Did you know that this bite-sized dog once hunted badgers? They’re what we call – a big surprise in a small package! The Dachshund comes in three varieties – short-haired, long-haired, and wire-haired. Dachshunds have been around for longer than we can remember and have warmed our hearts and homes ever since!
History
Dachshund comes from the German words ‘Dachs’ meaning badger and ‘Hund’ meaning dog. Over 600 years ago, the breed was used for hunting badgers. Their long, slender body allowed them to go through the longest holes to flush out prey. This, along with their razor-sharp claws, helped them dig like no other. Known and loved for their courage, hard work, enthusiasm, and obedience, Dachshunds have charmed their way as formidable hunters yet lovable lap dogs.
About the breed
Nutrition
Age-appropriate nutrition in accordance with activity level is key to preventing a Dachshund from becoming overweight. An obese Dachshund can suffer from slipped discs because of excess pressure on their slender backs. Dachshunds also benefit from calcium, multivitamin, and immunity supplements to keep them in the best of health well into adulthood. Moreover, treats and table scraps must be fed only as a small snack or during training and mustn’t add to more than 10% of their daily dietary intake. Remember to keep food out of reach because a Dachshund’s nose must never be underestimated!
Grooming
Short-haired Dachshunds are easy to groom and require a tri-weekly brushing. However, Long-haired and wire-haired Dachshunds require a daily brushing and a weekly deshedding. Apart from coat care, Dachshunds need their teeth brushed, nails trimmed, and ears cleaned once a week. Bathing once in fourteen days is best, unless visibly dirty or smelly.
Exercise
Dachshunds need a minimum of two hours of daily aerobic exercise to keep them calm indoors. This, along with mental stimulation, is essential to helping your Dachshund focus all his energy on playing and solving instead of on furniture and flower pots. Since Dachshunds like to dig, you can create a sandbox with treats and toys as a way of keeping them occupied for some part of the day.
Training
If you start as early as eight weeks, you will have a well-behaved disciplined dog. The earlier your Dachshund knows what is expected of her, the easier it is for you to train. However, older Dachshunds can also learn as well as their younger counterparts with a little bit of patience, positive reinforcement, and consistency – always end training on a positive note!
Health
Dachshunds are hardy breeds but can suffer from age-related problems like obesity, heart disease, cataracts, hypothyroidism, and skin and ear infections.
Temperament
Socialisation must start at eight weeks to keep a Dachshund aware of who is family and who isn’t. Although they are devoted to members of the family, the same cannot be said about strangers or unfamiliar animals.
Is this the right breed for me?
Dachshunds are perfect for apartment living
They are a hardy, healthy breed
They do well in hot weather
They do not require much exercise
Dachshunds are good with children and senior citizens.
Why might this breed not suit my lifestyle?
Dachshunds can resort to destructive behaviour if not given sufficient mental stimulation.
They are hard to train and require an experienced hand
They shed heavily during winter and spring
Dachshunds can suffer from separation anxiety because of their attachment to one person in the household.
They need sufficient socialisation to keep them from turning aggressive.
As feisty as they are, Dachshunds are perfect cuddle buddies. They want to please and would do anything for their family – big or small! Once a Dachshund has stolen your heart, there’s no turning back!
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