Talk to me about miniature dachshunds please

[MiniatureHotdog]

Hello. I am getting close to agreeing to getting a dog...after constant begging from the DC I had dogs growing up but haven't had one as an adult. My DC are primary aged (eldest going to secondary next year). I'm aware that the bulk of the work will be done by me, which doesn't put me off. I'm thinking of a miniature dachshund. For background we have no other pets, we're detatched, average sized urban garden, I'm at home every day, we can afford a dog.

But I have some questions about logistics so I can check it's the right breed for us, and also plan what time of year would be best to get a puppy. Can anyone with miniature dachshunds (or puppy experts in general) help with the following...

1. Assuming we get a puppy, at what age would they be okay left home alone for half an hour to an hour? I'm assuming at first I will be housebound .

1. What sort of age is it appropriate to start using a kennel if we had a couple of days away? We'll start planning holidays to be dog friendly longterm, but there are always odd weekends that crop up that aren't dog friendly (eg a wedding).

1. Apart from the other obvious things like sorting insurance, finding a good local vet, bedding/leads/toys etc for at home... what other things, or impacts on our life, do I need to consider that I might be missing? I want to go into this with due thought and our eyes wide open.

Thank you

It's a myth that small dogs are easier. Generally speaking, the larger breeds are more gentle, quieter and easier to train.

Our friends have miniature dachshunds and they love them but they are snappy and stubborn.

If you can manage to get a puppy during the summer months, it's far better for housetraining and getting up in the night.

My bigger fear would be that this wasn’t a dog who could be allowed “ to be a dog “. No jumping on sofas , no stairs / yeah ok you can police that indoors but whilst having a bloody good time in the woods following their nose ? Playing with a friend?

Is that a good life for a dog - constantly on lead for fear of injury - and that will affect socialisation and reaction to other dogs etc etc

They are also batty and can be aggressive - maybe ( I dunno ) driven by being very small and not off lead ??

Btw I have a cavvie. He’s a great indoor lap dog , but off road in the woods he’s in full on spaniel mode and as squirrel bonkers as a sprinter or cocker so he’s channeling his inner gazelle leaping around and all. How do you stop a dachshund ?

Before you decide on a Dachshund, take a good hard look at their health issues. Their backs are far to long for their size, and this predisposes them to painful and disabling problems.

And as PP have said, they can be snappy little sods.

They are not popular on Mumsnet but my poodle cross is the best dog in the world. She is friends with everyone including children, cats and other dogs. Easy to train, and very loving.
I think a pure bred poodle would also be fab. The dachshunds we know are quite barky.

I definitely wouldn't go for that particular breed. A friend's dog has had lots medical problems, including surgery on its back, and it's not even that old. I feel really sorry for the dog tbh, it's scared of everything and extremely nervous around bigger dogs (and every dog is a bigger dog!). If you have the space, why not give the miniature breeds a miss, and go for a normal sized dog that doesn't have the same health problems that these sort of breeds suffer from?

@XelaM

Get a pug! Easiest anf most kid-friendly breed ever! Ours id amazing! He was very easy to potty train, loves to please, is extremely cuddly (wants to lie on top of whoever is currently on the sofa/bed, sleeps most of the day, but is very playful when you want to play with him, can be left alone for hours and is just the best dog ever

Photo attached

I have a pug (a rescue, poor love had a lot of puppies before I got her, she is now a very pampered old lady who never has to 'work' again) and whilst I worship the bones of her, I would not recommend anyone buy a pug puppy.

The breed is in bits, it's not just breathing issues it's a whole host of others as well, hip problems, knee problems, back problems, dental problems (I've just spent a fortune having most of mines teeth removed), eye problems, not to mention the nasty neurological condition (pug dog encephalitis) that killed my first rescue pug.

They are wonderful dogs, truly they are but I would implore anyone thinking about it to please rescue one rather than buy a puppy. And to really research what is wrong with the breed.

Sorry for the de-rail op. Good luck with your future ddog.

Thank you for the replies everyone, lots to think about. It's sounding like dachshunds may not be the breed for us, we'll definitely need to leave them for an hour or two eventually, and would want them house trained eventually (and also the health worries).

I will look at the other breeds suggested, thank you. I've also just come across Italian Greyhounds which looks interesting...

I think they are all very different.

