The query I get requested most frequently by potential Dachshund house owners is, “Do you suppose a Dachshund is the appropriate breed for me?”
Dachshunds have been my life for the final 20+ years. To say I’m obsessive about them is an understatement.
I probably won’t ever personal one other canine breed in my life. Or no less than not whereas additionally proudly owning a Dachshund.
However I believe it’s crucial to be trustworthy; I all the time inform individuals {that a} Dachshund isn’t the appropriate breed for everybody.
They’ve distinctive quirks; they are often difficult; they usually can require extra dedication than some “simpler” breeds.
In fact, I believe Dachshunds have a number of superb qualities too.
However many Dachshunds find yourself in shelters yearly as a result of individuals didn’t perceive the breed’s character and know what they had been stepping into earlier than getting one.
Under are the explanations that I believe the Dachshund breed isn’t the appropriate alternative for each particular person.
Please be aware, I’m not saying that this stuff are a problem for everybody, nor a problem with all Dachshunds, however these are the most typical causes that somebody might remorse getting one.
1) Dachshunds Bark a Lot
Boy, does this breed bark! It’s of their genes (severely – they had been bred to alert their hunters of prey and hazard).
Usually, many individuals would describe a Dachshund’s barking behavior as “extreme”.
Whereas some Dachshunds will be taught to restrict the length of their barking, and a few will be desensitized to bark much less usually at little noises, barking will completely by no means be eradicated and a Dachshund will usually seemingly bark at “nothing”… the entire time.
Dachshunds have a “huge canine” bark too.
Whereas some small canines sound “yappy”, the Dachshund’s deep chest most of the time bellows out what may be interpreted as a Rottweiler behind the door (I had a number of pizza supply individuals say this).
Regardless of what number of instances I warn individuals who ask to pet my Dachshunds, they’re virtually all the time startled to the purpose of tripping over themselves as a result of they don’t count on such a loud bark to return out of somewhat canine.
If you happen to like a canine that’s seen greater than heard, a Dachshund most likely isn’t the only option for you.
You probably have a new child child that wakes up and cries each time they hear a loud noise, or a noise phobia your self, I’d most likely proceed your breed search.
2) Dachshunds Are Cussed
It is a Dachshund character trait listed by the American Kennel Membership (AKC). Nonetheless, cussed shouldn’t be an acceptable descriptor in my view.
You see, Dachshunds had been bred to hunt imply vermin down in holes and suppose on their very own. That implies that they might have completely different concepts than you do they usually might attempt to get their approach.
Opposite to standard perception, a Dachshund can be trained. Most are literally tremendous sensible and desperate to please (or no less than get the deal with).
It’s simply that you’ll have to place extra time, dedication, and be extra constant when coaching them so your canine doesn’t develop these widespread conduct points. And it’s essential to use very clear communication (nothing harsh, simply in a approach they perceive).
If you happen to aren’t keen to place in additional effort, or don’t suppose that you’ve the time, a Dachshund might not be the appropriate breed for you.
3) They Can Be Onerous to Potty Prepare
Based on individuals on the web, it’s virtually unattainable to potty prepare a Dachshund. Individuals report their Dachshunds nonetheless having accidents in the home at 3 years previous or by no means being 100% potty skilled.
I don’t agree with this although. Following my “foolproof” dog potty training method, each of my Dachshund puppies have been 100% potty skilled inside 3 months of coming dwelling.
I’ve additionally used these strategies as a refresher for older canines with nice success.
Nonetheless, I do suppose that Dachshunds typically require extra consistency and a focus to potty prepare than another breeds.
If you happen to aren’t in a position to take 2-4 weeks off after your Dachshund comes dwelling to kickstart their potty coaching, you aren’t keen to by no means go away them unattended till they’re totally potty skilled, and you may’t clear up many messes within the meantime with out getting mad, then a Dachshund might not be for you.
