Male or female?

Question
We have an 8wk old female Dachshund and we would like to get a companion for her.  We are leaning towards another female Dachshund but have heard that a male might be better.  Is this true?

Answer
Hi Tony;
I have never paid any attention to whether or not the dog I was about to take was a male or female, and I have taken dogs that were years apart in age.
I teach them the way I want them to behave and be a member of the family, and I do nopt allow fighting.
I raise them exactly the way I raised my children.
They have the proper training, and they are shown respect and consideration and love, and expected to give those things to the rest of the family in return.
It has always worked out that way.
Right now I have 4 males.
A 9 year old Australian Shepherd mix, an 8 year old Lhasa mix, a 5 year old Sheltie, and an ( about 3 to 5 year old Australian Cattle Dog/Huskie mix.
They get along fine.
They all eat and drink out of the same large bowls, the sleep either in their own beds, or with my husband and I, or with the grandchildren if any of them spend the night.
Obedience training is the key to how well humans or animals behave.
If you don't have expericnce training dogs, then I would suggest you take one of the obedience classes at Petsmart, Petco, or Man's Best Friend.
Some chapters of the Humane society also have classes.
These are weekend classes to accomodate work schedules.
You could take one, and go over the same thing you did in class art home with the other one.
When I was a trainer, I preferred to teach group classes like this. The dogs bond closer with their handler ( usually the owner), and the dogs learn faster because there are other dogs in the class, and believe it or not, yopu can see the little critters being competetive.
When they do it best, they swell up just like anybody else does if they take the head of the class.
You can go down and watch some of the classes in the meantime.
I am not sure what age the trainers would start them. Some trainers teach puppy class and some don't.
I use time-out for punishment.
It is normal for them to have sqwabbles, just like children, but they have to know this brings punishment.
After a few times in time out, when misbehaving starts, you usually hjust have to ask if they want to go to time out, to get them to straighten up and act like ladies and gentlemen.
Unless you are going to get dogs of such a high blood line that they would improve the breed, I strongly recommend having females spayed and males neutered before they reach sexual maturity. Anoput 4 months old is an ideal age.
This not only prevents unwanted litters, but it improves the chances of the dog living a longer and healthier life.
Spaying and neutering prevents Breast Cancer in females and Prostate Cancer in males, in addition to other health problems.
My best friens, a long time ago had two female Dachshunds, and she called them, " The Girls".
Those were the most pampered little pills, and the most precious.
They were spoiled rotten to loving, but not to akllowing them to misbehave, and they were so well behaved, and such a joy.
All 4 of the dogs we have now are rescues we fostered, and kept rather than take to adoption clinic.
They are such good companions, and they are well behaved, and don't mess up the house or be a problem, but they are a constant source of companionship and joy.
We are in our 70s, and I am partially disabled, so they watch over me like I am going to break.
They adore the grandchildren, and get a good play session when the grandkids come over.
I have at other times had all females, and had 2 to 4 at a time, and sometimes have had a mixture of males and females.
It is the training that matters, and nothing else.
Bad dogs or badly behaved dogs get that way from being taught to be aggressive or NOT being taught right.
Sometimes you have a situation where nerves or something else factors in and makes a dog seem like they have more of an aggressive personality.
Dogs can have nervous conditions and nervous breakdowna just like peole can, and training, and proper attention, ( sometimes it only takes massages) can straighten out the most aggressive dog. I have done this more than a few times, with training, and animal massage.
I nbought a video to learn how to do the different massages, and they are gfreat training tools, great for releaving pain of post surgery recovery, arthritis etc, and for calming out of fear of thunderstorms etc.
You can read about these massages, and order a video to learn how to do them at this site,   www.lindatellington-jones.com  

I would say, get into training classes, learn how to do these massages, and even watch the Dog Whisperer on the Animal Planet channel, and you can raise any breed, and any mixture of ages or sexes you want.
Charlotte