anything i need to know about a dachshund?

Question

just got a 4 month dachshund anything will help

Answer 1

Main Entry: dachs·hund
Pronunciation: 'däks-"hunt, -"hund; 'däk-s&nt; especially British 'dak-s&nd
Function: noun
Etymology: German, from Dachs badger + Hund dog
: any of a breed of long-bodied, short-legged dogs of German origin that occur in short-haired, long-haired, and wirehaired varieties
[dachshund illustration]


Dachshund
The Dachshund is a short-legged, elongated dog breed of the hound family. The breed's name is German and literally means "badger dog" (der Dachs - badger; der Hund - dog). The breed was developed to scent, chase, hunt, and kill badgers and other hole-dwelling animals. Due to their long, narrow build, they are sometimes referred to in the United States and elsewhere as "wiener dogs" or "sausage dogs".

Appearance

A full-sized Dachshund averages 12 to 24 lb (5 to 10 kg), while the Miniature variety typically weighs less than 12 lb (5 kg). Modern Dachshunds are characterized by their crooked legs, loose skin and barrel-like chest, attributes that were deliberately added to the breed to increase their ability to burrow into tight spaces. They come in three coat varieties: Smooth, Longhaired and Wirehaired; the Wirehaired variety is generally shorter in spine length than the other two. H. L. Mencken said that "A dachshund is a half-dog high and a dog-and-a-half long," which is their main claim to fame.

Temperament

Dachshunds are loyal, playful dogs, known for their propensity to chase small animals and birds. According to the American Kennel Club's breed standards, "the Dachshund is clever, lively and courageous to the point of rashness, persevering in above and below ground work, with all the senses well-developed. Any display of shyness is a serious fault."[1] Coat type is often considered to be associated with characteristic temperaments; the long-haired variety, for instance, is considered to be less excitable than the other types because it was cross-bred with the Spaniel to obtain its characteristic long coat. Some who own long-haired Dachshunds might disagree with this statement, however. Because of the breed's characteristic barrel-like chest, the dachshund's lungs are unusually large, making for a sonorous bark.

Health

The breed is known to have spinal problems, due in part to an extremely long spinal column and short rib cage. The risk of injury can be worsened by obesity, which places greater strain on the vertebrae. In order to prevent injury, it is recommended that Dachshunds be discouraged from jumping and taking stairs. It has become increasingly apparent that the occurrence and severity of these problems is largely hereditary, and responsible breeders are working to eliminate this characteristic in the breed.

History

Some have theorized that the early roots of the Dachshund go back to Ancient Egypt, where engravings were made featuring short-legged hunting dogs. But in its modern incarnation, the Dachshund is a creation of European breeders, and includes elements of German, French and English hounds and terriers. Dachshunds have been kept by royal courts all over Europe, including that of Queen Victoria, who was particularly enamored of the breed.

The first verifiable references to the Dachshund, originally named the "Tachs Kriecher" (badger crawler) or "Tachs Krieger" (badger catcher), come from books written in the early 1700s. Prior to that, there exist references to "badger dogs" and "hole dogs", but these likely refer to purposes rather than to specific breeds. The original German Dachshunds were larger than the modern full-size variety, weighing between 30 and 40 lb (14 to 18 kg), and originally came in straight-legged and crook-legged varieties (the modern Dachshund is descended from the latter). Though the breed is famous for its use in exterminating badgers, Dachshunds were also commonly used for rabbit and fox hunting, for locating wounded deer, and in packs were known to hunt game as large as wild boar.

Dominant colors and patterns include Red and Black & Tan. Older traditional patterns such as piebald and sable are recently gaining in popularity. Recently, other color and pattern combinations have been developed; it is not uncommon to see Dachshunds with Brown & Tan, Chocolate & Tan, dapple, double dapple, and even white coats. Unfortunately, some of these colors require extensive inbreeding to obtain; double dapples are often born eyeless or with severely underdeveloped eyes. For this reason, the double dapple coat is extremely disfavored among responsible breeders and owners.

