Perfectly Polite Dachshunds

25/05/2025

🌸 Spring Fling with The Red Foundation! 🌸

The Spring Fling has arrived! Today, I’ll be judging the dog show🏆🏵️🐶 alongside one of the wonderful Trustees of the rescue, followed by an afternoon demo🎤 focused on creating connection and confidence with our dachshunds.🐾

Spring is the season of renewal and growth🌱🌼- a perfect opportunity to deepen your bond and help your dachshund navigate the world with confidence and ease.

To celebrate, I’m offering an exclusive 💰10% discount on all services at Perfectly Polite Dachshunds, including Consultations, Courses, and Dynamic Dog Assessments.

🌿 Build trust, resilience, and understanding with your dachshund.
📅 Offer valid until June 30, 2025!
🎟️ Use Coupon Code: SPRINGFLING10

Let’s make this season the start of something transformative, helping your dachshund feel secure, supported, and ready to explore the world alongside you.🏆 😊🐶☀️🏖

20/05/2025

Whilst I was swotting for exams.....and I will be setting off shortly for the exam....and working with so many wonderful people, I realised how many of you struggle with just the day to day events of life. Addressing this before anything else is so important.

I hope this blog gets you thinking and helps you to help yourself make a difference.

See you later. You are all wonderful and I am incredibly grateful for your support and kind wishes.

As a dachshund owner, you probably find yourself constantly tending to your daxie's every need—ensuring they’re fed, walked, cuddled, and given the best possible care. And doing the same for everyone else.....except yourself!But here's the truth: you can't give your them the best if you're runni...

20/05/2025

Good morning all.

Those of you signed up for the Stop Barking course on Wednesday should have an email from ....check your spam monster!

If you want to sign up, bookings close today! So jump on quick!

I have an exam today so in interests of getting some good juju my way here's a Kami update:

She's had to learn how to get herself upright. I won't lie it's been painful just letting her work it out and not swoop in and help her, but she's learned to adapt to her neurological needs and seems to work by trial and error. She knows best!

She's now able to get herself onto 2 legs and bum shuffling. This is HUGE for her, and especially her quality if life.

We are still a long way away from "safe" but this is another move in the right direction which gives us time.

She has got slight movement in her hind legs, and her tail has started to wag. So hopefully she'll now learn how to bring her back legs under her.

Keep those positive vibes coming.....and spare some again for me today.

Pic from the other day....when it was warm!!

Have a lovely day!

16/05/2025

Who's going to The Red The Red Foundation Spring Fling?? Not long now.

And, my favourite person is going to be there.....the fantastic and creative genius that is our Lenny Justine of Nemo & Crew. The original for custom designs of your dogs if you want them, or silhouettes or outlines.

Bring a full wallet. Her clothes are excellent quality and the designs are fantastic. I've had many items off her from hats, to t shirts, to goodies, for years, and they are still in excellent condition!

You can order direct from her too:
https://nemoandcrew.com/

My name is Sharon and I am a Nemoandcrewoholic. 🤣

(Ps not on commission or anything, and I'm really not into shopping, but I do love this stuff and this cracking woman).

Nemo & Crew inspired by our very own Nemo The Tripawd Sausage Dawg (Dachshund) to do what we love the most and launch our own design and apparel brand. Selling custom embroidered tee shirts, sweatshirts, jumpers, hoodies and more with Dachshunds and other pet owner designs on.

13/05/2025

Getting myself into a positive pre-exam mood.

Yesterday in my usual sit down and enjoy a cuppa moment and taking time to enjoy the sun routine despite the craziness of the say....I held Kami and started doing her physio and massage on her back legs.

As I gently massaged her feet to prevent the knuckling shortening ligaments she twitched her leg repeatedly. ✅️

She turned to look at the foot I was touching.✅️

She straightened her leg as I scratched that sweet spot most dachshunds have.✅️

I popped her in the shade, and she shuffled on her side trying to run with her front legs, clearly trying to work out how to move forwards (Remember she has 1/3rd of her brain missing). She somehow moved herself 3 ft forwards into the sun and went to sleep.🌞🌞

I handover to my parents and Kieron and leave for Lincoln eventually getting to the hotel and doing a live for my barking course peeps. 🛏

And I check my phone📱.....mum's sent a message:📩

🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁
"Overcome and slightly tearful! Expressed Kami and then she did a Fudge walk: 3 legs and dragging one. Just 2 or 3 steps but she did it!"

🥳🎉🪅🎊🥂🥳

Tears of joy and relief all around.😊😃😄☺️🥰

Remember in Kami's case she needs to regain full mobility for her to have a good quality of life. So this.......it's the hope we needed!

Keep those prayers coming and.....spare some for me. I fall to pieces in exams📝📖👩‍🎓 😭😭

09/05/2025

It's meh news for most.

It's good news for IVDDers

BUT its huge news, and hope for Kami.

HER DPS HAS RETURNED! (She can feel her feet and is also aware of gentle touches to them!)

She's starting to eat happily from a bowl, and to compensate for her inability to walk or run anywhere she's taken to doing her exercise lying down (might join her for that).

We aren't safe, and things have to improve dramatically but this gives us a bit of time to get her there.

She thoroughly enjoyed her breakfast this morning and for the first time since this started I didn't have to hold her and the bowl!

Pics: the many faces of Kami.

HAPPY FRIDAY ALL. KEEP THAT LOVE AND HEALING COMING.

08/05/2025

Good luck to everyone who has exams starting.

Remember, whatever happens, there are so many opportunities in life. Its easier in the long run to do well in these exams now - I won't lie, but if you don't achieve what you wanted I am proof that you can still reach for the stars!!

