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?

Totally agree with you - it's cruel. Some countries are already banning flat-nosed breeds so it looks like the tide is finally turning.

Thanks Edith - I’ve only known him a year but he’s definitely changed since the attack. He’s not worked no, but he’s incredibly smart and driven - he’s devised his own game recently of placing a stone on a cushion and then shaking the cushion until the stone flies across the room, then he retrieves it (for hours!). I think he needs more stimulation, but it’s exhausting trying to provide it because he can go on for hours. Thank you for the advice, I’ll suggest it to the BF - thankfully my two are lazy slugs who just want to sleep all day, so he is a whole new unknown to me!

Does he do any scent work with him @Skade?

@Skade has he ever been taught to settle?

Funnily enough I’ve just watched a podcast which specifically refers to scent work with dachshunds and had some good suggestions for how to include this so I made some notes and am going to give it a try! Something they said which also struck me was that throwing a ball and playing fetch doesn’t really do it for them, and that scent work and tug games better meets their drives? I think it’s easy to think they are fragile things (and I lost one of my frenchies to IVDD so I get this) but they were bred to hunt underground and are clearly tougher than they look! I’ve learnt so much from the thread, thank you all!

I don’t think so Coffee, not really. Any suggestions are welcomed!

@Skade mines not interested in a ball at all but will happily play tug or "find it".

If IVDD is a worry, and it is for most Dachshund Owners building up their fitness really can help. So lots of walks, lots of play, maybe some swimming and the scent work will help them remain calm.

@Skade how to train your dog to settle

I am pretty sure that there is a working teckel page on FB. Might be worth a look. Teckels are - or should be - really tough little dogs.

Are there dachshunds who will fetch a ball? Mine did only if it belonged to someone else, in which case it was highly prized. She quite liked me fetching it.