Is a dachshund for you? Before deciding to get a dachshund please read the following page make sure you know what the breed is all about and if it would be a good fit for your family.
Dachshunds are hounds first and for most, they were bred to hunt, there purpose was to get down in the rabbit holes , the badger holes , the fox dens and flush them out, this is why they have the short long bodies with the deep chests. All the better to get in those holes and flush out the prey. Having said that although most dachshunds are now house pets they still have a prey drive. Keep this in mind when deciding if this is the right dog for you, If you have small pets in your home , gerbils, hamsters, ginnea pigs, birds, cats in cases , a dachshund may be flirting with disaster.
Health
Back problems are the main problem for dachshunds, they are prone to slip disks, calcified disks , paralisis, there long bodies are great for den trials but not for jumping. Between the ages of 2yrs to 9yrs is the main ages they are prone to disk disease , meaning if they jump off something the wrong way or have been flying off couches , up and down stairs , on and off beds for years or maybe it would only be once they could blow a disk and be up for a $2500 surgery or more. If the surgery is not done they can be paralized for life, requiring you to drain bladders and do therapy for the rest of the dogs life. To avoid this problem it is advised to not let your dachshund do stairs whenever possible, jump on and off furniture and beds. The biggest deturent is weight, and overweight dachshund is a recipe for disaster. It is imperitive that your dachsund do not get overweight, there little backs simply cannot handle excess weight. and you don't want to have do deal with the question of surgury. Please consider this when thinking of adopting , are you looking for a dog you don't have to lift up and down off everything? are you looking for a dog you can free feed? Dachshunds are not dogs that can be free fed they on average will eat until they explode , please don't let your wiener get overweight.
As well dachsunds are typically one person dogs, when considering a dachshund you need to think, do you want a family dog that will love everyone equal, or do you want a dog to bond to a specific member of the family. I hear more often than not of dachshunds bonding to one member of the family and being mainly that person's dog. Is this the type of personality you want in your home? If the answer is no maybe a dachshund is not for you.
On the plus side dachshund are the most loyal, fun loving dogs. They are smart, stubborn, cute, loving , hilarious dogs that need to be treated according to the breed, with humour , love and structure. My advice to all wanting to adopt a dachshund is see if you can meet a few first before deciding and see if you would fit the breed.
Top reasons dachshunds are surrendered to rescue.
#1 I can't housetrain my dachshund.
Dachshunds are hard to housetrain, it takes patience and consistency. They are hounds which instantly makes them stubborn and pigheaded, they are also small with little legs and long bodies which makes it hard to tell when they have to go if you are watching body language. they also sniff a lot which also makes it hard to tell when they have to go. Another reason is they dislike cold weather and refuse to go in the cold. The thing to do is get them on a routine, learn to know your dog there will always be tell tale signs when they go if you are paying attention. after they eat , usually within 20 min. give or take, take them out ask them to go on command. they can learn this. After a big play they will have to go take them out ask them to go on command, watch them outside make sure they go they are stubborn and smart and will fake it to get you to let them in. first thing in the morn. before bed , go out with them make sure they go.
In order to own a stubborn dog you must be more stubborn than the dog make sure you are pack leader and not your dog, just because they are cute doesn't mean they can get away with everything. Crate train your stubborn hound , if you know they need to go and you just took them out , they refuse to go, bring them in put them in the crate try again in half an hour , don't give them access to the house till they go outside and do the buisiness. Consistency and patience is the sure way to houstrain your dachshund.
#2 My dachshund is not good with the kids - snapping
Dachshunds on average are not good with small kids. Kids are busy, loud and to a dacshund big and scarry. this combination is usually bad. Dachshunds are smart and with there long bodies can be hurt easily by a small child so will by instinct snap and any kid wanting to be rough , loud , running or scarry in any way , for this reason we don't generally adopt to families with small children. On rare occation we do have a dachshund that loves little kids but this doesn't happen too often.
#3 I'm having a new baby and the dog has to go
This is also a top reason for gettng rid of my dog. Please before deciding to adopt a dog decide first what your plans are for the future and whether or not your dog would fit into your life. If you are planning a family think first whether a dachshund is the right choice for a young family , if you do want a dachshund an a new baby contact me, I can help with introducting dogs to babies and how to handle the change.
#4 barking
Little dogs are prone to barking, dachshunds are no different, are you prepared for a little invincible creature that thinks they own the world, dachshunds can quickly take over the house if you let them. Do you have to let them NO!!! just because you have the cutest dog on earth does not mean they need to rule you and your home. Little dogs need discipline too. they also need rules , structure and a pack leader. Obedience classes are highly recommended for a well behaved dog even the little cute lap dog.
