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

Dachshunds help

67 replies

Gonnagetgoing · 24/03/2022 11:34

My DM has decided she would like to buy me (I've always wanted one) a wirehaired dachshund. Basically one of her close friends (C) is buying one from a breeder (dog had puppies 3 weeks ago) but friend stayed with her friend and got to know the wirehaired dachshund and adores it and DM says she will get me one - I could afford it but it's a gift to me. We have checked the breeder (friend of friend (C) bought a puppy from there 2 years ago) and they are reputable breeders and not inbred. All KC registered.

So talk me through dachshunds, how much walking etc? I will be back in the office 2 days a week, would it be ok being left alone for those 2 days?

Also - Pet Insurance - I have an adopted cat (it adopted me) but don't pay for insurance as she's never ill. What would you suggest for the dog? And the puppy will get on with the cat yes?

OP posts:
Wouldntitbenicetobeinyourshoes · 24/03/2022 11:48

No they won’t be okay left at home alone for 2 days.
DSis has Dachshunds. Bladders like thimbles. They also yap if so much as a crisp packet blows down the street. Adorable little munchkins but I pity her neighbours. We can’t even have a conversation on the phone without ‘yap! yap! yap!’

www.ilovedachshunds.com/can-dachshunds-be-left-alone-all-day/

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 24/03/2022 11:51

You absolutely cannot leave any dog home alone all day. Dachshunds especially are needy and prone to separation anxiety and having lots of accidents. Most puppies can't be left for longer than 10 minutes at first, let alone all day. Even as an adult the recommended limit is four hours per day.

If you are out at work all day you will need daycare at a cost of around £20-30 per day but this won't be suitable until your puppy is at least 12 weeks old and fully jabbed.

Dachshunds are also prone to lots of health issues - so no stairs, no jumping on and off furniture, no leaping around - they need ramps (or carrying) into cars etc.

You need good quality insurance - the best and highest coverage you can get.

There's no guarantee your puppy will like your cat - dachshunds were originally hunting dogs so they have high prey drives and like to chase.

It sounds like you're not ready for a puppy and I think you need to do a LOT more research first.

SirSniffsAlot · 24/03/2022 11:54

I'd get excellent insurance at the top tier - dachs are very vulnerable in the spine and treating issues is expensive.

I'd also expect to hire a dog walker for the two days you are in the office and be prepared to come home to a very distressed or destructive dog. They are noisy so if you have neighbours, you may find they get upset at you if the dog barks/howls its way through those two days.

And expect toilet training (already a struggle with dachs) to be even harder if s/he gets 2 days a wekk where there is nothing there to take them outside regularly. Toilet training is really just habit forming and for 2 days a week, this dog will be practising toileting indoors not out. If you have the dog reliably toilet training by about 8-10 months old, you'll be doing very well.

As for the cat: maybe, maybe not. It may not be an official terrier but it is designed to hunt small furry things all the same. But some dachs do live with cats.

GodspeedJune · 24/03/2022 11:57

If they’re a decent breeder they won’t sell a dog to you knowing you’ll be leaving them home alone for 2 days a week. Sorry OP but dogs can’t be left that long, even as adults. I’d expect a good breeder to have a waiting list, too.

I’d also recommend insuring your cat. By the time you need insurance she’ll already be ill and insurance won’t cover it as a pre-existing condition.

AwkwardPaws27 · 24/03/2022 11:59

I have an adopted cat (it adopted me) but don't pay for insurance as she's never ill

That's not really how insurance works. You can't predict if any animal will never get ill, & if they do get ill & you aren't insured, you can't then buy insurance for that condition.

Dachshunds are very prone to back problems, which can be severe and cost thousands. Look up IVDD.

My dog (cocker spaniel) developed a condition called IMPA at just 9 months old. His vet bills over the last 9 months have been over £8,000. Thankfully we have insurance.

