minerals, including iodine, which means it's important not to overdo it. We've discussed its use with our vets (nearly all say they use it with their dogs which I think is a very good sign), but I wouldn't recommend adding it routinely without checking whether it's appropriate for your dog's existing diet.
And while seaweed is sometimes promoted for dental health, it isn't a substitute for proper dental care.
Tidy, naturally, is interested only in the eating part.
The Bookshelf
A little understanding goes a long way
There are countless books about dogs, but we've found that understanding the particular characteristics of dachshunds can make an enormous difference.
They're clever, determined, affectionate and wonderfully entertaining. They're also independent little hunting dogs, which explains quite a lot about their attitude towards instructions.
One of my favourite training discoveries was actually a free book of tricks we picked up at an event. It gave me ideas for activities to teach Tidy and reminded me how much he enjoys having something to think about.
The books we recommend here are the ones we've kept, returned to and genuinely found helpful.
Dachshundsby Alex Seymour
The book we keep coming back too
I'm continually surprised by how often something I've learnt about dachshunds comes up in conversation with other owners.
Understanding a breed's original purpose, instincts and characteristics helps explain behaviours that can otherwise seem completely baffling.
Of course, every dog is an individual. But recognising why a dachshund might react in a particular way can make training more thoughtful, and life together much easier.
This is one of the books that has helped us understand Tidy, rather than simply expecting him to behave like a completely different kind of dog.
Clothing
Small dogs. Big wardrobe decisions.
Coming Soon
Dachshunds present some very particular clothing challenges.
They're long, low to the ground and not always remotely cooperative when it comes to getting dressed.
We're gathering the coats, jumpers and practical clothing we've found useful for Tidy, along with the occasional item that exists purely because it's impossible to resist.
Comfort and freedom of movement come first. Looking fabulous is an added bonus.
Our clothing favourites are coming soon.
The Comfort Edit
Beds, blankets and the art of doing absolutely nothing
Dachshunds take comfort extremely seriously. I barely see him from November to March as he moves into full burrow mode.
Given the opportunity, Tidy will arrange himself in the softest available spot, preferably beneath a blanket, ideally in a position that makes it impossible for anyone else to sit down.
We're putting together our favourite beds, blankets and other essentials for the dachshund who considers comfort a basic human responsibility.
More favourites coming soon.
Our Basic Med Kit
Because dachshunds rarely choose convenient moments to need help.
We keep a small pouch of useful supplies in the car or suitcase whenever we travel with Tidy.
There's nothing quite like escaping to the countryside or seaside, only to discover that your dog has acquired a tick, a sore paw or another problem that requires attention.
Usually on a Sunday.
Usually somewhere remote.
Our little kit contains things we've found useful while arranging appropriate veterinary care.
It's not a replacement for a vet, but it can make life considerably easier when you're miles from home — or in deepest Dorset with no idea where the nearest open practice might be.
The Inflatable Recovery Collar
Possibly our most useful medical discovery.
Tidy is a dachshund, which means he is simultaneously very long and remarkably close to the ground. Traditional veterinary cones present certain practical difficulties.With his exceptionally long nose, a conventional cone made him look rather like a small boat running aground. A recovery suit wasn't much better. After his neutering operation, he discovered that he could simply bend around and interfere with the fastening along his tummy.
Eventually, we discovered the inflatable doughnut collar. For Tidy, it was a revelation. It limits how far he can turn his head, doesn't scrape along the floor and, most importantly for me, doesn't result in being repeatedly smacked in the face with a large plastic cone.
It also provides a wonderfully comfortable-looking place to rest his chin.
He doesn't particularly love wearing it, but the expression of complete resignation is almost worth the indignity.
We've also found it useful when he needs to leave a skin treatment alone, although whether it prevents licking depends on the area being treated.
It deflates for storage, making it easy to pack when travelling.
A Final Word from Tidy
Small dogs. Big attitude. Very particular tastes.
Everything on this page has been chosen because we've used it, enjoyed it or found it genuinely helpful.
We don't expect every dachshund to share Tidy's tastes. He is, after all, a dog who considers apples a suitable reason to approach strangers on public transport.
But we hope you find something useful here.