According to kennel club standards, the Miniature variety differs from the full-size only by size and weight.

Miscellaneous

Symbol of Germany

Dachshunds have traditionally been viewed as a symbol of Germany, despite their pan-European heritage. During World War I the animals fell so far out of favor in England and the United States that dachshunds were stoned to death on the street [2]. Many Americans began referring to Dachshunds as "liberty pups", and political cartoonists commonly used the image of the Dachshund to ridicule Germany. The stigma of the association was revived to a much reduced extent during World War II, and it quickly faded away following the war's end. German Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was also known for keeping Dachshunds.

Dachshund Racing

One of the odder controversies that has recently arisen in North America is the presence of Dachshund racing events.

This sport has its origins from a 1993 Miller Lite television commercial that listed odd possibilities for sports including luge bowling, has grown immensely in popularity since, including a half-time show for the San Francisco 49ers. You can see the commercial at the "Wiener Takes All" homepage (see external links below).

While some compare the sport to that of English and later American Greyhound racing, others see it having the possibility of harming the breed from strain placed on its spinal column. Others also see the possibility for abuse of racing Dachshunds, as evidenced by the large number of Greyhounds put to sleep every year once they have proven unsuitable for racing, and by those given up for adoption.

Other Animal Sites


K9 Insiders
Weiner Dog
Cat Insiders
Dukie's Website

Answer 2

MAJOR CONCERNS:
Suspiciousness or sharpness. Standoffish by nature, Dachshunds need extensive exposure to people and to unusual sights and sounds. Otherwise their natural caution can become suspiciousness, which could lead to biting.
Scrappiness toward strange dogs. Dachshunds are usually very good with their own family's pets, but they can be scrappy toward strange dogs, especially strange LARGER dogs.
Mind of his own. Dachshunds are not Golden Retrievers. They have an independent mind of their own and must be taught at an early age that they are not the rulers of the world. The toughness that makes them suited to killing vermin can frustrate you when you try to teach them anything. They can be manipulative, and some are willful and obstinate. You must show them, through absolute consistency, that you mean what you say.
Defensive reactions. BUT...you need to be careful with your corrections. If you need to physically chastise a Dachshund, and you go beyond what THEY believe is a fair correction, in my experience this breed is more likely than many other breeds to growl or snap. It may be because they were bred to become more fierce when their prey fought back, i.e. Dachshunds are apt to "return pain" if they "receive pain." As an obedience instructor, I'm always extra careful when putting my hands on a Dachshund for a correction.
Housebreaking. As a behavioral consultant, I would put the Dachshund on my Top 20 List of "Hard to Housebreak." Consistent crate training is mandatory. Sometimes a doggy door is necessary. And some owners never do get their Dachshunds fully housebroken.
Barking. Dachshunds are often too quick to sound the alarm at every new sight and sound. You have to be equally quick to stop them. Dachshunds should NEVER be left outside in your yard, unsupervised.
Grooming. Longhaired Dachshunds need brushing and combing to prevent mats and tangles. Wirehaired Dachshunds need regular clipping.
Shedding and odor. Smooth and Longhaired Dachshunds shed more than you might think. Also note that Dachshunds, particularly the Smooth variety, tend to have a distinctive odor that some people find offensive.
Serious back/spinal problems. An alarming number of Dachshunds become crippled or paralyzed in middle age when they develop disk diseases in their long back.

Answer 3

Congratulations!! I have 3. Here's what you need to know. 1. They like to lay under blankets. They get cold easily and don't have na undercoat. Even when they're not babies, 2. They are very loyal and will adore you. Careful, they can be needy. 3. They are fast runners. People think they can't run fast because of their short legs. 4. They are really, really smart and train pretty easily and 5. Don't let them jump off of furniture or the bed. They have a tendancy to have bad backs.

