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.
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues

Dachshund Size
Variations: Miniature Dachshund
Standard Dachshund
Dachshund
Colors:
Dapple, Piebald
Dachshund Height:
Dachshund Weight:
Dachshund
Exercise Needs:
Dachshund
Grooming Needs:
Dachshund Life Expectancy (Lifespan):
Are Dachshunds Child-Friendly?
Dachshund Training:
Breed Group:
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
The Dachshund dog breed originated in United States of
America. 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.
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.
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.
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.
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
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.
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.
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
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.
A well-socialized Dachshund is good with kids, but may not be the best choice for families with very small children who may play too roughly with the dog, fall on him, or try to pick him up. Older children should be taught to pick the dog up carefully, supporting his back, to avoid injuring his spine.
Dachshunds adapt to a variety of living conditions. Because of their small size, they are popular companion dogs for apartment and city dwellers, but being cooped up inside too long will lead to inventive destruction. They need at least one long daily walk, and will enjoy playing in the park or other open areas.
While Dachshunds are prone to bad temperament, spinal disorders and many other medical conditions, reputable breeders attempt to eliminate these problems from the breed. Buy your Dachshund only from a breeder who has a proven track record of producing high-quality, healthy puppies of good temperament.
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.
We Highly Recommend:
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
Choosing a name for your Dachshund puppy can be a daunting
task! There are so many names to choose from that it can take a lot
of thought and research to find just the right name for your
Dachshund. Usually, it's best to get to know your puppy for a
few days or weeks. Often your puppy's personality will help you
decide on just the right name to choose. Does he have a sense of
humor? A serious side? A goofy way of cocking his head to one side?
A strange love of cantaloupe? By observing your new Dachshund
puppy over the first days or weeks, you should at least have a clue
about what type of name you want to give. There are a ton of dog
names and pet names web sites on the internet. Some are wonderful
information resources, while others, unfortunately, are just
"garbage" sites set up with the sole purpose of cashing in on
visitor hits for this popular subject.
We recommend the following sites to assist you in choosing a name
for your new Dachshund puppy. These sites offer inventive,
unique, original and creative pet names suggestions that have helped
thousands of new puppy owners in selecting just the right name for
their new baby!
Dachshund Dog Names
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
Dachshunds are a very photogenic dog breed. By looking at
Dachshund pictures, you can usually gain more insight into
what these dogs and puppies are like as a breed, and this can help
you decide if you really want to become an Dachshund owner.
The following sites below offer pictures of Dachshund dogs,
Dachshund puppy photos, funny Dachshund photos and
more. Enjoy!
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
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.
Breed Brief -
History - Appearance -
Temperament - Exercise -
Grooming
Training - Health
- Is Breed Right For Me? -
Breeders/Puppies For Sale
Dog Names -
Pictures - Further Info -
Clubs/Rescues
Dachshund clubs and rescues web sites can help you learn
even more about the Dachshund dog breed, help you locate a
responsible Dachshund breeder, or help you find an Dachshund dog or puppy in need of a second chance for a loving,
forever home. We've compiled the following list of Dachshund
clubs and Dachshund rescues web sites for your convenience:
Dachshund Clubs -
Dachshund Rescues