Dachshund Breed Guide
If you're thinking "is a Dachshund puppy the right dog for me?", then you're in the right place. Today we'll be giving you the low down on all you need to know about Dachshunds, from their personality traits to what to feed them. Hopefully helping make the right decision for both of you! We'll also be sharing some first-hand tips from Dachshund owners themselves, so settle in and enjoy.
How to pronounce Dachshund?
First things first, if you're thinking about getting a Dachshund pup, it's rather essential that you know how to pronounce it. The British pronounciation is: daks-hund and the American pronounciation is: daak-snd. The name Dachshund derives from German, literally meaning 'badger dog'. Dachs = badger, Hund = dog - you'll find out more about where this originates from next.
There are also a number of different abbreviations and colloquial terms for Dachshunds, we've listed some of the most popular versions below:
- Sausage dog
- Doxin
- Doxie
- Daxie
- Sausage McSausage face
- Wiener dog
- Dotson dog (and the list goes on..)
Did you know that the original name for a hot dog was a Dachshund sausage, so sausages were actually named after the doggies rather than the other way round!
And here's a super cute little smooth-haired dachshund we made earlier...
The history of Dachshunds
The origin of Dachshunds can be traced back to Germany in the 15th Century. Two sizes were bred, the Standard and Miniature, both with the primary purpose of serving as hunting dogs. The Miniature Dachshund was well suited to burrowing down smaller holes to catch bunnies, whilst the Standard Dachshund flushed out badgers from their larger burrows. This explains why Daxies have rather paddle-shaped front paws - all the better for digging with.
Whilst slightly unclear, it is believed that Dachshunds were bred from larger hunting hounds like bloodhounds. With breeders gradually shortening their legs through selective breeding to perfect them for going down holes.
Next, we're going to look at some of the personality and breed traits...
Are there different varieties of Dachshund?
Yes! There are three different varieties/coat types of Daxies; the smooth-haired dachshund, wire-haired, and long-haired. Each of these varieties can be found in three different sizes; Standard, Miniature, and 'Kaninchen' (Rabbit in German). Kaninchen is the smallest of the sizes, and whilst not officially recognized by clubs in the UK or USA, are recognized by the World Canine Federation.
Dachshunds have a wide variety of coat colours, from singular colours like Red (the most common) or Cream, or a mix, like Black and Tan, Chocolate and Tan, Blue and Tan, or Isabella and Tan. Wirehaired Dachshunds can also be found with a Wild Boar colour coat, which appears like a mixture of grey, brown and black - giving an overall grizzled effect, like a wild boar (funny that). There are also a number of other colour patterns, for example, Dapple, brindle, sable, and piebald.
Standard Dachshunds weigh on average between 7.3kg to 15kg, the miniatures less than 5.4kg, and the little kaninchens between 3.6kg to 5kg. Aka about 10 cans of soup - teeny!
Dachshund temperament and personality
Dachshunds are extremely popular as they portray many personality traits that make them great family dogs, such as being loyal, happy with children, and affectionate. Their bravery gives off the impression that they aren't quite aware of their size, and they will happily stand their ground with much larger breeds. No one (or dog) is perfect though, so they don't come without their challenges and can be known for being a touch stubborn, which can make training a little trickier. Despite this, they are very intelligent dogs, just check out the video below for proof with Ripley, a Dachshund / Pug mix, who's apparently 'The Smartest Dog In The World' (self-proclaimed).
Traits summary: Playful. Stubborn. Loyal. Lively. Courageous (think small man syndrome). Devoted. Clever.
Are Dachshunds hypoallergenic dogs?
A hypoallergenic dog breed is one that's more likely to be compatible with people who suffer from pet allergies. This typically results from an allergic reaction to proteins found in dogs' skin cells, saliva, or urine and can cause symptoms similar to those of hayfever, or if it's more acute, like asthma. Dachshunds are not a hypoallergenic breed. However, as Dachshunds do not shed their coat as much compared to other breeds, many people who suffer from allergies still own Dachshunds without getting any symptoms.
We would recommend visiting a friend with a daxie and spending some time around them if you think you could have dog allergies to find out the severity before making any decisions.
How far can a Dachshund walk?
You might be thinking small legs = small walks, and if you are, expel those thoughts. As we mentioned at the start, Dachshunds were bred as working hounds, so likely quite capable of out-lasting you on a walk. Standard Dachshunds require at least 60 minutes of exercise per day, every day, and for Miniatures, 30 minutes. The exercise can include walks or plenty of proper playtime to keep them mentally stimulated too. Why not try one of the brain games like Ripley?
Signs of your pup not getting enough exercise could include barking excessively, or that pillow s/he recently destroyed.
Don't forget though, as puppies it's extremely important to not over-exercise, as this can lead to body deformities like out-turned feet. For Dachshund puppies 5 minutes of exercise per every month of their age is a wise guideline to follow.
