Yes — for the right family. According to PetMD, Dachshunds can make great dogs for the right family: one with older children, and with the time to keep a dog active, stimulated and trained. Get that match right and you have a brave, devoted little hound with a big-dog personality. Get it wrong, and the breed’s two famous challenges — a vulnerable long back and a surprisingly loud bark — run the household instead.
Dachshund quick facts
According to PetMD’s Dachshund breed profile, the essentials are:
- Sizes: Standard Dachshunds weigh 16–32 pounds and stand 8–9 inches tall. Miniature Dachshunds weigh under 11 pounds and stand 5–6 inches tall.
- Coat types: Smooth, longhaired and wirehaired.
- Lifespan: 12–16 years.
- Colours: One-coloured red or cream; two-coloured black, chocolate, wild boar, grey (blue) or fawn (Isabella) with tan or cream markings; dapple, brindle, piebald and sable patterns also occur, according to the AKC standard.
- Temperament in three words: Willful, playful and brave — according to PetMD, the breed is also smart, attentive and tenacious.
- Group: Hound Group (AKC); Scenthound Group (UKC); Group 4 (FCI).
- Originally bred for: Hunting badgers — developed in Germany to go to ground after badgers, according to PetMD.
Breed standards and recognition
- AKC (American Kennel Club). According to the AKC, the Dachshund sits in the Hound Group and was recognised in 1885. Its standard is written around weight and coat, not a fixed height: Standard Dachshunds usually weigh 16–32 pounds, Miniatures are shown at 11 pounds and under at 12 months of age, and both sizes come in three coats.
- UKC (United Kennel Club). According to the UKC, the Dachshund sits in the Scenthound Group — a different group from the AKC’s — and has been recognised since 1919, in Miniature and Standard varieties.
- FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale). According to the FCI, the Dachshund is standard N° 148 and has Group 4 entirely to itself, in Section 1, originating in Germany, with a working trial. The FCI sets its three sizes by chest circumference at 15 months — Standard over 35 cm, Miniature 30–35 cm, and Rabbit (Kaninchen) up to 30 cm — each in the same three coats: nine varieties in all.
Where does the Dachshund come from?
According to PetMD, the Dachshund was developed in Germany to hunt badgers — its name combines the German words dachs (badger) and hund (dog), and it was bred to go to ground after dangerous prey.
What is a Dachshund’s temperament like?
According to PetMD, a Dachshund can be "willful, headstrong, playful, and mischievous" — but the breed is also smart and attentive. According to PetMD, Dachshunds were bred to be independent hunters of dangerous prey, which is why they can be brave to the point of carelessness and a bit tenacious.
According to PetMD, Dachshunds have an excellent sense of smell and a strong prey drive — and they also like to dig.
Training takes patience. According to PetMD, Dachshunds are independent and often willful, so they can be a challenge to train. PetMD advises positive reinforcement, short training sessions, and consistent socialisation for puppies.
Do Dachshunds bark a lot?
Yes — plan for a vocal dog. According to PetMD, Dachshunds are good dogs for apartments and small houses, but they do tend to bark a lot, and you will need to put in some training to redirect barking behaviours.
Are Dachshunds good with children?
According to PetMD, Dachshunds suit families with older children: playtime with children should be supervised, and children must be taught how to interact safely with dogs. The comfortable match is school-age children who can be gentle with a small dog, rather than toddlers, whose play can get too boisterous.
Care
How much exercise does a Dachshund need?
More than the little legs suggest. According to PetMD, although they are small dogs, Dachshunds need regular exercise to stay fit and build strong muscles to support and protect their long back, which is vulnerable to injury. PetMD recommends multiple daily walks, playtime, and activities that mentally stimulate them. The breed’s hunting brain is best worked with low-impact activities: according to PetMD, good choices include scent tracking, nose work and puzzle toys.
Fit matters on a small dog, too: our guide to choosing the best dog collar covers fit, safety and collar types. For how exercise needs vary by age and breed, see our guide to how much exercise a dog needs.
How much grooming does a Dachshund need?
It depends which of the three coat types you choose. According to PetMD:
- Smooth Dachshunds have a short, smooth and shiny coat and require the least maintenance — a wipe-down with a grooming glove to remove loose hair, or a towel to make the coat shine.
- Longhaired Dachshunds have a slightly wavy coat, longer on the neck, chest and underside. They require frequent brushing and are prone to mats or tangles, so they must be brushed out completely at least several times a week, if not daily.
- Wirehaired Dachshunds have a coarse outer coat with a softer undercoat. The coat can be plucked or hand-stripped a few times a year to maintain its rough texture, with an occasional trim of the beard and eyebrows, and brushing several times a week.
