- Reviewing the pros and cons of Dachshund ownership
- Exploring the unique traits that make Dachshunds different
- Determining if you’re up to being owned by a Dachshund
- Considering the Dachsie back problem
- Swallowing the patience and cost factors
- Choosing between one breed, two sizes
Everybody loves a Wiener dog! Those funny bodies, those short little legs, those floppy ears, those pleading eyes, and those antics. Dachshunds are clowns. They can keep a room in stitches, and they can coax even the most stolid disciplinarian into slipping them just one more dog cookie. Dachshunds aren’t big dogs, so they don’t take up much room. And they’re so darned cute. Who can resist a pet like that?
Examining the Pros and Cons of Dachshund Ownership
Dachshund pros
– Dachshunds love you unconditionally.
– Studies show that having a pet lowers blood pressure and helps to manage stress.
– Fulfilling your dog’s exercise needs may keep you in shape (see Chapter Healthy Dachshund 101).
– Dachshunds are great companions and listeners.
– Dachshunds can help teach children to respect and be kind to animals.
– Dachshunds are good at warning you if someone is outside the house — welcome or not.
– If you bring home a rescued Dachshund, you can feel good about saving a life. And your dog will show his gratitude every day (see Chapter Rescue Me! Adopting a Dachshund).
A word about the AKCThe American Kennel Club (AKC) is a nonprofit organization, established in 1884, that’s devoted to the advancement of purebred dogs. The AKC maintains a record of all registered dogs; publishes ideal standards for each recognized breed; sponsors a variety of dog events, including conformation shows, obedience and field trials, agility competitions, and the Canine Good Citizen program; and produces educational information. (See Chapter Defining the Dashing Dachshund for more information on the AKC’s Dachshund standards.) |
Dachshund cons
– Dachshunds need plenty of attention and affection. They want to be with you, not tied to a chain in the backyard.
– Dachshunds aren’t people (even though they may think they are!) and must be taught how to live with people. Without proper and consistent teaching and socialization efforts, your dog may end up becoming an annoyance to you, your family, or your neighbors. He may even inflict damage on your possessions, other people, or himself.
– Dachshunds must be housebroken, and until they are, your carpet or other household surfaces may suffer. (And housetraining a Dachshund is no picnic; for more, see Part III.)
– Dachshunds cost money. Most people can expect to spend around $1,000 in the first year to give their new puppies the proper care and supplies.
– Dachshunds need your time. They require walking, feeding, training, grooming, and attention every single day to stay healthy and happy.
– Dachshunds aren’t a commitment to be taken lightly. Many live to be 15 years old or more.
– Your Dachshund will probably grow old and die before you do. You have to make decisions about your Dachsie’s health care and quality of life, and eventually you must deal with your own grief.
– Your Dachshund requires regular preventive veterinary care. If he becomes ill or injured, you’re also responsible for his care and treatment. Dachshunds are prone to several serious health conditions (see Chapters Healthy Dachshund 101 and Handling Dachshund Health Problems), and the medical costs to treat these problems can be high.
– Dachshunds tie you down. You can’t just fly off on a spontaneous vacation for a long weekend, or decide not to come home after work without arranging for your dog’s care.
– Dachshunds don’t speak English. You have to learn to communicate with your dog in a way he understands.
Remember
Dachshunds are more stubborn than some breeds, so training efforts can be frustrating for the beginner. Don’t give up. When in doubt, talk to your vet, hire a trainer, and practice, practice, practice — every day. Eventually, you’ll be speaking the same language, and your Dachshund will understand what you want. He really does live to please you, even if it sometimes seems like you live to please him.
Dachshunds: Not Just Any Dog
– Dachshunds have fragile backs. Because of their dwarfism (big dog, short legs), Dachshunds are genetically predisposed to have faulty spines, which can become injured when handled incorrectly, or sometimes for no apparent reason. Certain things can be hard on a Dachshund’s back and can even result in a paralyzing disk rupture:
- Going up and down stairs
- Jumping off furniture
- Even running quickly around a sharp corner.
Get ready to carry your Dachshund up and down the stairs!
– Dachshunds love to jump. But because jumping is so hard on a Dachshund’s back, you need to keep an eye on your Dachsie to keep him from jumping off high places like beds, couches, porches, and so on. Some people install ramps in their homes so their dogs can ascend and descend from high places without jarring their spines. (For more on making your home Dachshund-friendly, see Chapter Making Your Home Dachshund-Proof.)
