Please tell me everything about having two daschunds

[hippospot]

DH would love to have two daschunds one day.

I have no real experience of dogs, in fact I'm a cat lover, and pretty reluctant to have dogs. He has talked me around to considering it, however. He tells me they will use a cat/dog flap and will be able to poo in the garden and exercise themselves to a certain degree. We have quite a large garden.

Walking a dog isn't the thing that bothers me - I love walking - but my misgivings are more to do with my house being damaged or dirty or smelly, plus the tie of not being able to spontaneously go away for the weekend or out for a long day trip (now that DCs are getting older and that is getting easier!)

So please can you tell me the reality in terms of training, mess, smell. And are they a nice breed to have with primary-school aged DCs? Thanks so much.

[hippospot]

I should add: we have two cats - would they cohabit well?

Plus, I work from home while DH does 12-hour days and travels regularly for 3 days at a time!

[tabulahrasa]

They're not an easy breed, they're pretty strong willed (stubborn), have a high prey drive and a tendency to be a bit snappy.

They're big hounds in tiny hounds bodies basically.

[BagelwithButter]

AHEM, "DH does 12-hour days and travels regularly for 3 days at a time!"

So when is he imagining lovely romps with his 2 dachshunds?? Why does he want 2 dogs when he's hardly there... why should you be expected to look after them when you're not really "up" for it?

It does make going out spontaneously (or not) much more difficult. Walking and cleaning the house takes time, you are already probably busy with work/kids, why add to your workload if you're not absolutely committed to the idea.

Dachshunds need training and time just like any other dogs. They are also prone to back problems...

IMO, tell him to wait until he's retired and then he can look after a whole troupe of dachshunds if he wants

[MothershipG]

Gettin litter mates has the potential for disaster, they bond more with each other and ignore the humans, or occasionally fall out irrevocably. No decent breeder would let a novice take 2 from a litter.

If you get a dog you need to realise you are going to be the primary carer so you get the final say on breed and whether it happens at all.

Dachshunds are also prone to back issues, for obvious reasons.

Obviously spontaneous outings will be hard as you'll have to provide care, just because there may be 2 doesn't mean they can be left.

Leaving them access to outside while you are out is not recommended as they could escape or be stolen.

As tabular mentioned they are notoriously stubborn and small dogs are often harder to house train. I've met some really sweet and easy going dachshunds and others that couldn't resist a passing ankle, so no guarantees.

Do your homework and go into dog ownership with your eyes open if that's what you decide.

[MothershipG]

Getting! Sorry for typo!

[hippospot]

Thanks!

Having just got through the toddler stage with a very strong-willed DC I'm not sure I could cope with a stubborn breed.

I'm also in favour of waiting till retirement/empty nest.

What other breeds ought we to consider?

[MothershipG]

hippo As you will be the one taking all the responsibility, what are you looking for in a dog? Obviously family friendly and presumably non or low shedding and not drooly or stinky?

There are lots of on- line questionaires where you fill in your situation and preferences and they makes breed suggestions. But to be honest it doesn't sound like you are particularly keen, and as a dog is a big, long term commitment you are perfectly within your rights to say it's not something you want to take on right now.

[tabulahrasa]

Small dogs basically come in two types (I am generalising of course) breeds bred to do a job like dachshunds or terriers who are likely to be strong willed and very lively or ones bred to be companions who tend to be more eager to please, but are usually a bit clingy.

Personally I like clingy, lol, but having a dog following you round isn't everyone's cup of tea. If that doesn't bother you though bichon frise's are nice little dogs, they do need a lot of grooming, but they don't shed.

If you're more of a cat person you might consider going a bit bigger and checking out whippets. They're fairly cat like in a lot of ways, short coated, not smelly or drooly.

[hippospot]

Thanks everyone, lots of food for thought.

I'm not mad keen to get a dog at all while DH is working so much, because as some of you have said, I'll be the one doing the lion's share of the work, and right now I'm relishing the fact that my kids are bigger and need me less (and I'm no longer involved with their poos).

At the very earliest we would look at getting a dog in 4+ years but I guess I am thinking ahead to the implications of dog ownership.

It does sound like daschunds are not the right breed for us though.

[Buttholelane]

I really dislike dachshunds personally.
Sorry. Find their shape incredibly ugly, they are prone to disc problems also which can be excruciatingly painful.

I would advise wood or tile flooring, something easily swept and maintained.

Wipe clean leather sofa or invest in sofa throws.