4) They’re Susceptible to Separation Anxiousness
Dachshunds are very social canines and get very connected to their individuals. Some may even describe them as needy.
This hyper attachment is one thing that must be actively counter-conditioned when they’re younger by desensitizing them to being aside from you, first if you are in the home after which later while you go away.
If you happen to don’t, your canine might scream and “yell” when you leave them alone, disrupting neighbors and doubtlessly getting you kicked out of your condo.
Separation nervousness may also manifest as destruction of furnishings, flooring, partitions, and going potty on the ground even when they only went outdoors.
In excessive instances, as soon as separation nervousness is established, it could by no means fully go away.
Chances are you’ll really feel like you possibly can by no means go away your canine or you’ll have to spend some huge cash on canine daycare or canine walkers to assist consolation them if you end up away.
If you happen to aren’t in a position to put within the time to incrementally desensitize your canine to being away from individuals for longer and longer intervals, otherwise you don’t have the cash for or entry to canine walkers and daycares, a Dachshund might not be for you.
I’ll be aware {that a} element of separation nervousness is suspected to be genetic – some canines are simply vulnerable to it and others aren’t – so your canine may very well be unbiased and never thoughts in the event you go away from day one.
5) Dachshunds Want a Lot of Consideration
As I stated earlier, Dachshunds are very social canines and get connected to their individuals.
This most frequently implies that they are going to be your shadow, following you to the toilet, ready outdoors the bathe for you, touching you if you end up sitting on the sofa, and simply typically being beneath foot a number of the time.
An sad Dachshund pressured to be away from you’ll usually discover methods to busy themselves, which is often by doing issues that make you indignant and/or aren’t protected for them.
If clingy pets aren’t your factor, you’re employed lengthy hours, or can’t commit a good portion of your non-working hours to your Dachshund, then the breed won’t be best for you.
6) They Want Average Train and Loads of Psychological Stimulation
Many individuals mistakenly select a Dachshund as a result of they suppose a small canine doesn’t want a lot train. Oppsie!
Dachshunds had been bred as searching canines, working by the forest to chase critters, in order that they have loads of vitality and stamina.
Whereas they will regulate to a extra sedentary life-style, they want loads of train to maintain them pleased, wholesome, and at a correct weight.
My minimal suggestion is 45-60 minutes of brisk train 4-5 days per week.
It’s necessary to additionally present loads of psychological stimulation by coaching and canine enrichment activities in order that these sensible canines don’t develop into bored and develop behavioral points.
If you happen to aren’t in a position or keen to ensure your Dachshund’s bodily and psychological train wants are met, then it’s possible you’ll wish to select a canine breed with decrease train wants.
7) Dachshunds are Scrappy and Susceptible to Reactivity
Dachshunds wish to act robust, are sometimes described as “huge canines in a small physique”, and tend to be cautious of unusual canines, individuals, and conditions.
All of this stuff can lead to what’s referred to as reactivity – barking, lunging, snapping, or performing out if you end up on a stroll or firm comes into your own home.
There are all the time exceptions to the rule – some Dachshunds are naturally chill and adapt simply to a altering atmosphere – however this can be a widespread trait you want to concentrate on.
In case you are getting a canine anticipating that they are going to be calm and pleasant in the direction of everybody in each scenario, a Dachshund most likely isn’t the breed for you, no less than not in the event you aren’t keen to place a whole bunch of hours, and doubtlessly {dollars}, into coaching.
8) Dachshunds Have a Excessive Prey Drive
Usually, a Dachshund will chase something that strikes – cattle, wildlife, cats, children, leaves blowing within the wind, and many others. due to their excessive instinctual prey drive.
In my expertise, puppies raised with issues they aren’t speculated to chase like cats and children have the very best likelihood of not rising as much as chase them. No less than not those that reside in their very own home.
Nonetheless, I wouldn’t guess on a Dachshund not desirous to chase something they understand as “prey”, so in the event you can be pissed off by this conduct, or it will pose a danger to different animals and people in your family, a Dachshund might not be the canine for you.
