Online Guide to the Dachshund Dog Breed

Common Misspellings:

This is a general dog breed description of the Dachshund. Individual dogs within a breed may vary in appearance, temperament, and behavior.

Often called “weiner dogs,” Dachshunds are spirited little dogs with long bodies and short legs. Dachshunds are an ancient breed, although the modern versions are of German origin. They were prized by royal courts throughout Europe for their ability to hunt, chase and flush badger and other burrowing animals. These small, fearless dogs have been known to take on larger animals, like foxes, as well.

Dachshund Dog Breed

Dachshund Size Variations: Miniature Dachshund
Standard Dachshund
Dachshund Colors: colors
Dachshund Exercise Needs:
Dachshund Grooming Needs:
Dachshund Life Expectancy (Lifespan) :
Are Dachshund Dogs Good With Children?:
Dachshund Training:

Dachshund History

Dachshunds are an ancient breed, although the modern versions are of German origin. They were prized by royal courts throughout Europe for their ability to hunt, chase and flush badger and other burrowing animals. These small, fearless dogs have been known to take on larger animals, like foxes, as well.

Dachshund Appearance

Long-bodied and low to the ground, Dachshunds are muscular little dogs with a protruding sternum. The head is elongated with a slightly convex skull, arched eyebrows and a long muzzle. Long, floppy ears hang to the cheeks.

Dachshunds come in three sizes, and AKC standards separate the breed into two class divisions for show. Standard Dachshunds weigh over eleven pounds, and may weigh 28 to 30 pounds. Dachshunds who weigh less than eleven pounds at twelve months of age are considered miniature. Smaller versions are not recognized by the AKC but are unofficially called toy, dwarf, tweenie, micro-mini, or teacup. Life expectancy is 12 to 15 years.

The coat may be smooth, long haired, or wiry. The wiry coat is less common. Colors and patterns are various, but dominant colors are red, black, and tan. The coat may be solid, bi-colored, brindle, dapple, or piebald. Double dapple results from breeding two dapple-coated Dachshunds, but is discouraged because the variety may possibly carry defective genetic traits for blindness and deafness.

Dachshund Temperament & Personality

Dachshunds were bred to be obstinate and to make their own decisions, two qualities that are admirable when hunting yet undesirable in a companion animal. This breed can be hard to train, but with patient and consistent training the Dachshund can be a well-behaved family companion. Dachshunds who are overindulged and treated like people or toys become snappy and unpleasant, and will try to run the family.

Long-haired Dachshunds are considered by some fanciers to have calmer personalities, while the wire-haired variety is more clownish. However, the temperament varies a great deal within the breed, and the appearance of the coat is no guarantee of the dog’s temperament. Choosing a Dachshund puppy whose parents have even temperaments, and proper socialization and training, are the keys to rasing a well behaved and friendly pet who is welcome anywhere.

Dachshund Exercise Needs

Dachshunds do not require a lot of exercise, but since this breed has a propensity for weight gain, a daily walk is a must. Daily exercise will keep both you and your Dachshund in good shape, and in a good mood.

Dachshund Grooming Requirements

Smooth-haired Dachshunds require little grooming, and may be rubbed with a damp cloth to remove dirt and loose hair. Long- haired varieties require daily brushing, and wire-coated Dachshunds require professional trimming twice a year. Attention to grooming will reduce the amount of hair this average shedder leaves in the house.

Dachshund Training

The Dachshund needs an owner who will set limits on his dog’s behavior in regard to what is acceptable, and what is not. It is vital that the owner socialize his dog well from puppyhood, training his dog patiently and with a gentle, no-nonsense attitude to avoid raising a snappy little dog who tries to run the family. Dachshunds should be exposed to a variety of people, sights, sounds, and smells from an early age.

Dachshund Health Information

Their long backs and relatively short rib cages make Dachshunds vulnerable to back injuries and spinal disc problems. Disc degeneration can lead to paralysis of the rear legs. Obesity, rough handling, jumping from heights and hard exercise should be discouraged to reduce health risks.

Other possible health concerns include epilepsy, urinary tract disorders, heart disease, various eye conditions, thyroid conditions, dental problems and allergies.

Finding A Responsible Dachshund Breeder

Now that you have decided that the Dachshund is the right breed for you, it's time to start the process of finding a responsible Dachshund breeder from which to buy a healthy, well-socialized puppy. Not all breeders are alike; there are good breeders - and bad breeders. Don't be in a hurry to buy the first Dachshund puppy you find at the cheapest price available! To buy a puppy from a responsible Dachshund breeder, you may need to pay more and wait longer. The additional money and waiting time will be well worth it. Buy a puppy in haste from a newspaper ad, pet store or "backyard breeder", and you'll likely also purchase a great deal of additional expense and heartache, since you will likely end up falling in love with a puppy with health and behavioral problems that will likely need special care, plenty of veterinary visits, regular medication - or even euthanasia. But do your homework and find a responsible, caring Dachshund breeder who home-raises their puppies with love, screens their breeding dogs for health problems, offers a health guarantee and post sale support, and who genuinely loves the Dachshund breed and is in it for the love of the breed, rather than profit, and you can be fairly well assured of getting a healthy, happy, long lived and affectionate family companion that will provide you and your family with many years of joy, laughter and companionship.

Further information about choosing a responsible breeder...

Here are a few breeder directory sites that we recommend. These sites attempt to screen advertisers to ensure that the breeders listed are responsible and sell healthy, home-raised Dachshund puppies to carefully screened buyers. There are many, many sites now online that advertise dog breeders - many are a Mecca for puppy mills and backyard breeders. We recommend that you steer clear of these resources in favor of sites that are more selective in the breeders whom they allow to advertise.

Additional Dachshund Information Resources

There are a wealth of resources online that can help you learn more about the Dachshund dog breed. We've compiled a list of Dachshund information sites to assist you in quickly locating quality information about the Dachshund dog breed, while avoiding the "garbage" sites that are nothing more than poor attempts to capitalize on the popularity of dog breeds in general. If you know of an Dachshund information site that offers unique, quality information and photos of the Dachshund breed, please contact us with the URL and a brief description so that our editors can consider it for inclusion in our list below.