Longdogia Dachshunds

27/11/2025

Happy Thanksgiving!! 🦃

26/11/2025

Keep your dogs safe over the holiday by avoiding foods that are not safe for them.

19/11/2025

So true! ♥️

Consider the Dachshund if you want an intelligent, affectionate, and friendly dog for you and your family.

19/11/2025

🤣

31/10/2025

Happy Halloween! Remember to keep all candy out of reach of your dogs today and for the days to come.

16/10/2025

Borrowed:

No breeder escapes this moment: the phone buzzes a few days after a puppy leaves, with a message you could almost recite by heart:

“We love him, but…”

Ah, the infamous but.

But he barks. But he nips. But he cries at night. But he’s “too energetic.”

In short, he’s alive. And for some, that’s already too much.
A puppy isn’t a living stuffed animal or a personal antidepressant. It’s a baby mammal, uprooted from its maternal world, thrown into the unknown. It will bark, cry, explore, and stress—and that’s normal.

Modern humans, however, don’t like disturbance. They want everything fast: their coffee, their phone, even their puppy’s “adaptation.” They forget a puppy’s brain is still learning emotional regulation through experience, not downloads or miracle TikTok tricks.

So overwhelmed families write: “He’s adorable, but he’s not for us.” Translation: We wanted a dog without the challenges of a puppy.
Even the best-raised puppies are still learning. They arrive ready to learn to love, not pre-programmed to love. And learning requires time, consistency, and emotional steadiness—qualities many humans no longer possess.

Some confuse the perfect puppy with the compliant puppy—obedient to their schedule, whims, or noise tolerance. When that fails, blame follows: the breeder, the breed, the dog’s “character.” And suddenly normal puppy behavior becomes a “problem.”

Breeders absorb it all, taking back puppies “returned due to lifestyle incompatibility,” re-socializing them, and repairing broken bonds. They brush trembling little muzzles and remind themselves: humans think they can adopt without adapting.

Living with a puppy is chaos before harmony. It’s the noise, the smells, the nips, the accidents, the doubts. It’s biology, not magic.
A puppy isn’t a test, a trial, or a gift. It’s a living commitment. What it becomes depends on you: balanced if you are, anxious if you are.
And if you’re not ready to give up your slippers and certainties for a few months? Adopt a plant instead. It rarely chews your shoes, and it doesn’t cry at night.

— Eva VanLoo

07/10/2025

This!

If You Think Crate Training Is Cruel, You’re Probably Doing Everything Else Wrong Too

Every few days someone tells me, “I’d never crate my dog , it’s cruel.” I understand where that comes from. Nobody wants to harm their dog. But here’s the truth that may sting a little:

Crates aren’t the problem. Your lack of structure is.

If you believe a crate is automatically mean, it usually signals a bigger misunderstanding about what dogs actually need to feel safe, calm, and connected.

A Crate Is Not a Cage — It’s a Bedroom for the Canine Brain

Humans see bars and think prison. Dogs don’t.

Dogs evolved from animals that slept in dens, enclosed, predictable spaces where they could fully let down their guard. The limbic system (the emotional brain) is wired to feel safe in a contained space when it’s introduced correctly. That safety lets the autonomic nervous system shift out of hyper-arousal and into rest.

When I say “kennel” or “crate” in my house, I mean bedroom. It’s the place my dogs retreat to when they want zero pressure from the world , to nap, chew a bone, or just exhale. My German Shepherds and Malinois will often choose their crates on their own when the house is buzzing with activity.

Why So Many Dogs Are Stressed Without Boundaries

Freedom sounds loving, but for many dogs it’s chaotic and overwhelming:
• Hypervigilance: They scan every sound and movement because no one has drawn a line between safe and unsafe.

• Over-arousal: Barking, pacing, and destructive chewing are the brain trying to find control in a world without limits.

