Over 15 years handling, testing, and restoring pocket, fixed-blade, and Damascus steel knives across hunting and everyday-carry disciplines.
Dachshund as a First Dog: 10 Things to Know
If you decide to get a dachshund as a first dog, be prepared for them to steal your heart with their love, devotion, and silly antics!
However, understanding this wonderful breed is important to ensure a happy and healthy life for both you and your adorable dachshund 😇
In this article, we want to share 10 things that we consider most important, especially for a first-time dog owner. But before we start, a quick reminder:
– The dachshund is a dog breed that comes in 3 sizes:
Standard dachshund (7-14kg)
Miniature dachshund (4-6kg)
Kaninchen dachshund (3-4kg)
– And each size comes in 3 coat types and colors:
Wire-haired dachshund
Long-haired dachshund
Smooth-haired dachshund
We can never say it enough… This dog is a wonderful bundle of joy 🥰
1. The Dachshund is a Hunting Dog
Dachshunds were bred to hunt, cover a lot of ground, and sniff out badgers, rabbits, and other game like wild boar or deer.
This means they are driven by 2 things: their nose and their stomach 😊
You can help satisfy this natural hunting instinct by making them feel like they are searching for something to find food and treats.
To do this, you can participate in a dog training course to develop their scent skills or buy a snuffle mat; they will love playing with it (always under your supervision).
2. Dachshunds are Intelligent and Curious
Dachshunds are Group 4 hunting dogs with working trials, according to the official nomenclature of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale.
These dogs were bred not to back down or give up in the face of a threat, and no matter how much time or energy it takes, they will see it through to the end…
So, with a dachshund as a first dog, expect to deal with a stubborn pup with a strong personality!
3. Dachshunds Live a Long Time
The average life expectancy of a dachshund is 14 to 16 years.
Most live at least until the age of 11 or 12, and it is even possible for a dachshund to live to be 17 to 20 years old.
If you are a first-time dachshund owner, be ready for a long-term commitment 🐶
And obviously, a healthy and balanced diet for your dachshund will contribute greatly to their growth and a peaceful life with your family.
4. The Dachshund Barks Often and Loudly
Some dachshunds bark more than others, but they are generally dogs that yap at the mailman or the neighbors, so take this into serious consideration if you live in an apartment.
Plus, the pizza delivery person might very well think you have a big dog behind your door… 😉
They are excellent guard dogs to alert you to any activity around your home, which is very reassuring as you’ll never need a doorbell!
If this is your very first pet, you will need to work on training your dachshund to control their barking in most cases.
5. Most Harnesses and Clothes in Pet Stores Won’t Fit Your Dachshund
But PHEW! There is DoxieLife, a favorite 😜
Dachshunds have long backs and suffer from dwarfism (chondrodysplasia), so you will struggle to find harnesses and coats that fit them properly.
– Jackets that fit their deep chest may be too short to cover their back.
– Jackets and harnesses long enough for them may drown them in fabric around the neck and chest (their little paws get caught in it).
– Harnesses may not be suitable due to the dachshund’s prominent breastbone.
Because the fit isn’t perfect or suitable, the harness can put too much pressure on their trachea or fragile back.
In our dachshund harness collection, we recommend 2 shapes:
- Y-harness – forming a Y on the chest
- T-harness – forming a T when viewed from the side
This way, your dog’s back is not strained; the pressure point will simply be the top of their shoulders.
6. Dachshunds Have Fragile Backs
Dachshunds are genetically predisposed to a condition called intervertebral disc disease.
Having a dachshund as a first dog means knowing from the start that you must take care of their fragile, heavily-stressed spine for their entire life.
Veterinarians and breed specialists agree on getting your little companion used to using a dog ramp from a very young age to help them get onto your furniture (sofa, armchair, bed, etc.).
As a dachshund owner, we also prefer to carry our dog up and down stairs (regardless of their size) 🤗 and by talking with our wonderful community, we also recommend osteopathy sessions once a year.
7. Dachshunds are Prone to Obesity
The nickname “sausage dog” might be cute, but your dachshund shouldn’t look like one!
A dachshund will ALWAYS let you know they are hungry.
It is up to you to have the willpower to say no when they’ve had enough treats and to provide the right amount of food.
Worldwide, 2/3 of dachshunds are prone to obesity, which can once again affect their back.
It can also lead to other serious medical problems, such as diabetes.
Dachshunds at a healthy weight should have a tuck behind the rib cage, and you should be able to see their waist when looking from above.
To keep your dachshund at a healthy weight, ensure they get enough regular exercise and control their food portions (treats are rewards during or after training).
8. Dachshunds are Energetic and Need Plenty of Exercise
Because of their small size and short legs, many people think dachshunds don’t need much exercise or aren’t capable of it… it’s quite the opposite!
These dogs were bred to be hunters, so they are active and dynamic dogs.
Of course, a dachshund is happy to lounge around the house if you let them, but they are capable of more than you think when it comes to exercise and training 📲 (click to discover the dog training program).
Most dachshunds can handle good distances and hikes of 5 to 8 km once they are fully grown.
There are also many dachshunds that participate in dog sports and excel at them, such as tracking, agility, etc.
In addition to needing exercise to stay physically healthy, it will make them mentally happy 😇
9. Dachshunds Will Steal Your Heart
Their antics and goofy looks will melt your heart ❤️
Many owners have at least two, and the “once a dachshund owner, always a dachshund owner” mentality leads people to have several throughout their lives 🥰
You’ll want to keep a quality camera handy to capture all the precious and comical moments.
If a dachshund is your very first dog, be prepared to live with a little clown!
10. Prepare for Lots of Fun
Prepare for sausage jokes when you meet people on the street or during your walks with your adorable dachshund.
Furthermore, owning a dachshund allows you to be part of a community. Dachshund owners are fanatics and tend to gravitate toward one another.
There are many dachshund clubs and Facebook groups that you can join!
In Summary
Dachshunds are certainly more challenging than some breeds, but less challenging than others.
If you already own a dachshund, you should learn everything you can about them and learn to work WITH them.
If you are considering adopting a dachshund as a first dog, please take all the above points into account and honestly determine if the dachshund is the right breed for you.
So many dachshunds end up in shelters every year because people don’t know what they’ve gotten themselves into by bringing one of these magnificent little dogs home.
Are you a puppy or adult dachshund owner? If you have anything to add to this list, we want to know everything in the comments!
The DoxieLife team 💚 – Last modified on 01/16/26
