We have many dachshunds fostered in Northern California. If you live in Southern California, you can still adopt! Healthy, readily adoptable dogs do require pick up, but for hard to adopt or special needs dogs please inquire to determine feasibility of transfer to a location closer to you. Please contact us for more info.

LAST UPDATED: 09-29-25

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~ BROWNIE IS being FOSTERED IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA ~

Brownie came to us an owner surrender. His family loved him and he loved them, including the kids (8-10 ish). However, he did not do well with strangers of any age in his home. He would get very nervous. The children's young friends that came over made Brownie very uncomfortable. When a child came right up to him and grabbed him, he bit. There was then a second bite (we don't have details). The family tried to make it work because as they said "we have never had a more loving dog". However, Brownie just couldn't handle the stress and chaos of new people on his turf.

In foster care we have found him to be fearful of new people, especially men. He does best if he is allowed to approach visitors on his own (with treats of course) rather than having someone approach him. We are looking for a female dominate home or one where any males are patient at the beginning and allow Brownie to move at his own pace. Once he knows someone is not scary, he is utterly devoted and would do anything for that person. With those that he knows, Brownie is a gem. When new people come over, we use a muzzle on him or crate him but the best home for him would be one that doesn't have a lot of visitors.

Brownie walks very nicely on walks and he is willing to go long distances. He actually heels beautifully! Dogs and people on the street are fine with him. If his foster is going to leave him outside to run in and grab a cup of coffee or something, she muzzles him just in case someone tries to pet him without asking. Brownie knows sit, stay and lie down although since he has a strong dachshund component, he sometimes needs to be asked twice. He prefers to be rewarded with praise (though treats are appreciated) as he really just wants to make his owners happy.

Brownie has lived with other dogs in his past. We think a big dog might actually help him feel less nervous in unusual situations..

Brownie is neutered and current on his vaccinations. He is also crate trained. If you are interested in Brownie, please fill out the online adoption application and email Nicole at nicolesalacain@gmail.com

The tax deductible donation for Brownie is $200

~ RUSTY IS being FOSTERED IN BRENTWOOD, CA (Northern ca) ~

CAT MANAGABLE

Rusty and his sister were living mostly in the yard. During the day, the senior dachshund was out there also.. She took offense to the young dogs very existence and showed her displeasure with constant barking. When a neighbor complained, the owner reached out to rescue to take the pair.

Rusty is the perfect example of why littermates should not remain together. He relied on his sister (the runt of the litter) to protect him from the bullies (other large dogs in the house). He is sorely lacking confidence, but in foster care he has shown that he is determined to trust. He is improving each week but as a young dog he will often submissive pee when approached.

Rusty was skinny when he arrived and his tail started wagging when he saw food was always available in his foster home. He is delighted to now be an inside dog.

We quickly discovered that Rusty is a fan of elementary aged kids and bonded quickly with the 7 year old boy. He is a quiet boy that is happiest when he is cuddling with his people. Rusty does well with the other small dogs in the house and although he will chase a cat, he can live with a dog-savvy one.

Rusty has legs a bit longer than many dachshunds, but his personality is all doxie! He has the sweetest “Disney Princess” eyes.

Rusty is neutered, current on his vaccinations and microchipped. He rides well in the car Rusty is crate trained. If you are interested in Rusty, please fill out the online adoption application and email Nicole at nicolesalacain@gmail.com

The tax deductible donation for Rusty is $900

~ HAZEL IS being FOSTERED IN BRENTWOOD, CA (northern ca) ~

hazel is cat safe!

Hazel and her brother were living mostly in the yard. During the day, the senior dachshund was out there also.. She took offense to the young dogs very existence and showed her displeasure with constant barking. When a neighbor complained, the owner reached out to rescue to take the pair.

Hazel was the runt of her litter, but she did not let size deter her. She protected her brother from the other dogs and from strangers and scary situations. She did initially food guard as a response but she quickly learned there is now enough food for everyone.

Hazel is a sweetheart and loves to be with people and older kids. She can be shy at first but she does warm up quickly. She really wants to be with people and to trust them. She is most definitely a cuddle bug.