Good luck. I wish you would post a pic!

Answer 4

We have one and he's a wonderful little guy! But there are some things to know...

Back issues and slipping discs in the back are very common for this breed of dog. Things you can do to prevent this as much as possible is to make sure you monitor the weight and DON'T let him get over weight as this can be a big problem with the back due to their elongated bodies. We keep our little guy on a feeding schedule, rather than leaving the food down so that we know how much he is intaking and adjust it as needed for his body weight. Don't let your dog jump up on furniture but rather help him up or get the doggie steps. This too can be a cause of back problems later down the line. I also don't suggest allowing your dog to do large flights of stairs. When we go upstairs to bed, we carry our little guy up the steps so that he doesn't have to climb them... again, for the back issue. If a Doxie does slip a disc, at the very least it causes temporary paralysis in the back legs (a couple of days) and requires vet treatment for pain and inflamation until it gets better. The worse scenario is a disc slip can cause permenant paralysis. Our doxie slipped a disc a couple years ago, thankfully only a temporary paralysis, but the vet told us there are 4 or 5 more that he possibly could slip later on.

Doxie's have a HIGH prey drive and ours doesn't play well with stuffed toys, even the durable ones, as he tends to shred them to bits every time. Even tennis balls have to be monitored with him or he'll peel the outer fabric right off of them. Toys that are very durable are best, such as the kong style.

Doxie's are a little dog with a big dog complex! Our will bark fiercely until directly confronted, then he comes hiding behind us to protect him. They are also a bit of a yappy breed, barking at anything that moves ususally.

Socialization is a good idea for any dog, and would benefit here as well. Children, people in general and other dogs should be regularly introduced to get puppy accustomed to seeing new things.

Enjoy your new puppy! Ours is wonderful and we love him dearly!

Answer 5

I'd do some web research... breed-specific rescue groups generally have really good info about the breeds they serve. Dachshunds (as well as all other purebreds) have specific health issues they're more prone too (with doxies it's usually spine or hip related).

Take it to obedience, get it fixed, feed it good quality food and spend lots of time with it. Good luck!

Answer 6

Be careful where it climbs. Small dogs have a tendency to climb onto chairs/tables and leap off. This will hurt their legs and backs--nobody wants a puppy with a broken leg.

Also, how they contort their backs is very sensitive. Be careful how you play with it. You can't play fetch with a dachshund like you can with, say, a border collie.

Answer 7

I would suggest carrying your Dachsund on the stairs. They suffer on discopathy, so remember to pay attention if your grown up puppy wants to run up/down the stairs. Also, Dachshunds have the attitude, they like to attack bigger dogs to show who they think is the boss :)) (well, my Kama - 13-year old Dachshund - thinks she's bigger, stronger and scary) Oh, they love to sleep in your bed.

Answer 8

The biggest problem with them is that they can have back problems. This is why it is VERY important to portion control their food once they are no longer puppies. Do not allow your dog to free feed, make sure it gets exercises and don't allow it to become overweight. Their biggest problem is back problems because of being too heavy. Which can cause pain.

They are great dogs, you will have a companion for years to come, just make sure to keep it at a healthy weight.

Answer 9

Dachshund
brave, curious, lively
regular brushing
good watchdog
May be aggresive towards strangers
Diffcult to house-train.
Loves regular walks
Check ears regularly
Do not overfeed.
Can have heart diesese, diabetes, eye diseases, and skin problems. Can also have disks in back.

Hope this helps!
Please spay your dog!

Answer 10

I had a dachshund not too long ago and My grandma has one! Mine was a brown miniature and he was super protective! When my brother came near me, he would bite him or growl and bark. He was extremely yappy and barked at other dogs but he was the sweetest little boy

Answer 11

Try not to let them jump down from high places. My friend's dog ended up paralyzed because the breed sometimes has too long of a back, therefore they injure their backs easily.