The Dachshund, also known as the Teckel or Dachshund, originated in Germany in the sixteenth century.
They were bred and trained to hunt prey, such as a badger or fox, enter its burrow, kill it, and retrieve it. Due to their short legs, they can easily enter badger sets.
The breed is still used for hunting, primarily in Europe, but this dog is now mainly a family dog.
The Dachshund was recognized as a breed by the American Kennel Club in 1885.
The Benefits
- An ideal dog for an apartment and in a city
- Requires only moderate exercise
- Is a good watchdog
- Gets along well with other pets, especially other dachshunds
- Comes in different small sizes, coats, and colors
- Funny, entertaining, and loyal to its family
- Typically has a long lifespan
The Drawbacks
- Hunting instincts can sometimes surface
- Prone to separation anxiety
- Can be stubborn and strong-willed
- Potential to dig
- Notorious issues with house training
- Possibility of excessive barking
- Withdrawn around strangers if not well socialized
- Physical characteristics can contribute to back problems
Fun Facts
- A Dachshund named Waldi was the first official mascot of the 1972 Munich Olympics.
- Andy Warhol and Pablo Picasso were proud owners of dachshunds.
- The first British dog to be successfully cloned was a Dachshund named Winnie.
- A dachshund named “Chanel” held the Guinness World Record for the oldest living dog until 2009, when she died at the age of 21.
- There is a contest known as the “Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals” that takes place every year and features hundreds of dachshunds racing against each other.
- Hot dogs were named after these quirky-looking dogs and were originally called Dachshund sausages.
- In German, “Dachs” means badger and “hund” means dog.
Appearance of a Dachshund
A dachshund has an elongated head, floppy ears, a large chest, a long muscular body, short legs, and a long tail.
They come in three different sizes – the standard, the miniature dachshund and rabbit (translated as rabbit):
- Standard (chest circumference over 35 cm with a weight of up to 9 kg) were used to hunt badgers and wild boars.
- Miniature (chest circumference from 30 to 35 cm with a weight ranging between 6 to 7 kg)
- Rabbit (chest circumference up to 30 cm with a weight ranging between 4 and 5 kg)
Dachshunds can have a short-haired, wire-haired, or long-haired coat:
- Wire-haired dachshunds are usually the most energetic, mischievous, and stubborn.
- Long-haired dachshunds are typically the calmest and gentlest.
- Short-haired dachshunds tend to bond most with one person and are more distant towards strangers.
Common colors include black, chocolate & tan, black & tan, chocolate & cream, blue & tan, cream, tan, and red. They can also have patterns in their coat, such as dapple, brindle, sable, and piebald.
Dachshunds have a considerable lifespan of about 12-16 years.
Grooming and Shedding in Dachshunds
Dachshunds require little to moderate grooming:
- During the shedding period for short-haired dachshunds, you can use a towel or soft brush to remove loose hairs.
- The wire-haired dachshund can be trimmed twice a year, but otherwise, it requires no coat care.
- The long-haired dachshund can be brushed once a week to prevent tangles.
You don’t need to wash a dog often. A few times a year is more than enough to keep them tidy.
Their nails should only be trimmed as needed.
Dachshunds shed very little and only shed occasionally. They are not hypoallergenic dogs.
How Much Does a Dachshund Cost?
On average, a dachshund puppy costs between 1500 and 2000 euros.
The price can vary depending on the gender, quality of the animal, size, breeding line, color and markings, coat type, location, etc.
Exercise and Trainability
Dachshunds have fairly moderate exercise requirements. Regular walks in a park or garden are good for them. Regular playful sessions are also necessary for their mental wellbeing and happiness.
Training a dachshund is not very difficult, but it can be a challenge from time to time. They tend to be a bit stubborn by nature and also have an independent personality.
Once they set their eyes on prey, they are likely to ignore commands.
Dachshunds are quite intelligent dogs and have a good learning and thinking ability. Their problem-solving and decision-making skills are also good. According to “The Intelligence of Dogs” by Stanley Coren, the dachshund ranks 49th.
Reward-based training methods have also proven to be quite effective during training.
Do Dachshunds Bark a Lot?
Dachshunds love to express their feelings through their voice. These dogs can sometimes be quite noisy for their family members.
If someone wants to control their tendency to bark excessively, it is important to start training from a young age.
What Climate is Best for Dachshunds?
Dachshunds are not known to be very tolerant to cold and chilly weather conditions. These dogs should be kept warm and cozy when temperatures drop below 10 degrees. They are best kept indoors during extremely severe and cold months of the year.
Dachshunds have above-average tolerance for heat and high temperatures. They can comfortably survive in a moderately warm environment.
If the weather conditions are too warm and uncomfortable, they require a lot of care and protection from their owners.
Their Friendliness
A dachshund can be a one-person dog. Dachshunds are not very warm towards strangers and are reserved with new people they find suspicious. If you want your dog to be friendlier and more social, proper training and early socialization are a must.
They are known to be friendlier and nicer towards the feline family than towards other dogs. Therefore, these dogs generally get along well with other pets such as cats. This breed is suitable for people who want to raise both a dog and a cat at the same time.
Overall, dachshunds are not considered a very dog-friendly breed. However, with training and socialization from a young age, your dachshund will get along well with other dogs.
Dachshunds can be quite friendly with small children if well trained and socialized.
Their Adaptability
Dachshunds are great apartment dogs and very adaptable by nature. These dogs easily adjust to an apartment lifestyle and do not have a great need for exercise or work.
They are known to remain quite inactive and relaxed in their home.
Dachshunds can be left alone, but if these dogs are left alone continuously, it can adversely affect their health and mental state. These dogs can gradually become very sad and frustrated due to prolonged loneliness. And this can lead to various bad habits, such as chewing on furniture, incessant barking, etc.
Is a Dachshund a Good Watchdog?
Technically, dachshunds are fairly good watchdogs.
These dogs can effectively guard or protect their homes and belongings by alerting their owners in case of an intruder or burglar, making them a great watchdog.
Do They Drool a Lot?
Dachshunds do not drool a lot.
They usually drool before or after eating, but so do most dogs.
Health Issues
Dachshunds are generally quite healthy and fine, provided they are well-fed and well-cared for.
Common health problems in dachshunds include:
- Intervertebral disc disease is a terrible condition that causes extreme pain and can even lead to paralysis.
- They may be prone to a form of hereditary blindness (PRA) that occurs in many purebred dogs.
- They love to eat and gain weight easily (which negatively impacts their back health)
