The query I get requested most frequently by potential Dachshund house owners is, “Do you suppose a Dachshund is the correct 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 not less than not whereas additionally proudly owning a Dachshund.
However I feel it’s crucial to be sincere; I all the time inform folks {that a} Dachshund isn’t the correct breed for everybody.
They’ve distinctive quirks; they are often difficult; and so they can require extra dedication than some “simpler” breeds.
After all, I feel Dachshunds have lots of superb qualities too.
However many Dachshunds find yourself in shelters yearly as a result of folks didn’t perceive the breed’s persona and know what they had been entering into earlier than getting one.
Beneath are the explanations that I feel the Dachshund breed isn’t the correct alternative for each particular person.
Please notice, I’m not saying that these items 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 (significantly – they had been bred to alert their hunters of prey and hazard).
Basically, many individuals would describe a Dachshund’s barking behavior as “extreme”.
Whereas some Dachshunds may be taught to restrict the length of their barking, and a few may 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 “large 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 folks say this).
Irrespective 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 come back out of a bit of canine.
In the event you like a canine that’s seen greater than heard, a Dachshund most likely isn’t your best option for you.
In case you have a new child child that wakes up and cries each time they hear a loud noise, or a noise phobia your self, I might most likely proceed your breed search.
2) Dachshunds Are Cussed
This can be a Dachshund persona trait listed by the American Kennel Membership (AKC). Nonetheless, cussed is just not an applicable 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 and so they might attempt to get their manner.
Opposite to fashionable perception, a Dachshund may be skilled. Most are literally tremendous good and wanting to please (or not less than get the deal with).
It’s simply that you will have to place extra time, dedication, and be extra constant when coaching them so your canine doesn’t develop these widespread habits points. And you need to use very clear communication (nothing harsh, simply in a manner they perceive).
In the event you aren’t prepared to place in further effort, or don’t suppose that you’ve got the time, a Dachshund will not be the correct breed for you.
3) They Can Be Exhausting to Potty Practice
In keeping with folks on the web, it’s virtually inconceivable to potty prepare a Dachshund. Individuals report their Dachshunds nonetheless having accidents in the home at 3 years outdated or by no means being 100% potty skilled.
I don’t agree with this although. Following my “foolproof” canine potty coaching methodology, each of my Dachshund puppies have been 100% potty skilled inside 3 months of coming residence.
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 spotlight to potty prepare than another breeds.
In the event you aren’t capable of take 2-4 weeks off after your Dachshund comes residence to kickstart their potty coaching, you aren’t prepared to by no means depart them unattended till they’re absolutely potty skilled, and you may’t clear up many messes within the meantime with out getting mad, then a Dachshund will not be for you.
4) They’re Vulnerable to Separation Anxiousness
Dachshunds are very social canines and get very connected to their folks. 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 if you depart.
In the event you don’t, your canine might scream and “yell” if you depart them alone, disrupting neighbors and probably getting you kicked out of your residence.
Separation nervousness may 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 utterly go away.
It’s possible you’ll really feel like you’ll be able to by no means depart your canine or you will have to spend some huge cash on canine daycare or canine walkers to assist consolation them if you end up away.
In the event you aren’t capable of put within the time to incrementally desensitize your canine to being away from folks for longer and longer durations, otherwise you don’t have the cash for or entry to canine walkers and daycares, a Dachshund will not be for you.
I’ll notice {that a} part of separation nervousness is suspected to be genetic – some canines are simply liable to it and others aren’t – so your canine may very well be unbiased and never thoughts when you depart from day one.
5) Dachshunds Want a Lot of Consideration
As I stated earlier, Dachshunds are very social canines and get connected to their folks.
This most frequently implies that they are going to be your shadow, following you to the lavatory, ready outdoors the bathe for you, touching you if you end up sitting on the sofa, and simply typically being underneath foot lots of the time.
An sad Dachshund pressured to be away from you’ll usually discover methods to busy themselves, which is usually by doing issues that make you offended and/or aren’t secure for them.
If clingy pets aren’t your factor, you’re employed lengthy hours, or can’t dedicate a good portion of your non-working hours to your Dachshund, then the breed may not 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 looking canines, working by the forest to chase critters, so that they have loads of power and stamina.
Whereas they will regulate to a extra sedentary way of life, they want loads of train to maintain them glad, wholesome, and at a correct weight.
My minimal suggestion is 45-60 minutes of brisk train 4-5 days every week.
It’s necessary to additionally present loads of psychological stimulation by coaching and canine enrichment actions in order that these good canines don’t develop into bored and develop behavioral points.
