Dachshunds

[DuckDuckG00se]

Posting because I'm doing my research!

I'm thinking about getting a miniature dachshund and want to ask about experiences with them please :)

I'm not in any rush and I want to make sure that if I do get a mini dox, I'm able to provide them with the right home & life. I've had large, wilful, dogs before & am confident I can provide a safe & fulfilling home for their big, stubborn personalities & delicate backs.

I do want to understand more about their tendency for separation anxiety which seems to be a given for every miniature dachshund. So can you tell me about your mini doxis & their need for company?

I'd like to get a clearer idea of whether they can never be left alone, or if they can, how long for?

I know I'm generalising a bit, which is why I'm looking for your accounts - and I've never left my dogs alone for more than a few hours (rule: <4) but sometimes emergencies happen & if I get a doxi I need to be prepared

I also want them to be happy, settled an confident so if I need to adapt my lifestyle to suit them I want to be clear on how.

So, please...do dachsunds need constant company 24/7?

Smashing little dogs but expensive to insure because they tend to have back problems. The ones I have known liked to pee indoors, but that doesn’t mean this is a thing.

Ask your ndn. I wish ours had.. Please don't get a barky fucker or maybe train the fucking thing to stfu...
Unlike our ndn..

I have two- they are very sweet little dogs but my boy does have separation anxiety, he is much better with his sister but he didn't like being left when he was the only one.

Good insurance is a must- my girl hurt her back last year and the operation and physio cost just shy of £10,000. It is also very intense for the owner in terms of rehab- she was on strict crate rest for 5 weeks and then we had to do daily exercises with her as she literally had to learn to walk again.

Need to make sure they don't jump on and off things and up and down the stairs!

They are very loving and adorable but they aren't a sturdy breed so I would just be prepared for the worst in case it does happen!
I love mine to bits

Our ndn has 5. They bark pretty much all day, we've considered reporting them to the council or RSPA because of the noise.
They get extremely upset whenever anyone leaves the house, comes home, opens the back door, a leaf blows past, someone sneezes three miles away. Everything and anything sets them off then they don't shut up.

So..our experience of living next to them has been horrific.

I say that as an owner of a large "guard" breed and we spent hours and hours training her, she's so well behaved and rarely barks now (even at the postman).

So yeah..if you're prepared to train it properly but if not...your neighbours will despise you

Would you consider a standard dachshund? I have one and she's fab, even if a bit vocal! I am careful with her back but she seems a lot sturdier than the minis I've known and loved.

We had one, he wasn’t too bad with separation anxiety, but we also had a big dog and a couple of cats at the time. Used to leave the radio on for him and he was fine for 4ish hours. Very stubborn to train though, took ages to toilet train, and he never did get the hang of sit 😂

Honestly? I wouldn't have a dachshund these days: they have been bred to an extreme and their back hare just too vulnerable.

My GPs had a wire-haired standard 40 years when they were much more robust than they are now. He was a fab little dog, but they don't come that shape anymore unless you get an actual Teckel, but they are working dogs and probably not ideal as pets.

I think you will end up with many different opinions- but here’s a positive one- my mini doesn’t bark all day so looks like I’m not @Stormyweatheroutthere ‘s ndn- I can also leave mine at home quite happily - like you @DuckDuckG00se i don’t normally leave for more than four hours. I wouldn’t be without mine ( apart from on a rainy day when she won’t go outside 😬)

I have one, well it belongs to my daughter. She doesn't like the rain. She doesn't actually wake up until 10am. She likes to do a brief hello world in the back garden and local dogs bark back. When I get home from work she is seriously so happy to see me.
Wouldn't be without her

I have a mini wire - the wires seem to be healthier than the smooths and long haired . He can do 5 miles a day at age 8 and isn't tired . He can be left for up to 4 hours but prefers to have company - not a good idea to get one if you work full time or if you are attached to a neighbour. Mine is a barker but 2 others I know aren't.

If you go on Facebook there are dachshund groups and they organise walks - sure you would be welcomed on them to see if you like the breed.