.She is a compact hot dog with the most adorable widows peak coloring. She would like a furry and/or human playmate. Currently, she spends her days playing with a young resident dog. The two will play for hours. Hazel also enjoys destuffing toys. She gets along well with the cat as well as the other dogs in the home.

Her foster mom is working on her potty training and Hazel now uses the dog door.

Hazel is spayed, current on her vaccinations and microchipped. She sleeps in a crate at night in the 9 year old’s room. If you are interested in Hazel, please fill out the online adoption application and email Nicole at nicolesalacain@gmail.com The tax deductible donation for Hazel is $1,000

PUPPY!

~ SQUINTS IS being FOSTERED IN CAMPBELL, CA ~

squints is also CAT SAFE!

This little guy is a cautionary tale of backyard breeders. Squints was sold to a woman with two young children. She was told he was healthy . However, It did not take his new owner long to suspect he was blind or could only see shadows and light. A visit to the vet confirmed this. We suspect a careless, inattentive breeder bred two dogs carrying the dapple gene. Double dapples almost always have genetic mismatches that can cause vision problems, hearing problems, and deformities. In addition, Squints appears to be a Dilute Black & Tan (ie: "Blue"). A Blue dachshund is at a higher risk for an inherited skin condition called color dilution alopecia (CDA) which causes hair loss and skin problems. If he develops this he may need to always wear cute sweaters and jackets in addition to regular use of medicated shampoos and moisturizers.

The woman who purchased him quickly realized she was not the right home for this little blue eyed guy. He was an only dog in this home. The noise and chaos of young children terrified him and he spent all his time hiding in a corner. She reached out to us and asked if we could please find him a better home.

Squints moved to a puppy experienced foster home that also has a wonderful former mom dog who is always welcoming. In a day or so, Squints relaxed and started to explore. He now even has the 55 lb doxie mix gently playing with him. He is developing into a confident little charmer.

For his new home, Squints MUST HAVE ANOTHER DOG. Since he can't see well, he relies on other canines to help him know what is going on. This other dog needs to be good with new and young dogs. Squints also needs a home with no young children. Good mannered, kind children ages 8 and up would probably be OK. He wants a person home most of the time.

For his safety, we prefer his new home have no stairs as he accidentally fall down them and be injured. Also, no pool in this guys forever home. He is young enough to learn to live with cats and any smart cat could easily get away from him.

Squints is scheduled for his neuter prior to adoption (ie: when he is 13-14 weeks old) He will be microchipped and brought current on his vaccinations at that time.

If you are interested in Squints, please fill out the online adoption application and email Nicole at nicolesalacain@gmail.com

The tax deductible donation for Squints is $800

~ OLIVER IS being FOSTERED IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA ~

oliver is also CAT SAFE!

Oliver has a very sad back story. His previous owner abused and starved him. Animal control got involved and took Oliver into custody. The minute he was legally available for adoption, we were asked to take him. He was psychologically and physically traumatized and the shelter wanted to be sure he went where he could get help. The poor guy was beyond scared.

With time, kindness and consistency, his foster slowly brought Oliver out of his shell. He is now a very sweet and loving dog.

When he arrived he would wolf down his food - he was used to not knowing when or if he would be fed. Now he gives you his happy dance complete with a couple of spins when it's chow time. When he gets his bowl, he eats calmly and slowly. However, remember that Oliver is a dachshund. This means he has a bottomless stomach and is happy to steal the other dogs food in addition to his own.

Oliver loves to talk with people and dogs through his barking. When Oliver first meets someone new, he will bark, but it is a conversational kind of bark. He varies the pitch and tone of his bark, and he just wants people to talk to him. Once you do that, he calms down a bit.

Oliver is an energetic dog, and he doesn’t seem to get tired. He loves going on walks and visiting cafes. He loves going anywhere where he will be given treats. He walks nicely on his leash and is friendly to the other dogs he meets on the sidewalk or at the dog park. However, because of being abused, he is a little shy around people he doesn’t know, and he may need a little more time to get to know people before he allows them to pet him.

