REGISTERED NAME: Todd's Von Weinerschnitzel
(best of my recall)

Schnitz or Schnitzer as I called him, was the only Dachshund puppy at a kennel of several other breed of puppies. He was so tiny among all lthe Labs and Retrievers and was sitting inside a little fence of several of these larger puppies. All her did was look up at me and I was done. Had to have him and it was an instant connection. I had graduated high school, gone off to college, gotten engaged to be married, dropped out of college, and started beauty school. The next years of my life were very hectic and traumatic and this dog was there for it all. He pulled me through so many life tragedies. I loved on him and cried on him. He also gave me lot's of laughs. He was smart and funny. We had some neighbors who were teaching us to play Bridge. Every time we had a Bridge game they thought it would be funny to give him a saucer of beer. After all - he was German. He loved it and after just a few laps he'd be drunk. Poor little Schnitzer - we'd laugh so hard at him but he was a hoot after just a few laps of beer. He had another passion that was much stronger than beer. Peanut Butter Cookies. We were living in an apartment complex in Minnesota and my neighbor called me down for coffee and fresh baked Peanut Butter cookies. They were on a plate sitting high on the bar and of course my dog could not see them at all. However, his nose did not fail him and he sat straight up on his bottom and begged. From that day forward we knew he could sit up and beg and he'd do it for everything but if he got one whiff of Peanut Butter cookies, he'd just go nuts. Until that first day he smelled them, he'd never had them or even had peanut butter. He was a funny little dog. When we moved to Alaska, we drove the "Alcan" Highway. When you go into Canada from the USA, you have to show birth certificates for any person in the vehicle and if you have a pet, you show special Vet certifications and shot records. Schnitzer always slept on his back with all fours in the air and was always completely under his green bedspread. He would root under the spread and roll onto his back. We made this move to Alaska in a Suburban and had the back set up for the kids and so any of us could nap. As we pulled into the Border Check station, I gathered all the Birth Certs and I can't find the dog's papers anywhere. They are checking the couple of guns and other "Declarations" we made and I still cannot find the dog's papers. About to cry, afraid I'd have to leave my dog in Canada, my husband says, "No one move or say a word to wake the dog", and we all caught on quickly. He was underneath his bedspread as usual. Needless to say, we made it through Border Check in Canada and did not declare our dog. He slept through the entire thing and after we drove away I found the papers. He was a real clown with his short little legs in his "Snow Boots". He didn't like it much but he endured and was a real trooper as he'd sink into snow over his head and I'd have to grab for him. Like many of this breed, he developed kidney problems and over the years, it got severe and he had to be put down at about 15 yrs.. I was younger then and could not do it. It was done for me by those who loved him. I no longer remember his exact birth and death dates but will never forget him. He was the first dog I owned after I left home and was also my first "Very Special" dog. I think all dogs are special and have a place in this world but there are those we remember more than others. They touch something in us that nothing else can touch and if you are a "Dog Person", you know what I mean. I'm grateful to have been Schnitzer's "Person".

May you be filled with Peanut Butter Cookies in Doggie Heaven....