What You Should Know Before Adopting a Dachshund

Getting a hot dog at Costco costs you $1.50 and leaves you happy for an hour or two. Adopting a wiener dog costs a little more (adoption fees may vary) but provides you with over a decade of happiness.

Dachshunds, as they're officially known, are one of the most iconic non-standard dogs you'll ever see. Short but spunky, they're big on attitude and make for wonderful companions.

They're also potentially a challenging dog breed to care for, so it's important to know what you're getting into when you're looking to adopt one of these wonderful fur babies. If you handle them properly, you can have a ferociously loyal and loving friend. If you're not careful, though, you're in for a world of conflict.

Let's go over everything you need to know before adopting a dachshund!

What is the History of the Dachshund?

As you can probably guess from the name alone, the dachshund is a dog breed of German origin. It wasn't always as short and lengthy as it is today; older dachshunds had longer legs in particular. The breed is made up of elements of hounds and terriers, including dogs from France, England, and Germany.

The word "dachshund" is a German compound word; "dachs" is "badger" and "hund" is, of course, "hound". The breed was developed as a hunting dog meant to track down and flush out badgers. Their small stature and ferocious nature were necessary to keep them standing toe-to-toe with the ornery badger, and their height lent them easier access to badger hides to flush the creatures out. Badgers weren't the only prey, though; dachshunds were also used in fox hunting and rabbit hunting, could be used to track down deer, and were even occasionally used to help hunt wild boar and wolverines.

The exact history of the breed is contested. The oldest known record of a badger dog goes back to the 1700s. The American Kennel Club records the history of the breed stretching all the way back to the 1400s, though the Dachshund Club only recognizes the 1700s. Either way, the dogs were likely first introduced to America in the late 1800s.

Interestingly, despite being a German word, dachshunds in Germany are known more simply as Dackel, if they're companion dogs and pets, or Teckel, if they're working dogs.

Primary Breed Characteristics of Dachshunds

Just look at them! Dachshunds are one of the most uniquely shaped dogs in the world. While many dogs fit the silhouette of "dog" and vary mostly in coat, muscle mass, and details in the slope of their muzzle or their stature, dachshunds can't really be confused with anything else.

The Physical Characteristics

Dachshunds are relatively small dogs. Standard dachshunds stand about 8-9 inches tall at the shoulder, while miniature dachshunds – yes, there are miniatures – are only 5-6 inches tall. Standard dachshunds are somewhere in the 20-30 lb. range, while minis are under 11.

All dachshunds fit the same general silhouette. They have very short, stubby legs, with disproportionately large front paws. They have long, wiry, curved tails, which can often be found sticking upwards. They have broad, floppy ears.

Many of these features were intentionally bred into the dachshund as part of their working life. The floppy ears protected the ear canals from dirt and debris while hunting. The short stature allowed them entry into burrows, and the broad front paws helped them dig around. The tails were even selected as a way to keep track of the dog when it disappears into tall grass, and possibly even as a makeshift handle to pull a stuck dog out of a burrow when it gets in over its head.

Dachshunds have three sizes and three types of coats. The sizes are standard, miniature, and "rabbit", though the rabbit size – essentially a teacup dog – isn't recognized in many places around the world.

Coat-wise, they come in smooth, wire, and long-haired varieties. Smooth-haired dachshunds have short, silky fur that gives them a smooth and lush look. Long-haired dachshunds have longer and silkier hair. Wire-coated dachshunds are the newest variety and tend to look a little more like terriers, with a scragglier coat and a scruffier look.

Health and Wellness

If you're thinking that dachshunds are going to have some unique health issues due to their stature, you're not wrong. Like all breeds, they have certain health issues they're more prone to than others, and some unique to them.

As always, before you get too worried about this list, remember that just because the breed is prone to it doesn't mean your pup is guaranteed to get whatever the issue may be. It's just statistically more likely for a dachshund to develop the issue than a different breed might.

In general, dachshunds live somewhere between 12 and 16 years on average. With proper care, they can have healthy and fulfilling lives for every one of those years.

What health issues are they prone to?

• IVDD. Intervertebral Disc Disease is a back problem, and it's extremely common in dachshunds, to the extent that one in four will develop it. Left unchecked, it can lead to complete paralysis. IVDD is caused by a slipped or bulging disc in the spine and needs to be treated with anti-inflammatories, pain meds, muscle relaxants, and strict cage rest. Any activity beyond very short on-leash walks can exacerbate the problem. Even then, it may require surgery if it doesn't heal up quickly.

• Obesity. Because of their short stature, dachshunds can have difficulty getting the level of exercise they need to stay fit. That means it's much easier to over-feed them and lead to obese dachshunds, which, while adorable, are prone to many more health issues as well.

• Luxating Patella. This is an issue common in small breeds of dogs. The patella is the kneecap, and "luxating" means it slips out of position. This can cause limping, pain, and difficulty moving until it heals up.

• Bloat. Many dogs are prone to bloat. While it's most common in large breeds, it can also occur in some smaller dogs; dachshunds are particularly prone to it because of their deeper chests.

