7 Things to Know Before Getting a Dachshund

Dachshunds are one of the most recognizable dog breeds in the world. They are also quite popular as both pets and hunting companions. And yet, they continue to be quite misunderstood by many people. Lots of potential Doxie owners stay away from the breed cause they think these dogs are too sickly or expensive to look after. Others view them as a weird toy breed that’s not “a real dog”. And then there are those who’ve heard that dachshunds are a nightmare to train and are not worth it.

Is any of that true, however? Or are you missing out more than you know by not considering this breed as a potential pet? We’ll try to answer all that by looking into what are the 7 most important facts about the dachshund breed.

What to keep in mind before getting a dachshund?

If anyone ever tells you that they wouldn’t want to get a dachshund cause they want “a real dog” you can feel free to scoff at them as loudly as possible. Not only are dachshunds “real” they are one of the most highly specialized and effective hunting breeds out there. The fact that they are phenomenal pets is just a wonderful cherry on top that makes them even more worth your consideration.

1. These German badger hunters are the best at what they do

The dachshund name quite literally translates as “badger hound” in German (dachs-hund). That’s because these dogs were specifically bred for hunting badgers in the dense German forests some six centuries ago. And if you know anything about badgers then you know just how impressive this is.

Like their North American cousins, the wolverines, European badgers are tough, fierce when backed into a corner, and dangerous animals that often don’t hesitate to step up to bears if they feel threatened. They were also a menace for farmers as they’d constantly sneak into farms and steal chickens and other livestock. That’s the type of animal the dachshund was bred and trained to track, hunt, and tackle. They are also used for hunting foxes and rabbits too.

And their bodies are indeed perfectly designed for this task. Dachshunds were bred with short legs so they’d fit into the narrow burrows of badgers as well as track them more easily in the first place. Contrary to popular belief, dachshunds don’t have long backs – just short legs that make them look elongated. These dogs also have an incredible sense of smell and long, hanging ears that help trap air around their muzzles.

They are also very headstrong and willful which they need to be if they are to chase badgers down their own burrows. Dachshunds’ paws are also wide and paddle-like which helps with digging. And, they have pretty strong chests and shoulders for their size which was important for wrestling badgers in their tight dens.

2. Dachshunds were bred through selecting for dwarfism – what does this mean for your dog’s health?

So, how was this peculiar if deliberate and purposeful body shape achieved? Simple – German breeders took pups from other hound breeds such as bloodhounds and Bibarhunds. They specifically looked for pups that exhibited dwarfism and bred those exclusively with each other to create a new short-legged breed of dogs.

But doesn’t dwarfism come with a whole set of additional bone and health issues and not just short legs? Yes, it does. So, from that point of view, you can say that the practice wasn’t entirely ethical. However, keep in mind that this was done some 6 centuries ago and dachshund breeders have had the time to select for healthy pups and breed out almost all health issues out of these dogs.

So, while technically all modern dachshunds have dwarfism, they are pretty healthy too. The main thing that’s leftover from that is their tendancy to develop Intervertebral Disc Disorder (IVDD) i.e. back pain. You can avoid that and most other problems, however, and Doxies have an impressive average lifespan of 16 years. Some even go on to live up to 20 years!

3. Doxies are smarter than many give them credit for but they are still tricky to train

Dachshunds rarely rank particularly high in dog intelligence charts. In fact, they don’t do particularly well in dog obedience competitions. However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that this isn’t a smart breed cause they definitely are.

The reason behind this disconnect is that dachshunds simply don’t have the same obedience instincts as some other breeds. Remember – they are a scent hound breed. The breeds most commonly thought of as intelligent are almost exclusively shepherd and gun dog breeds – Border Collies, Labrador or Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, Pointers, Blue Heelers, and so on. These were dogs bred and trained to work with people and perform complex tasks on the field.

Scent hounds, on the other hand, were bred to track scent, chase down prey, and tackle it one-on-one underground. This is a task that doesn’t require much cooperation with people aside from constant barking to let the hunter know where the action is. The job does require intelligence – just not cooperation.

So, modern-day dachshunds are pretty smart – they just don’t follow orders as instinctively as some other breeds.

What does this mean for you as a pet owner?

It means that you’ll want to lean into early obedience training even more strongly than you would with some other breeds. You’d also likely have to be more patient with your dog’s potty training. Go through that, however, and you’ll have a perfectly smart pet that will happily do all kinds of tricks with you. Doxies are pretty easily food-motived too which also helps.

4. This breed is social and friendly but only when raised properly

Dachshunds are incredibly loving and affectionate animals but some view them as less social than other breeds. Why is that? For one, they are generally viewed as one-person dogs, i.e. they tend to attach to one member of their family more than others.

This isn’t all that extraordinary for dogs, however, and it doesn’t mean that a dachshund can’t or won’t love other people too. As long as the Doxie is raised well, it will certainly love all the members of its human pack too. And, yes, that includes kids too – dachshunds are quite a suitable breed for families with children because of their gentle nature and small size.

More importantly, with good socialization, a dachshund can be amenable toward guests and strangers, other dogs, and even toward non-canine pets such as cats. As a hound, they do have a prey drive, but the socialization can counteract that as long as the cat isn’t much smaller than the dachshund.

5. Dachshunds are surprisingly energetic but need measured exercise

Now, dachshunds are obviously not sprinters. And, they can tire quicker than other breeds. However, they are still relatively energetic for their small size and they are especially playful. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a dachshund to “overexercise” itself out of enthusiasm. That’s something you’ll need to watch out for as they can hurt their back – their weakest point – with too much and too strenuous physical activity.

At the same time, Doxies love to eat so becoming overweight is a risk. So, you still need to supply ample exercise. Generally speaking, for a standard dachshund, a minimum of two 40-minute walks a day are recommended. Yard time isn’t strictly necessary but if you have a yard you should make sure it’s well-fenced.

6. You’d do well to rearrange parts of your home for your aging Doxie

Dachshunds are one of the breeds you really want to fit your home around. They aren’t big enough to cause much damage to your home or furniture but they can easily hurt themselves if they constantly need to jump up and down. This is a big reason why many dachshunds develop back problems as they get older. So, putting ramps alongside stairs or on the sides of beds and couches is one prime example of how you can make your home more Doxie-friendly.

7. Dachshunds come in a wide range of coat varieties and colors

Doxies come in three main coat varieties – smooth (short), long-haired, and wire-haired. They also come in dozens of different colors and bi-color or tri-color combinations. So, you’ve got quite a variety to choose from. In terms of shedding, this is a medium-shedding breed so the occasional brushing and standard grooming practices should be enough to keep your home and furniture mostly hair-free.

The gist of all of the above is that dachshunds are much better pets than many give them credit for. Smart, friendly, loving, playful, and endlessly peculiar, these dogs live long and happy lives when you care for them properly. Are there some risks you’ll need to watch out for? Sure. Would you need to be a bit patient with this breed’s training early on? Indeed. But we’d say that it’s all worth it as a dachshund can give you two decades of constant and heartwarming fun.