Famous sausage dogs on instagram
If you came to this blog to see some cute pictures of Dachshunds, we never like to disappoint. Here's a couple of the most famous (and adorable) sausage dog pups in the UK....we may be slightly biased!!!
What health problems do Dachshunds have?
By far the most common health issues Dachshunds suffer from are back problems, with 1 in 4 suffering from Interverbretal Disk Disease. This mainly originates from them being bred down to have shorter legs, a by-product being that their spines became more prone to injury. To mitigate against this disease there are several steps owners can take, like controlling any high-impact exercise like jumping (luckily sausage show jumping isn't a thing). Always place your pup down off the sofa or bed, or you can even buy some nifty Dachshund-sized steps so they can be an independent doggo and do it themselves. Harness collars can provide them with some more support whilst out walking, and if you are picking them up, ensure their back is always supported.
The other most common issues are:
- Retina degradation (a hereditary disease)
- Cataracts
- Hip dysplasia
- Kneecap dislocation
- Thryoid problems
- Obesity
Now we're going to cover some of the aspects of how to take care of a Dachshund...
What to feed a Dachshund?
We can relate a lot to Dachshunds as they tend to LOVE their food. This gives you plenty of options, between dry food, wet food, home-cooked food, and of course, treatos! Here's the low down on each of these options:
Dry Dog Food
For dry food always look for complete recipes, containing proper animal meat and namable ingredients. I.e if you can't pronounce it, it probably shouldn't be in there. The pros of dry food include that it's easy to store and can be kept at room temperature. Scrumbles offers three dry food recipes, our Puppy & Toy Chicken Kibble, Adult & Seniors Chicken Kibble, and Salmon Kibble and are designed specifically for sensitive tummies with added probiotics for gut health, easy digestion, AND pretty poops! The dry dog food recipes all contain natural, responsibly sourced ingredients like Organic Salmon and British Free Run Chicken, with a minimum 60% animal meat. For miniature Dachshunds, we'd recommend the Puppy & Toy Kibble, as this comes in a small, easy-to-eat kibble size that will be easy for them to chew, and higher nutrient density.
Wet Dog Food
Again for wet food check that it's a complete recipe, so it provides everything your Daxie needs to thrive and of course we can help! We offer three grain-free wet dog food recipes; Turkey, Salmon and Chicken. These are all limited ingredients recipes with single-source protein and contain slippery elm to make them easily digestible. We've often been told they smell good enough to eat (by the hoomans, that is).
Home-Cooked Food
If you're considering cooking fresh food for your Dachshund, it's essential that you provide the correct nutritional value. Dogs need a varied and balanced diet, just like us, consisting of proteins, starches, and vegetables to meet their basic needs. If any of these aren't provided, health issues like thyroid disease can arise. Therefore we'd always recommend checking with a vet or nutritionist before trying to develop a menu on your own.
Dog Treats
We've saved the best till last - treats! We all love rewarding our pets for being the little wonders that they are, but it's important with Daxies to remember that they're only little things. Feeding too many treats without adjusting their main meal will likely result in an overweight pup, the most common condition vets see. Scrumbles offers several treats. Firstly our Gnashers Dental Bones, which are plant-based, only contain 7 cals per chew and have an active ingredient clinically proven to reduce plaque formation. Next up, our Softies range, the perfect dog training treats available Plant-Powered or with Chicken & Duck. Finally, our Calming Nibbles, packed with turkey and calming chamomile and lemon balm. All our treats are baked in the UK in eco-ovens, and served in home compostable bags. For other ways to reduce your pup's environmental pawprint, check out our blog on Reducing Your Dog's Pawprint.
How Much Do Dachshund's Cost?
A kennel club registered Dachshund pup can cost anywhere from £1200 to £2000. At the time of writing (during the pandemic), we have seen a huge surge in pet ownership. A consequence of this has been that the prices of most breeds have shot up, with some Dachshunds now selling for well over £3500 [queue eyes watering]. Don't forget you also need to budget in your pet insurance and all the other associated costs with owning a pup.
Why I love Daxies from 3 owners
Piglet & Poppet's Mummy: "We love Dachshunds because of their cheeky personalities! They are funny and loving, and always a little bit naughty."
Daphne's Mummy: "Although a Dachshund is small in stature, they sure make up for it with their big personality. They are the most loving, loyal, chatty, and comical dogs out there. It's hard to think back to a time when I wasn't ruled by a Dachshund. My life is infinitely better having them by my side .. however, my blood pressure would appreciate a walk without squirrel chasing!"
Mash's Mummy: "It's their little short legs, and long little bodies, mixed with that 'Doberman' attitude that I love. Not forgetting they're the most loving, affectionate, and cuddly little loyal things."
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