We've been talking for a long time about getting another dachshund. A LONG time. I wanted one so badly. Dan (the husband) did, but he didn't. It never seemed like the right time financially...I had been busy with school. I kept my eyes on PetFinder.com and browsed breeder websites.

I was THIS close to putting a deposit down on a puppy in Tennessee; I will be going there to visit in July and I thought about how perfect it would have been. But something didn't feel right. It wasn't the money that bothered me. So I got online again (I haven't been looking in a couple of weeks).

Somehow...I found a little guy when browsing this morning that I hadn't found before. His name? Jericho. Breed? Mini-dachshund. Color? Black and tan smooth. He looked adorable in the pictures! I had no idea how long he'd been there -- PetFinder doesn't place last updated dates on their entries. I called and it turned out he had been there since June 3rd, which was surprising (and it was surprising for them, too, because usually little breeds get adopted ASAP -- you know our economy must not be doing well! boo.) The women who actually had all the details? Wasn't there yet -- the women at the front desk told me that was what she did and had no idea about dog details. So without knowing anything about this dog, I got into my car, called Dan, tweeted about it and left.

I arrived after a very long drive, whew. I kept thinking "I hope the front desk woman was right and that dog is still there...If not...maybe there will be another...Relax..."

Long story short? I got there, met the woman, who had become VERY close to him, and then I met him. He was so cute! And poor thing, he was so skinny. Not sickly yet, but I know he was close. He had come in as a stray -- so they have NO clue what his back story is. But he seems well trained. He wouldn't use the bathroom while he was crated at the shelter; he always waits til he is outside. And when I ended up saying, yes, I'll take him home, he did SO well in the car. He loves being on a leash and prancing the best he can.

I say best he can, because he's a bit wobbly on his legs, POOR BABY. He stands and walks SOOO weird. When he walks, his back legs kind of cross each other. I can't even describe it. One day I will video tape it, should it not improve. They had xrays done when he was initially checked by the vet, and even sent me home with them for our vet to view. Their vet didn't seem to know WHY he walks that way. His xrays look good -- I've view them and there is no evidence of breaks, or anything else that would explain his strange gait. I'm not struggling to find the exact answer, because I know I never will. I don't care if he got abused and that's what caused it. I saved him from that crappy life.

When we got home, it was rough at first for Ike. VERY much so. He got pretty territorial and that was definitely expected. We knew it would not be easy. BUT. It was not as difficult as I thought it was going to be. Fritz is already very attached to me, and has been following me around everywhere and doesn't even seem to notice Ike is all upset.

This is going to work out really well, I think, after a few weeks. Or months. :) We've got a lot of little training to do. So far, he seems to eat very well, goes potty outside ONLY, loves sleeping on the new bed we bought him...and we're working on getting him to use steps and stairs. Poor thing has crummy muscle tone and has trouble getting up stairs in general -- as if he has never been on them before in his life. And he may not have, either.

Anyway, without further ado....2 brothers, forced together for a picture, gosh darn it and YES, I had picked up the same collar Ike has:

Ike Mikel & Fritz Henrik (because we love dogs having middle names...)