• Problem behavior rehearsal: Every hour a dog practices bad habits (counter surfing, jumping, door dashing) is an hour those neural pathways strengthen.

From a neuroscience standpoint, the prefrontal cortex — the impulse-control center — is limited in dogs. They rely on our structure to regulate. A dog without clear boundaries burns out its stress response system, living in chronic low-grade cortisol spikes.

A structured dog isn’t “suppressed.” They’re relieved , free from the constant job of self-managing a complex human world.

Crates Give the Nervous System a Reset Button

Here’s the part most people miss: A properly introduced crate isn’t just a place to “put” a dog. It’s a tool for nervous system regulation.

• Sleep: Dogs need far more sleep than humans , around 17 hours a day. A crate gives them uninterrupted rest.

• Decompression: After training or high stimulation, the crate helps the brain down-shift from sympathetic (fight/flight) to parasympathetic (rest/digest).

• Reset: Just like humans may retreat to a quiet room to recharge, dogs use the crate to self-soothe and recalibrate.

But here’s the catch: PLACEMENT MATTERS!!! My crates in my bedroom are for Little Guy, Ryker and Walkiria, Garage is for Cronos, Guest Bedroom for Mieke and my bathroom is for Rogue and my Canace is in my Shed.

Stop Putting the Crate in the Middle of the Storm

Most people stick the crate in the living room because that’s where they hang out. But think about what that room is for your dog: constant TV noise, kids running, doorbells, guests coming and going, kitchen clatter.

That’s not decompression. That’s forced proximity to stimulation with no way to escape.

If you want the crate to become a true bedroom, give it its own space , a quiet corner of your house, a spare room, a low-traffic hallway, garage , shed. Somewhere your dog can fully turn off. The first time many of my clients move the crate out of the living room, they see their dog sigh, curl up, and sleep deeply for the first time in months.

Why Some Dogs “Hate” Their Crate

If your dog panics, it’s almost never the crate itself. It’s:
• Bad association: Only being crated when punished or when the owner leaves.
• No foundation: Tossed in without gradual acclimation or positive reinforcement.
• Total chaos elsewhere: If the whole day is overstimulating and unpredictable, the crate feels random and scary.

I’ve turned around countless “crate haters” by reshaping the experience: short sessions, feeding meals inside, rewarding calm entry, keeping tone neutral. In a few weeks, the same dogs trot inside happily and sleep peacefully.

Freedom Without Foundation Hurts Dogs

I’ve met hundreds of well-intentioned owners who avoided the crate to be “kinder” , and ended up with:
• Separation anxiety so severe the dog destroys walls or self-injures.
• Reactivity because the nervous system never learned to shut off.
• Dangerous ingestion of household items.
• A heartbreaking surrender because life with the dog became unmanageable.

I’ll say it plainly: a lack of structure is far crueler than a well-used crate.

When we don’t provide safe boundaries, we hand dogs a human world they’re ill-equipped to navigate alone.

How to Introduce a Crate the Right Way
1. Think bedroom, not jail. Feed meals in the crate, offer a safe chew, and keep the vibe calm and neutral.

2. Give it a quiet location. Not the busiest room. Dogs need true off-duty time.

3. Pair exercise + training first. A fulfilled brain settles better. Every Dog at my place get worked at east 4-5 times per day (yes this is why I am always tired)

4. Short, positive sessions. Build up time slowly; don’t lock and leave for hours right away. (I work my dogs mentally for max 15 minutes, puppies shorter, physical activity and play around 20 minutes, when I take dogs for a workout walk around 1 hour walk )

5. Never use it as AVERSIVE punishment when conditioning. The crate should predict calm, safety, and rest. When you are advanced eventually we can use the crate as "time out" to reset the brain after proper conditioning has taken place.

