Dachshund

This short-legged, long bodied hound type dog, also known as the sausage dog or weenie dog, is the smallest of the hound breeds but the one that boasts the biggest personality. They are a little loyal companion that can be smart and vigilant making them good watchdogs around your home and their courageous nature means they would not be frightened of taking on any animal much larger than themselves. They are bred in two sizes; standard and miniature and come in three different coat types; smooth, wire-haired or long-haired. As a breed, they can be a difficult dog to train - and as they were all bred as various hunters, it is known that they are very fond of digging.

Due to their long back they can be prone to disk problems so they may not be an ideal companion for you if you have many steps in your home. It is also important that you don’t let them jump on or off any furniture.

Lifespan: 10 – 13 Years.

Height (Standard): 20cm – 27cm for both males and females.

Weight (Standard): 9kg – 12kg for both males and females.

Height (Miniature): 13cm – 15cm for both males and females.

Weight (Miniature): 4.5kg – 5kg for both males and females.

Colours: Black, Black & Tan, Chocolate & Tan, Blue & Tan, Cream, Tan, Chocolate & Cream, Red.

Grooming

Some dogs don’t like being groomed so it is best to start various grooming techniques from a young age to get them used to it so that they can relax when it does come around to their grooming time.

Smooth Dachshund – They don’t require much grooming and even though they do shed but not very much you should aim to brush them at least once a week and this should be enough. They don’t need to be bathed very often and wiping with a wet cloth or sponge in between baths can help to keep their coats looking shiny and free from any dirt.

Wirehaired Dachshund – They require regular maintenance and weekly brushing to prevent mats and loose fur. You shouldn’t bath them anymore than three or four times per year as it can affect the oils that cover their undercoat and protects them from cold / heat.

Longhaired Dachshund – Need frequent brushing at least once a day to prevent any mats forming. They don’t need to be bathed often, around once every three months would suffice unless they get dirty. You should trim them frequently especially where it grows in fringes around their feet are ears to reduce tangles and mats.

Exercise

They are a breed that need around an hour exercise daily to keep them mentally and physically stimulated. However, they are not always obedient so it would be ideal to get them trained and socialised from a young age so that you don’t encounter problems when they’re an adult as it will be more difficult to train them once they are past the puppy stage. They are a breed that tend to put weight on easily and being overweight is not good for their backs that is why daily exercise is vital to keep their weight down.

Feeding

Some Daschunds can be prone to allergies and it is important to keep their weight down whilst feeding a healthy, balanced diet. For both reasons the Sensitive range would be best especially the Salmon & Potato. We recommend the Puppy Salmon & Potato dog food out of the Sensitive Puppy range from weaning until around seven to ten months, depending on their growth. Once they reach the adult food stage we would then recommend moving over to our grain-free Adult Salmon & Potato dog food from the Sensitive range. Always ensure that clean, fresh drinking water is available at all times.