In the event you aren’t ready or prepared to verify your Dachshund’s bodily and psychological train wants are met, then you could wish to select a canine breed with decrease train wants.
7) Dachshunds are Scrappy and Vulnerable to Reactivity
Dachshunds prefer to act robust, are sometimes described as “large canines in a small physique”, and tend to be cautious of unusual canines, folks, and conditions.
All of these items can lead to what’s referred to as reactivity – barking, lunging, snapping, or appearing 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 it is 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 direction of everybody in each state of affairs, a Dachshund most likely isn’t the breed for you, not less than not when you aren’t prepared to place lots of of hours, and probably {dollars}, into coaching.
8) Dachshunds Have a Excessive Prey Drive
Typically, 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 imagined to chase like cats and youngsters have the perfect probability of not rising as much as chase them. Not less than not those that dwell in their very own home.
Nonetheless, I wouldn’t guess on a Dachshund not desirous to chase something they understand as “prey”, so when you can be pissed off by this habits, or it could pose a threat to different animals and people in your family, a Dachshund will not be the canine for you.
9) They Are Vulnerable to Again Issues
Roughly 25% of Dachshunds will expertise again points of their life because of a genetic illness referred to as Intervertebral Disk Illness (IVDD).
Of that 25%, many may have minor to average points that may be “healed” by conservative remedy, a portion will develop into utterly paralyzed and require costly again surgical procedure.
In excessive instances, a Dachshund could also be paralyzed or crippled for all times.
There isn’t a dependable check for IVDD so, regardless of all efforts and guarantees, a breeder can’t make a 100% assure that your canine received’t have points.
Whereas that leaves 75% of Dachshunds that received’t expertise a again concern, you received’t know if yours is among the unfortunate ones till it occurs to them.
In the event you don’t wish to take the chance and/or aren’t prepared or capable of set as much as $10,000 apart for emergencies (or pay for pet insurance coverage that covers hereditary circumstances like Trupanion), this breed may not 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 looking 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 wreck 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 might most likely dig a 1 foot deep gap in underneath 5 minutes, so we’ll see if I can break him of the behavior.
Sometimes, it’s attainable to show a Dachshund who develops a nasty digging behavior to dig solely in a sure space of the yard, however that takes lots of persistence and dedication to do.
If you wish to preserve a pristine garden or backyard, and are usually not prepared to work to coach your canine to dig solely in a selected spot or in no way, a Dachshund will not be your best option for you.
11) Dachshunds Wish 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 after I get out of the bathe and one licks my legs and toes underneath the covers for a couple of minutes virtually each night time 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 relentless battle about this behavior.
Or don’t get a Dachshund.
12) Dachshunds Are Simple to Untrain
The vast majority of folks parrot the stereotype that Dachshunds are troublesome to coach.
I might argue that these little smarties are straightforward to coach, however they’re additionally very straightforward to untrain.
That is simply an commentary I made over the past 20 years of proudly owning and canine sitting Dachshunds, however when you let a Dachshund get away with one thing, they are going to know that you’re a sucker and benefit from you.
Defined one other manner, in case your Dachshund learns to sit down and also you solely give them a reward for sitting absolutely, then they’re prone to do it each time.
Nonetheless, when you get lazy a pair instances and reward your Dachshund for a half sit, or they stand there looking at you so that you surrender and provides them the deal with anyway, you’ve gotten simply efficiently untrained your Dachshund.
They are going to keep 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 will usually be corrected when you understand your mistake immediately, when 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.
In the event you’re not prepared to be clear and per coaching, I wouldn’t get a Dachshund except you’re pleased with proudly owning an untrained canine.
13) You Might Must Spend Time Undoing Issues You By accident Taught Them
Dachshunds are tremendous good, perceptive, drawback solvers.
They are going to be taught patterns, and work to determine what they suppose you need, even in case you are 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 avenue nook, stated “wait”, and regarded earlier than crossing.
Finally, he placed on the brakes every time we’d get close to an intersection, or after I stated “wait”, even when it was in a unique context.
One other instance is when 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 have to be very exact and considerate together with your habits and actions, and be prepared to acknowledge what you unintentionally “taught” your Dachshund, and be prepared to simply accept accountability and unteach it.
14) Strangers Will Speak to You Very Typically
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.
In the event you’re an introvert or weirded out by random strangers approaching you, then a Dachshund may not be for you.
15) Dachshunds Can Be a “One Particular person Canine”
Dachshunds usually connect themselves to 1 main particular person.
In a best-case situation, they are going to be affectionate to a different particular person within the family if their chosen particular person is just not current.