Whichever coat you choose, according to PetMD, a Dachshund’s low-slung belly can pick up debris and may need more frequent brushing.
Do Dachshunds shed?
Yes — according to PetMD, all Dachshunds shed regularly throughout the year, though not as intensely as some other breeds, and routine grooming can help reduce the amount of fur that ends up in your home.
How much should you feed a Dachshund?
According to PetMD, Dachshund puppies should generally be fed three to four times a day, while adult Dachshunds should eat twice daily, on a high-quality, age-appropriate diet. And PetMD’s warning is plain: do not overfeed your Dachshund, because overweight Dachshund dogs are at a higher risk for back injuries and other diseases.
How do you protect a Dachshund’s back?
Two daily habits matter most: keeping weight off, and keeping jumping down.
On weight, according to PetMD, keeping your Dachshund at a healthy weight helps minimise the risk of a back injury. The breed is predisposed to obesity, and according to PetMD, overweight Dachshund dogs are at a higher risk for back injuries and other diseases — it is extremely important that Dachshunds do not become obese.
On jumping, according to PetMD, Dachshunds are not built for extensive jumping or twisting, so try to limit their jumping by installing pet stairs or ramps near furniture and beds. According to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, you can reduce the odds of a spinal injury by keeping your dog trim and fit and minimising time spent going up and down stairs and jumping on and off a deck, bed or sofa. Walking is safe for any dog, Cornell notes — leaping for a thrown toy is not.
What are the signs of IVDD in Dachshunds?
According to PetMD, intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) in Dachshunds is caused by a bulging or slipped disc within the vertebral column of the spine. It is the breed’s defining health risk: according to PetMD, as many as 25% of Dachshunds develop IVDD in their lifetime, and it can lead to permanent paralysis if not treated quickly. According to Cornell, the American College of Veterinary Surgeons estimates that Dachshunds alone account for 40 to 75% of all cases of IVDD, and these dogs may be clinically affected by 3 to 6 years of age.
According to PetMD, take your Dachshund to the vet if you notice a change in the way they move, or any of these symptoms:
- Back pain
- Trouble walking
- Limping
- Holding the head or neck down
- Dragging paws
- Scuffed toenails
- Problems urinating or defecating
According to Cornell, a dog with a spinal disc problem may also walk with a wobbly gait, show weakness in the rear, or in severe cases be paralysed and incontinent. Cornell’s advice is direct: at the first sign of back discomfort, contact your veterinarian.
Treatment depends on severity. According to PetMD, vets may recommend anti-inflammatory and pain medications, muscle relaxants and strict cage rest, while surgery is often necessary for more severe IVDD. According to Cornell, if surgery is recommended, do not wait — delay increases the chance the spinal cord degenerates beyond recovery.
How long do Dachshunds live?
According to PetMD, the typical Dachshund lifespan is 12–16 years, about average for a smaller dog breed. Comparing small companion breeds before deciding? Our Yorkshire Terrier breed guide covers another popular small breed in the same detail.
How much does a Dachshund cost?
According to PetMD, the average Dachshund puppy price ranges from $500 to more than $2,000, depending on the dog’s markings and coat, the breeder, pedigree papers and health screenings. According to PetMD, Dachshund rescue organisations and local shelters can also help you find Dachshunds for adoption.
Living with a Dachshund — is it right for you?
A Dachshund suits a home that can give it daily walks and play, patient training, and a back-friendly setup of ramps and managed stairs. According to PetMD, they can be great companions in smaller homes and apartments, as long as they get enough stimulation every day. They fit older children better than toddlers, and small pets are a risk because of the breed’s strong prey drive, according to PetMD.
So, are Dachshunds good family dogs? On the evidence above: yes — when the family fits the dog. Fit each other, and those twelve to sixteen years will be full of courage, comedy and complete devotion.
Frequently asked questions
Are Dachshunds easy to train?
According to PetMD, Dachshunds are smart but independent and often willful, so they can be a challenge to train. PetMD advises positive reinforcement and keeping sessions short.
Can Dachshunds live in apartments?
According to PetMD, yes — they can be great companions in smaller homes and apartments, as long as they get enough stimulation through walks and play every day. The one caution is noise, so bark training is part of apartment life with this breed.
Are Dachshunds good with other pets?
It depends on the pet. According to PetMD, their strong prey drive means they might not do well in homes with smaller animals they could see as something to chase after.
Should a Dachshund use ramps?
Yes, where jumping is routine: according to PetMD, pet stairs or ramps near furniture and beds help keep the back healthy.
Photos: Sillerkiil (CC BY-SA 4.0), Ettore Balocchi (CC BY 2.0) and Tony Alter (CC BY 2.0), via Wikimedia Commons.
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