Oliver gets along well with other dogs, although he sometimes misreads doggie social cues, leading to him annoying the other dogs. He is getting better about this and has learned a lot from the other dogs in his foster home. Oliver also gets along well with cats, and he enjoys sleeping on the sofa with one of the cats in his foster home. Sometimes he wants to play with the cats by chasing them, which the cats don’t appreciate. Eventually, the cats will swat him, and Oliver will run away.

Oliver does have mild separation anxiety, and he will bark if left alone. This is improving as he becomes more confident and gets support from the other dogs in his foster home. He would probably do best in a home where someone is around most of the time and where there is another dog to keep him company. He just had a dental where he lost 14 teeth (likely due to his earlier bad diet and lack of appropriate things to chew on).

He is not a good dog for an apartment or condo. Oliver barks when he is excited, hears a noise, or if someone comes to the door or the door of another apartment. He is now in an urban environment and we think he needs a more suburban setting where he can't hear every sound the neighbors make.

Oliver is house-trained, but he will need a refresher in a new home. He also knows how to use puppy pads, but he prefers to go outside.

We are no longer accepting applications for Oliver. Please look at our other dogs available for adoption.

~ PONCHO IS being FOSTERED IN SAN JOSE, CA ~

Poncho was an owner surrender. The young woman said she could not find a place that would allow her dogs. She had a pair and very much wanted them to stay together. We agreed we would keep them together. As we were finalizing transport, she told us her neighbor wanted the female and that she was now only sending us the male. So much for all her concern about them being kept together as a bonded pair.

Poncho was out of sorts when he arrived in rescue. He had not been well socialized with the outside world, and he had just lost his companion. He was overwhelmed and scared.

The good news is that Poncho is very sweet. He's a people person dog. He wants to be wherever you are. He adores everyone in the household vs being a one person dog. Although he is a big boy, he thinks he is a lapdog. With his cute eraser nose (ie: it's pink) he is a very good looking dog.

Initially walks were a challenge as Poncho was not used to being on a leash. With a harness and another dog to accompany and support him, he has made real progress.

Poncho needs to have a securely fenced yard and may do best with a dog door. He is not a candidate for a condo or apartment. He is very sensitive to noises and movements in the house and will react by barking loudly. He sounds ferocious, but he does not react when approached by people and he has never been aggressive. (He's the definition of "all bark, no bite"). He needs a yard as he will not go to the bathroom on walks - no matter how long the walk is.

We think his best forever home must have another playful dog so that Poncho can have a friend. He has been good with all the dogs he has met and does not react to snarkiness from them. A confident dog/top dog sibling would be perfect as Poncho does best when he has a leader to follow. Alas, his good nature does not hold true for other creatures. Poncho has an extremely high prey drive. No cats for him! He will also chase squirrels and birds and can be difficult to redirect.

Poncho is going to need a home that is very patient with him the first few weeks. We suspect he will do better than when he first arrived at his foster home, but that he is still going to be nervous and jumpy. He will likely be extra reactive to noises and will be very barky until he feels comfortable. He needs a very secure yard as he is a runner if he gets out. We think Poncho would greatly benefit from going to a training class. He's a smart boy and really wants to please his people.

Poncho is is neutered and current on his vaccinations. If you are interested in Poncho, please fill out the online adoption application and email Nicole at nicolesalacain@gmail.com.

The tax deductible donation for Poncho is $400.00

~ CHICA & GROUCHO ARE being FOSTERED IN DIXON, CA ~

Chica and Groucho came to us when their elderly owners were no longer able to care for them. Although not littermates, they have lived together all their lives.

It's clear that in their previous home they had both been well loved and well socialized. They had also received excellent medical care.

They are so good natured that when we received a call from an Ad Director looking for a red smooth dachshund for a print ad, Chica got the job. Cameras, lights, lots of people and strange noises.- Chica handled it with aplomb. Groucho is equally charming and happy. . He practically turns himself inside out with excitement when his people come home.

