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

@Swarskid2184 no dog is hypoallergenic.
They are very active and intelligent dogs.

Wolfiefan - maybe I used the wrong term, but poodles don't shed and don't trigger dog allergies

[quote Wolfiefan]@Swarskid2184 no dog is hypoallergenic.
They are very active and intelligent dogs.[/quote]
Well... they are, it's just that the term doesn't mean quite what most people blithely assume.

Hypoallergenic, meaning "below average" or "slightly" allergenic is a term meaning that something (usually cosmeticss^, petss^, textiless^, food, etc.) causes fewer allergicc^ reactions. The term was first used in 1953 in an advertising campaignn^ for cosmetics[1][better source neededd^] or perhaps as early as 1940.[2]
The term is also commonly applied to pet breedss^ which are claimed to produce fewer allergens than other breeds of the same species, due to some combination of their coat type, absence of fur, or absence of a gene that produces a certain protein. All breeds still produce allergenss^ and a 2011 study failed to find a difference in allergen concentrations in homes with dogs of "hypoallergenic breeds" and other breeds.[3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypoallergenic

@LivingLaVidaBabyShower

I am sure you are aware but Dachshunds are popular with old people for a reason. They love company and do not do well left alone for any prolonged length of time.

My friend (against my advice) got one. He is almost 2 years old and is gorgeous but very vocal, and requires a large amount of "play time" he also has had a variety of health issues so i'd research your breeder carefully.

6 months ish you can start leaving them for 30 mins and building up. We started by being in different rooms then used to put bins out or go to corner shop (literally 10 mins max)

Kennels i just wouldn't use myself. They are very stressful for the animal and we love our dog too much. She would also just hate it as she is a bit nervy. We either have in home carers /sitters or our girl stays with close family (who she knows well and sees 3-5 x per week)

why can't you leave a puppy alone for 30 mins??!!! What on earth happens when you got to bed??

@Swarskid2184

Wolfiefan - maybe I used the wrong term, but poodles don't shed and don't trigger dog allergies

They do trigger allergies, lots of people are allergic to skin dander and saliva not fur.

They obviously don’t trigger yours, but they do still trigger lots of people’s.

When you go to bed, you settle them for the night and get up to take them out to the toilet if they need it. You are still in the house and you gradually get them used to nights alone - our pup was in our room for the first few weeks (crate), then we slept downstairs with him for about a week. We had a baby monitor so we could quickly get up and take him out to toilet before he became distressed, so it didn't escalate to full crying.

Leaving the house is a bit different - if they get upset, they could cause serious damage to themselves or your home, get extremely stressed and are then likely to associate you leaving as something negative. You could end up with severe separation anxiety. It's important to build up slowly and return before the puppy gets upset, so they don't build negative associations.

I'm following this because I'm currently looking at a 9 year old miniature dachshund from a Rescue. His owner died so it's not a case of him having been a difficult dog and toilet training etc. will all have been done. No known health issues and, if we get him (there are others already interested) he will have been neutered and his teeth checked.

@Lifeisaminestrone don’t get me started on Cavapoos and all the other expensive cross breeds. Buyers seem to have two notions about them that are often not true. Firstly, that they are healthier than a pure bred dog. In fact they often inherit the genetic vulnerabilities to diseases from both breeds. Secondly, that (due to the Poodle in them), they will be hypoallergenic and won’t shed. Yet they can inherit the coat of either parent and weirdly, can have a mix of the two. Any experienced groomer and vet will tell you they see more problems with these cross breeds than with any pure bred dog. If you want a hypoallergenic, non shedding coat, just buy a Poodle!

@AnnieSnap

Yes we have de-railed the thread somewhat - but I think absolutely critical for ANY breed, that testing is done.

Local breed clubs are a good bet, although sometimes hard ‘to get in’. It was my vet who recommended a cavalier to me! The vet nurse gave me a list of tests required and some other pointers - think age of both parents (for MVD) was an important consideration. Anyway whatever breed you go for I suggest speaking to your vet mine was very helpful.

@Lifeisaminestrone 👍

I know two from different homes and they both upset the neighbours with their constant barking.
#bitter experience from one of them.