We're starting a small series in this section: one breed each month, honestly portrayed - what defines it, what it needs, and where the typical health challenges sit. We kick off with the most German of all dogs: the Dachshund.
A dog with history and an opinion
The Dachshund (also Teckel, FCI-registered as Dachshund) was bred in the 18th century for going to ground after foxes and badgers. That history sits inside every modern dog - and it explains a great deal. A Dachshund isn't a lap dog. He's an independent, brave, often stubborn hunting dog who happens to have short legs.
Anyone who takes a Dachshund and expects Labrador-style recall on command will be disappointed. Anyone who understands the Dachshund as a partner - with his own mind, high intelligence, and a strong sense of his own opinion - gets one of the most characterful dogs there is.
Three sizes, three coat types
Officially the kennel club distinguishes:
- Standard (8–9 kg)
- Miniature (4–6 kg)
- Rabbit Dachshund / Kaninchen (under 4 kg)
And three coat types:
- Smooth - low maintenance, the classic look
- Long-haired - gentler in temperament, a bit more brushing
- Wire-haired - robust, more "huntsman", often the most agile
For most families, the miniature smooth or wire-haired is the sensible entry - big enough not to feel breakable, small enough for a city flat.
The one thing every Dachshund owner must know
IVDD - intervertebral disc disease. About 20–25 % of all Dachshunds will develop a disc problem at some point in their lives, some severe enough to risk paralysis. This is rooted in a breed-specific variant of the chondrodystrophy gene - the short legs and long spine are genetically coupled with faster disc degeneration.
This isn't a minor footnote. It is the central health question for the breed.
What you can do to lower the risk:
- Avoid stairs, especially jumps (less so calm walking up and down). A ramp to the sofa and the bed pays off in surgeries you don't have to do later.
- Keep them lean. Every gram of extra weight loads a long back disproportionately.
- Harness instead of collar. Tension on the neck is the worst kind of load on cervical discs.
- Build muscle. Core muscles stabilise the spine. Swimming, controlled walking, light trotting - no races with bigger dogs.
- Acute back pain → vet immediately. "A bit stiff" in the morning isn't a Dachshund symptom to wait out; it's a same-day consult.
Genetic tests for IVDD risk are now available. If you're choosing a puppy, ask the breeder.
Other themes that come up in consults
- Patellar luxation (kneecap that slips out) - especially in miniatures and rabbits
- PRA (progressive retinal atrophy) - a hereditary eye condition seen more in certain lines
- Diabetes mellitus - Dachshunds are one of the over-represented breeds
- Overweight - usually hand-in-hand with "Dachshunds beg charmingly", see above
What a good Dachshund life needs
- Routines. They are creatures of habit who thrive on stability.
- Mental work. Nosework, mantrailing, new routes. A Dachshund is a hunting machine - without a job, he finds one.
- Patient, consistent training. Harshness gets you nowhere; permissiveness also gets you nowhere. The phrase is consistently friendly.
- A family that can handle stubbornness. If you want unconditional eagerness, get a Golden Retriever. If you want a real character, the Dachshund is your dog.
Is a Dachshund right for me?
Probably yes if you live in a flat that isn't on the fifth floor without a lift, you've got patience, and you want a dog who meets you at eye level rather than dissolving in adoration.
Probably no if you want an easy "beginner dog", travel a lot and leave the dog in care frequently, or aren't ready to invest at least an hour or two a day in exercise and stimulation. The Dachshund isn't a high-end endurance dog, but he doesn't tolerate boredom either.
Next month: the French Bulldog. Until then: nice spring walks, and try to keep them on flat ground.
