Dachshund Dog Breed – All You Need to Know

Dachshund Dog Breed – All You Need to Know

Dachshund puppy dog harness in buffalo plaid

Dachshunds are family dogs and are very loyal

if a stranger shows up be it another pet or human, they will bark and be protective.

They get suspicious of everything and will act on whatever seems like a threat, even a leaf carried by the wind.

They are fun, energetic, playful, stubborn, very intelligent and come with a variety of comical expressions.

In dealing with them, you’ll need patience in spades and a sense of humor.

You’ll also need to learn to outsmart them just like having a slightly difficult but sweet child. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about dachshunds and why they’re the perfect family dog.

Meet the Breeds: Dachshund
| American Kennel Club

It’s hard to say what’s more popular, hot dogs or the delectable breed they resemble -- the adorable Dachshund.  Up Next on Meet the Breeds.  The Dachshund!

Here’s the Dachshund!

Arguably the most popular breed in the US, everybody loves dachshunds.

Their almost comical appearance makes them a fun subject for many cartoonists.

They are playful with their family and will absolutely love to help out by weeding your garden or pulling your shoelaces in hopes of untying them.

Dachshund dog harness in Tartan

Never mind that they may pull out your flowers or try to run around with your shoelace in their mouth; they just want to help. If you’re an apartment dweller whether single or a family, you should be considering these lovingly loyal breeds. They are ranked 12th most popular by the American Kennel Club.

ALL ABOUT LIVING WITH DACHSHUNDS |  Dogumentary TV

If you balled up, cuteness, feistiness, and a whole lot of funny, then stretched it out into a dog, you would have the Dachsund. I recently met up with Oscar, Jenevive, and Laurel to discuss their lives and love of the Dachsund breed.

Each one is totally committed to this adorable and confident dog breed. The dachshund is a short-legged, long-bodied, hound-type dog breed. They may be smooth-haired, wire-haired, or long-haired. The standard-size dachshund was developed to scent, chase, and flush out badgers and other burrow-dwelling animals, while the miniature dachshund was bred to hunt smaller prey such as rabbits.

Dachshund puppy harness Frenchiestore

Appearance
of the Dachshund dog breed.

Dachshunds are quite “down to earth”, with really short legs and long backs, they might bear resemblance to a low stool.

They have an elongated head that flows flawlessly into their necks, shoulders and long back.

Their almond-shaped eyes are not too small or too big, their floppy ears are at the side, perfect for their face.

Dachshund puppies will have long snouts with tightly stretched lips. They have a broad and powerful chest that houses large lungs and links with their abdomen, seemingly upheld by their wide, firmly planted front legs. They are also muscular, with strong hind legs.

Dachshund puppy colors and coat

This breed allows for a wide variety of colors. Dachshunds born in the same litter can have different colors.

They may have one, two or more coat colors and patterns ranging from the most common red to cream, black, chocolate, wild boar, gray/blue, fawn, dark brown, brindle, piebald, sable, tan, and some white which is acceptable but not desirable.

Dachshund dog harness puppachino

The dachshund is one breed with three varieties: smooth coat, wirehaired and long haired. The wirehaired dachshund is the least common in US. Each coat has a specific color attributed to it but all dachshunds can have a variety of colors.

According to the Dachshund Club of America a plain white coat is completely unacceptable, the only plain colors can be red, black and tan.

Dachshund dogs breed harness

Height, weight and size of the Dachshund dog

Dachshund dogs are bred in two sizes:

  • The standard Dachshund and;
  • The miniature Dachshund.

The standard Dachshund’s height is 8-9 inches and they weigh 16-32 pounds while the miniature Dachshund’s height is 5-6 inches and they weigh 11 pounds or less.

For them to be considered miniature Dachshund they must weigh not more than 11 pounds or grow no higher than 6 inches at maturity. Your dachshund should not weigh more than 32 pounds. This is the absolute limit, as they cannot afford to be obese because of their low and long backs.

Life span and personality

The Dachshund is curious and very determined. They will follow through on whatever catches their attention like small animals, birds, balls or toys.

They are playful, lively and very intelligent. They are fearless and courageous, and cannot be bullied or intimidated.

Due to their intelligence and slightly alarming bravery, they are very good watchdogs.

Dachshund breed harness

Although they might have a mind of their own and completely ignore you and your commands which makes them stubborn and difficult to train, they are so loving, cute, can be very attentive. They always want to snuggle with you, which is what makes them so endearing despite their stubborn nature.

