Dachshund is one of the fun-loving, energetic, and lovable dog breeds that has a charming personality. Thanks to their unique physical feature, these dogs are fondly called doxie, hot dog, wiener dog, or sausage dog. Their enduring nature, as well as their unique characteristics, will create a lasting impression on your mind. The Dachshunds were bred as miniature hunting dogs. But they showcase the traits of the bigger hounds if appropriately treated. Dachshunds can become a great lap dog, a loving companion, and one of the best family dogs, irrespective of their size. In addition, these dogs tend to be very alert and protective. Dachshund dogs make excellent mini watchdogs.
Breed Overview
- Group: Hound
- Height: The adult dash sounds grow up to 8 to 9 inches in height. However, the dog of the miniature breed grows up to 5 to 6 inches.
- Weight: The weight of the standard dachshunds ranges between 16 to 32 pounds. The miniature dog weighs around 11 pounds.
- Life expectancy: 12 to 16 years
Characteristics
These curious, fun-loving, brave, charming, and lively dogs are similar to the terriers in many different ways. These happy dogs have a great sense of humour and love to play games with their humans. They are very loyal, and with a little bit of love, these dogs get firmly attached to their family. These dogs are great with other pets as well. However, they can be a bit jealous if you do not pay them as much attention as they want.
Also, there can be some troubles with the possession of the toys. The dachshunds are very possessive of their humans as well as their toys. In these cases, you need to put a firm stop at the first sign of possessiveness or jealousy. Otherwise, these cute behaviours can slowly turn into bad habits.
Even though dachshunds are excellent house dogs, they do need regular exercise. You can take them out for daily walks, but make sure to keep them under leash. Dachshunds are notorious chasers. They can take off with the slightest bit of provocation.
Here are some prominent characteristics of a dachshund that the owners should know.
Bark
Despite their small size, the dachshunds are vigilant dogs and love to be heard. Unfortunately, they are sometimes too quick to raise the alarm for each potential threat or excitement. They will keep on creating a stir for every new sound and sight. It would help if you were equally as quick to find out what is happening.
Independent
Unlike many other dog breeds, the dachshunds are free thinkers. They are strong-willed.
Suspiciousness
Dachshunds can be a little suspicious from an early age, and you need to socialise your dachshund with various people to accustom them to the presence of strangers.
Stubborn
Dachshunds are free agents and love to do what they want, which can come across as a little stubborn. That is why it’s important when you tell off a dachshund, don’t go overboard, or they will not comply at all. Be firm but still in a gentle voice should help with training a dachshund.
Dog-Friendly
Dachshunds are friendly by nature. However, many dachshunds like to be the alpha when it comes to other dogs. Therefore, depending on what type of dog a dachshund is around them, such as another alpha wannabee, it could turn into a bark off.
Housebreaking
A Dachshund will need training as soon as they can. Luckily they are highly intelligent dogs and can pick stuff up quickly when they are interested. However, it’s tough to teach a dachshund toilet training when they are older, so it’s vital to do it when they are younger.
Appearance
Celebrated across the world for its stout and short form, the dachshund is one of the most miniature hunting dogs with elaborate personalities. These dogs were bred in Germany for following the prey right into their burrows or dens underground.
This breed comes in three different coat types; long hair, smooth hair, and wire hair. In addition, there are two sizes of dachshund available; they are miniature and standard.
Coat Types:
- Long Hair
- Smooth Hair
- Wire Hair
Sizes:
- Miniature
- Standard
Long Hair
The long hair dachshunds come with shiny and wavy hair that’s often longer than their ears. Their coat hair flows from under their neck, body, and behind of their legs. These doxies come in all the colour variations as the smooth ones.
Smooth Hair
The smooth-coated dachshund comes with a shiny and short coat showcasing various patterns and colours. The eye colour of the smooth-coated dachshund changes depending on the coat pattern and colour. The dogs with bicolour and solid coats have dark eyes. The double coloured dachshunds, on the other hand, tend to have wholly or partially blue eyes.
Wire Hair
The wirehaired dogs come with a soft undercoat covered by a thick and hard topcoat. Their topcoat exhibits a wiry texture. These dogs also have prominent eyebrows and beards. The coat colour and patterns of the wired dachshunds are similar to the smooth-haired ones. However, these dogs are mostly seen in black, wild boar patterns, and tan colour. Some of these dogs are also found in various shades of red.