My son has also started his marathon of 5 weeks of GCSE's, my priority is to make sure he is fed and calm. At this stage heavy swotting won't change very much but gentle revision to refresh his memory is the priority.

Kieron has struggled a lot over the last couple of years at school with his learning, I'll spare you the details. For those parents who have faced the same or similar, I know just how you are feeling right now. All you can do is support them, build their confidence and be there for them. Leave your frustrations until the exams are done!

I also have exams so I can sympathise with the kids too. Its stressful, but all we can do is our best and then move on.

The exams mark the end of a very long journey, afterwards, close that chapter and look forward to a new beginning.

You can do this.

Pic: Our little TRF foster Lara (a dumped paralysed stray)(now walking) helping me with my studies & begging for tips (attention from the kids and families passing), whilst Kieron blasted out some nervous energy at the bike park. Lara's really got the "love me" face nailed hasn't she!

03/05/2025

Apologies to those who asked after the next one, I've been focused on Kami.

The next 6 week Stop barking course starts on Wednesday 21st May at 7pm (UK Time), this will be the last one until August!!

It is now listed and open for bookings.

See you there!!

**Please note this will be the last course until August** 6 week live virtual course focused on reactivity including barking on walks and in the home using positive reinforcement and confidence building (for human and dogs) as the foundations of helping address and overcome the behaviours you are st...

02/05/2025

Thank you all for your kind words and prayers for Kami.

She had a calmer day yesterday and seemed more settled.

I've taken a few days off to help her navigate things and to give her every chance.

She is grade 5, but seems to have some awareness of needing the toilet but needs expressing at the minute. We did have a twitch of the tail yesterday which is a positive sign but nothing in the legs as yet.

Kami is not one who will be able to adapt to wheels etc so the outcome relies on her regaining her hind limbs mobility to where she was before. Now she is more settled it gives us more time to work on this.

Please continue sending your prayers to us. I'm sure it makes a difference.

Yesterday we spent the day outside with me chasing the shade for her and a fan positioned on her. She usually loves lying in the sun, and did have a bit of a tantrum when I moved her out of that sun slither. (Typical dachshund) I took my laptop outside and did some studying and was essentially a slave to her needs.

My dogs are very maternal and despite the heat Mia wanted to curl up and wash her little pal. The way they nurse each other when poorly always blows my mind.

I'll leave you with some pics of her relaxing and I pray, recovering.

Thank you all again.

01/05/2025

Kami needs your prayers.
🙏🙏🥹🥹

Kami came to The Red Foundation from another rescue who after 18 months of trying managed to retrieve her from a wooden shed in a puppy farm.

They quickly realised she wasn't right and had a scan. The rescue were told she had an arachnoid cyst.

She was transported to me by lovely TRF supporter Marianne
After a dodgy swap in a waitrose carpark where for the first time in my experience a very polite lady challenged our dealings (and was quickly reassured and complimented for her approach) Kami came home to live with us.

I won't lie, I gave her 2 weeks. She was a mess. Couldn't eat from a bowl, couldn't drink, could only spin in circles and kept falling over. But as always I always give them a chance to assess if they can live a happy albeit odd life. I am blessed that TRF completely trust my assessment and care for dogs like Kami.

At the time I had Spesh. Kieron, then 13 years old claimed her as his own, as I already had my soul mate and she could be his neuro soul mate.

And claim her he did.....he cares for her, cuddles her, feeds her and she sleeps in his arms. Even his friends snuggle with her when they stay over.

Over time with guidance and love Kami learned to eat from a bowl, walk in straight lines, cuddle, give kisses and play with toys. She became continent, and learned to shout for attention and even started trying to jump up your legs to be picked up.

A follow-up MRI a year after she arrived, as she was stable, showed she did not have a cyst but was in fact missing 1/3 of her brain and the neurologist said she should live a happy life although there was a big unknown about how other things may affect her. She really is a miracle and her development more so.

On Monday disaster struck. She suddenly showed signs of extreme pain and was adopting a pose associated with neurological deterioration. We went straight to the vets and we were all perplexed as there are limits to what we can do for her.

We dosed her up with high level pain medication and decided to monitor, but I know a decision may be imminent.

On Tuesday I went to uni and left her in Kieron's safe hands. (He's nearly 16 now) He messaged to say she had IVDD. He expressed her, fed her and kept her calm.

And yes, he's right, it's IVDD and now Grade 5. Normally I'd get on with conservative treatment unphased but for Kami this is probably as bad as it can get.

I'm praying for a miracle, and I'm praying for fast improvements. I need you all to keep her in your thoughts and send positive energy to her.

It's a long shot, but we've got the pain under control so I'm going to give her as long as is fair to give her a chance.

So please send her your love, warmth, light and healing thoughts.

Vid of her yesterday resting outside with her soulmate.

23/04/2025

Amazing opportunity for our paralysed ones.

Can you help with some potentially revolutionary veterinary research ?

Our colleagues, neurologists Jon Prager and Nicholas Granger at Bristol Vet Specialists, are seeking chronically paralysed dogs to take part in their cell transplant study.

Might you have a patient who could help with this potentially revolutionary research?

The BVS Neurology Team is looking for dogs who:
• Have had spinal surgery for hind limb paralysis caused by disc disease between T10 and L3 vertebrae.
• Are still unable to move and are without any pain sensation three months post injury.
• Can attend repeat visits at BVS.

Please get in touch with Bristol Vet Specialists if you can help or would like further information. Call 01275 838473 or email [email protected].

Thank you!