Now when we say bossy, we don’t mean any offence. Part of these little character’s appeal is that they’re courageous, tough, and can happily hold their own around bigger dogs. They’re just as comfortable cuddling up to you as chasing anything with a tail.
Commonly known as “sausage dogs”, they’re split in two kinds:
- Miniature Dachshunds who are 5 to 6 inches tall, and under 5kg in weight.
- Dachshund who are 8 to 9 inches tall, and between 6 to 15kg in weight.
Sausage Dogs come in three coat varieties: smooth coat (short hair), long hair, and wire hair.
Smooth coat Dachshunds are moderate shedders and should be groomed (brushed) weekly, but generally they’re easy to look after. They’re also the most popular.
While any variety makes for a great companion, just watch out for them around stairs and couches. They’re prone to back problems due to their elongated bodies, and can hurt themselves trying to climb on and off things.
History of the Dachshund
Today they’re popular all over the world, but Dachshunds are originally from Germanyâwhere “dach” means badger and “hund” means dog. The Sausage Dog name is pretty self-explanatory.
Dachshunds are scent hound dogs who were bred to hunt badgers and other tunnelling animals like rabbits and foxes. Their long bodies helped them burrow into holes. If you’re interested, you can dive deeper into their history here.
What You’ll Love about Dachshunds
- Versatility: They love playing around the yard but will just as happily snuggle up on the couch.
- Bravery: They’re cute but they’re tough! Although this can have some downsides (see “small dog syndrome” below).
- Intelligence: This can come out in (funny but frustrating) bossiness if not trained early. But there’s no denying Dachshunds are definitely bright.
- Humour: Burrowing into blankets. Giving you the evil eye. Barking at the wind. They’re seriously charming and will bring a smile to anyone’s face.
- Apartment friendly: While they don’t need a yard, they’ll definitely benefit from daily walks.
What You Might Find “Challenging”
- Barking: This breed isn’t particularly quiet. You’ll hear sounds you didn’t know existed!
- Small dog syndrome: Dachshunds are serious about making their present felt, and this can sometimes take the form of nipping at the heals of much bigger dogs. Although, around a small dog, you could also find them cowering in a corner.
- A lack of personal space: They love to be loved and always stick pretty tight. You know what, this should be in the “things you’ll love” section.
- RIP your garden: Put years of hard work into your veggie patch? Dachshunds have a strong instinct to dig, so good luck keeping it intact.
Want to learn more about dogs? Check out the rest of our breed profiles here.
