What’s the story behind your name, Picasso? So apparently there was a painter from Spain also called Picasso. I’m not sure who he is, but I know who I am – a miniature long-haired dachshund extraordinaire! I’m fine with him using my name, because I’m generous like that. That painter had a dog named Lump, whom he adored and painted into many of his paintings; naturally his dog was a dachshund.

What is the story behind your breed? We dachshunds are very special, very talented and very German. Our name translated, tells a big part of our story, ‘dachs – hund’, or ‘badger – dog’. We were bred back in the 1700s as hunting dogs, intent on search and destroy missions for all things badger. Due to our long, lean bodies and being so close to the ground, we are able to get in tunnels and other small spaces, identifying the occupant within. Then, we would bark loudly and frequently to alert all those concerned that the prize had been found. Even though we are not used for hunting much anymore, we have kept our barking and tunneling tendencies. Let me know if you need any digging/sniffing/tunneling services – I’ll send you my day rate.

Any special or unusual talents/quirks? As previously mentioned, I am excellent at barking. When someone comes to call at our house, and Justin opens the door, they can be seen shaking in their boots, expecting to be greeted by a Doberman Pincher. But then they see it’s just little miniature me, and they relax some - until I start my bark-fest again. Then all the unwanted salespeople and political pollsters leave sehr schnell.

Any fun stories? I have recently abandoned all dog food and instead only eat baby food. Justin and Alli brought home a human baby a year and a half ago and now I just eat what baby eats: pancakes & syrup, ham, egg & cheese sandwiches, chicken… need I go on? And the added bonus is, I have trained the baby to throw me food down from his highchair. Who needs dog food?

Favorite Activities? Sleeping in my ‘apartment’ in mom and dad’s room. I still can’t believe they let me live there for free. Then every morning when we get up, I make a beeline into the baby’s room. Must be with my favorite of all playmates! We always play tackle and then dissolve into hang out mode for the rest of the day. Mom & Dad were a little disappointed when the baby’s first words were ‘bow wow.’ I wasn’t surprised at all.

What else should we know about you Picasso, and how have you enriched your home/family? Some may be interested to know that my coloring is referred to as ‘English Shaded Cream.’ And if that other Picasso were around today, I’m sure he would want to paint our family portrait because, as families go, we are definitely the Cream of the Crop.