About Laci Dachshunds

Laci Dachshunds was created from a love for Dachshunds and a marriage. My previous dogs, White German Shepherds and Norwegian Elkhounds, were so different to live with compared to these little bundles of energy. Our first introduction to the dachshund personality was through longhairs. At the time, we didn’t even know that the wirehair variety existed; we were so sadly undereducated. After a couple years of being around the wire variety in the obedience and Earthdog venues, we realized that the wirehairs fit our personalities better.

With the help of Nancy Turner (we were living in Columbus, OH at the time) I became acquainted with the well-known handler couple, Jerry and Elaine Rigden, and the love affair with wires was off to a fantastic beginning.

Although Laci Dachshunds began as a performance line working in Earthdog and Obedience, it was shortly after beginning in wirehairs I became interested in the conformation competition thus reinforcing the need for solid structure. Since the first wirehair, we have strived to breed for improved conformation, temperament, drive, determination, stamina, and health. Laci Dachshunds now compete in all venues available to Dachshunds.

Since I did start in the performance venues, I wanted the dogs to have decent intellect and a strong work ethic. Once the conformation aspect became a priority, too, the dogs needed to be well built and still have the smarts and an innate need to work. That was over 30 years ago. The dogs now are required to do even more performance venues (Agility, Obedience/Rally, Field trials and Tracking) which they WILLINGLY do - because of their need to learn (thanks to using for breeding those dogs that exhibit that need to work).

I compete with all of the dogs that I retain in Conformation. I do not need the title to know the quality of the dog at the end of the leash but I feel a need to confirm that knowledge with the competition of dog shows. Once they have attained their Championship title they continue their ongoing education in the other venues open to Dachshunds.

When I began showing the Dachshund breed the AKC did not offer Agility or Rally Obedience, and I was not cognizant of Tracking. After showing and judging Earthdog competition for years, then progressing to competing in Field Trials after moving to Texas in the late 1980‘s it became obvious that Tracking could/would and should be an extension of their *nose* work. I believe this will also help, eventually, in their success at Field Trials. (Hope springs eternal to enabling them to be better in the field.)

Because I breed infrequently, I am always willing to refer interested buyers to breeders that might have a puppy or young adult available since I infrequently do have anything. As the Breeder Referral contact for my local Dachshund club, I frequently get requests for help finding all of the varieties and sizes Dachshunds in which Dachshunds are available.