At worst, they are going to be unconsolable when the chosen particular person is just not current and/or they are going to develop into possessive of this particular person and “guard” them in opposition to different folks in the home of holiday makers.
The largest concern is that your Dachshund will select their favourite particular person and it will 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 needs to spend most of their time with him.
Or a guardian will get a Dachshund for his or her child, and the canine finally ends up turning into hyper-attached to the Mother as an alternative.
Whereas the “favourite” alternative may be considerably influenced by who does a lot of the caretaking like strolling, feeding, snuggling, and many others., it’s not all the time this individual that the canine chooses.
This can be a risk try to be conscious of and comfortable with when you select to deliver a Dachshund into your own home.
16) You’ll Have to Recurrently 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’ve gotten meals. By way of physique language and a pathetic look, they are going to attempt to persuade you that they’re ravenous and that you must hand over the snackos.
The factor is although, Dachshunds are liable to weight problems, which may set off again issues and result in a shortened lifespan.
Because the human, it is advisable to “know higher” and stand agency – keep on with the suitable portion of meals at time for supper, restrict the variety of treats, and resist the urge to provide them “only a chew” each time you’ve gotten meals.
In the event you can’t keep sturdy to 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 buddy and didn’t know something concerning the breed to start with.
One of many first issues I discovered is that they’ve a median lifespan of 15-16 years and I assumed, “Holy cow! I didn’t join having a canine for that lengthy.”
After all, I beloved him his entire life and was glad he lived to an outdated age, however bigger canines have shorter lifespans, usually starting from 8-10 years outdated.
In the event you plan to retire and journey the world inside the subsequent decade, otherwise you see your life circumstances drastically altering and a canine would now not be fascinating, you could 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 youngsters from the pet stage, they’re prone to get together with them.
Some Dachshunds, even when not uncovered to them usually, love youngsters. My first Dachshund did.
Nonetheless, on the whole, Dachshunds and youngsters don’t combine if they aren’t uncovered to them frequently or are launched for the primary time at an older age (the canine).
Youngsters usually transfer erratically and quick, are loud and shriek, and infrequently 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.
In case you have mates or members of the family that solely come over sometimes with their children, and you aren’t prepared to continuously monitor your Dachshund throughout their go to or put your Dachshund in one other room, a Dachshund will not be your best option for you.
19) Dachshunds Could be Possessive
Dachshunds connect themselves to what they love and they aren’t all the time prepared to share. They’re mostly defensively defend meals, toys, folks, or sure spots like a canine mattress.
This overly-protective habits can become useful resource guarding and should contain rising, snarling and exhibiting their enamel, and snapping or biting.
If you personal a Dachshund, you’ll must pay shut consideration to physique language and habits 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 Must Change Your Home Setup
There are lots of changes you’ll should make to your own home when you get a Dachshund.
Consistently leaping off excessive locations, which Dachshunds like to do, is just not suggested for spinal well being. To forestall this, you could must get decrease furnishings or set up a ramp to assist your Dachshund get on and off.
In my case, to guarantee that mine solely used the ramp, I opted to put a “fence” round my sofa utilizing freestanding canine gates. It ain’t fairly, nevertheless it works.
Additionally, Dachshunds shed. Some shed loads. My mini clean 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, you could must get completely different coloured furnishings so it blends in.
Are Dachshunds Good for a Newbie Canine Proprietor?
The commonest sentiment is that, no, Dachshunds are usually not a great 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 boost a well-behaved Dachshund, folks would ideally have some animal dealing with expertise, the power to remain agency and do what is finest to your canine as an alternative of giving in to their calls for or pleading, and the foresight to outsmart your Dachshund.
With that being stated, though I had lots of childhood expertise with animals, a Dachshund was my first canine as an grownup and issues labored out okay. I acquired 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 ought to be and partly as a result of there have been no evident points that I wanted to cease.
Remaining Ideas
The underside line is, when you actually desire a Dachshund, get one. It should work out.
Not like after I acquired my first Dachshund in 2003, the web makes out there a wealth of data and assist and you could find virtually any reply that you simply want in seconds.
I do consider it’s crucial to learn although and sensible about what sort of canine you count on, the kind of life you envision, how a lot effort and time you need to dedicate to a canine, and select a breed that’s best for you.
Nonetheless, every thing on this record may 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 actual fact, many of those “dangerous” Dachshund quirks are exactly what some folks discover most adorable concerning the breed.
For some extra on the constructive and humorous aspect of Dachshund possession, try my articles Humorous Issues About Dachshunds Solely Homeowners Will Perceive and Hilarious and True Dachshund Memes That Will Completely Make Your Day.
