Miniature dachshund

[kerryxx]

I have always wanted a miniature dachshund and finally hope to get one the end of this year
A smooth, male, Black and Tan.
However we are moving into our house that has a bit of land and we are in the country so would want to walk.

Can they walk far?
I've read on the net they are fine walking but I'm keen to hear off owners.
Any advise on the breed really. Any things I must know!!

I have researched and read lots of books but its different putting it in practice

[Pizdets]

Hi Kerry,

Sounds lovely, I'm quite jealous! Our mongrel is a mini dachshund x but with longer legs. He's 9 months now and would go for hours if we let him! However our dog walker specialises in small dogs and takes out 3 of them on a regular basis. They all seem very robust and easily do the hour's walk each day at a good pace, keep up with any bigger dogs he takes out too.

Sure you read up about it but my neighbour also has a standard dachshund and apparently they're not allowed to go up and down stairs as it can damage their backs. She's trained hers to stand at the top and bark when it wants to go downstairs! (sounds cute but our houses are attached, so not so appreciated by me!).

Sure some more experienced people will be along soon with better advice but hope that helps a bit!

Piz

[kerryxx]

Thanks Piz

I have read about the stairs yes and plan to train him to not go up until we carry him up there! It's bad for their backs.

What is your miniature dachshund crossed with out of interest?

[Jins]

They can walk for miles. Like little tanks they are.

Before you commit you need to look at some of the more challenging aspects of their behaviour. We didn't. Change of floor covering required

[WorkingtoohardMama]

We often look after my sisters miniature dachshund, he is absolutely adorable, but has got the weakest bladder, think its a common trait, so be prepared for lots of puddles.

He loves his walks and didn't seem to struggle at all.

[Pizdets]

Hi Kerry, he's crossed with a toy poodle. I was originally looking for a toy poodle but unfortunately went 'for a look' to the breeder's house and fell in love. He looks like a watered-down dachshund (longer legs, shorter back but same sad face and colouring) or a terrier cross, if it wasn't for his sire's health certificates I'd struggle to believe there was any poodle in him at all! I know getting a mongrel or cross is a bit of a lottery but we've been very lucky to get the best of both worlds with him, he's adorable!

Piz

[kerryxx]

Jins, do you mean like WorkingtoohardMama says, that they pee inside quite a lot?

We have tiles throughout the house so least we can just wipe it up rather than it going in the carpet

Are they really difficult to house train then?

Jins, what other challenges would you say there are?

Thanks for all your help!

[AtYourCervix]

Impossible to housetrain. Can keep going all day. Very one-family dogs and not mad keen on strangers. Snuggly and warm on a lap and in bed. We adore him.

Ours is currently at the vet with a prolapsed disk (v sudden and never been ill before) possibly needing major surgery costing thousands. And weeks of cage rest and might never recover.

[Jins]

Ours will run inside for a pee

They are adorable loyal dogs. On the flip side they can be very territorial and quite a lot have fear aggression.

We had ours from 6 months. Retraining has proved impossible. They are possibly the most determined dogs I've met.

(They topped the list of most aggressive dogs a few years back - cant google as on phone)

I wouldn't be without my terror though

[AtYourCervix]

Impossible to train fullstop. Stubborn.

[WorkingtoohardMama]

If you've got tiles, I wouldn't let the pee put you off, my sisters one is utterly adorable; we look after him when they're on holiday and never want to give him back.

I've got 2 dc (7 and 3) and he's lovely with them, apart from the pee I can't think of anything negative; but as we've only had him in the house for a fortnight at a time I may only see the best of him.

[francesdrake]

Is there something about minis in particular that you like? There's a standard smooth-haired Dachs near us, and he's built like a TANK. Some friends have standard wire-haired, which would be my Dachshund of choice, I think - they're a little bit more rugged, are big dogs in a small body with a good deep bark, and are brilliant countryside companions. They will go for miles, but are real snugglers afterwards. And their beards and eyebrows make them look like Grimms' fairy tale miners.

