¶Table of Contents
¶Quick Facts
The Dachshund is a German hunting dog in FCI Group 4, developed to work both below and above ground. The breed comes in nine varieties: standard, miniature and rabbit, each combined with a smooth-haired, long-haired or wire-haired coat. It is therefore wiser to choose a Dachshund by size, coat, the breeder's aims and the dogs' actual characteristics than by the breed name alone.
- Uses: hunting below ground, hunting by scent, tracking wounded game and companionship.
- Working style: persistent, independent and strongly scent-oriented.
- Size: determined by chest circumference, not height at the withers or a general weight figure.
- Coat: smooth, long or wire, with distinctly different care requirements.
- Important health issue: intervertebral disc degeneration and herniation, often grouped under the term IVDD.
- Best suited to: someone who wants a low-set hunting dog with a strong desire to work and can provide daily exercise, scent work and consistent training.
The final size variety is not confirmed until the dog is at least 15 months old. The parents provide a reasonable indication, but the puppy's final variety cannot be promised before measurement.
¶Appearance & Coat
The Dachshund should be low and long-bodied, yet compact, muscular and agile. Its body was built to work freely in confined spaces, not to be extremely long or heavy. The breed standard specifies ground clearance of about one-third of the height at the withers and a ratio of height to body length of approximately 1:1.7–1.8.
Chest circumference is measured after 15 months of age, from the highest point of the withers to the lowest point of the ribcage. The current ranges are:
- Standard Dachshund: males more than 37 cm but no more than 47 cm; females more than 35 cm but no more than 45 cm.
- Miniature Dachshund: males more than 32 cm but no more than 37 cm; females more than 30 cm but no more than 35 cm.
- Rabbit Dachshund: males 27–32 cm; females 25–30 cm.
The three coat types are more than a difference in appearance. The smooth-haired Dachshund has a short, dense, close-lying coat that normally needs limited routine care but should still be checked after time in rough country. The long-haired Dachshund has an undercoat and longer feathering that should be combed where tangles form easily, particularly behind the ears and on the legs, belly and tail. The wire-haired Dachshund has a topcoat, undercoat, beard and pronounced eyebrows. A correct wire coat is hand-stripped when needed; clipping it does not produce the same coat texture.
Accepted colours and patterns depend partly on coat type. Red, black or brown with tan markings, merle (dapple) and brindle are included in the standard, while wild-boar colours are typical of wire coats. Coat colour is not a shortcut to temperament or hunting drive, but some colour combinations matter for health. Ask the breeder to explain both the registered colour and its inheritance if the puppy is merle.
¶Temperament & Personality
The ideal Dachshund is friendly and even-tempered, without fear or aggression, but is also energetic, persistent and self-assured. Its independence comes from work in which the dog must make decisions at a distance from its handler. In daily life, the same trait may appear as a Dachshund checking whether a rule really applies every time.
Hunting drive, sociability, vocality, interest in play and ability to settle vary between individuals and family lines. The Swedish analysis of the Behaviour and Personality Assessment for Dogs, BPH, describes many confident Dachshunds but covers less than one per cent of the Swedish-born population studied. It cannot therefore promise the personality of an individual puppy. Claims that a particular coat type is always calmer, easier to train or less interested in hunting are also too broad.
Instead, ask how the parents and close relatives behave at home, with visitors, on walks and in unfamiliar settings. For a working Dachshund, trial results and practical use are relevant; for a companion, it is equally important to hear specific examples of how the dogs settle after activity, how vocal they are and how they respond to handling. A responsible breeder should be able to describe both strengths and areas that require work.
¶Training & Exercise
A Dachshund needs daily physical activity and meaningful scent work, but one fixed number of minutes will not suit every dog. Age, fitness, surface, size variety, health and the way the dog works all affect the appropriate load. A healthy adult can be an enduring walking and outdoor companion, while a puppy should build strength and coordination gradually and a dog with back symptoms needs a veterinary plan.
Tracking, search games, human scent trails and carefully placed food searches allow the Dachshund to use its greatest asset: its nose. Short, clear sessions with a reward the dog genuinely values often work better than repetitions without a clear purpose. Start recall, stop cues, staying with the handler and disengaging from a scent trail early. Obedience does not remove hunting drive, so a long line and thoughtful choice of environment are important when recall is not reliable. In Sweden, dogs must not chase or pursue wildlife outside hunting, and particular supervision is required where wildlife may be present from 1 March to 20 August.