9) They Are Susceptible to Again Issues
Roughly 25% of Dachshunds will expertise again points of their life resulting from a genetic illness referred to as Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD).
Of that 25%, many could have minor to reasonable points that may be “healed” by conservative treatment, a portion will develop into fully paralyzed and require expensive back surgery.
In excessive instances, a Dachshund could also be paralyzed or crippled for all times.
There is no such thing as a dependable test for IVDD so, regardless of all efforts and guarantees, a breeder can’t make a 100% assure that your canine gained’t have points.
Whereas that leaves 75% of Dachshunds that gained’t expertise a again challenge, you gained’t know if yours is among the unfortunate ones till it occurs to them.
If you happen to don’t wish to take the danger and/or aren’t keen or in a position to set as much as $10,000 apart for emergencies (or pay for pet insurance that covers hereditary situations like Trupanion), this breed won’t be for you.
10) They Like to Dig (Holes In Your Yard)
When Dachshunds hunted, they dug into the earth to get to animals like foxes, rabbits, and badgers that lived in tunnels and dens.
This digging intuition hasn’t gone away simply because most Dachshunds aren’t used for searching anymore.
Now, I admit that this trait has been much less of a problem with my Dachshunds – they both didn’t begin a digging behavior within the first place or it was straightforward to curb – I’ve heard many, many tales about Dachshunds that destroy their proprietor’s good garden or backyard by digging holes all over the place.
My new pet likes to dig and, if left to his personal units, he may most likely dig a 1 foot deep gap in beneath 5 minutes, so we’ll see if I can break him of the behavior.
Often, it’s potential to show a Dachshund who develops a nasty digging behavior to dig solely in a sure space of the yard, however that takes a number of persistence and dedication to do.
If you wish to maintain a pristine garden or backyard, and usually are not keen to work to coach your canine to dig solely in a particular spot or under no circumstances, a Dachshund might not be the only option for you.
11) Dachshunds Prefer to Lick You
All of my Dachshunds have had bother holding their licker.
All of them like to lick and “kiss” my face. Throughout. Like up my nostril, in my eyeball, and even in my mouth typically if I’m speaking to somebody whereas they’re licking my face.
Two of my Dachshunds additionally like to lick the water off of my legs once I get out of the bathe and one licks my legs and toes beneath the covers for a couple of minutes virtually each evening in mattress.
If the texture of one thing with a tough tongue licking you creeps you out, be ready to be very agency from day one to place a cease to the licking immediately… and be ready for a continuing battle about this behavior.
Or don’t get a Dachshund.
12) Dachshunds Are Simple to Untrain
Nearly all of individuals parrot the stereotype that Dachshunds are tough to coach.
I’d argue that these little smarties are straightforward to coach, however they’re additionally very straightforward to untrain.
That is simply an commentary I made during the last 20 years of proudly owning and canine sitting Dachshunds, however in the event you let a Dachshund get away with one thing, they are going to know that you’re a sucker and reap the benefits of you.
Defined one other approach, in case your Dachshund learns to sit down and also you solely give them a reward for sitting totally, then they’re prone to do it each time.
Nonetheless, in the event you get lazy a pair instances and reward your Dachshund for a half sit, or they stand there looking at you so that you quit and provides them the deal with anyway, you could have simply efficiently untrained your Dachshund.
They are going to bear in mind this – that they don’t all the time have to sit down when requested to get the reward – and be much less prone to do it sooner or later.
Whereas this could usually be corrected in the event you understand your mistake immediately, in the event you don’t continuously maintain your Dachshund accountable to comply with by, then they are going to solely do what you ask after they really feel prefer it…. which for a Dachshund, isn’t usually.
If you happen to’re not keen to be clear and in line with coaching, I wouldn’t get a Dachshund except you might be comfortable with proudly owning an untrained canine.
