I rehabilitate problem dachshunds. Dachshund Rescue call me when they have a dog they can't place elsewhere, usually because of behavioral problems.
Hector, then known as George, had been placed with three or four families, and returned to the rescue because he bit almost everyone who came near him. So he came to me.
To start with, he growled/snarled/barked/snapped at everyone, regardless. He guarded his food. Woe betide anyone who dared go near him whilst he was eating. His coat, which should have been dark chocolate brown, was a faded brown color. When I removed his collar, he had a dark brown strip underneath, suggesting to me that he had spent his life outdoors. This explained why he wasn't even remotely housetrained.
His elbow stuck out at an angle. The vet who examined him reckoned he had been kicked, the joint broken, but never treated, so it had set in an awkward way. It gave him a comical gait when he walked.
He chased the cats. Clearly never having come across a cat before, he thought they were fair game. Fortunately, they were always faster than him, and incredibly tolerant.
He couldn't bark properly. At first, I thought he was hoarse from barking too much, but after a while when it didn't improve, I realized he had been "debarked" - a barbaric process which involves putting an object down a dog's throat and whacking it, hard, to break the vocal chords. It is an illegal process in the UK, which means it would have been carried out by someone unqualified in any way, almost certainly causing the dog unbelievable suffering. No wonder he had an attitude problem.
Rehabilitating Hector was a slow process, but achieved by lots of patience, love, and tolerance. He now enjoys lots of cuddles, sleeps with the cats and the other dogs, and I can't remember the last time he bit anyone. He still grumbles occasionally, but he just gets cuddled and told not to be silly. He will let you pet him whilst he eats.
In short, he is now a delightful little dog, and a very much-loved member of the family.
Watchet, United Kingdom
