disabled dachshunds

This is What Makes My Heart Complete.

Posted by Barbara Techel

2013-11-16_18.46.50 eLooking at this picture John took of Gidget and me last night, I imagine this is what it feels like for mom’s with newborn babies.  I never really wanted kids, but when I see a picture like this of myself with a doxie in my arms, I have no doubt this is my calling.

Gidget has adjusted to her new home with us as if this was the place she was heading for all this time. She marches her little butt around here as if she has been here for years. She seems to fit in so naturally. It is quite amazing to witness.  She also passed the test with flying colors of being a wonderful little napper with me on the sofa. She does snore a bit loud now and then, but ah heck, music to my ears.

Thank you to everyone who welcomed her in your comments on my previous blog post– as well as in emails and on Facebook.  You have simply blown me away by all the love and support!!  Wow!

Some have asked how Kylie is liking Gidget.  I’m so happy to say Kylie is the best– well, I always knew she was.  But she sniffed Gidget the minute I got her home, then laid down and watched Gidget check out the kitchen.  I swear if I could have read her mind this is what she said, “Well, it’s about time!”

Kylie, from day one, has always gone with the flow of things. She is a remarkable dog with a huge heart.  She also knows that a female doxie is the Queen of the household and I do believe, like John and I, she is so happy the Queen has arrived.  Hail to Queen Gidget!

Meeting Charlie Brown the Handicapable Dachshund. Be Still My Heart.

Posted by Barbara Techel

charlie 1200If you follow me on Facebook, you likely noticed my profile photo of me holding this Dapper Dachshund.  His name is Charlie Brown and is also known as the Handicapable Doxie.  You can find him on Facebook. I’m sure he’d be thrilled if you gave his page a like.  I had the honor of meeting him while in Asheville, NC last week.

It just so happened that I posted some photos talking about the River Arts District and the Dachshund pottery I had purchased.  Jo, a Facebook friend noticed where I was and tagged Kristin Hyland Dryden who is the mom of Charlie Brown.  Little did I know they live in a neighboring city to Asheville.  She contacted me and asked if she could meet me and bring Charlie Brown, as well as their other Dachshund Gunner.

This would turn out to be the highlight of my trip!  Now don’t get me wrong, I love Asheville and all the culture, restaurants, and site seeing we did. But give me the chance to meet another Dachshund and one in a wheelchair, well, that is a right where my heart wants to be.

We agreed to meet at Starbucks in Biltmore Village (right outside the Biltmore Estate).  John and I arrived early to grab a coffee and tea. It was a warm fall day and the sun felt good as we sat outside waiting for Charlie Brown and his family to arrive.

After a few moments I looked across the parking lot and my heart caught in my throat.  There he was!  His big ears flapping in the wind, rolling happily in his wheels, making his way across the parking lot. I jumped to my feet and made my way toward him.  I immediately bent down and took his little face in my hands. Emotion overcame me. There is nothing like the love of a Dachshund.

After greeting Gunner too, I stood up and gave Kristin a hug and shook her husband Rick’s hand. It was then that Kristin got tears in her eyes and told me how she has wanted to thank me for helping give her hope when Charlie Brown first went down three years ago.  She shared with me that while Charlie Brown was in surgery she researched on the Internet to find out more about Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD).

Like me, when Frankie was first diagnosed in 2006, Kristin was scared. She didn’t know what Charlie Brown’s life would be like if the surgery didn’t work. Luckily she found my website and that gave her the hope and peace of mind she needed.  I hugged her close as she shared this with me. This is my joy. Knowing that by sharing my story about Frankie, I was able to help someone else.

After we talked for awhile I asked if I could hold Charlie Brown. The moment Kristin placed him in my arms my heart felt home. This is who I am, I thought. This is what makes me feel alive.  My mom’s comment about the photo I posted on Facebook couldn’t be more true also, “You are never as happy as when you have a doxie in your arms.”

Meeting Charlie Brown filled me with immense joy. I look forward to the day I hold a new little one of my own in my arms. It will be a day when I once again feel complete.

I really didn’t want to say goodbye to Charlie Brown or his family. But I know we will be forever friends now. Our love and devotion of these special needs doxie’s brought us together and I will always carry them in my heart.

How Yoga and a Dachshund Help Me See the Big Picture of Life

Posted by Barbara Techel

IMG_1721[2] 1200Just about every morning I have a yoga practice. Joie, is my yoga partner. Before I lay my mat out on the living room floor, I snuggle her into her blanket on the couch where she proceeds to go into a deep meditative state. Ok, perhaps she is just snoozing like all dogs do. But her sweet, sleepy face puts me into a peaceful state of mind.

Today was the first day I did my practice this week since Monday I had to be up early to be on the set of the movie “The Surface” for Joie’s small part in a family scene. Tuesday I slept in as all the excitement of the day had me pretty tired.

As I moved through my yoga practice today, I was reminded again of how precious life is. Yoga, and having Joie nearby, tend to do that to me.  The experience of being a part of something big in terms of knowing Joie will be in a movie depicting family life with a dog in a wheelchair, though brief it will be on screen, had me feeling so grateful.

When Frankie became paralyzed in 2006 and I learned about dog wheelchairs, little did I know how passionate I’d become in trying to help educate others of the ways in which we can help disabled dogs live a quality life.  It is still at the forefront of mind and likely will always be. The fact that Frankie then led me to knowing deep in my heart that I’d want another disabled Dachshund, and I adopted Joie after Frankie’s passing, really brought home my purpose and joy of my love in caring for these special dogs. Being a part of the movie even though she is only shown very briefly, I hope, will bring the message out in a bigger way that I’ve always been passionate about.

As I moved through more of my yoga practice I came down into the center of my heart and what makes a meaningful life to me. What is my big picture?  As I listened to the birds chirping outside and heard Joie breathing softly, and Kylie snoring by the front door in the kitchen,  I felt overcome with gratitude. Monday was a once in a lifetime opportunity and I feel blessed to have been a part of that.  But each and everyday with Joie, as well as Kylie, and the life I’ve created with John is so precious to me.

The hustle and bustle of being on a movie set was exciting to watch in action, though the energy that all takes had me knowing I could never do that on a daily basis.  So as I’ve been reflecting back the last few days I feel honored to have been a part of something many others don’t get the chance to. But I also feel honored to know and feel the center of my heart and what is most meaningful to me, which is my home, my family, and the simple moments of life. Doing yoga and having dogs always helps me keep the big picture of  what I want for myself  in check.