Description
Meatball is a gorgeous daucshund x jack Russell boy. Unfortunately we have come to find that he just isn't suited to our family. I have tried and persevered with him for nearly a year but he isn't very receptive to training. Having three small children i am struggling to manage meatball on top.
He is a really lovely boy, loves a cuddle and once you start he won't let you stop.
He is Toilet trained, however still sometimes has an accident if he's not been let out in line with his routine. He is also crate trained and will go in on command.
He's the best guard dog around in true daucshund fashion, he won't stop barking until he knows there is no threat (been petted by the intruder or they have gone).
If you're in need of some garden changes, meatball is your man, he will dig and dig all day if left out unattended.
He knows no commands other than "in" for his crate and "down" for getting off the sofa, bed, down the stairs ect. This is because whenever I try training him, with treats ect, he pees. I have no idea why he does this but unless he comes to me for pets he will pee whenever I try to touch him, bend down near him ect.
He will eat anything he can get his mouth on, food left somewhere, nappies, rubbish, kids toys, houseplants, the fence. We got an enclosed bin to try and help some of this but he learned to knock it over, so we crate trained instead.
Meatball will react to his name and come to you when indoors or in the garden, however the second he is out without a lead (you really need to watch open doors) he becomes deaf. If you shout him he runs further away, if you chase him he runs away faster. Luckily we live rurally and have quite a bit of land for him to feel a sense of freedom until he comes back by himself. But he has zero road sense and frequently runs out in front of cars.
He is reasonably good with kids, if they know boundaries. However if a child goes too for with him then he will grumble and give a little warning snap, he has never bitten my children though. He's not smart enough to move, if he's being climbed all over or gets sat on, he won't move.
He is still such a young little boy, and paired with the right person he could be an amazing companion. He needs someone with lots of time to devote to basic training (i really should've researched how stubborn dachshunds were) and lots of time for cuddles.
I think he would best be suited to someone retired or working only part time without young children. As he hates being left home alone. He desperately needs some one to one care and attention that i just can't give him with three children to split myself between. He really is a lovely little dog, but just isn't the right breed for us.