You cannot leave a puppy all day. We couldn't leave our dog for even an hour until he was around 6 months old, and we increased this very gradually.

Beetle76 · 24/03/2022 12:04

Don’t count on a dachshund being friendly with your cat either. They have high prey drives. It’s possible they’ll be ok, but by no means a guarantee if he/she is introduced as a puppy.

Insurance is a must. The best, for life with the highest annual amount. Look into where your nearest IVDD specialist vet is too as there is a good chance you will need one.

Look into a doggy daycare for your two days a week. They are prone to separation anxiety but the Daxies I know thrive on going to their daycare. (It’s one that specialises in Daxies and they love it!)

I love Daxies and am a huge fan of them, but I’ve stopped myself getting one several times as they are a lot.

The breeder having puppies available is also a bit of a red flag. The ones I know have waiting lists several litters long, but maybe you’re just lucky?

Please think very carefully. Daxies are dogs with a very steep learning curve.

TheFlis12345 · 24/03/2022 12:08

Please PM me, I have experience of Wireys.

livingthegoodlife · 24/03/2022 12:10

I have a Dachshund, he is only 5 months old so I'm not the most experienced dachshund owner but I have had other dogs.

Here is what I reply:

Insurance. Mine is about £40 a month. That is for middle to upper tier cover. True top tier cover was more. I decided this was enough for me as I could pay the vets bills if needed. Look into ivdd.

You definitely need some doggy care for 2 days. The pup will be extremely distressed if left alone all day & will have accidents. Are you WFH the other days? You might find it challenging to concentrate.

If introduced at an early age there is no reason why the pup won't accept the cat. Will the cat like the dog though? My pup is fine with my friends cat, no chasing/barking etc. Just interested sniffing.

I would also check what other health tests the pup has had.

What age does the barking start? My Dachshund does not bark much yet, 1 yap to be let back indoors, 1 yap if someone new comes in house. Nothing major (although I'm not sure if this is just because he is a puppy).

Toilet training is challenging. We are down to almost no accidents, only if we don't hear him at back door (he is like a ninja). We have done a lot of training. My other dogs trained in a few days, this dachshund about 4 months (and still a work in progress).

I think you could probably make it work but it will take a lot of work, socialisation and money (for day care/walker etc).

Good luck.

Jenjenn · 24/03/2022 12:16

We have a dachshund and a cat. The daxie is a delight but he is noisy and very needy. You 100% can not leave them for a whole day. Our cat lives in a separate part of the house now that daxie can not access. The cat hates the dog!

FanFckingTastic · 24/03/2022 12:17

Dachshund owner here... Dachshunds are great (I'm biased obviously) but you do need to do your research and make sure that the breed will fit in well with your lifestyle. They are very, very needy - which is lovely - but be prepared to have a dog that sticks to you like velcro and doesn't have much understanding of personal space. My Dachshund can be left for very short periods occasionally but there's no way that you could leave them for a full work day. They are quite a stubborn breed and toilet training can take a bit longer than some other breeds. My dog is very good now but you do have to be really persistent and expect that it will take a bit of time to crack - again just something to think about if you are going to need to be away from the house during the first 3-6 months.

Dachshunds are originally hunting dogs and have a strong prey drive, which means that they will chase anything that moves. Despite their small stature they are actually pretty fierce, with strong, teeth and claws. It might be that if the pup is socialised with your cat that they get on, but it's definitely something to be aware of. Dachshunds are also renowned for being noisy little beggars and will literally bark at anything that moves so you'd need to think about whether your pup would bark a lot at your cat, and whether that would bother your cat, or your neighbours.

Finally, do your research on IVDD. Unfortunately lots of Dachshunds have spine problems so having really good insurance is important, as well as making sure that your pup is not doing things that might hurt it's spine. The advice with the breed is to leave neutering until they are fully mature (about 2 years old) so again this is something to consider if you need to have a dog that's been neutered for doggy-daycare etc.

