Complaint Review: Dachsue Kennel (dachshunds) - Fort Blackmore Virginia

Over seven years ago we purchased a puppy and took home one of their free breeder dachshunds who no longer produced enough puppies. The little mother was 3 1/2 years old, had never walked on grass, had little to no hair on her tail which was broken at the tip, and her coat was short and choppy for a long hair dachshund. The puppies were kept in a dark basement with their mothers. We had to give them an exact time of arrival which was difficult considering we came from across the state and had no idea how long it would take us to find their place in a very rural area. Now we know they wanted a specific arrival time so the basement would be clean when we saw it.

First they took us into the above ground kennels to show us the dozens of breeder dogs they wanted to give away. Then we went into the basement to see the puppies. Within an hour of leaving the kennel, our puppy had a great deal of blood coming from his back end and in his stool. Neither dog was lively and we were amazed at how calm and "adult acting" our new puppy seemed. niw we know he never felt well. Next day we took them to the vet. He had giardia, a parasite, and we treated both of them for that and for mange starting that day and continuing for months. His immune system was compromised from the start and he was never healthy or lively. I called Dachsue and talked to Mrs. Renfro who told me they wormed their puppies. I explained giardia was a parasite and had to be treated and eradicated differently but she just repeated the same thing about worming. I called the vet whose name was on theit shot records. He doesn't go to the kennel and didn't treat their dogs for giardia. Our sweet little dachshund puppy died at the age of four. Almost all of our other dachshunds lived until they were at least sixteen. We were devastated. I called the AKC about checking Dachsue Kennel about the conditions in which the dogs and puppies lived and about the continuing complaints about giardia over the years. I was told to write a letter which I did but received no help.

The little mother we brought home with our puppy was always ravenous no matter how much or how often she was fed. She even licked the couch, beds, the floor...everything, everyday. She searched for feces in the yard (bird and squirrel poop) to eat everyday. Her coat was never nice (we fed her special food from the vet with boiled, skinless chicken breasts). We were told by several vets they had seen the same behavior with hunting dogs that were kept with many other dogs in cages and there was no way to change her behavior. Her eyes bulged from day one and usually watered. She had a heart murmur and later had two severe bouts of pancreatitis. A nickle-sized patch of fur starting falling out and the vet thought she may have a thyroid issue. On December 26, 2013, that sweet little tiny lady died of a heart attack, only a few days after turning eleven. Once again, we are devastated.

Three and a half years ago we purchased a dachshund puppy from a reputable breeder in western Virginia. He has never had worms, parasites, or mange. His teeth are great. His coat is shiny. He runs and digs in the yard. He barks at the fence with the neighbor's dog. He plays with a variety of toys and eats normally. He, like our other little fellow, is a wire haired dachshund but he is healthy. Others have reported that the dogs they acquired from Dachsue Kennel have giardia (parasites) on this website and other sites as well, since I called Dachsue over seven years ago. If you decide to buy from these people, do not give them a time when you plan to arrive and ask to go to the basement to see your puppy right away, before they have time to clean it. The little mothers will keep their puppies clean but even the mothers have this highly contagious parasite and you may see their bloody stools. Also look for abnormalities like abnormally large heads. I noticed it when I saw our puppie's sister but didn't realize it was due to breeding. My heart goes out to those sweet little dachshunds who are being bred and their puppies at Dachsue Kennel. I only wish some authorities would demand they stop breeding and selling dachshunds. If they were responsible breeders the same complaints of giardia wouldn't keep showing up over years and years. Neglect is abuse!