Dachshund: temperament, size, care and health

About the Dachshund

The Dachshund is a hound with a long back, a deep chest and very short legs. The name is German for badger dog, and the shape has a purpose: the body was built to enter a burrow and the front paws to dig. Two sizes are common in the United States, standard and miniature, and three coats exist, smooth, wirehaired and longhaired. Shoulder height is low in every variety, usually under a foot for the miniature and only a little above that for the standard.

People keep the breed for its personality more than its looks. A Dachshund tends to act as though it were a much larger animal, with a loud voice, strong opinions and a good deal of courage. It is a close companion that likes to be in the same room as its people, and it is easy to keep in a small home.

Temperament and family life

The Dachshund is loyal and often attaches itself to one person in the household, though it is affectionate with the whole family. It is alert and quick to announce visitors, and it can be wary of strangers until it has had time to judge them. Early meetings with new people and dogs help keep that caution from turning into a habit of snapping.

With children the breed does best in homes where kids are old enough to handle a small dog gently. The long spine is easily hurt by rough lifting or a drop from a lap, and a Dachshund that feels cornered may nip. Dachshunds are usually fine with other dogs of the household. Small pets such as rabbits and hamsters are likely to be seen as quarry.

Exercise and training

A Dachshund needs a daily walk or two and some play, but it does not need hard running. Many enjoy scent games, and the breed has a place in earthdog trials, where dogs work through a tunnel toward a caged rodent. A bored Dachshund digs, barks and chews, and it will take apart a garden or a sofa cushion given enough time.

Training takes patience. The breed is intelligent but independent, and it often decides for itself whether a cue is worth following. Short sessions with food rewards work better than repetition or harsh words. House training can be slow, partly because many dislike wet or cold ground. Stairs and furniture are a concern for the spine, so many owners use ramps and teach the dog to wait before jumping down.

Grooming and shedding

The smooth variety needs only a weekly rub with a soft brush and an occasional bath. The longhaired type has feathering on the ears, chest and legs that tangles if it is not combed through every few days. The wirehaired coat is harsh and bearded, and it is kept neat by combing and, in many cases, hand stripping a few times a year. All three varieties shed a moderate amount.

Ears hang close to the head and can hold moisture, so they deserve a regular check. Nails grow quickly on a dog that walks on soft ground and should be trimmed often, since long nails alter how the paw meets the floor.

Health

The best-known risk is intervertebral disc disease, in which a disc in the spine bulges or ruptures and presses on the nerves. It is more common in the Dachshund than in most breeds, and weight control is one of the main things owners can do to reduce strain on the back. Obesity, dental disease and some eye conditions, including progressive retinal atrophy, also appear in the breed. Some lines of the miniature and the longhaired variety have inherited skin or coat problems. Breeders often test for eye disease and, for some varieties, genetic conditions. This is general information about the Dachshund, and a veterinarian is the person to ask about a particular dog.

History

The Dachshund is generally traced to Germany, where foresters bred short-legged hounds to hunt badgers and other den animals, and later to follow wounded game and flush foxes and rabbits. The miniature was developed to go after smaller quarry. The breed reached the United States in the nineteenth century and has been among the most popular small dogs for a long time.

Is the Dachshund right for you?

The Dachshund suits adults and families with older children who want a small, spirited dog and can accept a noisy one. It fits apartments, provided neighbours tolerate barking. It is a poorer choice for homes with many stairs, for people who cannot control a dog's weight, or for owners wanting a very obedient dog.

If you like the scent-hound temperament in a sturdier body, look at the Beagle or the Basset Hound. For another small dog with a big attitude, compare the Miniature Pinscher.