Our breed’s name is hard to spell and pronounce. You might have heard that people call us different names, including Daxie, Dackel, or Teckel. However, we love to be called weiner dogs and sometimes people call us sausage dogs because they think we look like sausages.
Our name is of German origin and we are one of the favorite breeds of dog over there. The word ‘dachshund’ means badger dogs and might you guess why? We are considered perfect for hunting badgers because we have the ideal size and height to go into holes seamlessly.
It is a well-known fact that we were quite popular in many European courts, especially in Queen Victoria’s court. This might be why we are so loved in the United Kingdom.
As a hunting breed, we can be quite stubborn and difficult to train, so our owner should always stay alert to challenges. Being stubborn doesn’t mean we are not intelligent. We can pick up tricks and commands very quickly, even at an early age. An owner should restrict what we’re allowed to do at times. We dachshunds need to be disciplined strongly during training sessions.
We can be found in miniatures or standard size with a smooth coat as well as long-haired or wire-haired, which has been developed through selective breeding.
Nature
Miniature dachshunds can often be very shy and timid and similarly, long-haired dachshunds are also generally more reserved. In contrast, wire-haired dachshunds seem to be more outgoing. Our versatility makes us great companions; we are very popular with families. We love spending a lot of time with our owners, to cuddle and play.
However, our love of being with people often leads us to developing separation anxiety when we are left alone. If we are not gradually exposed to being alone at a very young age, then it can make us somewhat destructive. We can often be found barking or moaning when our owners leave us. Barking is one of our inherited traits; we can be seen running and barking when we see people approaching our owner’s house.
Never Shout At Your Puppy
You should never shout at dachshunds for having accidents in the house as we are incredibly playful. Sometimes, I don’t know what is wrong or right and might end up doing something in front of my owner that was not meant to happen or was not intentional.
Instead, you should behave very politely with us when we have minor accidents as we love to be praised and to be cuddled when we go outside. In no time, we will get it.
Chewing can be a significant issue with us. My owner has lost quite a few sleepers, so investing in good and durable cheap toys is the best way to combat this. It becomes quite challenging to get me back when I have decided to play. Sometimes, I might run off with a huge husky and then my owner desperately tries to get me back on my leash.
Don'ts
You should keep your dachshund in a fit and healthy condition. This is because we are prone to back problems because of our shorter legs and long, sausage-like bodies. You should also make sure that we don’t get obese. Eating is one of our favorite habits and we can eat anytime.
Try and prevent your dog from jumping a lot; they will surely try to jump from the couch, bed, anywhere. However, a dachshund’s back is not very strong due to his elongated structure. Jumping creates a risky impact that can even cause a ruptured disc.
Climbing stairs can put pressure on your puppy’s back, and over time, it may cause an intervertebral disc disease. Typical stairs are too tall for us to go up and down without causing stress on our backs. To avoid this problem, always carry your dog upstairs or downstairs.
How To Hold Your Dachshund
Learning how to hold me is one of the primary things you need to learn and you have to become proficient at it. Holding your dachshund the right way will also help protect his back. Support your dog’s rear-end with one hand and place the other hand under his belly to support his back. You might as well practice with something light before holding your dog.
Never hold your dog with one hand by the paws or head.
Good Training Is Crucial
We need to start socializing at a young age, especially with strangers, as this is a little daunting for us. With complete training, we can be excellent loyal family members that can entertain you, and you will get a free lifetime subscription of affection and cuddles.
Although we are cute, tiny puppies, it is imperative to timely train us, especially when we are very nervous or fearful. To be a confident and independent dog, we need to learn how to cope with stressful situations, and positive encouragement from our owners helps us develop this.
Food highly motivates us, so you can easily make us learn tricks by treating us with food. A playful experience can also be a good way to motivate us. Moreover, you can also use toys to treat us with love. We love to play and a ball on a string can be the perfect gift for a dachshund.
Things That Only Dachshund Owners Understand
We practice selective listening due to our stubborn nature, and this can become annoying at times. Sometimes, it can also be difficult to get us back on our leash.
We are not great at sharing, so if you are planning to have me as a puppy in the house along with small children or another pet, then it can be challenging to manage us. Our voice is very high pitched and sometimes we bark for no reason and this can be irritating. So you should take care of your dachshund by giving him the proper amount of attention, cuddling and more.
We get jealous if we do not get the appropriate care and attention. Our behavior can be varied under these circumstances, and we are more prone to aggression.
Conclusion
Dachshunds are very playful and stubborn in nature, so we should be given a lot of attention and care. Our bodies are very fragile, so take extra care in the early years. Proper training will help us become our best self. Food, cuddles and love provide constant motivation for us.
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To go out with your dachshund, but not choke him to death check out my article about harnesses: Finding The Best Harness for Dachshund When you are ready to get one check the options available on the market Choosing The Right Harness For Your Dachshund.