6. Create a rhythm: Exercise → training → calm crate nap. Predictability equals security. ( I have 10 dogs on my property right now so every dog works about 15 minutes x 10 dogs = 150 minutes = 2 1/2 hours. Every dogs get worked every 2 1/5 hours, I do that minimum 4 times per day = 600 minutes or 10 hours. yes this is why I wake up so early and go to bed late lol )

The Science of Calm: What’s Happening in the Brain

When a dog settles in a safe, quiet crate:
• The amygdala (fear center) reduces activity.
• The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis down-regulates, lowering cortisol.
• The parasympathetic nervous system engages: heart rate slows, breathing steadies.
• Brain waves shift from high-alert beta to calmer alpha/theta — the same pattern seen in deep rest.

This is why dogs who have a true den space often become more relaxed and stable everywhere else in life.

The Bottom Line

If you think crates are cruel, you’re missing the bigger picture. The crate isn’t about punishment — it’s about clarity, safety, and mental health.

A dog without structure lives in a constant state of uncertainty: Where should I rest? What’s safe? Why am I always on guard? That life is stressful and, over time, damaging.

A well-introduced crate says: Here is your safe space. Here’s where you rest and reset. The world makes sense.

Kindness isn’t endless freedom. Kindness is clarity. And sometimes clarity looks like a cozy, quiet bedroom with a door that means you can relax now.

Bart De Gols

28/07/2025

♥️

21/07/2025

🤣🤣🎯

20/07/2025

This is so true.

Being a breeder is not just pictures of cute puppies and pride in beautiful dogs.
It is also a whole ocean of rejections that are invisible to someone on the outside.

🕰️ Time? There is no such thing as "free"

You forget about weekends, trips, vacations. At least for a few hours.
You can't go to the movies with newborns lying in the crib.
You can't sleep peacefully at night if the pregnant bitch is worried.
You can't leave the incubator when one puppy is fighting for its life.
There is no "break" in breeding. Every minute counts.

💸 Money? You invest endlessly

💰 Good dogs are expensive - and very expensive.
💰Tests, genetic tests, exhibitions, travel, food, supplements, c-sections, medicines, vaccines,accessories - these are thousands of dollars 💵
💰 Income? Sometimes it just goes away. There isn't any. Sometimes you are left in debt and... with an empty bed.

💔 Emotions? You learn patience and pain

➡️ When a puppy dies in your arms, and you are powerless.
➡️ When a bitch does not give birth, despite your efforts.
➡️ When you have to refuse a person who "only wants one dog", because you see that it will not be a good home.
➡️ When you sacrifice everything - and in return you receive hatred, jealousy and slander.

👩 ⚕️No routine - you are a breeder, but also:

🩺 a nurse/neonatalogist
🍼 foster mother
📖 in genetics
📦 in logistics
📷 a photographer
🧹 a cleaning lady
🧠 a psychologist
💬 advisor to their clients, often for years

👨 👩 👧 👦 family and friends ?? Things can be difficult

- "We can't meet because the bitch is giving birth." ""
- "I won't come because the puppies have diarrhea and I need to guard them." ""
- "No, I won't leave them with anyone. "It's my responsibility."

Not everyone will understand. Not everyone will stay.

❤️ But through it all... it's love

Love for animals, for their lives, for the development of the breed.
Love that makes you get up 10 times a night.
Love that doesn't let you take shortcuts.
Love that makes babies grow up healthy and makes you happy despite being sick,or tired.

🐶 A breeder is not a "puppy person".

This is someone who gives up their OWN comfort for the benefit of animals.
This is someone who doesn't equate love with money.
This is someone who lives between joy and pain, and still wouldn't trade it for anything else.

❤️ Respect passionate breeders. Every day they give everything they can, although no one sees it. ❤️

Ps. I give my consent to copying, let it go into the world because Breeding is not only about cute puppies. 🥰

07/07/2025

Always! 🤣

01/07/2025

These adorable babies are bred by a friend of ours. They're ready to join their families this weekend. Located in NC. Contact Belridge Dachshunds for more information.