13) You Might Should Spend Time Undoing Issues You By chance Taught Them
Dachshunds are tremendous sensible, perceptive, drawback solvers.
They are going to be taught patterns, and work to determine what they suppose you need, even if you’re not conscious you had been truly educating them particular habits.
For instance, I used to run with my first Dachshund within the metropolis and we stopped at each road nook, stated “wait”, and regarded earlier than crossing.
Ultimately, he placed on the brakes every time we’d get close to an intersection, or once I stated “wait”, even when it was in a unique context.
One other instance is in the event you take a look at and discuss to your Dachshund each time they bark at you. They are going to probably be taught that they will now “demand” consideration any time that they need.
With a Dachshund, you’ll probably should be very exact and considerate together with your habits and actions, and be keen to acknowledge what you by chance “taught” your Dachshund, and be keen to simply accept duty and unteach it.
14) Strangers Will Speak to You Very Usually
Dachshunds are a cute however humorous trying canine and many individuals are endeared to them.
When you’re out strolling, many strangers will make eye contact and make a remark about your canine, or they are going to come straight as much as you to ask a query or share a narrative about their private expertise with Dachshunds.
That is very predictable and even will get a bit tiring even for extroverts.
If you happen to’re an introvert or weirded out by random strangers approaching you, then a Dachshund won’t be for you.
15) Dachshunds Can Be a “One Particular person Canine”
Dachshunds usually connect themselves to 1 major particular person.
In a best-case state of affairs, they are going to be affectionate to a different particular person within the family if their chosen particular person shouldn’t be current.
At worst, they are going to be unconsolable when the chosen particular person shouldn’t be current and/or they are going to develop into possessive of this particular person and “guard” them in opposition to different individuals in the home of tourists.
The most important challenge is that your Dachshund will select their favourite particular person and it might not be the particular person that you really want it to be.
I’ve heard tales the place the spouse will get a Dachshund as a companion, however the canine decides that the husband is the favourite particular person and desires to spend most of their time with him.
Or a father or mother will get a Dachshund for his or her child, and the canine finally ends up changing into hyper-attached to the Mother as a substitute.
Whereas the “favourite” alternative will be considerably influenced by who does many of the caretaking like strolling, feeding, snuggling, and many others., it’s not all the time this individual that the canine chooses.
It is a chance try to be conscious of and comfortable with in the event you select to convey a Dachshund into your private home.
16) You’ll Must Commonly Resist Pleading Eyes
I swear that Dachshunds have developed “pleading eyes” as a survival mechanism. They’ll attempt to manipulate you with these eyes to get what they need.
That is most true when you could have meals. By physique language and a pathetic look, they are going to attempt to persuade you that they’re ravenous and that you need to hand over the snackos.
The factor is although, Dachshunds are prone to obesity, which might set off again issues and result in a shortened lifespan.
Because the human, you might want to “know higher” and stand agency – stick with the suitable portion of meals at supper time, restrict the variety of treats, and resist the urge to present them “only a chunk” each time you could have meals.
If you happen to can’t keep robust on your canine’s sake, then perhaps a Dachshund isn’t for you.
17) Dachshunds Are a Lengthy-Time period Dedication
I inherited my first Dachshund from a good friend and didn’t know something in regards to the breed at first.
One of many first issues I discovered is that they’ve a mean lifespan of 15-16 years and I assumed, “Holy cow! I didn’t join having a canine for that lengthy.”
In fact, I liked him his complete life and was glad he lived to an previous age, however bigger canines have shorter lifespans, usually starting from 8-10 years previous.
If you happen to plan to retire and journey the world inside the subsequent decade, otherwise you see your life circumstances drastically altering and a canine would not be fascinating, it’s possible you’ll wish to select a breed with a shorter lifespan and required dedication.
18) They Aren’t the Greatest With Youngsters
If a Dachshund is raised round kids from the pet stage, they’re prone to get together with them.
