Dachshund Care

Ah, the Dachshund. Nicknamed the good ol' "Wiener Dog," this short-legged, often fat, spunky little breed was originally developed in Germany to hunt badgers and other small animals by entering their dens--but has since become a favorite pet among owners around the world. Dachshunds have size varieties (Miniature and Standard) and coat varieties (Smooth, Wirehaired, and Longhaired). Regardless of its size or coat, though, overall Dachshund care won't take a great deal of work, and will consist of regular exercise and careful diet control.

Below you'll find plenty of details on caring for a Dachshund: puppy care and development, exercise needs, diet and nutrition (including tips to avoid obesity), and much more are covered here. Consider this page your Dachshund for Dummies guide--and read on!

People often mistakenly think that because these dogs are small, they need very little exercise--which isn't at all the case! Dachshund exercise requirements are actually pretty extensive compared to other small breeds. These dogs are lively and have a good bit of stamina--they were originally developed to be hunters, after all!--so they'll need a couple of good walks, plus a period of play, on a daily basis.

Specifically how much does a Dachshund need daily? The typical adult, depending on its age and overall activity level, should get about 45 minutes of proper exercise each day. You can start exercising your Dachshund puppy when it's 10-11 weeks old by taking it on short (3- to 5-minute) walks, then you can increase the walks' length and frequency as the puppy grows.

A few things to consider when exercising your Dachshund: first, puppies younger than eight months old shouldn't participate in activities that include jumping, running on hard surfaces, or navigating of stairs, as doing so can injure their still-developing joints and bones. Even when a Dachshund is full-grown, owners will need to avoid letting them jump from high places (in which they can injure their long spines) or run up or down stairs (which is hard on their short legs). Dachshunds will also need to be leashed when in public. Breed members have high prey drives, and will instinctively chase small animals--squirrels, cats, and birds, among others--unless controlled by a leash. Even when exercising in your own yard, the area will need to be securely fenced to keep the Dachshund from running away.

Another important precaution for the breed: Dachshund diet and exercise should both be closely monitored. These dogs have a high tendency for obesity, and fat Dachshunds have major joint problems and a shorter life expectancy. To keep your Dachshund happy, healthy, and long-living, make sure the dog gets regular daily exercise--and keep tight control on its food consumption.

Safeguards aside, exercising a Dachshund every single day is a must. Not only do these dogs become overweight easily, but they also tend to dig and bark a lot--and without consistent activity, your pudgy little Dachshund will dig and bark like there's no tomorrow! Regular exercise will be great for both the dog's and your own peace of mind. A few exercise ideas:

• Walking: Two 15-minute walks per day is a good target
• Fetch: Dachshunds love chasing a ball or stick
• Hide-and-Seek: Good indoor, rainy-day activity; give the dog a treat when it finds you
• Dog Park: If properly socialized, Dachshunds enjoy the company of other dogs
• Canine Sports: These dogs can actually excel in obedience and field trials or other events
• Laser Pointer: Dachshunds will go nuts chasing that "little red dot"

When indoors, it's a good idea to give your Dachshund access to one or more balls or toys that will allow the dog to burn excess energy. It's also strongly recommended that you establish a regular exercise schedule for the dog, such as walks after breakfast and dinner and a play period in the afternoon.

In terms of shedding and drooling, these dogs don't need much care. Depending on its coat type, Dachshund shedding is light to moderate; drooling isn't an issue.

Breed members have three cat varieties: Smooth, Wirehaired, and Longhaired (with Smooth being the most common). The Smooth and Wirehaired coats shed lightly; the Longhaired will shed a little more, but still not a whole lot. (People may have heard of a Longhaired Dachshund shedding excessively, but those cases are rare.) Smooth and Wirehaired Dachsunds will need brushing once or twice a week, and Longhairs 2-3 per week, to keep the shedding low. Wirehairs can also be hand-stripped every few months to keep the coats in good shape. Regardless of the coat type, hair cleanup--vacuuming the floors and lint rollers on clothes and furniture--won't be required too often.

And dogs of this breed almost never drool. If your Dachshund is drooling excessively, it might be a sign of a medical issue, in which case a veterinarian's care is needed.

Probably as much as any breed, the Dachshund diet is ultra-important to keeping these dogs happy, healthy, and long-living. With its high tendency for obesity, Dachshund owners will need to keep a very close eye on exactly what their dogs eat--and how much of it they consume. For the Dachshund, fat is the enemy!

Dachshund food, like that of all breeds, will need to contain plenty of animal proteins and carbohydrates for energy, vitamins and minerals for digestive and immune health, and omega fatty acids for coat and skin wellness. This means the best Dachshund dog food is premium dry kibble, as it has balanced portions of the above-listed ingredients that will keep breed members healthy in the long term. Two examples are Whole Earth dog food, or Royal Canin; Dachshund dogs will be healthier and live longer if fed these brands.

And though your Dachshund may want to eat the entire bag at once--and may plead with its soulful brown eyes to do so!--it's important to give the dog measured portions. Adult Dachshunds, depending on their age, size, and activity level, will only need 1-1½ cups of premium dry food per day, divided into two meals. Dachshund puppy food portions are a bit less: again depending on age, about ¾ cup per day, divided into three meals (not two) until five months of age. For more info on Dachshund food requirements, see this Dachshund feeding chart:

*--Around this time, transition to adult food by first mixing in a bit of adult formula with the puppy formula. Over the course of a week, with each meal add a little more adult food to the mixture, until the dog is eating it entirely.

Again: measure your Dachshund's meal portions. A "fat wiener dog" is almost a cliche, but that fat weenie dog will have major joint, breathing, and digestive issues, and it surely won't live as long. A few ways to control your Dachshund's weight:

• Establish consistent feeding and exercise schedules. And stick to them!
• NO feeding the dog table scraps! For the Dachshund, treats should be healthy--and rare.
• Don't "free-feed" your Dachshund. In other words, don't leave food in its bowl all the time. Put the Dachshund food bowl down only at mealtimes, then pick it up as soon as the dog is finished.

If you're worried your Dachshund is overweight, give the dog both a visual test--does it look fat?--and a physical one: run a hand along its side, and if you can't feel ribs, it's diet time. Reduce the dog's daily food consumption by one-fourth, and add an extra walk or play period to its daily exercise schedule. It's also recommended that you take your fat Dachshund dog to the vet for further health advice.

Veterinarians, owners, and breed enthusiasts all agree that the best dog food for a Dachshund is premium dry kibble. This high-quality food, while more expensive and harder to obtain, contains the necessary nutrients that will keep a Dachshund healthy and slim. Cheap, generic dog food is not recommended for these dogs! Cheap dog food contains mostly empty "filler" ingredients that are fattening, are harder for the dog to digest, and will likely shorten its lifespan if eaten on a consistent basis.

Good Earth dog food, along Royal Canin and Wellness Complete, are three recommended brands that carry excellent lines of premium low-calorie dry food.

The Dachshund is definitely an "inside" breed--but it'll also need plenty of outdoor exercise. These dogs love their people, and will do much better living inside with their human "pack." Don't forget, though, to give them lots of physical activity, whether it's indoors or out! And the Dachshund is an apartment dog for sure--just make sure you take it for regular walks.

In regards to climate: for a Dachshund, temperature definitely matters. These dogs get cold easily, so be prepared to stock up on Dachshund coats for winter!