The Dachsie name gameThe name Dachshund is German for “badger dog.” Although plenty of people pronounce it like dash-hound, the word is correctly pronounced docks-hoont. Yet, in Germany, the Dachshund isn’t called a Dachshund at all. The dog is a Teckel or Dackel. (Back in the 19th century, the Dachshund was even called the Royal Teutonic Dog by some.) The name Dachshund is somewhat misunderstood. Dachs means “badger” in German; hund doesn’t, contrary to what you may think, mean “hound.” It simply means “dog.” Although Dachshunds are, to this day, classified in the Hound group according to the American Kennel Club, they could arguably fit just as well with the Terriers. Terrier means “earth dog,” and going underground is what Dachshunds do best (well, one of the many things they do best). Dachshunds hunt by scent and have keen noses like their Hound brothers and sisters, but if you’re on the other side of a door, that bark sounds an awful lot like a Terrier. In any case, categories don’t really matter. What matters is knowing that your Dachshund will display characteristics of the Hound and the Terrier. You can call him anything you like! (How about “good dog”?) |
– Dachshunds live to eat. Obesity puts further strain on a Dachshund’s back — not to mention his heart and entire body. Cute and pleading as he may be, you must be prepared to keep your Dachshund’s eating under control. No, your Dachshund shouldn’t eat that quarter-pound burger with cheese, let alone too many extra dog treats!
Dachsie Moxie
Dachshunds (like all dogs) have fewer taste buds than humans, so the taste of food isn’t as intense for them as it is for us. For this reason, dogs are more likely to eat just about anything, taste not withstanding.
– Dachshunds bark. Barking is part of their modus operandi. They were bred to hunt badgers or other small game underground (see Chapter Defining the Dashing Dachshund). When the game was cornered, a Dachshund would bark to alert his human. Although you can train any dog not to bark excessively, Dachshunds bark pretty frequently. Get used to it, or don’t get a Dachshund.
– Dachshunds are manipulative. They’re cute, and they know it. They’re clever, too. They can get you to do just about anything, unless you have rules and you stick to your guns. Your dog has to know that rules are rules and that what you say goes. If you’re a big marshmallow when it comes to consistency and rule enforcement, you can’t get angry at your dog for making his own rules. Somebody has to do it!
So, what would your Dachsie’s rules be? Here’s a good guess:
- I can do whatever I want to do, whenever I want to do it.
- If I touch it, lick it, chew it, shred it, smell it, or see it, it’s mine.
- Humans live to serve me.
Unless those rules sound reasonable to you (Hint: They shouldn’t!), prepare to accept your role as pack leader.
Understanding a Dachshund’Technical Stuff Special Needs
“How common is this flimsy disk problem?”According to the Dachshund Club of America, Inc. — in its must-have publication Canine Intervertebral Disk Disease (available from the DCA for free — see Chapter Ten Good Foods, Ten Bad Foods for contact information) — approximately one in four Dachshunds will experience a disk problem. Evidence suggests that Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD) is a genetic condition. The University of California, Davis, is currently investigating the genetic nature of this disease. If the link can be determined, scientists may be able to develop a test to predict which dogs are most likely to suffer from IVDD. Meanwhile, experts do know that most incidents occur between the ages of 3 and 7, with age 4 being the most common age of occurrence. |
– Avoid long or steep flights of stairs and jumps off high places.
– Steer clear of any activities, like vigorous tug-of-war games, that can twist the spine.
– Keep your dog slim (for more on diet, see Chapter Purchasing Your Dachshund Essentials).
– Exercise for fun and for preventive measure. Daily walks and plenty of activity are important to keep a Dachshund’s muscles strong and stable so they can support the spine.
Remember
Just be sure that the activities you choose are the kinds a Dachshund excels in — brisk walks and hikes, organized field-trial or earth-dog competitions (see Chapter Advanced Training and Competing for Fun), or just playing in the park.
What’s Your PQ (Patience Quotient)?
Dachshund Dollars: The Financial Commitment
Tip
Puppies are immune to many diseases while nursing on mother’s milk. As soon as a puppy is weaned and you take him home, however, his immunity quickly disappears and he’s vulnerable to a number of serious diseases until he can build up his own immune system. Vaccinate your puppy according to your veterinarian’s recommendations to keep him safe during this gap of time. (For more on the first vet visit and which vaccinations your puppy really needs, see Chapter Healthy Dachshund 101.)
Technical Stuff
Canine parvovirus is a quick-spreading, highly contagious viral disease that comes in two forms: enteric (diarrheal) and myocardial (affecting the heart). Young puppies are particularly vulnerable, and the disease often is fatal. Distemper is also a virus that spreads quickly and is highly contagious. In advanced stages, distemper affects the brain and can cause permanent neurological damage and often death. Distemper is the principal cause of disease and death in unvaccinated dogs.