Raw feeding tends to make teeny, odourless poos and virtually no coat odour.

Regarding trips, depends where you go really. Lots of hotels, lodges and cottages allow dogs. Lots of pubs and cafes will let you sit outside and eat with the dogs.

[MothershipG]

Thinking ahead is excellent! So you've got 4 years to chat to friendly dog owners you come across in the park or at fun dog shows at village fetes or similar. As your DC get older and their social circles widen they are bound to have some friends with dogs and it will all help you to decide if you even want one and then what breed/type.

If you have the time offering to dog walk at a local rescue can be a good way to meet a wide variety.

[tabulahrasa]

Oh if you've got years then plenty of time to mull over breeds.

Could you go to discover dogs? It's an annual thing and then you can actually chat to owners as well as meet dogs.

Also, start looking for a breeder at least a year before you want a puppy, good breeders have waiting lists.

But usually people want one now, so planning years ahead I'd great.

[fatherpeeweestairmaster]

Did your DH grow up with one of those magical self-servicing adorable childhood doggy companions like mine did? IME, men who grew up with dogs tend to assume the day to day care is virtually nil, since their mother picked up the poo/fed it/hoovered twice daily/walked it while everyone was out/booked it into kennels... leaving the frolicking in the garden and other highlights to the kids.

I like dachshunds a lot, but as others have said, they're a big dog a small dog's body. The wire-haired ones are most hound-like, in their determination and independence and funny characters, but none of them are exactly cuddly.

The only sentence in your OP that mattters is this one: I'm a cat lover, and pretty reluctant to have dogs. Offer to look after a friend's dog for a week (not a weekend!) and see how your DH finds it. Or two dogs, ideally. Then take to your bed for five days.

[PeaceOfWildThings]

I think you should stick to cats.

[DayLillie]

Dachshunds need plenty of walking and exercise to keep them fit, and to strengthen their back, and to make sure they do not get the least bit overweight because of the back issues.

I always feel very sad when I see the toilet roll tube shaped ones, with a leg at each corner .

They hate the rain and will not ever walk through a puddle voluntarily.

They will not fetch sticks, unless there two of them, when they will both chase it and the winner will guard it (pointlessly, because it does not want it) from the other.

They think they are big, which can cause embarrassing problems.

They are much harder to train in twos, and IME can trash a kitchen floor in ten minutes, even if they have just been taken out for emptying.

[dotdotdotmustdash]

I believe whippets are one of the most cat-like breeds - small, short-haired, low odour and generally fairly quiet. I have collies, they're none of those things!

[BagelwithButter]

Fantastic post fatherpee A lot of posts here include "my DH would love a dog" and, yes, it is lovely, but it's also lots of work which may not be welcome with small children and work, after school clubs, meeting friends, swimming lessons and so on.

Then, when children are older and need you less (or not less but in different ways which still take time, love and commitment), do you really want another being that ties you more to the house, Yes, I know they give a lot back but I really think you need to be a certain person to want all that.

I fostered 2 dogs, both adorable and really no bother at all, especially considering they were ex-street dogs who'd spent only a short time in rescue kennels abroad. But it made me realise that I just didn't want the long-term commitment and responsibility of being a full time dog owner.

I'm so glad I fostered before leaping in to ownership for the next 12-15 years. Just took a friend's dog out for a walk today which was lovely in the sunshine and I do miss the foster dogs sometimes but it was a good reality check.

[TheKitchenWitch]

Yyy - you absolutely need to be the person who wants the dog if you are going to be doing the main part of looking after it, imo. I think I would very quickly feel resentful if I was doing all the work and I hadn't even wanted them in the first place!

And daschunds, while very funny, clever dogs when well trained, can be an absolute nightmare.

[pregnantpause]

My dh had magic dogs through his childhood. Completely unprepared for the reality and responsibility. Fortunately my dad was a breeder when I grew up so I had no illusions.

Daschund insurance doesn't come cheap and you need lifetime cover - the cost will come to about £50 a month before food

They're lovely but stubborn- and as others have said training a litter set is hard work for experienced owners.

whippets sound up your street- low maintenance, little shedding and smell, laid back and eager to please.

[pregnantpause]

£50 for two that is- about £25 each

[badoomtish]

Whatever you do, whenever you do it, do not get two - recipe for disaster in your situation!

[DayLillie]

Actually, my NDN, an experienced dog owner with no illusions, no children and taking a career break, bought one dog, trained it up, then bought the other about 2 years later.