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does he run into other things or just the door? He could have vision problems. If he has not been to the vet since you had him I would take him in for a complete checkup.

I think the time in the rabbit cage (especially his first 6 months) has an effect on his behavior. A new born's first experiences are usually the way they act for the rest of their lives. I think if you try and help teach him to be like other dogs soon he will be okay. Also you might want to consider taking him to a vet to see if anything is wrong.

Uh yes, spending the first 6 months of his life in a rabbit cage might have something to do with his issues. Those were some of the most critical months for his neurological and physical development. At this point he'll probably always have some "quirks" and may not ever fully adapt to normal family living, but with patience and love he should improve. I would talk to a vet if you haven't already.

Rice is common on the digestive device that could be a sturdy rationalization for feeding it to dogs. I feed my doggy a nutrition it is made with lamb and rice for this very reason. Your mom's dogs relatively needs to work out a vet. it must be quite a few issues that are impossible to diagnose over the internet and without being a vet. it must be something from an irritant to the liner of the digestive device to colon maximum cancers. A stool pattern needs to bypass to the vet with the dogs asap.

Bravo to your mom for rescuing this little guy, and please tell her that there absolutely is hope that he could become a nearly-"normal" dog if she takes the time and effort to help him overcome his bad start in life.

Yes, he absolutely is poorly bred; a good breeder would never have kept him in such despicable conditions (or allowed him to go to a home where he'd have been kept like that). But that doesn't mean he can't blossom into a wonderful dog and happy companion for your mom.

Of all the dogs I've had in my life, one of my favorites is our current little rescue purebred, who'd spent the first 10 months of his life in a crate at a puppy mill or backyard breeder, before they dumped him at a shelter because he hadn't sold. He, like your mom's dog, had missed the crucial "socialization window" -- that time, when a pup is 2-6 months old, when he needs to be exposed to all sorts of situations and people and things in order to be comfortable with the world. So our dog, like your mom's dog, had all sorts of fears and "quirks" and issues. Our dog was scared of everything he hadn't seen before: blowing leaves, sidewalks, typical household noises, stairs, doorways, etc. And since he'd only known about peeing/pooping in the same crate where he'd also eaten for most of his life, housetraining was quite difficult.

But after we'd had him for a couple months so he could get used to our house & its noises/routines, I found a small basic obedience class taught by an experienced behaviorist (I found this instructor through our local SPCA), so he could get used to outside experiences around other people & dogs. Also, my husband, every single day, would take him & our older dog to a quiet local nature preserve, so they could run off-leash and meet a few other dogs and people.) I kept doing as much research & reading as I could -- the best books are by Dr. Patricia McConnell (especially "The Other End Of The Leash".) Then, we went to a small "Puppy Agility" class at a local dog club, after I'd first contacted the instructor to ascertain that she'd be willing to let me go as slowly as I felt necessary with him. We repeated that class five times, but with each lesson, we could see him gain more & more confidence. Now, he's in a "regular" Agility class, and he has even been to some sheep-herding clinics where he's done very well.

Your mom did a great thing by rescuing him from a rabbit-cage, but now she needs to do the rest -- help him learn how to have a full & happy life, by getting him out every day for a walk, and by getting him into a basic obedience class so he (and she) can learn how to establish and maintain a lifelong, happy, stable relationship. Also she should read/research -- maybe get her a copy of "The Other End Of The Leash" :-)

Good luck & best wishes!

BTW: You spelled "dachsund" right. :-)

he had all the instinct to keep his den clean stripped away by abuse. It will take very strict scheduling to house break a dog that was raised in these conditions. He probably doesn't have any depth perception b/c of the long confinement. That is why he is running into the glass. He has no concept of glass. He just needs encouragement and support to learn how to act like a dog. Take him to play with other dogs his size.

Wow he sounds cute and funny. He is still a puppy at 8 months old. I don't think he is ruined at all. He just needs to learn about the glass door. The vet should check his vision to ensure it is okay. Housebreaking takes time and patience. If someone walks him 30 minutes every morning, that will help schedule his bathroom routines. He sounds adorable. Don't give up on him! Petsmart has training classes and can help you/your parents too.

Research 100% potty training and you'll be a lot better equipped to house train, smaller breeds are harder and at 8 months he may need taken out every hour or two still.

As far as the glass door, I recommend putting stickers or something on it to keep him from thinking it's open, poor babe.

He is lucky that you rescued him. Please be very patient with him. He honestly does not know how to behave. It's as if you landed on a different planet and didn't know any of the customs or language or anything. You need to help him as much as possible by gently encouraging him, praising him, giving him direction and assurance.

Consider contacting your local animal shelter - they often have staff who are familar with helping transition rescue dogs into new homes.

just be very nice to him. if he was in a cage for that long of his life he probably doesn't know how to ask regular. and also some dogs can just be dumber than others. if it is around another house trained animal it will also help it learn how to act regular faster