They love men and women equally. If there is only one lap to sit in, they will happily share. They aren't bonded, but they do really like each other. They balance each other out. If not adopted together, Chica would do well in either a pack or as an only dog. Groucho however really wants to have another dog or two in his forever home.

Groucho has the Dachshund feistiness we all know and love. He will let you know when a neighbor is on the other side of the fence enjoying their own backyard (How dare they?) or when someone in the neighborhood has the audacity to slam a car door. Although he responds to correction, but he is not a candidate for an apartment or condo. Chica is a bit more reserved. She is less quick to react, but she will join in the vocals if Groucho is not ordered to stop.

Chica needs a new home that gives her lots of exercise and can resist giving her too many treats so she can lose a few pounds.

They walk nicely on a leash and so far appear to be totally housebroken!

They both have high prey drives and absolutely cannot live in a home with cats, birds, chickens, or any small critter..

They are fixed, microchipped and current on their vaccinations.

We are no longer accepting applications for Chica or Groucho. Please look at our other dogs available for adoption.

~ CLEO IS being FOSTERED IN BRENTWOOD, CA (NORTHERN CA) ~

Late one afternoon, we got this email from an area shelter. "We had a 6yr old female brought in as an owner request for euthanasia because she doesn’t like the new baby or the toddler in the home. She is TERRIFIED in the shelter, we are reaching out to see if you would be interested in pulling her?"

Yep, her owners brought her in to be put down because she did like the little ones in her home. No attempt to find her another home- just take her to the shelter and request euthanasia.

We agreed to pull her although we had a bit of trepidation that maybe the dog wasn't just a typical non-toddler loving dachshund, but might in fact actually be aggressive. We worried for nothing. Cleo is a love!

She walked into her foster home like she had always lived there. Her first night she slept with the the 7 year old boy and loved cuddling with him. Her foster dad is a big guy which she found a little scary at first, but then discovered how great it is to lay on him when he is on the couch.

She has also been fine with the pack of resident dogs. She is cat safe with a dog savvy cat. This sweetie really is a delight.

Cleo loves the toy bin and has shown a fondness for the toys that crinkle and squeak.

Her new home must not have any children under the age of 5 (or any possible future children). We think she was an only dog before and she could be one again.

Cleo is spayed, microchipped and current on her vaccinations.

We are no longer accepting applications for Cleo. Please look at our other dogs available for adoption.

~ HENRY IS being FOSTERED IN POLLOCK PINES, CA ~

A local shelter asked us to take in a dog that was not doing well in the shelter. The chaotic environment completely overwhelmed him.

We were able to get this cutie a great foster home, and with that came a new name. Henry Longfellow. Yep, because of stretched out torso and because he is such a great dog, he was named after the great poet. We have no idea of what his mix is, but this boy is long! He is also incredibly cute!

We discovered that he appears to have been taught some manner prior to ending up in a shelter as an unclaimed stray He knows what “sit” means and he heels on leash - therefore no tugging or getting tangled.

Henry is being fostered with 3 senior dogs. While he gets along well with them, he prefers to have most of the attention heaped upon himself. He has come around to cuddles and loves to lay across from his person on his own side of the couch. He does not jump on the bed unless invited. He can get pushy about getting his share if another dog is being petted, but respects the other dogs and does not engage in any tussling.

Henry still has some of the nervousness he came to us with. He is wary of others approaching him when on a walk Consistency and continued socialization should help with this.

Henry loves bath time and will lay in the tub accepting all the bubbles and scrubs he can get! He is not a fan of crates and instead he sleeps in a dog bed in the foster’s bedroom. He is very quiet and well behaved throughout the night. Henry is never late for dinner. He loves treats and waits in line for his turn to get one. So far Henry has shown no interest in toys or balls, but he enjoys the outdoors in the foster’s fenced yard. He will let you know if there is a visitor or delivery with his deep bark and he will stop barking upon request.

Henry is a delightful dog and will make a great companion for a single person, couple, or family. He has not been around children and likely would do best if children are older.

We are no longer accepting applications for Henry. Please look at our other dogs available for adoption.