Summerhill Dachshunds

Dachshund come in 2 sizes and 3 coat varieties.   Sizes are Standard, 16-30+ lbs , and miniatures, 11 lbs and under.  There are also those Dachshunds that fall somewhere between 11 and 16 lbs lovingly referred to as "Tweenies".   

Coats are Smooth,  Wire, and Long.   Whatever the coat or size Dachshunds remain loving family members and great hunters.   Smooth coated Dachshunds are notorious for NOT liking rain,  Longs seem to be the most laid back.

Dachshunds also come in various colors the most familiar being shades of Red and Black & Tan in smooths, Wild Boar in Wires and Cream in Longs.    .  Beware of breeders who advertise "rare" colors, especially Double Dapples with lots of white.   Some of these have been associated with deafness and blindness.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Dachshunds were originally bred to hunt Badgers in Germany (Dachs Hund is Badger Dog in German).   Oh, and the CH in Dachs is hard.    It is NOT Dashhound.

As a breed meant to hunt a formidable foe the Dachshund temperment is full of attitude and tenacity.    If your dachshund tells you there is something under the refrigerater or porch,  trust me, there is something there.  Whether it is a tiny piece of kibble or chipmunk/rat or other critter, your dachshund will not stop trying to "get it" until you move the furntiture or kill the critter.

Dachshunds can be stubborn and some can be nosiy but all are great Alert Dogs, loving family members, and clowns.   They love to make you laugh.   Some Dachshunds need a little patience with housebreaking so make sure your breeder has started your pup on the housebreaking routine.

Dachshunds, especially the Smooth coated, shed very little and do not have a "hound" smell.    Wires and Longs take a little grooming to keep them looking great.

Dachshund puppies should be socialized with children from a young age.   Small children, especially younger ones with their high pitched voices and quick startling movements can scare any puppy.    Dachshunds also have very good memories and allowing small children to pull ears and tails of a young pup can create a wary adult.

Whether in an apartment, single family home or a large farm, Dachshunds need a safe secure outside space.   They are hunting dogs and if they catch a critter scent they will be off to find the source,  they turn deaf to your pleas to come back and they can be very fast.     Better to be safe and build a fence.

Dachshunds should never be left out, tied to a fixed object, on their own.   All responsible breeders will insist that their pups are house compnaions.   Dachshund's hearts are huge and they love deeply, they are also very loyal.    A Dachshund pup can live upwards of 17 years.    Please be prepared for a long term relationship if you decide the Dachshund is the breed for you.

HEALTH

There is probably NO breed of dog without health problems, just like people.   For the most part Dachshunds are very healthy.    There are tests for PRA (a type of blindness) and knee issues (Patellas).    Make sure you ask your breeder if they test for these problems.    Other tests breeders can do is Thyroid testing and Heart testing.    Breeding pairs should be tested  to rule out problems associated with Thyroid and Heart.    

   Other problems can not be tested for.    Long lowbacked dogs (Dachshunds, Bassets, Corgis etc) can be prone to IVDD (neck/spine disc problems).   Care of your puppy during growth  and keeping your Dachshund exercised and in good weight can help protect him/her from IVDD but nothing  can guarantee it will not happen to your dog.   Educate yourself on this potential problem before getting a Dachshund to determine if this is a risk (however slight) you want to take.    Some back/neck problems can be fixed with crate rest, drugs or accupuncture.   Other problems require surgery and after care.

Another problem that can rear it's ugly head are seizure disorders.   These can be as simple as a one time event of a little drooling,a minute or two of ridgitity to more seious Grand Mal Seizures.      Simple or infrequent events do not need medication and the dog will recover quickly.  A dog with  Frequent Grand Mal Seizures may  need a daily medication such a Phenobarbytal.      Again, education regarding this disorder is something you should do before buying a Dachshund.

Small Dogs, such as the Dachshund and some Toy Breeds can be sensitive to Vaccines.   Minimal vaccine policies can minimize vaccine after effects such as allergies.  Education is key but if your dog has a reaction to a certain vaccine never give it again.    It is also better not to give multiple vaccines at the same time.

Responsible Dachshund breeders do everything in their power to minimize the chance that any of these problems will occur in your pup.   Ongoing pedigree research and medical research is constant  to help make these issues a thing of the past.    But they do occur despite the breeders best efforts.

Education is key to buying any dog.  Pure Breed Breeders  should focus on Health Temperment and Conformation.   Don't be afraid to ask questions when you go looking for that perfect companion.

(All opinions expressed are solely the opinions of Summerhill Dachshunds)