As far as backs are concerned they are known for bad backs but good breeders are breeding to the European standard - so they are longer legged and healthier - having said that mine has one inch legs and can outrun most other dogs if he sees a squirrel

The only type I would consider is a wire haired as they tend to be bred more by breeders who breed for health and temperament and those I know are fit, healthy and are good temperament.

The smooths are pretty poor quality from my experience.

Like others have said I'd consider a standard as generally they are less neurotic.

Join UK Miniature Dachshunds on FB to get a feeling for just how needy the miniatures are.

And yes, they are very, very expensive to insure. That might not be an issue for goy now but they can often live to 16.

This guide on buying and owning a Dachshund puppy is very informative too.

Why would you get a dog that spends most of its time stressed, in pain and unhappy?

Just why?

My friend has one. In two years it's cost her £12K. So be prepared for expensive bills on top of the barking, misery, aggression and pain.

Out of all the dogs I see being walked in my village they are the loudest and barkiest dogs I've ever met. case of little dog syndrome 😂

Please don't. The potential separation anxiety isn't even the biggest issue.

They are horrendously overbred to the point of cruelty, and can't do any of the things they were originally designed to do because of it.

Their backs are too long for their legs, which are so short they can't even go upstairs without serious risk of injury. They can't jump on and off furniture, or into cars. Being carried everywhere and being unable to do "normal" dog things leads to frustration and behavioural issues like resource guarding.

Please don't fuel the fending for a breed like this. There are so many other, healthier breeds out there that aren't a walking vets bill.

Noisy and anxious.

I follow someone on twitter on has had several (mini and standard), a couple have died prematurely and she's had another traumatic vet experience with her newest one. I think they're too badly bred.

IME they are also smart and quite active dogs but in a body that can't support that. So like any breed if their needs are not met then they will start to suffer from anxiety and all that comes with it.

Dogs were originally bred to work and be capable of that and to have that drive in a body that can't do or it hurts to do then I can't support that.

They have serious health issues which I imagine would be particularly bad with the miniature version. And they bark a lot.

Very popular at the moment which probably just makes the inbreeding problem worse so if you do get one, make sure you at least check the health of the parents.

IME they are also smart. You haven't met ours then. Smart she is not

OP if you're still thinking of getting one please read up on scent work as well as it helps to keep them calmer. Be prepared to do some every day.

My BF has a 3 year old Teckel and he is gorgeous and a sturdy creature health wise, but personality wise he drives us both to insanity. Uses the house as a toilet, is insanely protective over me to the point where he is scary, barks continuously from 4am, and then throughout the day if he hears the slightest unusual sound. He was much better last year but sadly was seriously attacked by a much larger dog earlier this year and his personality has changed since then. I never thought I’d say this, but he makes my two French bulldogs look like angels in comparison!

If you like your neighbours please don't get a dachshund! My NDNs had one throughout Covid as they both worked from home - that dog yapped and squealed whenever there was a delivery, and they had many, yapped and squealed every time I went out/in, yapped and squealed when it was going out/coming, etc. It was such a pain and drove me bonkers.

It was never left alone.

They moved last year, thank god.

My BF has a 3 year old Teckel and he is gorgeous and a sturdy creature health wise, but personality wise he drives us both to insanity. Uses the house as a toilet, is insanely protective over me to the point where he is scary, barks continuously from 4am, and then throughout the day if he hears the slightest unusual sound. He was much better last year but sadly was seriously attacked by a much larger dog earlier this year and his personality has changed since then. I never thought I’d say this, but he makes my two French bulldogs look like angels in comparison!

Sounds like the poor DDog needs a Behaviourist.

I wish breeders weren't allowed to breed dogs whose legs are too short for their bodies. Same with some breeds of cat - the Scottish Fold's cute folded ears are due to a problem with their cartilage, which causes lifelong pain.

He sounds incredibly hard work. I think you need to find a trainer with experience in working breeds (IME pet trainers can be out of their depth with a drivey dog). Is he worked at all?

It's also possible that his personality changes stem from reaching maturity.