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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

Can anyone tell me about dachshunds please?

46 replies

Stillpinching · 26/04/2019 18:34

They have been recommended to me by a few people as quite low maintenance and I was wondering if others would agree with that. Obviously I know all dogs are a huge responsibility, that goes without saying.

I used to have a lurcher (greyhound/deerhound and he was soon easy to care for. Slept all day, bombed around for 20 minutes then went back to sleep. I would love another him but due to size it would mean a new car so I've been wondering if similar exists in a smaller package.

To me dachshunds are snappy, quite clever and therefore in need of stimulation but I've never met one and people who have keep telling me they're lazy. Are they? They do have quite lurcheresque faces, which I like but I need to know the reality..

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 26/04/2019 19:16

If you call 5K back surgeries low maintenance which large numbers of them do need. I would steer clear.

BayandBlonde · 26/04/2019 19:20

Low maintenance, hell no. They will cost you a fortune in vet bills and are bloody noisy!

recreationalcalpol · 26/04/2019 19:22

SIL has one, it never shuts up

Chocolatedeficitdisorder · 26/04/2019 19:22

Dogs bred to have extreme features can never experience the health, fitness and quality of life of more 'dog-shaped' dogs and nobody will ever convince me differently.

While walking my dogs recently, I came across a 2 yr old Bulldog who could barely waddle and sounded like it had a death rattle. His owners were so proud of their boy but I was horrified.

Dogs are supposed to have long or medium sized snouts, balanced bodies and legs long enough to enable them to jump and run.

Please don't buy into deliberate mutilation.

Easterbunnyhashoppedoff · 26/04/2019 19:24

Last article I read about them was when several killed their owner!!

Wolfiefan · 26/04/2019 19:27

Bloody nightmare dogs. Pretty much everyone I’ve ever met. Barky and full of attitude and hard to train. And lots of health issues. I wouldn’t. And I have a wolfhound. Shock

han01uk · 26/04/2019 19:30

Whoever said dachshunds are low maintenance seriously needs to do some research! While I'm sure some may be....ours is a complete and utter terror. His recall is rubbish,he barks A LOT,is reactive to other dogs on lead,he has cost us £100's at the vets having his stomach emptied as he cannot control his scavenging,he won't walk to heel,he won't sleep through the night,he frequently has "accidents" when we are out (doesn't have any if we are in,so more "how dare you leave me" kind of accidents). They are notoriously stubborn to train and that doesn't even cover the health aspects. Ours has alopecia which will also cost us £100's at the vet,let alone back problems which many many seem to have. I definitely would research further before taking on a dog that has been sold as something it isn't (I wish I had!) but we still love him and his quirky traits!

PinkOboe · 26/04/2019 19:31

Google them. They have a very distinctive personality. We’ve had them all my life and they all have some things in common

They are territorial. They are needy. Greedy. Crave comfort and warmth. Very affectionate with immediate family (may not extend to husband / children!) They’re standoffish with strangers (which being “cute” can be problematic when people want to stroke them). Stubborn as hell, which makes training difficult and rather unrewarding. Largely incontinent, would rather pee on the sofa / rug than brave the rain anyday. Most of the 15+ I have known / know cannot be trusted around children (snappy). I love them for their sheer chutzpah, they’re real hounds, but easy? No

han01uk · 26/04/2019 19:32

And OP I just saw your lazy comment.... yesterday mine was walked for 2 hrs and came on a 5K run with me,he's definitely not lazy and would literally run all day!!

ApplestheHare · 26/04/2019 19:33

SIL have one and they love her but she's the hardest work out of their 3 dogs by a long way. Barks constantly and needs so much stimulation.

S1naidSucks · 26/04/2019 19:33

No, absolutely not. I own a doggy daycare and they are the most delicate wee dog I have through the door. I have four on my books and each and everyone of them has had/has a spinal problem. I have a soft spot for disabled/elderly dogs. I would actually be concerned that the people telling you that these dogs are low maintenance, aren’t actually looking after them properly and the poor dog will end up suffering for it.

They should not use stairs or steps, so you’ll need to put a little ramp in if you have a lot of steps and carry them up and down the stairs. Naturally someone is going to come along and say that their dog charges up and down the stairs and they’re fine. Yup, at the minute they’re fine, but it only takes ONE twist or wrong footing and you’ve a seriously damaged dog that may not survive the surgery it will need.

