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Dachshund Facts Life Expectancy: 11 years Size: 7in (miniature) 10in (standard) Noise: Very Talkative Common Health Problems: Eye problems, back and spine problems Breed Recognized By: AKC, CKC, FCI, KC Alternate Names: Doxie, Dackel, Weiner or Sausage Dog Friendliness | Mistrustful or strangers and children, not recommended for small animals | Grooming | Low-maintenance for smooth and wire-haired, considerable maintenance for long-haired | Energy | Moderate, requires 30 minutes of exercise per day | Trainability | Can be stubborn and difficult to train | “Dachshund” is German for “Badger hound,” and these feisty little dogs were originally bred to hunt badgers and other burrowing game. The Dachshund’s long, narrow body makes it ideal for following its quarry below ground, and the digging instinct is still strong in the breed today. Unlike most other miniature dogs, the miniature Dachshund wasn’t bred as a companion animal but as a rabbit hunter. The Dachshund’s diminutive size and comical shape may make it seem like the ideal family pet, but in reality many Dachshunds are mistrustful of children and rightfully so. If a small child were to drop or step on a Dachshund, he could easily break its back or cause it some other injury. Dachshunds are more suitable for families with older children that know how to handle small dogs. Many Dachshunds, especially the long-haired variety, are wary of strangers and will take their time befriending new people. Dachshunds have a very high prey drive and will chase other animals, especially birds, rodents, and lizards, so Dachshunds are not recommended for homes with small pets. The Dachshund’s coat comes in three varieties: short-haired, wire-haired, and long-haired. Both the short and wire haired Dachshunds are very easy to groom, requiring only occasional brushing and trimming. Long-haired Dachshunds have silky hair that needs the attention of a professional groomer or a dedicated owner. Dachshunds are lively dogs that are good at entertaining themselves. Even so, Dachshunds enjoy playing with their humans and going for walks. Because of the long back of the Dachshund, play should be monitored and strenuous activities like climbing stairs and tug of war should be limited or eliminated. Dachshunds that aren’t encouraged to exercise by their owners can gain weight, putting more strain on the dog’s back. Dachshund owners joke that they are the ones “owned” by their dogs. Dachshunds have forceful, brash personalities. Dachshunds seem not to realize how small they are, and the AKC standard for the breed states that, “any display of shyness is a serious fault.” The Dachshund’s stubbornness calls for firm training from an early age. Failure to establish humans as pack leaders can result in a spoiled Dachshund that is snappy and domineering.
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