Hounds as a breed group are more of a challenge to housetrain. It took a while to get my basset watertight but they do get there if you're consistent. I rather like the Dachsy bloody-mindedness - it's not like that terrier manic energy, it's more of a determined resistance to interference from humans. You just end up coming to a mutual living agreement, rather than imposing a training regime on each other.

[kerryxx]

AtYourCervix, I'm so sorry to hear that. That's one thing with the breed isn't it, that they can have problems with their backs.
Is that if they have jumped from a sofa or something or does it just come on?

The agression worries me a bit for when we have kids.... but at the same time I think if they are well socialised when you first get them hopefully that will help.
I'm determined to take him out to lots of different places in the first few weeks as per all the advice that's around.

I honestly didn't realise they were so difficult to house train so thanks for pointing that out. Not sure what we will do about that!

[AtYourCervix]

Insurance.

Insurance insurance insurance.

And if after 5 years you get tempted to change policies. Don't.

[Jins]

It's not just house training, it's training generally. You think you've managed to succeed with something then realise that it's only because it's what they wanted to do all along.

We have no problems with children, especially young children. Old ladies, other dogs, people wearing hats, anyone with any sort of disability, - that's where problems lie :)

[kerryxx]

Haha Jins that's funny isn't it. I will make sure to wear a hat round him then and take him to see someone old!

Francesdrake - I just prefer the mini's. I don't really know why.... Because they are smaller I guess.

My boyfriend isn't ecstatic by the fact I want this Mini Dachshund (it's not the most manly of dogs, but then he's short anyway so i said he would look silly with a big dog )
He would like a Beagle....
But he knows how much I've always wanted one so he isn't saying no!

Does anybody use a crate with theirs?

[AtYourCervix]

DH is a large ex-prop but manages to pull off the 'look'. I think because although he's only little he's really a big hard dog.

Beagles are nuts.

SmallDog was crated to start with just for overnight and when we went out.

[francesdrake]

If you get your dachshund trained to the point where it will wee into a loo, flush, and then wash its paws in a little sink, then, and only then, should you contemplate the prospect of training a beagle...

They are adorable. But, as atyourcervix says, they are nuts.

[Justfornowitwilldo]

Impossible to house train I have had family that have only ever had this breed and they were all 100% housetrained from being pups. Weird. They must have been lucky.

[Justfornowitwilldo]

Incredible energy levels though. Hunters too. The last one my family had killed wild rabbits. Lots of rabbits.

[Jins]

Our loves being crated. They love being in small dark enclosed spaces I've found. Just remembered joggers or anybody running as well. If there was an old lady wearing a hat and jogging with her labrador he would probably explode with rage.

DH is 6ft3 and has no issue with being seen with a mini dax. They are well hard!!!

Here's you link to prove it as well :)
www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/2254479/Sausage-dogs-are-the-most-aggressive-dogs.html

[LegoAcupuncture]

Im very about this. Id love one. I had one when I was a teenager, broke my heart when we had to leave him in SA when we moved back to the UK.

I used to take him for very long walks, he loved it. He as very easy to toilet train though. Might have just been lucky though.

[kerryxx]

I feel better having heard some positives about the house training!

And I will definitely be telling him about the comments on the beagles and the tall husbands...

Do any of you leave yours alone at all? The other half works from home but some days he has to go and see customers which means that the dog will be left on his own for hours sometimes. Unless the parents are around and I will get them to pop in.

[Justfornowitwilldo]

No. Never. One member of the household was at home full time and the dog went everywhere with them if they left the house. Maybe that's why house training wasn't an issue .

[Justfornowitwilldo]

Are you sure you want a dog if you're going to be leaving it alone 'for hours?'

[kerryxx]

It would be 3-4 hours.
Anyway I will probably look into dropping him off at my aunts on the way to work or something to play with their dog if my parents aren't around on those odd days.

I know people who have dogs who leave them home all day, like from when they go work in the morning to when they get back in the evening

Although people say it isn't right... I think if it's like that from the start, they would get used to it.
Which they do!