You need to keep their back straight, when lifting them up/setting them down and as they are front heavy, they can be easily hurt/twisted or dropped by someone, usually a child, who decides they’re so cute they need lifted. Yes, this happens when I’m out with them. I’m fiercely protective so they’re told not to touch. Parents please train your children around dogs. You must make sure all four feet are on the ground when setting them down, before you let go. Keep in mind that a couple of inches drop to a tiny dachshund is a foot or more drop for a human.

If you have children it would be cruel to the dog as children are not good at remembering to follow the handling rules for this breed. It’s also not fair to the children to get a dog that they can’t really play with.

PinkOboe · 26/04/2019 19:35

On they upside their total devotion to the chosen few means they’re very easy to travel with. As long as I am there, anywhere, she’s happy. But makes leaving them anywhere they can’t be with you difficult

S1naidSucks · 26/04/2019 19:35

Btw, I absolutely adore my little dachshund guests, but they can be very demanding and my god, what the hell was ‘nature’ playing at, putting such a large loud bark in such a tiny body?!

threadedwithstars · 26/04/2019 19:38

Aw, I'm not so sure they're that bad! We've had wirehaired ones in the family since the end of ww1 (politically dodgy during the war!) so they're kinda genetic. You have to be extremely careful re breeding. Our latest few were from Swedish stock and have slightly shorter, strong backs and have had no issues at all. That said we don't let them jump out of the car just in case. They are super hard to house train,are liable to vanish down rabbit holes and can be protective of their owners. But my goodness they're nice people! My 4 yr old has such a special bond with my parents hound, he follows her round and plays with her so gently. They blow bubbles in puddles. So not a beginner's dog by any means but with careful selection and meticulous upbringing can be fabulous. And you get to call them glorious silly names like Bolster and Frank(furter).

PinkOboe · 26/04/2019 19:38

Only one I’ve known had a back problem and I’ve any found attempts to stop climbing stairs or jumping on / off the sofa entirely futile as they’d literally move mountains or break their backs to be close to the one they love

NuffingChora · 26/04/2019 19:38

If you’re used to sighthounds, why not a whippet? Plenty in rescue. Grew up with dachshunds and while nice to look at, I wouldn’t have one in a million years. Impossible to train (unless you’re very lucky) and huge potential for injuries.

JaneEyre07 · 26/04/2019 19:39

One of our neighbours has one.

It's a miracle no one has lobbed a poisoned bone in the garden for the amount of barking it does Hmm

I've never heard barking like it. It's horrific.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 26/04/2019 19:40

I've known a few: intelligent and stubborn. Can be huge fun, can also have massive Napoleon complexes. I'd never have one because of the health issues with their backs.

Last article I read about them was when several killed their owner!!
I saw the photos of those dogs after they had been euthanised and they were NOT dachshunds. They had short legs, so there might have been dachshund in there some way back, but there was a whole lot else there too.

Ginger153 · 26/04/2019 19:40

Haha! Another life long dachshund owner (slave) here. They are wonderful dogs but they're hounds and need to be treated as such. They do need exercise and have a big bark in a small package. Definitely easy in a smaller house/car but there are health risks with their backs. They do need consistent training. I would have more in an instant but look up the Facebook groups for advice. There are lots of dachshund walks now, maybe find one local to you and go along to meet some sausages and decide from there?

S1naidSucks · 26/04/2019 19:41

are liable to vanish down rabbit holes

OMG! Don’t even suggest such a thing! I can’t even imagine having that conversation with a client when we’re trying to dig their dog out of a rabbit hole! 😱

SandAndSea · 26/04/2019 19:41

Awful dogs.

TrixieFranklin · 26/04/2019 19:43

Horrid things, a good friend of mine had 2 and we stopped visiting because of them.

S1naidSucks · 26/04/2019 19:46

Awful dogs

They are not awful dogs. My little dachshund guests are wonderful, but you really need to know how to look after them. Only one of the four is a barker, but one of them actually slides under any dog, like a little fat snake, that happens to be on my knee, in order to get the best spot. 😁

Ginger153 · 26/04/2019 19:51

S1 yes! Any awfulness is down to lack of training or exercise. Owners must take responsibility

BigGapMum · 26/04/2019 20:02

Oh dear. My neighbours are about to get a dachshund. This doesn't bode well.