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Need to Know
- Dog suitable for owners with some experience
- Basic training required
- Some potential health issues
- Enjoys gentle walks
- Can be left alone occasionally with training
- Small dog
- Minimal drool
- Requires regular grooming
- Vocal with barking
- May need additional training to live with other pets
- Gets along well with familiar dogs
- May need additional supervision to live with children
- Can happily live in the city
- AKC Registered Breed
Personality
Close to the ground, short and sassy Dachshunds aren’t built to win any canine races, but they are built to win hearts. Part cuddle bug and part tiny dictator, this pup can be a pinch stubborn but remains endearing even in its most frustrating moments. Dachshunds make excellent watchdogs since they are always on high alert for their surroundings.
Dachshunds can be traced back to the 15th century in Germany. Their short legs allowed them to locate badgers and other burrowing animals underground. They enjoyed popularity throughout Britain and America during the 19th century. Today the Dachshund is a popular family pet. The Smooth Haired is the most low maintenance of all the coat types.
These low-maintenance links are ideal for those seeking simple pet ownership. Dachshunds do not require much exercise beyond regular walks, so they are well-suited for less active owners. However, they might require ramps to get up and down, so an owner who understands that their home might have to be adaptable is ideal.
Despite their short legs, Dachshunds are surprisingly energetic. They need a minimum of half an hour of gentle daily exercise. Ideally, they will forgo stairs in favor of ramps that can help protect their delicate backs.
Because of their delicate short legs and long backs, stairs are not ideal. Single-story living is best for Doxies. They do well in small spaces as they don’t need a ton of room to play or run. All they need is access to the outdoors for potty time and exercise to be satisfied. They do bark to alert, so neighbors nearby might not be ideal. Alternatively, they can be trained to settle.
A Smooth Doxie coat is low maintenance, requiring a brush through or rub to remove hair once or twice a week.
Often obstinate, the Dachshund might take some additional patience to train. However, they are capable of learning basics including leash walking, settling, and recall. Positive reinforcement can motivate them.
Dachshunds can make good family dogs for those with older children or no children. Small children who might mistake them for playthings are not ideal as their fragile backs can be easily damaged by being picked up the wrong way.
The cost of a Dachshund from a breeder is significantly more than the cost of adopting one from a local shelter or rescue. The adoption fee usually covers additional items such as spaying or neutering, vaccines, and microchipping.
Learn more about feeding and caring for your Dachshund on Purina.
Did You Know?
- Post World War II, Dachshunds were known as Badger Dogs to avoid being so closely associated with Germany.
- There are three types of Dachshund coats: Smooth, Longhaired, and Wirehaired.
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