Is miniature dachshund a good pet? Because of its weird body, the Miniature Dachshund is one of the unique dog breeds in the world. Specifically, it has a long figure with four short legs that resemble sausages. Many people want to have this dog as a house pet as it is a lovely and active dog with an entertaining appearance. Scroll down to discover more interesting things about Dachshunds apart from their funny body shape!
Where Do Miniature Dachshunds Come From?
The Dachshund breed comes from Germany, “dachs” means badger, and ”hunt” means dog. Interestingly, the first Dachshunds were diverse in size (ranging from 12 to 35 pounds). And Dachshunds were seen as a hunter of deer, foxes, weasels, hares, wild boars, etc.
The first dachshund was named Teckel. In the beginning, German foresters tried to create and refine a long dog that could dig the badger burrows. Up to now, the Dachshund has been kept more as a house pet than as a hunting dog, and the breed is sixth out of 155 AKC-recognized breeds.
Size Of Miniature Dachshunds
Dachshunds now come in two sizes: miniature and standard. Dachshunds’ standard forms typically weigh 16 to 32 pounds in breeds like the Long-haired Dachshund, Wirehaired Dachshund, and Smooth Dachshund. Typically, adult Miniature Dachshunds weigh only 11 pounds or less.
Besides the miniature and standard types, Dachshunds also have a type called Tweenies. These animals weigh between 11 and 16 pounds but are still unclassified, only known as Tweenies.
Personality Of Dachshunds
Many people love the Dachshund for its intelligence. Dachshunds are quite agile and energetic but sometimes a bit hasty and stubborn. Moreover, this breed is also very courageous, rarely showing fear, but what they always want is a hug from their owners.
The personality of Dachshunds can vary depending on the coat type: longhairs are usually calm, Smooths are funny, and some mini hounds can be a bit shy. In addition, dogs’ personality is also influenced by genetics, training, and socialization.
Coat Color And Grooming
The Dachshund’s coat has the unique characteristic of being short and shiny; their hounds are usually cream, red, or black. Some bicolor hounds often have chocolate, black, gray, and fawn fur combined with tan or cream markings. But most of them are light gray, light brown, with blue or green eye color.
Meanwhile, the Wirehaired Hound has a remarkably different coat than the Smooth Hound as they have a thick and stiff but short undercoat and a softer-top layer. You could find their thick and stiff coat all over the Dachshunds’ body apart from the ears, eyebrows, and jaw area.
Long-haired hounds have a rather fluffy, smooth, and wavy coat. This is what gives the breed an elegant and attractive look. Furthermore, their coat color seems to be similar to the Smooth Dachshund.
It is necessary to take care of their coat properly to get the best appearance for each Dachshund. Hence, shedding a Dachshund’s coat twice a year is a good idea. You also must brush them regularly and bathe and dry them properly to keep them in the best look at home.
Health
All dogs can get sick, whether Cane Corso puppies, Teacup poodles, Old English Bulldog, Rottweiler puppies, Shih Tzu puppies, or Teacup Pomeranian puppies. Thus, owners always need to pay attention to their pet’s health.
Not all Dachshunds are susceptible to these diseases, but you should still be aware of these diseases if you are planning to own a Dachshund:
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD): Dachshunds have a long build but are also prone to back problems. IVDD can be acquired through genetics, falls, or moves wrongfully. Symptoms of the disease may include difficulty lifting the hind legs and loss of bladder and bowel control.
To treat this disease, you may have to keep your dog in a cage, take anti-inflammatory medication, or even have surgery to remove the disc if it is too much for the dog. Some people have had to take their dogs to chiropractors, rehabilitative therapists, or acupuncturists.
Epilepsy: This breed is very prone to epilepsy. This condition is usually caused by genetics, a fall, or a hard blow to the head. When you see your dog having a seizure, take him to the vet immediately to determine the right treatment. Seizures can be completely controlled with medication.
Progressive retinal atrophy (PRA): This is considered one of the degenerative eye disorders. This disease can cause blindness for a long because the photoreceptors are lost.
Gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV) – Bloat or Torsion: This disease can be life-threatening in dogs. GDV occurs when a dog’s stomach becomes distended with gas and then becomes twisted, resulting in the impeded return of blood to the heart. After that, the dog’s blood pressure will drop and make the dog shocked, life-threatening if medical intervention is not timely. The most visible symptoms of this condition are excessive salivation, nausea, bloating, restlessness, depression, lethargy, and a weak heart rate.
Cushing’s Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism): When a dog’s body produces too much of the hormone cortisol, it causes an imbalance in the adrenal or pituitary glands. The most common signs you may notice are your dog’s frequent urination and frequent thirst.
Canine Diabetes Mellitus (DM): Diabetes often occurs in Dachshunds when they are overweight. Fortunately, the disease is treatable with diet and insulin injections. The most obvious signs of the disease are thirst, weight loss, frequent urination, and increased appetite.
Deafness: Do a BAER (Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response) test for dogs before you adopt Dachshunds; check your dog if it suffers hearing loss. Although this breed does not usually suffer from this illness, a few tests will help.
Moreover, you can get a Canine Eye Registry Foundation (CERF) certificate to ensure that the Dachshund you adopt has normal eyes. Please also note that health certificates are not usually issued to dogs under two years of age.
How To Take Care Of a Miniature Dachshund?
Dachshunds have quite high energy and stamina. They love to walk and play outdoors like other dogs (cane Corso puppies, rottweiler puppies). They also love to hunt and dig – instinctively. You could keep them indoors and in small living areas, except for kennels, as your pet will feel inhibited.
Hence, a 10-minute walk a day is necessary for every Dachshund. But you should draw attention to its movement because jumping on furniture, falling, or moving stairs can cause damage to the dog’s spine.
Moreover, one of a Dachshund’s strengths is learning more quickly if you motivate it properly. Try using some positive dog rewards like food or a favorite toy that can train your dog quickly, and short training sessions each day should not be too difficult for the dogs. Avoid doing the same exercise repeatedly, which makes the dog feel bored.
Training exercises on mouse traps and cage training are also good ways to help dogs learn useful things. But please never keep a Dachshund in a cage all day, as this action may cause psychological depression for the dog.
In general, Dachshunds like freedom and dynamism. With an intelligent nature, it can guard and look after the house well.
Always ensure that the dogs are healthy, keep your Dachshund in a clean environment, and remember to bathe your pets regularly. It’s vital to ensure your pet’s regular health checkups with fully vaccinated treatment.
Our Verdict
To ensure that you can buy a quality Miniature Dachshund, you need to notice some criteria such as:
- The origin is clear, full of information about this dog’s parents.
- Purebred warranty, beautiful appearance, smart.
- Dogs must be healthy and active before leaving the cage.
Last Word,
If you intend to adopt this lovely pet, do not hesitate any longer. Choose for yourself a lovely Miniature Dachshund. However, please also note basic knowledge about health care and proper ways to take care of them in this article.
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