Are they trainable?
Dachshunds are very intelligent dogs. They learn fast, but some times when it suits their purposes. This is where their stubbornness shows itself most clearly, making some a bit of a challenge to train. Although they absolutely can learn, they definitely have their own agenda, which may or may not coincide with yours. With proper motivation (treats!) they can be trained.
Are dachshunds easy to housebreak?
While most dachshunds do eventually get the hang of it, it is not totally uncommon to hear things like "she's 95% reliable." Most likely as adults they will be housebroke. Unless you're a real ogre, the minute you see one look up at you with his inquisitive, adoring expression, capped off with his brown, almond shaped, soulful eyes, you'll understand why they often get away with things. Patience goes a long way with housebreaking a dachshund.
How are they with children?
Dachshunds can be very good with children, provided they are socialized properly when they are puppies. It is a good idea to let your dachshund meet as many people as possible at an early age, including adults, teenagers, and children. Good experiences with people at an early age will make your dachshund a very good canine citizen, who gets along with almost everybody.
Do they bark a lot? What do they sound like?
Once they find their voice, they have barks that sound like they come from much bigger dogs, making them good watch dogs - not guard dogs (which will actually attack) but watch dogs, which only make a lot of noise to alert you, that someone is there.
Do they have any funny habits?
One peculiar thing they do is to is they like to tunnel through blankets until they get it "just right." Which means they are hiding down under the blankets.
Are they clean dogs?
They are very light shedders, relatively clean, and they have little or no doggy odor. They don't need to be bathed often (less than once a month, unless, of course, they've gotten into something, which they're known to do).
How much exercise do they need?
They require a modest amount of exercise. Two walks of moderate distance (each about 1/2 mile) a day should be pretty good. More if you're so inclined. They're a long-lived breed that can live up to 16 years or more with proper care. Because they are such social creatures, they don't do well as outdoor dogs - they need to be with their humans.
What activities can I do with my Dachshund?
Even though they were originally bred to "go to ground" to hunt badgers, Dachshunds have evolved to become a very versatile breed, and there are many types of activities you can do with them, that are fun for you and your dog. Besides being wonderful family pets, you can, of course, show them in conformation, do obedience work with them, enter them in field trials (tracking rabbits) or earthdog trials (where they enter tunnels to track rats), use them as pet therapy dogs (where you bring them to hospitals and nursing homes, because of their great behavior and temperament). Many people have also done agility (think of it as an obstacle course for dogs) with their dachshunds.
Should I spay or neuter my dachshund?
The only reason not to spay or neuter your dachshund is if you are going to show her in conformation, and intend to breed her if she does well in the show ring. Otherwise, there are numerous health benefits to spaying or neutering your dachshund, including significantly reducing the risk of certain cancers and other life-threatening ailments later in life, as well as eliminating the chance of an unplanned pregnancy. Spaying or neutering does not alter your dog's personality, nor does it cause them to gain weight; overeating does that! Many reputable breeders will insist on a spay/neuter agreement when they sell a puppy or dog, and will only allow a limited AKC registration (a puppy with a parent who has a limited AKC registration cannot be registered with the AKC). Don't be surprised if you are asked to sign such an agreement when you buy a dachshund from a reputable breeder.
What is the best age to adopt a dachshund puppy?
If you are going to adopt a puppy, he should be at least 8 weeks old. This ensures that he is properly weaned from his mother, and has had at least one vaccination.
It sounds like a Dachshund is the dog for me. Where can I get one?
If you decide that a Dachshund is the breed for you, you have several options. If you want to buy a puppy, then you should only buy from a reputable breeder. You should be able to talk to a breeder to learn more about the breed, and meet at least one of the parents of the puppy, which is a good indicator (health-wise, temperament, and appearance) of how the puppy might turn out when it is full grown. Don't rush; take your time to find a good breeder with a puppy available. This may require being placed on a waiting list; good breeders often have waiting lists. But the benefit to buying from a good breeder is to maximize your chance of adopting a healthy, well-socialized puppy with a predictable temperament and physical appearance. A good breeder: is interested in improving the breed; selects healthy, well tempered parents who are exemplary samples of the breed; is extremely knowledgeable about the breed, as well as the heritage (parents, grandparents, etc.) of the puppies; will ask as many questions of you, as you should of her; is very selective about who she places a dog with, and wants to make sure the dog will have a great home; has puppies who can be registered with the AKC, even if it is only a limited registration; Being such a popular breed, there are people who call themself hobby breeders, who are more interested in making money than breeding well-tempered, healthy dogs. By asking a lot of questions of a breeder, you can weed out the bad ones from the good ones. .
I just want a dog for a pet; I don't want to show him.
Presumably, the reason you've decided to get a dachshund is because you like the look and personality of the breed. So don't you want to maximize your chances of getting one just like you expect? There are two important reasons why you should purchase puppies from a breeder, even if you only want your dachshund as a pet. First, their puppies are most likely to conform to the look you have decided you want. With the dachshund, the physical structure of the dog is important to reduce the chance of back problems. Second, when you adopt a puppy, you probably don't want one who is too shy, nor one who is too aggressive. In either of these cases, the puppy will present an extra set of challenges to you, as you raise him into adulthood. So puppies born from their dogs are more likely to have a good, balanced temperament not too timid and not too aggressive. Given that the best predictor of a puppy's looks and temperament is the look and temperament of the parents, you want a puppy who's parents have demonstrated themselves to be excellent, both physically and in temperament. Healthy, structurally sound, and well-tempered parents yield healthy, structurally sound, and well-tempered puppies. So how do you increase your odds of getting a puppy who will grow to be healthy, structurally sound, and friendly? By buying one from a breeder, even if you have no intention of showing your dog. You might be tempted to purchase a puppy from a person who is not a breeder, to save a little money. Or you might be tempted to purchase a puppy from a pet store because it's convenient. And honestly, you might be very lucky with your choice. But given the fact that you've decided you want a dachshund who looks and acts like... well, a dachshund, do you really want to take that chance? The odds are much more in your favor if you adopt one from a breeder.
