Dachshunds are hounds, not toys

Dachshunds are hounds, not toys.

Dachshunds are a unique breed. In the United States dachshunds are classified as hounds. They compete in the same group as canine giants, including: bloodhounds, wolf hounds, deer hounds and greyhounds. Even though they are classified as hounds they could just as easily be a terrier. In fact they are they only non-terrier that can compete in AKC earth dog trials! They have excellent noses and can track quite efficiently. Yet, they can also compete in field trials, and some people even compete in dachshund races. Some people look at the diminutive form of the mini dachshunds are think “surely there has been a mistake and this dog should be in the toy group?” The answer is most defiantly . . . “No”. Even though they are small they are not toys. They are very competent hunters. In fact, the Miniature dachshund (under 11 pounds) was bred to hunt rabbits while the standard Dachshunds (over 11 pounds) were bred to hunt badgers.

The most important word in the Dachshund vocabulary

What this means is a whole lot of dog in a very little package. And because they were bred to be hunters that think and work independently, they can also be extremely stubborn. Fortunately they are also very loving and reasonably accommodating dogs. This means that they are relatively easy to train. However, training a dachshund requires patience and perseverance. New dachshund owners should take their dog to obedience class to learn to communicate and work with these nifty little dogs.

If for some reason you can’t or won’t take your dachshund to an obedience class, there is one word that every dachshund should know. The one word that every dachshund should know is “come”. Dachshunds can very easily become so interested in something that they developed “selective deafness”. It is vitally important for them to understand that when you call them that “something” is not as important as you are. This may save you dog’s life.

The Dachshund and the Sport of Competitive Eating

The one sport you should not allow your dachshunds to engage in is competitive eating. Thanks in part to their hound heritage dachshunds are great lovers of all things edible. This means that left to their own devices, your average dachshund would happily turn into dog resembling a relative of the Goodyear Blimp. You must as a dachshund owner fortify your defenses against those soulful eyes and keep your doxie’s diet in check. As a breed dachshunds are prone to back problem due to their “long and low structure”. Fat dachshunds are far more prone to back and joint problems. Over-feeding a dachshund can quite literally “kill them with kindness”. If you have any doubt about the fitness of your dog, consult your vet or breeder, either of these people should be able to help you out.

Striking Fear in the Heart of Dachshunds

You may wonder why a dachshund’s front feet are bigger than their rear feet. The answer lies in their purpose. Being a “go to ground dog”, dachshunds were bred to dig out their quarry. But a side-effect that they have toenails that grow at astonishing rates. It is important to keep them trimmed as much as possible. I have never encountered a doxie that likes having toenails trimmed. However, in order to avoid serious problems like your dachshund snagging and ripping their toe, or having the toenail grow into the pads of the feet, the dachshund owner must steel his/her heart against the tantrums of their doxie and trim their toenails regularly. If all else fails, schedule an appointment with your local groomer, who I’m sure will be happy to see you.

Things that go squeak in the night

Dachshunds vary in their approaches to toys. Some will keep a favorite squeak for years while others can demolish a warehouse full of them in nanoseconds. Our house is a minefield of dead squeaky toys, de-fluffed stuffiest, and chews that have been sharpened to ankle-twisting points. Some of our dogs have toys that have lasted ages, while others carry the carcasses of much-repaired favorites. Toys are important for dachshund enrichment, as left to their own devices the average wiener will find something to entertain themselves with.

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