Facts
Care and exercise
Most Dachshunds will get all their exercise requirements on their own, but they do enjoy walks and the occasional free run within a contained area. Their short legs and long backs make them more susceptible than most breeds to spinal problems and jumping or stair-climbing activities should be avoided as much as possible. They generally love their food and will put on weight very easily if overfed. Coat care is simple in the Smooth, with a bath every week or two and a regular rub over with a hound glove or brush. Longhairs need the same, but more frequent brushing, with an occasional trim. Wirehairs, as with any wire coat, need trimming or preferably stripping a couple of times a year to keep them neat and regular brushing to keep dead hair and undercoat coming out. All need close attention to nail trimming.
Suitability
Not a breed for big dog people, or for situations where there are many steps and stairs, the Dachshund in its six versions is ideally suited to one-level homes where the children are well beyond toddler stage and where time or other considerations preclude organised exercise sessions.
Looking for a small dog with huge personality? Then don’t go any further the Dachshund has been pleasing homes around the world for decades and is just waiting to become the next family member in your home.
When I was growing up, just about every street had a sausage dog in it, and no-one knew how to pronounce its name correctly! Dachshund is a German word meaning badger dog, since the purpose of these game little dogs was to hunt badger and other burrowing animals. It is pronounced ducks-hoond, not dash-hound! This long, low and level-backed dog comes in three coat types (smooth, long and wire); two sizes standard and miniature and several colours, so there’s a Dachshund for just about everyone. Probably the best known and most popular over the years has been the Standard Smooth variety. While this larger of the two sizes may look rather small, try lifting its 12 or more kilos of solid dog! Or try telling a Dachshund its only a little dog all Dachsies firmly believe they’re BIG dogs!
Excellent family and housedogs if brought up correctly, they are usually somewhat suspicious and reserved with strangers and make very good watchdogs. The miniature varieties share these characteristics, but should not exceed 5kg in weight. The easiest coat to care for is, of course, the Smooth, but the Longhaired variety is very glamorous, with a coat similar to a Setter, with feathering and tail flag. The Wirehaired Dachshunds coat resembles a rough-coated terriers. Dachshunds come in many colours, the most usual being red, brown and black, with or without tan markings.