Protecting the back does not mean that a healthy Dachshund should live a sedentary life. There is no evidence that a total ban on all stairs or jumping on and off furniture prevents IVDD by itself. Instead, develop good basic fitness, keep the dog at a healthy body condition, reduce slipping hazards at home and avoid uncontrolled high jumps or collisions. Tailor help on stairs and when lifting to the dog's age, size and health.
¶Health
Intervertebral disc degeneration and herniation are the Dachshund's most important breed-specific health issue. IVDD means that the discs between the vertebrae change and may press on nerves or the spinal cord. Seek veterinary care promptly if a Dachshund suddenly develops obvious back or neck pain, arches its back, refuses to move, walks unsteadily, loses strength in its legs or has difficulty controlling urination or defecation. Do not wait for mild neurological signs to resolve on their own.
The Swedish Kennel Club's official spinal X-ray screening for Dachshunds counts calcified discs. It is performed from the dog's second birthday until the day before its fourth birthday, and the result is reported as K0, K1–K2, K3–K4 or K5–K26. K0 means that no calcifications were detected, while a higher K number means more fully or partly calcified discs. The result provides breeding and risk information; it does not guarantee that a dog will never develop, or will definitely develop, clinical problems. Information about disc herniation in parents, siblings and previous offspring is therefore also important.
Spinal screening and eye examinations are voluntary for Dachshunds in Sweden. The Swedish Dachshund Club's breed-specific breeding strategy nevertheless recommends considering back and family history and having breeding dogs' eyes examined before first breeding and later in life. PRA occurs in the breed. The current registration provisions for Dachshunds regulate matters including variety, coat, colour and final size measurement, but do not list back or eye examinations as compulsory conditions for registration. A buyer should therefore ask for the actual results rather than accepting the phrase “health-tested parents”.
Monitor body condition too: a waist should be visible and the ribs should be easy to feel with light pressure. When merle is part of a mating, the breeder should be able to explain the colour genes. Inheriting merle from both parents can result in double merle, which in dogs is associated with an increased risk of hearing and eye problems.
¶History & Origins
The Dachshund was developed in Germany from low-legged hunting dogs for work below ground. Such dogs have been known since the Middle Ages, while organised breeding took clearer shape during the nineteenth century. The German Dachshund club was founded in 1888, and breeding came to encompass the three sizes and three coats that make up today's nine varieties.
The breed's low outline, powerful forequarters, stamina and independence have a practical explanation. The Dachshund needed to follow quarry below ground, but could also work as a scent hound or flushing dog and assist in tracking wounded game. In Sweden, it became particularly important as a slow-working scent hound when the roe deer population increased during the 1940s. The Swedish Dachshund Club was founded as early as 1901.
That historical role is still apparent in daily life. A Dachshund that will never hunt still needs outlets for scent work, problem-solving and movement. This is also why a buyer should ask what the breeder genuinely prioritises: work below ground, scent hunting, tracking wounded game, showing or primarily companionship.
¶Living with the Breed
A Dachshund can live well in a flat if it receives enough time outdoors, activity and training around sounds in the stairwell and outside the door. The size of the home matters less than the content of the dog's day. Plan several opportunities to go out, time to sniff at an unhurried pace and a place where the dog can rest undisturbed. Time alone should be taught gradually; stop and make the exercise easier if the dog shows distress. The Swedish Board of Agriculture's advice to take an adult dog out at least every six hours during the day concerns toileting and exercise, not how long an individual Dachshund should be left alone.
A Dachshund can be a good family dog with children, but young children and dogs should always have an adult present. Children need to learn not to disturb the dog while it is eating or resting. Young children should not carry a Dachshund; a small dog is easily dropped, and the back and hindquarters need proper support when it is lifted. The dog should always have a safe, undisturbed resting place.
Living with other dogs or cats depends on the individual, previous experience and hunting drive. Make introductions calmly, use a barrier and give both animals separate safe areas. A Dachshund with a strong drive to chase may not become reliable with a rabbit, guinea pig or cat simply because introductions are practised. Secure physical separation may be the right long-term solution.
Before buying, ask for specific answers to the following questions:
- Which size and coat is the puppy expected to have, and how confidently can this be predicted?
- What are the parents used for, and how do they and their close relatives behave in daily life?
- Is there an official K result and information about clinical back problems in parents, siblings or previous offspring?
- When were the parents' eyes last examined, and what do the results show?
- Which BPH, hunting or show results are registered and relevant to this particular litter?
- How have the puppies been introduced to handling, household sounds, people and short periods away from their littermates?
The best match is not automatically the smallest puppy, the quietest one during a visit or the colour that first catches your eye. Choose the combination in which the breeder's aims, the dogs' documented health and temperament, and your own daily life all point in the same direction.
