Information About the Breed,
How to Train and Care for a Dachshund
The Dachshund is a playful, personable, and somewhat independent dog breed. They’re beautiful and affectionate, but they also have a spunky, cheeky streak and a fair bit of attitude.
One thing that makes the Dachshund puppy as popular as they are, is that they can adapt easily to almost any kind of home life.
They make fine inside dogs, more so than most other dogs that were bred for hunting. Dachshunds have the energy and personality for lots of play time, but they love to snuggle and relax as well.
Jump to: Breed History, Appearance, Temperament, Health Issues, or Training a Dachshund puppy .
Breed History – Dachshund
Today’s Dachshund is a descendent of German hunting dogs that were bred to hunt badgers. They were ideally suited for that job, with their long muscular bodies and their “never say die” stubbornness.
Appearance – Dachshund
The Dachshund puppy is very distinctive – long barrel-shaped body, huge floppy ears, and a fairly big, long skull. They tend to walk proudly and show off a lot of personality.
Dachshunds have huge, expressive eyes and show a lot of emotion on their faces. You can tell just by watching one for a moment that a Dachshund is a very smart dog.
The coat of a Dachshund comes in three lengths – short-hair Dachshunds are the most popular breed, and there are also wire-haire and long-hair varieties. The hair sheds a moderate amount.
Their sizes vary considerably, with the standard breed weighing anywhere between 16-28 pounds, and the Miniature Dachshund weighing under 11 pounds.
Social Temperament – Dachshund
Every Dachshund puppy considers him or herself to be their own dog. They love to get into mischief, they don’t give up on their own minds easily, and they’re bright as a spotlight in the intelligence department.
A Dachshund, puppy or adult, will also be highly affectionate to the whole family, and will want to play as much as possible. They bond with their human pack, and can suffer separation anxiety.
Because of the independence and intelligence of Dachshund puppies, the the “holy trinity” of dog behavior becomes very essential for a Dachshund owner:
- The quality of your Dachshund breeder.
- The early puppy socialization process, which begins in the litter and continues for life.
- Obedience training, which means defining who owns whom, between Dachshund and human.
A Dachshund with proper obedience training and socialization will be great with children and will also bond closely with your other pets.
It’s been said that Dachshund puppies grow up to be a “one person dog,” but that’s really a matter of early socialization. In reality, a Dachshund likes to have close relationships with the whole family (and menagerie.)
With their keen senses and hunting instincts, a Dachshund puppy will grow up to be a great watchdog. They’re alert, and nothing gets by them.
As for the rest of their personalities… if you know Terriers, then you’ll recognize a lot of similar traits in Dachshunds. Among these traits is the urge to dig – remember, they were bred to hunt badgers. If you have a garden, you might want to read my article about how to stop a puppy from digging before you choose a Dachshund puppy.
Most people believe that the long-hair Dachshund is the easiest Dachshund variety to get along with and train. However, keep in mind that every member of this dog breed is highly independent in his or her own mind.
Unique Health Problems – Dachshunds
A heealthy Dachshund puppy will live actively for about 14 to 16 years if cared for properly. As a hunting dog, they’re made of sturdy stuff.
As with all dog breeds, you’ll have a far better chance of avoiding health concerns if you buy your Dachshund from a reputable, experienced dog breeder. Such a breeder will take care to avoid breeding dogs with known health problems.
Once you look over the list of health risks common to Dachshunds, it’s good to then speak to a breeder or veterinarian about more specific health care questions and how to prepare for them.
- Urinary tract infections and other urinary problems.
- Diabetes and heart disease which are often preventable with the correct dog food.
- The Dachshund’s shape puts them at risk for spinal injuries and chronic back problems, especially if the dog becomes obese, or spends his life climbing stairs.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (or PRA) is a degeneration of the retina of the eye. This hereditary problem can lead to total blindness, and miniature Dachshunds are more prone to it.
Dachshund Puppy Training
Training a Dachshund puppy is not a task for an owner with low patience or low commitment. If you don’t do it right, your Doxie will own you instead.
A Doxie absolutely can be trained, but this willful, brainy breed needs to develop a high level of trust and respect before they’ll choose to obey. You’ll need to be calm and committed when you train your Dachshund puppy.
To avoid wearing out your Dachshund puppy’s patience, keep training sessions short on time and high on tempo. Use repetition and fun, positive reinforcement, and never abuse, punish or scold your dog. Aside from being “just plain wrong,” it also won’t work.
Although it’s true that all dog breeds will assume that “anywhere” is the best place to use the bathroom, you may find that house training a Dachshund puppy is a little harder than some other breeds. There’s a great, specialized resource called the “Dachshund Puppy House Training” program. I recommend reading that after you read my general puppy house training system. Just be patient and remember you’re working against the instinct.
Also, let me repeat: You have to do proper obedience training with a Dachshund puppy in order to weed-out the hunter tendencies and reign in some of the willfulness. Teach your Dachshund that he can trust you, and he’ll be a fine student.
Without that effort, you may find yourself with a stubborn Dachshund puppy, and will need to follow my advice for dealing with a host of behavior problems. I’ve written articles that will help you prevent, or reduce, habits such as mouthing and biting, chewing, and excessive barking, as well as a full program on house training and housebreaking. The sooner you start training your Dachshund puppy, the better the results.
One other resource I recommend for anyone getting a Dachshund puppy is “Dachshund Care & Training,” a specialized system that goes deep into the mind of this lovely breed of friend.
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