• Epilepsy. Dachshunds are one of the dog breeds that are more prone to idiopathic epilepsy, where they can have focal seizures or generalized seizures. Epilepsy can be controlled, though not cured, and as long as it's idiopathic, it's not going to be dangerous, just scary to see.

• Eye issues. Many dachshunds develop some kind of eye problem, from cataracts to glaucoma to progressive retinal atrophy, all of which can lead to blindness when they're older. Cataracts can be surgically corrected, and glaucoma can be managed with medication, but PRA is incurable.

Additionally, while it's not a condition that develops over time, some dachshunds (especially those with dapple coats) can be born deaf. Deaf pups can live long and normal lives, but it's a unique challenge you need to be aware of.

There are a few other less common issues and ailments that can crop up in dachshunds as well. Hypothyroidism and hip dysplasia are both more common, especially in obese dachshunds. They can also develop Cushing's disease, diabetes, and, of course, cancer.

Mentality and Personality

Personality is where dachshunds really stand out, for both good and ill.

With centuries of breeding focused on hunting, dachshunds have an extremely high prey drive. They love nothing more than to chase and bark at small animals, ranging from rodents and squirrels to the stray cat next door to the neighbor's dogs. Once they get fixated on something, they might even ignore commands; their prey drive is that strong.

Remember, too, that they were bred to go up against badgers. They don't back down. That kind of stubbornness also means they want to have their own way even in the household, where their biggest competitor is a throw pillow.

Fortunately, while they can be food motivated, they aren't ravenous chow-hounds the way some other breeds are. Dedicated time, patience, and consistency can reward you with a well-trained and obedient dachshund, and you can encourage them with food, toys, and affection equally well.

Oh, remember how I mentioned they have paws essentially made for digging? Well, keep that in mind if you have a yard, because they will dig holes anywhere they think it would be fun to do so. Heaven forbid there are any local groundhogs or other burrowing animals, because your dachshund will be right there trying to follow them in.

Unfortunately for some people, dachshunds are also very vocal pups. They're actually surprisingly decent guard dogs because of their propensity for alerting their humans to anything they think is out of the ordinary.

Tips for Caring for a Dachshund

What do you need to know to make it easier to care for a newly adopted dachshund?

Keep a close eye on their back and gait.

Several of the most devastating problems a dachshund can have are all related to their mobility, whether it's their legs, their shoulders, or their back.

Keep a close eye on them, and the moment you see them limping, hopping, or otherwise moving unnaturally, get that vet on the phone. IVDD in particular needs to be addressed ASAP so it doesn't lead to permanent paralysis.

Be willing to give them the training they need.

Because of their extremely high prey drive and their stubbornness, you really, really need to focus on training them as much as possible, as consistently as possible. Even with great training, you'll need to keep them on a leash when you take them out for walks, and you can never just put them out in a yard unsupervised, unless you want to find a tunnel under the fence and start printing out the missing posters.

One potentially surprising issue for many dachshund parents is that they're actually difficult to potty train. They're a lot more prone to failing if there's inconsistency in training, so you really, really, really need to be consistent while training them.

They generally aren't fond of wet environments.

Since their bellies are so close to the ground, many dachshunds avoid getting wet whenever possible.

They won't enjoy the rain or the snow, and you may have issues letting them out to potty if it's too wet out. Can you really blame them?

Be prepared to invest in the right gear.

Since dachshunds are such an unusual shape, a lot of off-the-shelf items like harnesses aren't going to fit them.

They also benefit a ton from puzzle feeders and anything that simulates the prey they love to chase before they get to eat. These are great because they double as exercise, too.

To help avoid back injuries, you'll also probably want to invest in some dachshund furniture. Ramps and stairs to get up onto places like your bed or couch – if you allow them up – are near-mandatory, so they don't hurt themselves while jumping.

Unfortunately, between the accessories and the potential medical issues, dachshunds can be very expensive dogs to care for. Back surgery alone can cost thousands of dollars. They very much aren't dogs for the faint of heart!

Keep control of their diet.

Another key to caring for a dachshund is making sure you control their diet. Since they're so prone to obesity, and since obesity can make their other health issues worse, you really need to make sure to get them enough exercise and avoid over-feeding them.

Also, since they're such small dogs, that "they can have one bite of human food" policy some people have can be way worse for them than for larger dogs.

They'll beg, and cry, and try their hardest to convince you they've never been fed in their life. Don't fall for it.

Adopt, don't shop!

Finally, as always, I have to say it: adopt, don't shop, for your dachshund. They're in the top 15 most popular breeds in America, but they're also very challenging dogs to train and care for, so they're frequently given up because of the challenge. If you're up for that challenge, it's your privilege and your honor to find one to adopt.

Trust me; while they might be a challenge when you first adopt them, once you have their care down, you will have a ferociously loving companion for many years to come, and it's definitely worth it.

Do you have any questions about dachshunds that I haven't covered in this article? If so, be sure to let me know in the comments section, and I'll get back to you as soon as possible!