They are a wonderful breed, and I wouldn't have anything else.... but... you'll need to consider whether they are right for you.

Gonnagetgoing · 24/03/2022 12:19

@GodspeedJune

If they’re a decent breeder they won’t sell a dog to you knowing you’ll be leaving them home alone for 2 days a week. Sorry OP but dogs can’t be left that long, even as adults. I’d expect a good breeder to have a waiting list, too.

I’d also recommend insuring your cat. By the time you need insurance she’ll already be ill and insurance won’t cover it as a pre-existing condition.

@GodspeedJune - they do have a waiting list but myself (DM) and the friend put our name down when they were mating the dogs (is that the right question?) so we were on the waiting list.
OP posts:
Gonnagetgoing · 24/03/2022 12:21

@livingthegoodlife

I have a Dachshund, he is only 5 months old so I'm not the most experienced dachshund owner but I have had other dogs.

Here is what I reply:

Insurance. Mine is about £40 a month. That is for middle to upper tier cover. True top tier cover was more. I decided this was enough for me as I could pay the vets bills if needed. Look into ivdd.

You definitely need some doggy care for 2 days. The pup will be extremely distressed if left alone all day & will have accidents. Are you WFH the other days? You might find it challenging to concentrate.

If introduced at an early age there is no reason why the pup won't accept the cat. Will the cat like the dog though? My pup is fine with my friends cat, no chasing/barking etc. Just interested sniffing.

I would also check what other health tests the pup has had.

What age does the barking start? My Dachshund does not bark much yet, 1 yap to be let back indoors, 1 yap if someone new comes in house. Nothing major (although I'm not sure if this is just because he is a puppy).

Toilet training is challenging. We are down to almost no accidents, only if we don't hear him at back door (he is like a ninja). We have done a lot of training. My other dogs trained in a few days, this dachshund about 4 months (and still a work in progress).

I think you could probably make it work but it will take a lot of work, socialisation and money (for day care/walker etc).

Good luck.

@livingthegoodlife so:-

the dachshund will be insured.

I was planning on getting someone to go in and walk the dog twice a day.

What health tests should I ask for?

I think the cat will be ok.

OP posts:
fairylightsandwaxmelts · 24/03/2022 12:23

I was planning on getting someone to go in and walk the dog twice a day.

Sorry - this is nowhere near enough and you will come home to accidents, destruction and a very unhappy dog.

If you insist on going through with this, then daycare is an absolute must.

Gonnagetgoing · 24/03/2022 12:23

@AwkwardPaws27

I have an adopted cat (it adopted me) but don't pay for insurance as she's never ill

That's not really how insurance works. You can't predict if any animal will never get ill, & if they do get ill & you aren't insured, you can't then buy insurance for that condition.

Dachshunds are very prone to back problems, which can be severe and cost thousands. Look up IVDD.

My dog (cocker spaniel) developed a condition called IMPA at just 9 months old. His vet bills over the last 9 months have been over £8,000. Thankfully we have insurance.

You cannot leave a puppy all day. We couldn't leave our dog for even an hour until he was around 6 months old, and we increased this very gradually.

@AwkwardPaws27 - this cat has been an outdoors cat (mostly) for the past 8 years and apart from initial kitten jabs I'm sure she doesn't have a yearly booster!

The only issue I had was yesterday when her eye was closed and watering - which I bathed and so I didn't take her to vet as fine in morning. I am currently saving the money I'd pay out in insurance separately.

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoing · 24/03/2022 12:24

@SirSniffsAlot

I'd get excellent insurance at the top tier - dachs are very vulnerable in the spine and treating issues is expensive.

I'd also expect to hire a dog walker for the two days you are in the office and be prepared to come home to a very distressed or destructive dog. They are noisy so if you have neighbours, you may find they get upset at you if the dog barks/howls its way through those two days.