My family have one, she is the sweetest thing and loves us all to bits. However outside I'd the most ridiculously aggressive thing. If I've ever seen a dog suffer with small dog syndrome it is her. People, dogs, cats, she's not fussy.

She has had multiple back problems, this is breed specific of course because of the long back.

Training they can be very clever, I think it is more motivation with them, they can be lazy. One I know rings a bell by the door when she wants to go out for a wee!

Any reason against pure bred miniature poodles? I've always thought that if I were to have another dog, I'd be very tempted by a mini poodle. The ones I know are intelligent, good tempered & AFAIK healthy, whilst being genuinely small dogs. They don't have to have silly haircuts!

@Sadik
If I ever have another dog I think I would have a miniature poodle.
They are clever, good natured and just the right size.

I have a yorkshire terrier. Unpopular as a breed atm due to the yorkipoo oodle doodle craze.

Great little dogs. I’d also have considered a greyhound or whippet but I have cats. Other breeds would be a poodle, but I do live yorkies.

I have a miniature Dachshund, he’s now 20 weeks old. He’s a little pocket rocket, he barks (a lot), doesn’t particularly like being on his own but he’s very affectionate and 99% toilet trained.
We have another dog who was much easier to train but the Doxie is learning and is just gorgeous.

I would always choose to get a new puppy in the warmer months of the year, as you will be spending a lot of time loitering in the garden in the first few weeks, and going out for night time wees in pissing rain and frost is not nice!

We left our puppy very early on, for 5-10 minute initially, and worked up in increments. By six months we can comfortably leave her for a couple of hours if needed (although we rarely ever do), as long as she is exercised, toileted, and has a new chew.

@MiniatureHotdog discover dogs is on very soon if you can get there.
Italian greyhounds are also quite delicate, sensitive and shy of people.

Get great insurance. Most minis have severe spinal problems by the time they're 6 so prepare for a large operation, physio, hydrotherapy and a very large bill.

Mini dachshunds are also prone to bladder stones, this can then lead to diabetes because of the special diet, then insulin twice a day. They can go blind from diabetes.

I've had one before and wouldn't own one again. Stubborn but the most loving little things but the health issues she had were awful as soon as she turned 5.

Be prepared for spinal issues, bladder stones, diabetes, stubborn to train/toilet train/recall, severe separation anxiety, yapping and destruction in your house then it's the perfect breed for you. They can also be aggressive little buggers.

Standards are slightly easier to train and backs are a bit sturdier, not come across a case of bladder stones in a standard and more common in the minis.

Just be mindful as dashunds are another breed that is being over bred and there seems to be more issues with them because of this! There short legs for heavy body's in comparison seem to be the main factor of problems arising! I think they're so characterful and cute but my friend has just spent £4000 on hers and her vet said in the last few years he's treat more and more who are suffering with hip and joint issues. So apart from training issues just be careful

Excuse spelling I'm knackered 😴

Our (full sized - not Iggy) grey hound always looks at dachshunds with a look of complete incomprehension as if thinking “you’re me but with no legs” - so you could always get a full sized grey. Terribly low maintenance generally!

I will look at the other breeds suggested, thank you. I've also just come across Italian Greyhounds which looks interesting...

They are gorgeous dogs but again, fragile due to their stature and they do have high prey-drives around small furry things, so a big consideration if you want to do long off-lead walks or have a garden frequented by squirrels/cats.

Get a Golden Retriever, they are the best family dogs in the world.

Don’t know if it is just my neighbour’s two but they were horrendously yappy, for hours on end when left and every time I went into the garden.

It was horrible for us and the neighbours the other side and we all used to worry about the dogs as sounded really distressed. We were really pleased when they left . Both us and other neighbours are dog owners so used to a bit of barking but this was just a whole other level and extremely unpleasant to live next to.

Thanks again so much everyone! All the replies have been so helpful. That discover dogs looks amazing! This thread has shown me that I need to do a lot more research before we add another 4 legs to the household

I have a toy poodle and a Yorkie, both lovely breeds (to me!) I have had dogs for years (mostly yorkies) but my personal criteria for a dog is...mustn't be squashed faced, must be pick- upable, and preferably doesn't moult. Have a look at poodles, they are wonderful dogs and so bright and family orientated. Personally would never have a dachshund for all the reasons others have mentioned.

When looking into which breed its a good idea to research what job they were bred to do. I'm not entirely sure but I think dachshunds were bred to fight badgers.