Dachshunds are a loyal and very popular dog breed.
These long bodied, short legged pups love to play but can be a little stubborn at times. Let us explain why this breed could be the perfect dog to join your family.
Dachshunds originate from Germany where they have been spoken about for hundreds of years. Translated ‘Dach’ means badger and ‘hund’ means dog. They were bred primarily to hunt animals that live in underground burrows such as badgers and rabbits.
Their paddle shaped front paws helped then dig and their deep chest provided increased lung capacity when they were hunting under ground.
This breed is still widely used for hunting but in recent years has become a popular pet within the UK. Due to this you can find many Dachshund meet ups littered around the UK when lovers of this breed all meet for playtime and walks. Including the Dachshund Club who organises puppy parties in the park.
Dachshund puppies are widely available and can be found in a variety of colours and coat types.
It is always good practice to meet the parents of any puppy you are looking to take home. Any reputable breeder will be happy for you to do this. Puppies should always be seen with their mothers and littermates. One benefit of this will allow you to gauge the personality and temperament of the mother that could indicate how your puppy may behave as it grows.
Don’t be afraid to ask your breeder questions so you can be confident in the dog you are going to choose. Some example questions could be:
By the time a puppy is ready to be rehomed they should have already had a health check by the vets. They may have also already had medical treatment for worms, fleas and their first vaccination. Make sure you ask about this before you bring your puppy home.
Regular dog training is needed for all dogs as well as a plan for teaching social skills as these are key in the first 12 months of a puppy’s life. This will help keep unwanted doggy behaviour at bay.
Dachshunds are classed as a generally healthy breed and can live a long healthy life as long as they are well exercised, fed a highly nutritious diet and kept at a stable weight.
Due to their small, low to the ground statue they can be prone to back issues. Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is unfortunately very common. It must be treated promptly as it can lead to complete and permanent paralysis of all four legs.
If you see your dog is having any of the following issues consult your vet immediately.
This could be a sign of IVDD or other orthopaedic issues such as floating knee cap.
Dachshunds are found with 3 different coat types.
Short-haired dachshunds have a smooth, dense and shiny coat that requires little maintenance. A brush once a week is all that is needed to keep they coat healthy and loose hairs under control. Most common colours for short-hairs are Black & Tan, Red, Chocolate/Tan and Dapple.
Long-haired dachshunds have a soft and straight coat with feathering on their bellies, ears, behind their legs and tail. Unlight short hairs their coat does require regular grooming. Most common colours for long hairs are Black & Tan, Red, Chocolate/Tan and Silver Dapple.
Wire-haired dachshunds have a short, wiry top coat with a dense undercoat that covers their whole body. They have a beard on their chin and bushy eyebrows. A wire coat needs stripping twice a year. One benefit of this is they don’t moult so ideal for people with dog hair allergies. Most common colours are Brindle & Red, Chocolate/Tan and Dapple.
Dog grooming for a Dachshund at Bruce’s doggy day care starts from just £35. As well as hair cutting and bathing they also offer nail trimming as well as ear cleaning and teeth cleaning.
Dachshunds need to be fed a specific amount of calories per day depending on their age and size. They only need to eat 1/4 to 1/3 of a cup of dry food twice a day to keep them healthy. Dachshunds are known to be big eaters and will quite easily overeat if you let them.
High protein, low carb diets are the ideal choice for all dogs. As a dog gets older the amount of protein they need does drop due to them being less active.
Remember all dogs are different so the amount you feed your dog is dog-specific. Their age, size, metabolism and activity level all play a part. Keeping a close eye on your dog’s weight is the perfect way to make sure you are feeding them the right amount of food. Dachshunds can develop health issues if they gain too much weight so it is important to keep them at a healthy weight. If in doubt you can always ask a vet.
Dachshunds are generally a good tempered breed that are bold and outgoing. Their lively and intelligent personality make them a fun addition to family life. It is said they can be a little stubborn so good dog training including lots of socialisation is important from a young age.
Due to their smaller size some dachshunds can be a little intimidated by larger breeds of dog but with regular walks and socialising with other dogs will help nip this in the bud. A service like doggy day care could also help with this as they would get to meet a wide variety of dogs in a safe and secure environment.
It is said that personalities can be dependent on the type of dachshund you have.
One thing they all have in common is they like to bark. Teaching them from a puppy what is acceptable behaviour will ensure they don’t turn into an adult dog that barks excessively.
Did you know that sausage dogs thrive in a doggy day care environment. This is due to their playful and outgoing nature. At Bruce’s doggy day care we currently have over 60 Dachshunds enrolled in our day care centres. If you are lucky enough to share your home with this loveable breed why not come and take a look at one of our local centres and see how much fun your dog could have by enrolling with us. Here are some pictures to give you a sneak peak.
Dachshunds do shed their fur but they are classed as low shedding compared to other dogs breeds. As expected, longer haired Dachshunds shed more than short-haired. Regular brushing will help keep loose hairs to a minimum.
Dachshunds do tend to bark as they were bred as a hunting dog. Dog training including desensitisation and counter conditioning training can help minimise this.
Dachshunds are good family dogs due to their loving and playful nature. Although small they have plenty of energy so they will enjoy an active family life.
If a Dachshund doesn’t seem to be the dog for you why not check out some other dog breeds:
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