And expect toilet training (already a struggle with dachs) to be even harder if s/he gets 2 days a wekk where there is nothing there to take them outside regularly. Toilet training is really just habit forming and for 2 days a week, this dog will be practising toileting indoors not out. If you have the dog reliably toilet training by about 8-10 months old, you'll be doing very well.

As for the cat: maybe, maybe not. It may not be an official terrier but it is designed to hunt small furry things all the same. But some dachs do live with cats.

@SirSniffsAlot - the neighbours on one side are lovely - the others have a few loud parties so I'm not worrying if the dog barks and annoys them!
OP posts:
Gonnagetgoing · 24/03/2022 12:25

@fairylightsandwaxmelts

I was planning on getting someone to go in and walk the dog twice a day.

Sorry - this is nowhere near enough and you will come home to accidents, destruction and a very unhappy dog.

If you insist on going through with this, then daycare is an absolute must.

@fairylightsandwaxmelts - ok will look into doggy day care.

Actually my DM suggested when I texted her this morning that she takes the dog for the days (and would be unpaid) I work. She has experience of dogs - bigger ones though!

OP posts:
Iamblossom · 24/03/2022 12:27

I have a miniature Daxie. I adore the bones of her.

She is insured to a high degree as I know they are prone to back problems.

She is incredibly affectionate and would be glued to me 24 hours if I let her.

I run with her most days, up to 10km each time. So she is extremely fit and strong and it keeps her weight down.

She is exceptionally greedy and whilst bad for all dogs, being overweight exacerbates all daxie health conditions so you have to be super careful not to overfeed, give treats or leave food out.

She does bark alot. So much so that my husband refuses to walk her as it's "embarrassing". I am either now immune to it or care less than he does, but she does bark. It's the breed.

I wouldn't be without her, our other dog, a big black lab, also adores her and they are extremely cute together.

We did have a cat until recently and she was perfectly fine with her.

She wasn't difficult to house train, but she does occasionally poo in the house before we come down in the morning, because she can. Hard floors, small poos, it doesn't really bother me.

She is a dude and a princess and they are my favourite breed of dog bar none.

littlebauxpeep · 24/03/2022 12:27

Miniature or standard?

We have a standard wire-haired - he has a loud, guttural bark which is penetrating and frankly very irritating at times e.g. when recently suffering with a covid headache (but on the plus size a parcel delivery never goes unnoticed). Totally silent once someone is in the house, but complete maniac to anyone who dares to walk past our window...

Toilet training - not terrible in our experience (and would recommend the snip for a boy to prevent scent marking indoors). Miniatures are worse for toilet training apparently and that would put me off - I've heard some are never toilet trained which isn't something I would want to welcome into my life.

Walks - as much or as little as you can give in our experience. As a puppy less was more - I had to carry him back once he was so tired - and it wasn't a particularly long walk but it was mid-summer. Now he's fully grown, he can adapt - longer weekend walks and shorter weekday walks work fine for our sausage. One point worth noting is that ours hates the rain so walks in the rain are very short due to his stubbornness (a key dachshund word). I think it is because the sound hitting the ground is much louder to them...but who knows? Also fox poo - absolutely loves the stuff and can't be trusted off lead on a weekday walk as time does not permit the necessary bath at home. It goes back to their hunting origins.

He is fiercely loyal and a real evening sofa snuggler. He can be destructive - but random, infrequent, outbursts rather than a permanent issue. Sheepskin slippers are not left out anymore.

Watch their backs - although ours tends to fling himself around alarmingly - he isn't allowed upstairs (and can't manage it himself). But if we aren't quick he will throw himself off the sofa/out the car boot - the vet was very unamused when he landed at her feet once during a car park covid consultation. We are careful but our sausage sometimes seems to possess a death wish and he doesn't know he needs to be careful. Vet advised that, unless a genetic condition is at play, the best thing to protect the back is keeping weight off through diet and exercise.