Some Dachshunds, even when not uncovered to them usually, love kids. My first Dachshund did.
Nonetheless, usually, Dachshunds and children don’t combine if they don’t seem to be uncovered to them recurrently or are launched for the primary time at an older age (the canine).
Youngsters usually transfer erratically and quick, are loud and shriek, and sometimes cross a canine’s boundaries as a result of they don’t know any higher. These items could make a Dachshund fearful and trigger them to behave out.
You probably have buddies or members of the family that solely come over often with their children, and you aren’t keen to continuously monitor your Dachshund throughout their go to or put your Dachshund in one other room, a Dachshund might not be the only option for you.
19) Dachshunds Could be Possessive
Dachshunds connect themselves to what they love and they don’t seem to be all the time keen to share. They’re mostly defensively defend meals, toys, individuals, or sure spots like a canine mattress.
This overly-protective conduct can become useful resource guarding and should contain rising, snarling and exhibiting their enamel, and snapping or biting.
While you personal a Dachshund, you’ll must pay shut consideration to physique language and conduct with and round sure objects to forestall these guarding points from creating within the first place.
In some instances, you’ll even must take away the useful resource like, for instance, not permitting your canine to play with a toy that they get significantly possessive over.
20) You’ll Should Change Your Home Setup
There are a lot of changes you’ll must make to your own home in the event you get a Dachshund.
Continuously leaping off excessive locations, which Dachshunds like to do, shouldn’t be suggested for spinal well being. To forestall this, it’s possible you’ll must get decrease furnishings or set up a ramp to assist your Dachshund get on and off.
In my case, to ensure that mine solely used the ramp, I opted to put a “fence” around my couch utilizing freestanding canine gates. It ain’t fairly, but it surely works.
Additionally, Dachshunds shed. Some shed quite a bit. My mini easy haired do what I name “ejection shedding”. Hair is all over the place.
Relying on the colour of your canine and the way a lot seen canine hair bothers you, it’s possible you’ll must get completely different coloured furnishings so it blends in.
Are Dachshunds Good for a Newbie Canine Proprietor?
The most typical sentiment is that, no, Dachshunds usually are not an excellent first canine. After proudly owning a number of, I can see why.
I actually wouldn’t describe the Dachshund as an “straightforward” canine breed. They’re not a “set it and go” canine.
Most first time canine house owners know nothing about proudly owning a canine, not to mention addressing issues early on with coaching earlier than they develop into habituated behavioral points.
To lift a well-behaved Dachshund, individuals would ideally have some animal dealing with expertise, the flexibility to remain agency and do what you already know is finest on your canine as a substitute of giving in to their calls for or pleading, and the foresight to outsmart your Dachshund.
With that being stated, though I had a number of childhood expertise with animals, a Dachshund was my first canine as an grownup and issues labored out okay. I bought fortunate as a result of my first one was typically a pleasant, laid again, easy-going man.
I didn’t formally prepare him. Partly as a result of I didn’t know that I must be and partly as a result of there have been no evident points that I wanted to cease.
Ultimate Ideas
The underside line is, in the event you actually need a Dachshund, get one. It should work out.
In contrast to once I bought my first Dachshund in 2003, the web makes obtainable a wealth of knowledge and assist and you could find virtually any reply that you just want in seconds.
I do imagine it’s crucial to learn although and practical about what sort of canine you count on, the kind of life you envision, how a lot effort and time it’s a must to dedicate to a canine, and select a breed that’s best for you.
Nonetheless, every thing on this checklist will be mitigated or addressed by administration, coaching, a change in your mindset to attenuate it or make it a non-issue (if it even is within the first place).
In reality, many of those “dangerous” Dachshund quirks are exactly what some individuals discover most lovable in regards to the breed.
For some extra on the optimistic and humorous facet of Dachshund possession, try my articles Funny Things About Dachshunds Only Owners Will Understand and Hilarious and True Dachshund Memes That Will Totally Make Your Day.