¶Characteristics
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Breed Type | Purebred |
| Aggressiveness | 3/5 |
| Child Friendly | 4/5 |
| Energy | 3/5 |
| Hair Shedding | 2/5 |
| Health | 4/5 |
| Intelligence | 3/5 |
| Grooming Needs | 2/5 |
| Learning Ability | 2/5 |
| Barking Level | 4/5 |
| Height | 20 – 27 cm |
| Weight | 3 – 10 kg |
| Life Expectancy | 12 – 14 years |
¶Dachshund price
Here you can see typical asking prices for Dachshund in Sweden over the last 12 months.
The calculation is based on valid Get a Pet listings from the last 12 months, including active and expired listings. These are asking prices, not confirmed sale prices.
¶Frequently Asked Questions
Are Dachshunds really prone to back problems, and can it be prevented?
They have a long spine and short legs, which increases the risk of intervertebral disc disease. You can reduce the risk by keeping them slim, avoiding lots of stairs and high jumps, and supporting their back when lifting. Using ramps for furniture and choosing moderate, regular exercise instead of intense impact activities also helps. Even with good care, some individuals will still have back issues, so pet insurance and early vet checks are wise.
Do Dachshunds need a lot of exercise or are they just lap dogs?
They are small but originally bred for hunting, so most have more energy than people expect. Typically they need a couple of brisk walks a day plus play and sniffing time, not just a quick trip to the yard. Mental exercise like scent games and training is just as important as physical activity. Over-exercising young puppies or forcing long runs can stress their joints and back, so balance is key.
Is a Dachshund a good choice for families with children?
They can be wonderful family companions, but they are not always the best match for very rough or noisy households. Many are affectionate and playful, yet they dislike being mishandled and may snap if a child pulls, squeezes, or ignores warning signals. Supervision and teaching children how to gently interact are essential. Families that respect their space and fragility usually do well with this breed.
Why are Dachshunds so stubborn, and are they hard to train?
They were bred to work independently underground, which means they like to make their own decisions. This can look like stubbornness, especially with recall and house training. Consistent rules, short upbeat sessions, and high value rewards generally work better than corrections. Many excel at training when the owner is patient, creative, and very consistent.
Do Dachshunds bark a lot?
Many are naturally vocal watchdogs and will bark at noises, people passing, and other animals. Early training to teach a quiet cue and careful management of triggers can keep barking within reason. Boredom and lack of exercise make it worse, so mental enrichment is important. People in apartments or with close neighbors should plan to work on this from day one.
What is the difference between smooth, longhaired, and wirehaired Dachshunds in temperament and grooming?
Smooths are usually lowest maintenance for grooming but still shed and need regular brushing. Longhaired dogs often have a slightly softer, sometimes calmer temperament and need frequent brushing to prevent mats. Wirehaireds tend to have a scruffier, terrier-like personality and need hand-stripping or clipping plus routine brushing. Individual lines and socialization matter more than coat, but coat type does give some general tendencies.
Are Dachshunds suitable for apartment living?
Their small size works well in apartments as long as their exercise and mental needs are met. The main challenges are barking and sensitivity to hallway noises. Good soundproofing, daily walks, and early training around door and window triggers are important. They should not be left alone for very long workdays without company or breaks.
Can Dachshunds live with other pets like cats or small animals?
Many live peacefully with cats and other dogs if raised together and introduced carefully. They do have a strong hunting instinct, so small pets such as rodents or rabbits are often unsafe around them. Even friendly individuals may chase if something runs. Secure enclosures and supervised interactions are essential if you have small animals in the home.
How much grooming does a Dachshund really need?
Smooth coats need weekly brushing, nail trims, ear cleaning, and the occasional bath. Longhaired and wirehaired types need more frequent brushing to prevent tangles, plus professional grooming or hand-stripping for some wires. All types are prone to dirty ears and dental issues, so ear care and tooth brushing are important. Regular grooming is also a good time to check for skin problems and lumps.
How long do Dachshunds live, and what health issues should owners watch for?
They often live 12 to 16 years, sometimes longer with good care. Besides back problems, common issues include obesity, dental disease, heart disease, and in some lines eye disorders and epilepsy. Keeping them lean, feeding an appropriate diet, and scheduling regular vet checks can catch many problems early. Choosing a responsible breeder who screens for hereditary conditions lowers the overall risk.¶Comparisons with other breeds
Compare Dachshund with other breeds and see the differences in temperament, activity level, and care to make a confident choice. Show all comparisons