Hand stripping - set aside money for this to be done at least twice a year. It is hard to find a competent person - lots will say they can do it but they really can't. I've paid £25 up to £75 for it to be done. You can have a play yourself but it is never as good as the professionals and ours often ends up a bit lopsided depending on where he has been sat on the sofa when I've combined a bit of TV with grooming.

I wouldn't recommend leaving for 2 days - get any pup accustomed to doggy day care to have that as an option as you never know when you may need cover even if you go down the dog walker route.

And do read up on dachshunds. They aren't a starter breed like a golden retriever - dachshunds are stubborn, intelligent and independent as they were bred to be...the worst thing would be realising too late that you have chosen a dog whose very nature conflicts with your expectations or living situation. Wouldn't swop ours at all but I do sometimes look longingly at the quieter life I had with other breeds...

Iamblossom · 24/03/2022 12:28

oh and I would never leave either of my dogs for longer than 3 hours tops, and I pay for a puppy minder to have them if needed.

fairylightsandwaxmelts · 24/03/2022 12:30

If your mum is willing to have her then even better!

Mind goes to my in-laws when I can't bring him to work and he loves it. He definitely wouldn't cope home alone and neither would my house

GoodyAlsop · 24/03/2022 12:35

DDog1. Not yappy. 2 episodes of IVDD costing about 5k total. No surgery which would have been more. Has never got the hang of house training, particularly if it’s wet. Happy to be left for a while but velcroed to a human the rest of the time.
When younger would walk all day and needed at least 1 decent walk a day. Now he’s 14 is happy to not go out.

DDog2. Not yappy unless someone comes to the door. House trained. Will only go for a walk if she’s in the mood and never in the rain. doesn’t like being disturbed, not snappy but needs space.

DDog3. Yappy. Loud. Barky. House trained easily. Loves everybody and everything. Needs at least 2 walks a day. Loud. Is ok to be left a couple of hours but only with the others. Howls if one of the humans is upstairs without her. Chews. High maintenance total pain in the arse but equally adorable.

Max we’d leave them alone is about 3 hours. They wouldn’t do well if left regularly for any longer. 3 adults at home who all worked shifts there’s usually someone around.

Dog1 is now uninsurable. The others are about £40 a month each.

livingthegoodlife · 24/03/2022 12:37

This explains the health checks

www.dachshundhealth.org.uk/health-testing

AwkwardPaws27 · 24/03/2022 12:44

this cat has been an outdoors cat (mostly) for the past 8 years and apart from initial kitten jabs I'm sure she doesn't have a yearly booster!

She should be having a annual booster. The vaccinations project her against potentially deadly diseases such as the Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) and panleukopenia virus, as well as strains of cat flu & that protection will have lapsed if you haven't vaccinated for years.

It's good you are saving, but if I'd have saved even £100 a month for my dog it would have been nowhere near enough to cover his vet bills. An illness, injury or accident could cost you thousands.

This is a good source of vaccination information: icatcare.org/advice/vaccinating-your-cat/

Gonnagetgoing · 24/03/2022 12:44

What's the difference between a miniature and standard? The one I'm put down for is a miniature (boy by the way).

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoing · 24/03/2022 12:45

[quote AwkwardPaws27]this cat has been an outdoors cat (mostly) for the past 8 years and apart from initial kitten jabs I'm sure she doesn't have a yearly booster!

She should be having a annual booster. The vaccinations project her against potentially deadly diseases such as the Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) and panleukopenia virus, as well as strains of cat flu & that protection will have lapsed if you haven't vaccinated for years.

It's good you are saving, but if I'd have saved even £100 a month for my dog it would have been nowhere near enough to cover his vet bills. An illness, injury or accident could cost you thousands.

This is a good source of vaccination information: icatcare.org/advice/vaccinating-your-cat/[/quote]
I'm taking her for her booster this weekend.

OP posts:
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