Temperament
It is hard to imagine that these dogs were bred as ferocious hunters from their lively and fun-loving nature. It might be surprising, but the sausage-shaped hounds used to go down the dens and burrows of their prey to fight them or flush them out. So even though the modern dachshunds are considered lap dogs, they still retain their grit and bravery.
These dogs were bred to hunt badgers. It is not a job for timid dogs. The dachshunds are very vocal and have a high predatory sense. But, their nature and looks make them seem all so cute.
The dachshunds were diggers by nature. Modern dogs have retained this trait even today. So it is only natural to find your dachshund digging holes in your back garden. Even though they are considered independent and mischievous, the dachshunds can take on obedience training pretty well. The miniature dogs can be a great companion for the older kids, depending on how they behave. However, if the dog gets irritated or uncomfortable in any way, it can become snappy. That is why you should always keep your kids under supervision while they interact with the dogs. Plus, teaching your kids how to handle a dog gently.
History
The dachshund dogs were bred as hunting dogs in Germany. The origin of these dogs can be traced back to the 15th Century. However, the breed didn’t start to pick up in popularity until the 17th Century.
From the name of the dog, you can understand its purpose. The term dachshund means badger dogs. The short legs, sausage-shaped body, and loose skins helped these dogs go down the prey’s burrows to flush them out. Their independent nature and determination have helped these dogs to fight badgers. In addition, the flopped-down ears of the dogs help them keep the dirt away when they are busy burrowing.
Dachshunds went to America in around 1885, and the popularity of the dogs started soaring in the 1930s.
Are you interested in learning more about the dachshund’s dog breed? Here is a date timeline of the dachshund breed throughout their history.
Care
Properly looking after a dachshund will keep them happy and healthy. Dachshunds need just primary care. See below!
- Brushing coat
- Teeth cleaning
- Bathing
- Checking ears
- Trimming nails
The trimming requirements of these dogs mainly depend on their hair coat type. The dogs with long hair need regular brushing. But that does not mean you need to arrange professional grooming visits; the shedding amount of the smooth-coated dogs is higher than all the other varieties. You need to create a routine for baths, irrespective of the type of dachshund.
It would help if you trimmed the nails of these dogs regularly to reduce the problems related to paws. You can also use a paw cream balm, which will do wonders for their big paws. The flopped-down ears of these dogs no doubt look very cute, but they also create a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. So, you need to keep their ears clean and check them regularly for any signs of mite infestation or bacterial infection. In addition, maintain good oral hygiene by brushing your dog’s teeth a couple of times a week.
Health
The dachshunds have a natural tendency to become obese. To avoid this problem, you need to make sure that your dog gets regular exercise. Recommend daily walk times you need to stick by, especially if they are young, as it takes a while for their bones to develop fully.
Protect the back of your dachshund while picking it up. About 25% of these dogs suffer from vertebral disc disease. It can lead to severe problems, like spinal disc deterioration. In addition, it makes your dog susceptible to disc bulging if it gets injured. While handling your dog, make sure to support its back. For example, stop it from jumping up and down on the furniture. You can also offer them steps or ramps for getting up and down from the beds, chairs and stairs.
Facts
- The Dachshunds are called dackel in Germany. However, the German hunters refer to the dog as teckel, making people think they are talking about another dog breed. But the truth is, the deckel and the teckel are just two different terms used for calling the same lovely hounds.
- The mascot of the 1972 Olympics in Munich was Waldi, a colourful dachshund.
- The dachshund does not like the rainy season. These dogs are short, and their belly is closer to the ground. So for them, the rain not only falls from the sky but also splashes from below. During the rainy season, be ready to face some resistance when you try to walk them.
- Most of the jackets and hardness that you find in the stores are not suitable for your dachshund, and it is better to get a harness for them. Because it protects their fragile back and neck, it would help if you also researched a bit to find the jacket that fits them perfectly.
- Dachshunds love to burrow themselves under the blankets. So if there is a blanket on your sofa, you should check it before sitting. It is better to give them a different place to burrow down.
