I am an adorable, playful, and fun-loving dog, and so are most dachshunds. We love to eat, cuddle, and play. We are also known for our highly energized nature and hot dog-shaped body. However, we tend to get sad and jealous if our owner does not give us proper attention and care.
We are extremely loyal, and also have a keen sense of smell and understanding. It is imperative that you take some extra care in our initial years because of our body structure. We have an elongated body with shorter legs that make our back vulnerable to injuries. We also love to eat, but getting obese is never a good idea and is also bad for our health. Our stubborn nature can sometimes get on your nerves, but please be patient with us for a while, and life will be bliss together.
Taking Care Of My Back
Since we have a long body and comparatively shorter legs, we do have a higher chance of developing intervertebral disc disease. You need to pay special attention as we are also more prone to hernia diseases. In the early stages of our life, you need to be more cautious. Younger dachshunds like to play a lot and jump around. We would jump from the furniture or even from the stairs. However, this kind of jumping is not suitable for us and can lead to serious health issues.
Do not let us jump around in a way that is hazardous to us and the same goes for the stairs. Although climbing down or getting up the stairs will not harm us, we should not be taking any unnecessary risks. You can carry us when you wish to take us upstairs or downstairs. Try to curb every possible activity that can result in back issues.
Regular Health Checkups
For maintaining a healthy and functional lifestyle, we need to pay the vet regular visits. So, you need to seek a trusted and experienced vet for regular checkups of your dachshund. You can also opt to do some research when narrowing down a candidate for a vet. This is because we would like to stay in touch with a vet who is polite, patient and has all the necessary equipment.
They will also guide you toward vaccinations for life-threatening diseases. The veterinarian usually suggests getting vaccinated for leptospira, rabies, canine influenza, DHPP, Bordetella in order to maintain tour dog’s good health. Moreover, a few of the vaccines may vary depending upon your geographical location. So, you also need to make the vet aware of your plans if you wish to move somewhere else so that they can suggest vaccines accordingly.
Training
We are a notorious breed and like to do whatever feels good to us. So, it can be a burdensome task for you to deal with us when you begin the training process. It is advisable to start training us at an early age. Although we are a smart breed, we are also stubborn at the same time.
Training is essential to developing a keen understanding between you and your dog. The training process will help us to learn what your gestures signify. Otherwise, we won’t know which behaviors to refrain from at what time. Moreover, you should keep the training sessions short as this helps us stay positive and interested. Maintaining a strict decorum for excellent results is good, but it will be much better if you reward us for our good behavior, compliance, and obedience.
Nutrition
Nutrition is the most crucial element when it comes to the growth and development of our body. It is a well-known fact that we love to eat and can eat at any time. So, you not only need to look for the quality of food, but the quantity as well. We like eating meat, but try to avoid giving us meat byproducts and filler foodstuff. This is because even if we are slightly overweight, then we could end up vulnerable to a lot of diseases.
The food should be rich in antioxidants, wholesome, and of standard quality. The food you love will not be the same for your dog. You need to strictly refrain from giving us coffee, tea, sugar, alcohol, and all similar foods. You should make sure to do some research before you select our food. You can also get a meal plan by an experienced vet.
Make Your Home Dog-Friendly
Being a dachshund owner, you might be already aware of our nature of attracting trouble. So, your dachshund getting hurt because of the stuff arranged in your house is the last thing you want to happen. Clean the house regularly so that your dog does not consume something terrible or hazardous.
Cleaning will also make sure there are no needles, coins, scraps, or clothes lying on the floor. Make sure there are no loose or open electrical cords and even if there are some, see that they’re out of your dachshund’s reach. We have an inquisitive nature, so try to place your food, medicine, and clothes beyond our reach. Otherwise, we might decline to take responsibility for any damage to your stuff.
We love chewing, so you should either get us some stuff toys or invest in good quality, durable mattresses and carpets. It isn’t just the interior of your house that you need to worry about; if you have a garden as well, then do not forget to fence it.
Grooming
Give us a refreshing bath whenever you feel it is needed. If the dog has short hair, then bathing them once every three months is enough; otherwise, for longer haired dachshunds, the frequency will be higher. Getting a good dog shampoo will be best for your dog. You can also reward him after bathing sessions to associate them with the thought that bathing is a good practice.
Let your dog’s hair air dry, or you can use a towel. After bathing, do not forget to comb his hair. Moreover, combing should be a regular practice; weekly, if the hair short and it can be done on alternate days if the hairs are longer. Clip your dog’s nails; the frequency will vary according to the growth. Be very attentive while cutting our nails so as not to hurt us. Use grooming times to look out for fleas and ticks.
Conclusion
You might think taking care of a dachshund is a daunting task, but it will be worth the fun you will have with him. You need to give special attention to our body as we have shorter legs and have a high risk of developing back issues. However, at the same time, we are playful and stubborn. You need to take us for regular health checkups, so as to keep a check on the diseases we are prone to. Training will be profitable for both you and your dog to understand each other. Furthermore, regular grooming will keep him healthy and in a good mood.
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