The Wire Haired Dachsund
They are a hound and as such should be powerful, capable, bold, tenacious and intelligent. Traditionally they have hunted rabbits, foxes, badgers (of course!) and even work wild boar and track deer. Their history, heritage and purpose should not be overlooked when considering them as a pet!
The official history of the Wire Haired Dachshund (WHD) dates to the 19th century and it has been, and still is, used profusely around the world as a working dog. More on this on the history page.
The WHD is now a favourable breed in the show ring and has become increasingly popular as a pet over the last decade.
Physical Characteristics
WHD’s should have a strong and muscular frame, be of good proportion – not too long, too short, too ‘up on the leg’ or too low to the ground. They should have a broad deep chest and keel, but not appear over heavy in front, have ribbing well back with a short strong loin and a good length of elegant neck. Straight front legs (a little deviation on a 10 to 2 is ok but should not be extreme) tight feet and a loose straight freedom in their movement. The back should stay straight on the move and not undulate. Elbows should be tucked in but not tied in and the whole dog should present a balanced outline with the pelvis set on obliquely. Hindquarters well angulated but not exaggerated. They should have a harsh wiry coat which turns the weather well, does not hold dirt, keeps them warm and cleans and dries easily.
There are many variations on the jacket of a Wire, but not all are good! Profusion of coat with evident softness is not desirable. The tail carriage should be down and not gay. It should be set on well and not be carried fly or have a ‘pump handle’ appearance at its attachment. One thing that we feel is worthy of note, is that despite the obvious desire for ‘correctness’ and likeness to breed standard, WHD’s are actually incredibly individual and unique in their physical features, colours and personalities. In some case’s brother and sister don’t even look like they popped out of the same mummy!
Standard WHDs should ideally weigh between 9 and 12 kilos and measure between 20 and 27cm in height and on average live between 10 and 17 years.
Temperament
In temperament WHD’s are many things. Loyal, endearing, faithful, loving, proud, extrovert, feisty, tenacious, defiant, spunky and bold are just a few of the words you’ll hear used to describe them. They are generally very good with children if, like any dog, they are introduced to them at a young age and have no bad experiences. They can make a wonderful family dog, but will often choose a favourite family member, with whom they will develop a truly special bond.
WHDs are very busy, active dogs, and as adults will take almost as much exercise as you can give them. WHDs are not for the faint hearted or the lazy dog owner. They thrive on company and as a rule dislike being left alone for long periods.
WHDs can also be noisy, cheeky and on some occasion’s downright naughty and destructive. Wallpaper stripping, table leg and cupboard modification, digging and general gardening are some of the less endearing ‘hobbies’ we have had to discourage. Good training, plenty of entertainment, play and exercise will normally mean you have few or no problems in this way. Mental stimulation, training, companionship and relationship building are vital.
All dachsies love cuddles, snoozing on the sofa and relaxing! The breed is not praised regularly for its obedience, but they can be trained given perseverance by the owner. Many of them tend “to get nose down, bum up and off to work” when off lead and they can be a little hard of hearing when it suits them! Patience and trust are vital!
Is a Wire Haired Dachshund Right for you?
Hopefully you already know the answer to this question!
WHD’s make great family pets, tend to love children, develop strong and loyal attachments to their human family and are incredibly clever, funny and strong willed. They love adventure just as much as they love cuddles and love. But they can be stubborn, noisy, destructive, greedy, difficult to train, have a high work drive and, like all dogs and animals, they need a lot of your time, patience and attention.
WHD’s love a one-on-one life where they are the centre (or part of the centre) of someone’s universe. I mean, who doesn’t want to be someone’s everything? As most dogs are they are just as happy being part of a group/pack of humans and other dogs. And even other animals! Despite the often high prey drive, dachshunds have proven often to be capable of living contentedly with cats, house rabbits, chickens, sheep and many more… But remember, it can take time and patience to educate a dog to live with other critters. The best time to start is as a young puppy. Introducing older dogs to ‘prey species’ id much harder and can go badly for everyone….
Finding Friends
When thinking about getting a Dachshund, do as much research as you can, speak to breeders and owners of dachshunds and ask yourself some questions:
Can you offer plenty of your yourself and your family to your new friend?
Are you committed to training, educating and exercising your WHD? Its not always easy!
Can be sure not to want or need to leave your WHD alone for extended periods? Especially as a puppy?
Do you know about the health needs and potential health problems of the dachshund breeds?
Have done your research well? Do you know about how your future WHD puppy has been bred and raised. Do you feel happy and mfortable/have confidence in your chosen breeder?
In the case of an older dog, do you know all of its history? Any quirks or oddities?
Are you secure that you have found a breeder who knows their breed and has the best interests of their dogs and puppies at heart?
Have you done some ‘meet and greets’? maybe even visited a breeder? or gone to a show or 2? or even Crufts on hound day ‘just to watch’ and visit discover dogs? It’s a great way to get to know more about the breed and meet some dachshunds and their owners. Facebook, Instagram and other internet pages offer valuable resources to get you in touch with the WHD community too, and the Dachshund community as a whole…
Do you think you know most of the characteristics of dachshunds? and do you know how your home and life need to look, function and maybe change, to accommodate one…or more?
Remember, if you start a new relationship or a family, or if you introduce new pets/animals to your life, your WHD still needs to feel just as special as they always did or they may find it hard to share you!
Because, be warned…. one dachshund is often not sufficient… they are addictive!
Other Companions, Canine and Otherwise
As I touched on before, just because I have made a lot about how much Dachshunds like to be the centre of your universe does not mean they are averse to having other friends around. On the contrary, THEY LOVE being part of a pack! They are hounds after all! And they aren’t fussy about it being another Dachsie…
More than happy with a human pack, other dogs are by no means needed, but most dachshunds, in fact most dogs, welcome having doggy pals. We have people with dogs from us who share their homes with Labradors, Pointers, Retrievers, Bassetts, other Dachsies, Terriers and Lurchers to name but a few. Cats, Rabbits, chickens…. Can also be part of the community if you wish.. My dogs are also accustomed to life with horses. My Jack Russel (nothing to do with dachshunds, obviously) was very friendly with my pet rat! Anything is possible! You just have to set yourself up for success…
We are happy to discuss introducing new puppies and dogs to existing family members (and other beasties) and aim always to be here to support you on your journey if you need us.
