How Diddle Bros came to be
Hi! My name is Mary Norton, and I'm the owner of Diddle Bros Dachshunds. This is my passion --- and here is my story.
When I was six years old, I was given my first dachshund: Brownie, a short haired red dapple standard. He's the one who sparked my deep love for these wonderful little dogs. Brownie passed away at 13, and not long after, I found myself with Rasco --- a chocolate based red, miniature long haired dachshund. He became my next love. Tragically, Rasco passed away at only two years old. As heart wrenching as that was, those two boys set me on this journey --- a life and career built around something I truly love.
Diddle is my Australian Cattle Dog and my best friend in the whole world. He was there with Brownie, Rasco, and now he's part of my current ween fam. I named the program Diddle Bros after Brownie and Rasco --- they were Diddle's first brothers, and I want them to always be a part of this life.
I dove head first into learning everything I could about breeding, color genetics, health, structure, puppy care--all of it. And then came Bowie, my sweet brindle boy. He didn't just fill the hole left by two incredible dogs--he became the foundation of what is now Diddle Bros Dachshunds.
When I'm not at home in puppy-land, I'm usually out at the ranch riding or competing with my horses alongside my family --- it's something we all love. Our ranch is just down the road, and we also raise steers & pigs, have chickens, and ranch dogs of course! There's never a dull moment, and the weens love every second of it--running wild in the dirt is one of their favorite activities.
what's important to us
We breed AKC registered, long-haired miniature dachshunds with a focus on health, temperament, and breed integrity. It is incredibly important to us to uphold to the highest AKC standards and work every day to better the breed. Every breeding dog in our program has a full Embark panel to screen for over 200 genetic conditions --- including PRA (a hereditary eye disease) and IVDD risk. We also complete OFA health testing for eyes, cardiac, and patellar luxation to ensure our dogs are physically sound. Our goal is to always raise healthy, happy, well-rounded puppies with loving temperaments.
Breeding rights
All of my puppies are sold with limited AKC registration and with a spay/neuter contract. I am very intentional about where my lines go and how my dogs are cared for long-term. While I rarely offer full breeding rights, I'm always open to honest conversation to help educate or guide you in the right direction.
Spay/neuter guidelines:
-Females must be spayed after her first heat but before her second
-Males must be neutered between 12-18 months old
color
While color can't ever be guaranteed, I center my program around cream in its many forms. From shaded cream to brindle cream to black and cream, there is a wide variation within cream dachshunds. I'm intentional about pairings that prioritize health, structure, and temperament --- while still producing some absolutely stunning coats along the way. Color is just one piece of the puzzle, but it's definitely a fun one!
Week 1-10
The first ten weeks of a dog's life are vital to not only their health, but their personality as well. We have good mamas that take care of their babies, but we also stay close by, at all times, especially the first few weeks. We monitor their growth, milk intake, how each is doing compared to the others. Then as they get older, it becomes more important for us to just spend time with and imprint these sweet babies. It is our goal for them to go home to their new families started on potty training, loving people, and ready to start their new life. Although eight weeks is the standard, I have found that the extra week or two makes a huge difference in a few things; potty training, mental & social development, and overall health! I am always happy to keep a puppy a few extra weeks as well, but nine weeks is the earliest I will let them go home.
Click to read more info on our puppies week 1-10!
