It’s lucky Ayla Almond’s mum, Kate Ramadan, now thinks miniature dachshunds are “the perfect breed to own” considering her daughter unexpectedly arrived home one day with wriggling little puppy Lotti in her arms.
“I had a friend selling miniature dachshund puppies in Barmah and I thought I’m just going to buy one without telling Mum,” Miss Almond said.
That was three years ago.
It was the first time a miniature dachshund had been introduced to the family’s household, where Lucy — a now almost 10-year-old staffy — had ruled for many years.
Ms Ramadan fell in love with little Lotti quickly, and now owns two of her own: two-and-a-half-year-old Rizo and 12-month-old Brats.
Commonly referred to as sausage dogs, I’m sure the sausage references in their names are not lost on you, but in case they are, Rizo after chorizo and Brats after Bratwurst.
Lotti, however — luckily or unluckily, you decide — escaped any mouth-watering namesakes in favour of a “cute” name that simply “suited her”.
Despite the three miniature dachshunds being the same breed and all four dogs at the house being females, they all have vastly different personality traits.
Miss Almond said they all surprisingly got along, but of course, as you’d expect any proud dog mum to admit with her inbuilt bias, her dog Lotti was the pick of the bunch.
“She has a relaxed personality; she’s friendly,” Miss Almond said.
“But she doesn’t get along with big dogs.”
Miss Almond said Lotti loved the car and she loved taking her on drives.
Rizo, however, was not a fan.
“She just sooks the whole time,” Ms Ramadan said.
“She loves going to nan’s though.”
Luckily, Nan lives just around the corner within walking distance, so no sooking is required to get there.
Rizo is the most anxious of the three miniature dachshunds, often wary of humans, but relaxes once she’s comfortable.
She loves a walk and to run, but her little legs tire out quickly.
Like that saying when you can’t finish your meal “your eyes are too big for your stomach”, Rizo’s legs are too small for the size of her energy.
Mind you that works in her favour to perform her favourite trick: sitting upright on her bottom like a meerkat for treats.
The youngest of the lot, Brats, with a dapple coat, is still full of puppy vitality.
“She’s just full-on; energetic; friendly; loves everyone,” Ms Ramadan said.
“There’s no stopping though; she’s hyperactive.”
All four of the dogs, staffy Lucy included, love being outside together and sleeping in the sun.
And despite their energy, Miss Almond said if they were allowed to sleep all day, they would.
The dachshund-loving mother and daughter have plans to take their girls to one of the many dachshund days a club dedicated to the breed in Melbourne runs.
“The last one was a pub crawl,” Mrs Ramadan said.
“We’ll take them one day,” Miss Almond said.
Miss Almond said she had also considered starting a Shepparton dachshund group on Facebook so that owners of the breed could arrange to meet locally for walks and other events with their beloved little short-legged friends tagging along.