The dachshund’s personality and temperament can differ slightly based on their coat. The wirehaired dachshund can be very mischievous and are troublemakers. The long-haired dachshund is a bit more serene and elegant, while the smooth coat dachshund is right in the middle, they are moderately elegant and moderately mischievous.

Some miniature dachshunds can be shy or introverted and that’s not a good thing, it doesn’t show proper breeding and socialization. With their big personality, dachshunds are not shy by nature.

Dachshunds like to dig and their wide paddle like paws are made perfectly for that. If they don’t have a yard to dig in, they’ll burrow in your blankets. They don’t like strangers and can get very aggressive and bark at them. But they are great with children in their family.

Leaving your dachshund alone too frequently and for long periods of time will make them antsy and they might experience separation anxiety. With proper care, dachshunds are expected to live for 12-16 years.

Dachshund pup harness in camo

History

The dachshund originated from Germany and the name “Dachshund” literally translates to “badger dog”.

As you can guess, they were bred to burrow into badger holes, and chase out its occupants.

The original breed was the smooth haired coat, while the other two are products of cross breeding, making dachshunds the perfect hunting dog in any climate.

In some states, they are still used for hunting but in America, they are pure family dogs.

Taking care of your dachshund dog breed

The dachshund might look like they can take care of themselves without any help from you but they need you to lead a healthy life.

Feeding/nutrition:

Do not allow your dachshund to become overweight. Not just because of the health implications but also because of their long backs; being overweight can lead to ruptured discs.

Give them only good quality dog food designed to enhance growth and balance nutrition. Try to ignore their pleading and whining for scraps and as much as you can. Also, take into consideration their strong sense of smell and don’t let them get into the trash and eat stuff.

Grooming:

Dachshunds do not shed excessively; they are actually quite clean and don’t smell. Although, their needs vary based on coat.

  • The smooth haired dachshunds are the easiest, just wipe them down with a towel.
  • For the long-haired ones, you might need to brush frequently depending on how thick their coat is.
  • The wirehaired dachshund just needs plucking and trimming twice a year.

    Other than these, nothing quite exceptional, just nail trimming, dental health and occasional trimming of beard and eyebrows.

Care and exercise

This breed may look small but they need regular exercise to stay fit and build strong muscles. You should always be conscious of their back and watch any exercise that would put strain on it; no jumping down suddenly from heights or running up and down stairs. You should also teach your kids to always hold the dog horizontally.

When going up or down the stairs with your Dachshund puppy please pick him or her up to prevent any injuries. Use ramps in your place leading to the couch or bed to avoid any jumping.

Training

You’ll need to be patient and consistent with the Dachshund breed; they are intelligent, independent and stubborn so training them can pose a challenge but they love rewards. Remember, this doesn’t always have to be a treat.

They are sensitive and thrive better with positivity. When their strong sense of smell and determination leads them to follow a trail remember to not raise your voice even if at that moment you are not their top priority. As with all breeds, training should start early to help them become well adjusted.

Health

Dachshunds are generally healthy and as long as they are eating healthy, there should be no major health issues.

Obesity should be avoided at all costs for the Dachshund puppy or dog.

Their activities should also be kept in check to avoid back problems.

Dachshund dogs can also get ear infections, so their ears should be properly cleaned. Dental health cannot be over emphasized.

Most of the health problems this breed might develop are mostly due to genetics. Adequate research on the parents and siblings of your desired dog and appropriate precautions is best.

How to Brush Your Dog's Teeth with Crusoe the Dachshund

Brushing your dog's teeth is an important and beneficial activity you can do for your dog's overall health and lifespan. Oral health has been linked to heart health, so you are not only protecting their teeth and gums, but also improving overall health.

Brushing your dog's teeth does not negate the need for vet cleanings. Brushing your dog's teeth will not get under the gums or between the teeth, which also need to be cleaned even if the teeth themselves are kept very clean.

How do you get a Dachshund puppy?

All you have to do is look for a reputable breeder or adopt from a shelter. The dachshund club of America is a good place to start as they recommend that various health tests be carried out before you can get your hands on one.

If you’d like to know more about caring for your dachshund, sign up to our Pet Blog. You’ll learn more on your dachshund adventure.


2 Responses

Cat Exotica
Cat Exotica

March 15, 2024

Thank you for sharing your considerations on our Dachshund blog! Your bits of knowledge add profundity to our conversation.

kslcwmndhn
kslcwmndhn

November 16, 2020

Muchas gracias. ?Como puedo iniciar sesion?

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