It's a Story of a Doxie Named . . .
. . . Max . . . and Bernie
And Lucy, Fred & Ricky
And Rudy Too! . . .
Marji Meets Her Match
The internet can be a dangerous place.
 Well, it can be if you complain you "don't have time" for a dog but insist on visiting every internet site promising daschund dogs for adoption. Thus, begins the story of Doxie Dame Marji. It is probably one you are all too familiar with.
First comes the denial: "I don't want a dog! I'm not sure I even like dogs!"
Once that passes, stage two looms large: "Ok, dogs are pretty cute. But I would never get a daschund! Out of all the dogs that have ever been bred, daschunds have got to be the most demanding, the most standoffish, the most stubborn dogs around!
But like most fables, in the third stage the hero must confront an obstacle she cannot easily overcome. For me, that obstacle was Max.
One day, while sitting around minding my own business (on another one of those adoption sites), I came across the most frightened but hopeful set of eyes I had ever seen. 
Max's owner had given up on him after seven years, and poor Max needed a new home. He had led a sheltered life up until then: no walks, no puppy play dates, and very little training. He was an anxious little dog, but he was also smart, loving, and loyal. Within minutes of seeing his picture, I made arrangements to meet him. And within days, I was traveling to Small Dog Rescue in Chico, California--about 100 miles away--to bring Max home.
. . . but wait! There's a catch. There is always a catch.
It turns out Max had a little brother named Bernie. Bernie was only a year and a half, and the two brothers had never been  apart. They played well together, they protected each other, and they loved each other to death. Would I be willing to consider . . . ? How could I say no? I fell in love with Bernie as soon as I confronted those smart, beedy little brown eyes of his! When Bernie met me, he barked incessantly, then jumped up into my lap. He wanted me to know he intended to take my measure, but he wasn't willing to forgo his own comfort while he was doing it!
Did I mention I had never owned a dog before Max and Bernie?
I considered myself a "cat person," but my last one was lost while we were living in Cape Town, South Africa. Even after four years, I could not imagine adopting another cat to replace Cleo.
And that is how a novice dog owner like me ended up the proud parent of two stubborn little doxies.
I wish I had found a site like this one to guide me along the way. After five years in the trenches with daschund dogs, I have learned a great deal. But, I learned everything the hard way. I did a lot of research, asked a lot of questions, and made a lot of mistakes. Along the way, I came to meet my neighbor and now good friend Lynda (You know her best as Doxie Dame Lynda, but we also call her "The Dog Guru.")
Lynda's Lore
Lynda has her own story to tell about falling in love with doxies at first sight--four of them! She can be a bit reluctant to talk, so I've had to pry the information out of her in this interview:
Dame Marji: So, tell me again how you ended up with FOUR doxies?
Dame Lynda: (with more than a hint of paranoia) Who sent you? Did my husband send you? 'Cuz I'm not giving up any of my dogs. No way! Why do you want to know anyway?
Marji: Well . . . ummm, we talked about putting together the doxie website . . . ?
Lynda: (now a bit more relaxed) Oh. Well, does everybody have to know I own FOUR doxies?
Marji: Why did you get Ricky? (recognizing when it is time to move on).
Lynda: Fred needed a friend to play with.
Marji: And Rudy?
Lynda: Ricky needed someone to play with, of course (looking at me as if I had lost my mind).
Marji: Hmmm (now almost afraid to ask) . . . And Lucy?
Lynda: Lucy is a different story. (Upon hearing her name, Madame Lucy walked over and plopped her fanny at her mother's feet. She sat patiently listening to her own story). There was that breeder . . . she grew up in a bathroom . . . whelping one litter after another . . . (Lynda choked, Marji nodded. It is not a pretty story.)
Marji: One last question. Do you think you'll adopt another doxie?
Lynda: Of course not! Four is enough. (Pause, then reluctantly) Well . . . we do seem to be missing an Ethel!
Enough said.
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