Dachshund: Training, Temperament, Exercise Needs & Health

(Doxie, Weiner Dog)

Also known as: Standard Dachshund, Miniature Dachshund, Rabbit Dachshund, Teckel, Sausage dog

About Dachshunds

Description of the Dog

Otherwise known as a ‘sausage dog’, the Dachshund is well known for its extra long body and tiny little legs. There are two main sizes of the breed, either miniature or standard, and within those two different sizes, there are three different types of coat. These include the short haired Dachshund, the long haired Dachshund and the wire haired Dachshund.

The head of the Dachshund is tapered and it has almond shaped eyes which often hold an energetic and pleasant expression. They have long ears which hang down the side of their heads and they have rounded tips which frame the face. The muzzle on this breed tends to be slightly arched and they have a black nose with well open nostrils.

Coat

The body is very muscular and the neck is also slightly arched and it flows smoothly into the shoulders. Their front feet have arched toes, thick nails and tough pads. This was to help them dig out badgers from their sets when they used to be used to hunt them. Their back legs are parallel and their thighs are really powerful and strong.

The gait of the Dachshund is quite fluid and smooth, and with the short haired variety the coat is quite shiny. The coat of the wire haired variety tends to be rough and thick and it has a smooth undercoat too. Finally the long haired variety tends to have a slightly wavy and it seems to be longer on the chest and at the neck.

Generally the Dachshund comes in a wide variety of colors and the only color that doesn’t seem to be apparent is white.

Coat

Dachshunds come in three types of coat – Smooth/Short-haired, Long and Wire. Smooth are the most common, and have a dense, shiny short coat. Long-haired Dachshunds have a very soft silky coat with fringes on the underbody, chest, legs tail and ears. The coat pattern is similar to that of an Irish Setter!

Wirehairs have short wiry coats which are very dense and have a dense undercoat. They have a beard, bushy eyebrows and usually prominent ridges of hair above the eyes.

Height

Male: The Standard Dachshund is usually between 14-18 inches and the
Miniature Dachshund is up to 14 inches in height.

Female: Again the Standard Dachshund is usually between 14-18 inches and the Miniature Dachshund is up to 14 inches in height.

Weight

Male: The Standard weight is 20 pounds and the
Miniature weight is 8 pounds.

Female: The Standard weight is 20 pounds and the
Miniature weight is 8 pounds.

Temperament of the Dog

Dachshunds are known to be fun loving dogs and they are also tenacious as well as lively too. However, they are also known to become quite irritable and as with many other smaller breeds, they tend to often become jealous.They do make good watchdogs due to the fact that they are naturally wary of strangers and they are also quite bold.

The long haired variety is generally the quietest out of the three and the wire haired variety is more outgoing. It is thought that the miniature variety is generally a lot more timid than the standard Dachshund.

Another trait of this breed is that they can be quite mischievous at times. It loves being around people and is now more of a companion dog than a hunter.Generally the breed is loyal, affectionate, mischievous and outgoing and they tend to melt everyone’s hearts.

Although the Miniature Dachshund is thought to be a little bit more timid than the standard Dachshund, you can still train them and socialize them to help build their confidence.Although the Miniature Dachshunds are prone to being a little timid, the Standard Dachshund should not show any timid or aggressive behavior.

Better suited to an indoor or outdoor lifestyle?

Dachshunds are definitely better suited to an indoor lifestyle. They do not really require a yard or garden to run around in so they can live in an apartment if necessary. Even though they do not need a yard or a garden, they do need to be taken outside so that they can relieve themselves and get a little fresh air.

Are they suited to homes with kids?

As with most other breeds, the Dachshund is not naturally good with children. In fact, the breed can easily snap and they do not tolerate small children at all really. Never leave a small child with a Dachshund, especially if the child is not part of the family.They do tend to tolerate older children and more considerate children, just not small ones.

How to take care of the Dachshund Puppies? It is important to establish a routine with your Dachshund. Make sure you feed at least three small meals per day and ensure that they have fresh drinking water available at all times too. Like all puppies, your Dachshund will need plenty of rest and quiet time in order for them to settle and grow.

Overall they do not need any different care compared to other breeds other than the fact that you should not over feed them.

Do not over-feed your Dachshund as they are prone to gain weight easily and extra weight can lead to various health problems.

Training

Training can be difficult at times due to the fact that the Dachshund is a very stubborn breed. However, with firm and consistent training they can become quite well trained.

It is important to note that this breed can be a little sensitive to firmness so be sure that your Dachshund is not too scared of you whilst you are training. The easiest way to train a dog is to make it fun and exciting. Your Dachshund will be reluctant to train again if it is traumatized by the experience.Dachshunds generally respond better to a variety of different training methods.

Generally food tends to encourage Dachshunds to train as they are particularly food driven! Overall it is better to be understanding, firm but gentle, and consistent with your training methods. However hard they may be to train, they can be trained if you are persistent and patient.

Activity Level

How active is the breed?

The Dachshund does tend to be quite active both indoors and outdoors. Indoors they may become destructive if they are not given plenty to do or if they are not taken out for a walk during the day.Exercising them as often as possible will help to tire them out. Two walks a day should be sufficient to tire the Dachshund out enough throughout the day. However, really the breed only needs one walk per day.

Exercise Needs

Puppies do not need as much exercise as adults do. Playing with a few s with your puppy should be enough exercise for them. However, when they get into adulthood they do need a little more exercise, but overall they are not an overly active breed.

Health & Care

Genetic Problems

There are various different problems which can occur with a Dachshund. Canine Intervertebral Disk Disease is one of these problems and it occurs when the back gives in for whatever reason. This stops the dog from walking and often the dog ends up in a specially designed wheelchair for dogs.

Dachshunds are also prone to bloat which is usually only a problem with bigger dogs. It occurs in the Dachshund due to the fact that it is deep chested and it tends to happen when the dog has had a drink and taken in a large gulp of air, and then it goes straight on to exercise and run around.

Unlike bloat in humans, bloat in a dog can be fatal and so it really is a serious problem which you need to be aware of.Obesity is a common problem in Dachshunds as they put on weight extremely easily. Obesity can be quite a severe problem in this breed because they have such tiny legs and long backs.

Breeding the Dog and any Cautions

Breeding Dachshunds does not seem to be any more dangerous than breeding some other types of dogs. As with all breeds there is always a risk that there will be complications and so it always helps to do some research before even thinking about breeding any dog.

Do you have a nice warm place for the puppies to be once they are born? Is it possible to have a vet on hand in case something does go wrong? There are so many questions you need to ask yourself before you breed your Dachshund.

Litter Size: 3-4 pups

Life Span

Dachshunds tend to live anywhere between 15-18 years. They live a lot longer than larger breeds do, and this is due to the fact that they do not have as much pressure eon their hearts.

Grooming

Each different variety of Dachshunds needs a different amount of grooming. The long haired variety for example, needs a lot more grooming than the short haired variety. Longer haired dogs tend to shed more often and they need daily grooming with a firm bristled brush.

The wire haired variety also needs daily grooming with a bristled brush in order to stop any tangles from forming in the coat. The smooth haired variety only needs its claws trimming regularly, and it simply needs to be wiped over with a damp cloth a couple of times a week. All varieties will need their ears checked daily for any signs or irritation and inflammation.

National Breed Club

e.g. In Australia the National Breed club for the Dachshund is the ‘National Dachshund Council’. In America there is a National Miniature Dachshund Club, and a Dachshund Club of America.

Recognition

The Dachshund is recognized by: FCI, AKC, ANKC, KC, CKC, NZKC, UKC.