Are you looking for a compact, smart, people-focused, cuddly-boy-dog who is already mostly house trained and wants nothing more than to be right next to you all day, every day, for the rest of his life (okay, let’s be real: he doesn’t just want to be next to you. He wants to be A PART OF YOU)?!  Do you have another independent, submissive dog in your home that will keep Bigley company when you’re out of the house, but will give him his space when he asks for it? Do you love floppy dachshund ears, dapple coats, and intent wiener-dog gazes? If so, then Bigley (also lovingly referred to as Bigs, Biggles, or Ween) is your guy! 

 

My favorite things about Bigley: his incredibly soulful, expressive eyes, the way that he audibly huffs and puffs when he’s excited and groans/heavily sighs when he’s happy and content, how quickly he picks up routine and works to please his people, the way he insists on falling asleep while touching you, sometimes right in the crook of your arm (so I’d hope that, as a prospective Bigley adopter, you are okay with sharing your bed!), his propensity to lift his back leg as though he’s about to go #1 and then goes #2 (surprise!), and the way that his whole entire body wags when I get home from work or am about to feed him. I adore Bigley. He's so easy to love!

 

... Like every other dog, Bigley does have some challenges that his future family will have to be willing to accept and/or work through. To start, Bigley can be a little nervous and skittish. He isn’t a fan of high-energy, pushy dogs or loud noises. He will get very growly and snappy if dogs like this try to get in his face (can you blame him, though?!). For this reason, I’m also not totally confident that he’d be a good fit in a home where there are young babies or toddlers. That said, I would absolutely be willing to test him with the right family! Additionally, Bigs does appear to suffer from some separation anxiety. It is very manageable. If his people need to leave the house, Bigley should be crated or left in a bathroom without rugs, bedding, or anything that he can get into. If given access to these things, he will shred and destroy them. At our house we use a bare crate, and he will go into it voluntarily on command if given a treat! Bigs does also have a tendency to bark while his family is out of the house, so he may not be the right dog for somebody who lives in an apartment, townhome, or other home with shared walls. Lastly, he does have #2 accidents occasionally, but that’s only because he hasn’t learned how to alert us when he is ready to go outside. If kept on a schedule, he does fantastically. He’s never had a #1 accident in our house, and has lived with us for two months (while undergoing heart worm treatment, which is now complete), so I feel confident that his family will have no trouble acclimating him to their own home and schedule.