So how much money are we talking? Consider the theoretical breakdown of expenses shown in Table 1-1. Although expenses can vary dramatically from region to region, I list the approximate costs somewhere in the middle of the extremes. I also assume that you’ll buy your puppy from a good breeder for an average price of $600
Table 1-1 First-Year Expenses for Dachsie Puppy Owners | |
Item | Cost |
The dog | $600.00 |
Veterinary | |
First office visit | $50.00 |
Four vaccinations at $35.00 each | $140.00 |
Rabies shot | $15.00 |
Bordatella vaccine | $15.00 |
Leptospirosis vaccine (x2) and/or Lyme disease vaccine (x2), depending on where you live | $15.00 each |
Spay/neuter operation | $150.00 |
Registration | $20.00 |
Total vet cost | $420.00 |
Prevention | |
Heartworm prevention at $3.50/month | $42.00 |
Flea control spot-on at $8.00/month | $96.00 |
Total prevention cost | $138.00 |
Obedience classes | |
Puppy class (6–8 sessions) | $50.00 |
Basic obedience (6–8 sessions) | $50.00 |
Total obedience classes cost | $100.00 |
Services | |
Pet sitter/boarding for one-week vacation at $20.00/day | $140.00 |
Professional grooming (for longhairs and wirehairs), 6 times/year at $25.00/session | $150.00 |
Total services cost | 290.00 |
Pet supplies | |
Food | $400.00 |
Leash | $20.00 |
Retractable Leash | $25.00 |
Collar or harness | $12.00 |
Food and water bowls | $10.00 |
Dog bed (although Dachsies will probably prefer to sleep with you) | $50.00 |
Crate | $75.00 |
Shampoo (two bottles) | $20.00 |
Toothbrush/paste | $5.00 |
Nail clippers | $10.00 |
Brush | $5.00 |
Comb | $6.00 |
ID tags | $4.00 |
Pet gate | $40.00 |
Toys (chew toy, squeaky toy, ball, and plush toy) | $50.00 |
Treats, one box/month | $30.00 |
Chewing/teething treats (rawhides, hooves, and so on), one purchase/month | $50.00 |
Poop scoop | $10.00 |
Breed book | $15.00 |
Training book | $15.00 |
Pet odor remover, 1 gallon | $20.00 |
Total pet supplies cost | $872.00 |
GRAND TOTAL | $2,420.00 |
The Size of Love: Standards versus Minis
Miniatures are 11 pounds and under at 12 months of age and older; Standards are over 11 pounds, usually falling between 16 and 32 pounds.
Technical Stuff
In Europe, Dachshunds officially fall into three sizes: Standard, Miniature, and Rabbit. These sizes are determined not by weight, but by chest circumference. Rabbits are what Americans would consider the smallest Miniatures.
– If you live in an apartment or a house without a fenced-in yard, a Miniature Dachshund may be best for you. Smaller dogs can fulfill much of their exercise needs inside the house.
– Minis may need more help with stairs and ledges because every jump is bigger for them than for a Standard, and they’re just as prone to disk disease.
– If you like the idea of participating in outdoor activities with your Dachshund — things like hiking or long walks, for example — you may want to consider a Standard. I’m not saying Minis can’t go on walks. On the contrary, they have a lot of energy and love to exercise. They may not be able to keep up with your fast strides, however. Remember how short their legs are!
Are You Ready to Be Owned by a Dachsie?
A. Guard the house.
B. Rule the house.
A. No matter what.
B. When you’re holding a doggy treat.
A. Fastidiously structured.
B. Cleverly disguised as playtime.
A. Just give it to him.
B. Close your eyes tightly, take a deep breath, try not to think about that cute little cocked head, and just say no.
A. After you’ve trained them.
B. When the spirit moves them.
A. Are a little shy and would rather blend.
B. Love to be the center of attention and will do just about anything for applause (even if it’s naughty).
A. Doesn’t do much damage after the initial teething stages.
B. Can rival a Labrador Retriever in his ability to dismantle a sofa.
8. Dachshunds often keep their noses to the ground because
A. They’re surveying their environment through scent.
B. They’re hoping beyond hope that they’ll run across a piece of food.
A. Never get on the furniture.
B. Quickly learn to get off the furniture when he hears you coming.
A. A safe enclosure.
B. Something to dig under.
A. An intimidating place.
B. His personal playground.
A. He doesn’t want to get stepped on.
B. He likes to survey his kingdom.
A. Only when a true threat is approaching.
B. When anyone approaches — or just for fun.
A. Not worth noticing.
B. Absolutely worth chasing (hamsters beware!).
A. People.
B. Kids.
C. Other Dachshunds.
D. Other dogs.
E. The occasional cat.
F. All the above
Body of a hot dog; eye of a tigerDachshunds are big fans of adults (although not necessarily strangers), well-behaved children, other Dachshunds, and often other dogs. A Dachshund may even befriend the family cat. Everything else, however, is quite literally “fair game.” Neighborhood cats, rabbits, squirrels, birds, field mice, hamsters, and other small animals look like prey to your Dachshund. And being bred to hunt, a Dachshund will pursue. |
And as for Number 15: Although the answer is F (all the above), you will be tops on your Dachshund’s list.
by Eve Adamson