Owning a Miniature Dachshund

Miniature Dachshunds are adorable additions to any fun-loving household, and can provide their owners with years of entertainment and affection. If you are thinking of purchasing a Miniature Dachshund, there are some things that you should be aware of before you begin enquiring. They can be extremely stubborn when it comes to training, and as such it might be helpful to employ the services of a professional dog or puppy trainer. Dachshunds were bred as hunting dogs, and to make decisions on their own about digging into badger holes and fighting. Though these chores are not asked of the breed today, the personality traits of independence and stubbornness still remain. It is important that you devote adequate time to training your Miniature Dachshund, as they can be a nightmare otherwise!

Make sure you seek out a reputable breeder when buying a Miniature Dachshund. Both Miniature and Standard Dachshunds are prone to spinal injuries that can be hereditary, so it is important that you check with your breeder in order to make certain that they are endeavouring to prevent these conditions from appearing in their line. Jumping about too frequently on furniture or down the stairs can also cause excessive strain on your Miniature Dachshund’s back. You should, wherever possible, construct a little Dachshund ramp up onto the sofa (if they are allowed) and on the stairs, and encourage your puppy to use that. This will eliminate a huge amount of stress on your dog’s spine and joints, and also make their life rather a great deal easier!

Miniature Dachshunds are also very prone to eye conditions. Particularly, Progressive Retinol Atrophy (PRA) where the cells in the eye slowing die, leaving your Miniature Dachshund blind. This condition can be tested for in puppies, and it is important you purchase your puppy from a breeder that can guarantee both the puppies and the parents are PRA-clear. Other eye conditions are Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS) where the surface of the eye becomes dry, and congenital cataracts where the eye lens becomes opaque. Reputable breeders should be working on eliminating these conditions, but if your Miniature Dachshund is showing signs of any of these, they need to be immediately taken to the vet for treatment.

For a tiny dog, Miniature Dachshunds can be incredibly vocal! This can be controlled with training, but they do make surprisingly good little guard dogs. They are also exceptionally great with children. Children like small dogs because they can carry them around and play with them, which is just what the Miniature Dachshund wants! As with any pet, be sure that your children are aware that your new dog is a living and breathing animal, and make sure that both are supervised at all times.

Training, as previously mentioned, can be a bit difficult with Miniature Dachshunds. They are fiercely independent, which makes them the joyous characters they are, but also incredibly difficult to train. It is important that you are patient, firm and consistent when training your Miniature Dachshund. For example, don’t train ‘Down’ to mean ‘lie down’ and ‘don’t jump up.’ Consistency is vital in order to make sure you wind up with a well-trained Miniature Dachshund. You also need not be afraid of being firm with them. A strongly spoken ‘No’ is very effective, and it is important that you let your puppy know when he has done something wrong. If you are too lenient with your Miniature Dachshund, he will soon work it out, and it can feel like he is training you!

It is important that you take care not to overfeed your Miniature Dachshund. Obesity is a problem common to the breed, and can add incredible stress to their spines and joints. Pay careful attention to the guidelines set out on your chosen food, and make sure your dog is getting enough exercise. Sufficient exercise will also help with behaviour, as there won’t be too much pent up energy to be dashing about with. Though they are small, Miniature Dachshunds still require a great deal of exercise, and it is important not to assume they don’t require as much as bigger dogs. A harness is a good option if your Miniature Dachshund pulls on the lead all the time.

Miniature Dachshunds are a fairly low-maintenance breed, but will still require some grooming. Particularly, if you are thinking of getting a long-haired or wire-haired breed, it is important that you regularly groom their coats in order to prevent matting. Smooth coated Miniature Dachshunds will not require grooming as such, but might need a coat or sweater in the winter and cold weather. It is important that you also take care to look after your dog’s eyes. Make sure you keep your Miniature Dachshund’s eyes clean and free from dust and hairs. You can buy wipes from a pet store that are great for just quickly rubbing over your dog’s eyes after a trip to the beach.

Miniature Dachshunds are without a doubt, a wonderful breed. They are loving and relatively low-maintenance, as well as being small enough to snuggle into the corner of a sofa. They are great with children and other pets, but can require some intensive training in order to adapt to your lifestyle more smoothly. If you feel that the Miniature Dachshund is the dog for you, then be sure to seek out an experienced and reputable breeder, and ask about the health conditions of the sire and dam before enquiring about the puppies. Miniature Dachshunds can cost up to £1,000 but are worth every penny!