Breed Guide — No. 6 of 205

The Dachshund

Q: Are Dachshunds good apartment dogs?

Size-wise they are ideal: small, low-shedding and happy without a yard. The caveat is barking, so thin walls demand early training. Two proper daily walks are still needed.

Q: Why do Dachshunds have back problems?

The gene that gives them short legs also makes spinal discs age prematurely, so intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is the breed's defining health risk. Keep them lean, use ramps instead of jumping, and walk them on a harness.

Q: How much does a Dachshund cost?

Roughly $800 to $3,500 from a reputable breeder in the US, with miniatures and dapples often at the top of the range, plus $1,200 to $2,500 per year for food, insurance and vet care.

Q: Are Dachshunds good with kids?

With older, respectful children, yes. They are less tolerant of rough handling than sturdier breeds, and their backs mean incorrect lifting can hurt them, so households with young kids need firm handling rules.

Q: Can Dachshunds be left alone?

Four to six hours is a realistic ceiling. Long isolation tends to surface as barking or digging. Exercise beforehand and puzzle feeders help considerably.

Germany's badger dog: a fearless working hound compressed into a long, low chassis, now mostly found commandeering sofas and loudly announcing couriers on five continents.

11–32Lbs, Both Sizes

12–16Years, Lifespan

#6AKC Popularity

1885AKC Recognised

Red smooth-haired Dachshund standing alert in a sunlit meadow

Energy

Shedding

Trainability

Good w/ Kids

Bark Level

Temperament, honestly

4 traits

01A big dog's ego, compact edition

Dachshunds were bred to follow a badger into its own burrow and pick a fight in the dark, and no one has told them that job ended. The result is a small dog with total conviction that it is a large one — bold with strangers, undaunted by bigger dogs, and permanently convinced it is in charge of the household.

02Stubborn is the breed standard

Hounds bred to work alone underground had to make their own decisions, and yours has inherited the full executive package. Training a Dachshund is less command-and-obey, more ongoing negotiation in which food is the only recognised currency. They learn fast; they comply selectively.

03One-person loyalists

Dachshunds famously pick their person and commit hard. They'll tolerate the rest of the family, but the chosen one gets the burrowing-under-the-blanket treatment, the lap claims, and the jealous side-eye when attention goes elsewhere. Wariness of strangers is normal and worth socialising early.

04A professional alarm system

That deep chest was built to bark loudly enough to be heard underground, and it works magnificently above ground too. Dachshunds announce couriers, leaves, distant dogs and suspicious silences with a bark twice their size. Trainable to moderate, but a silent Dachshund is not a realistic purchase objective.

Living with one

4 essentials

Protect the back

Prone to IVDD (disc disease). Ramps for sofas and beds, no jumping from height, and support the full spine when carrying.

Keep them lean

Every extra pound loads that long spine. Measure meals and ration treats — a lean Dachshund is a longer-lived one.

Real daily walks

Two 20–30 minute walks. They're proper hounds under the comedy exterior — under-walked ones dig, bark and burrow.

Coat care by type

Smooths need a weekly wipe-down, longhairs regular brushing, wirehairs stripping a few times a year.

Coat colours

5 common coats

Red

The classic sausage. Ranges from wheaten to deep rust.

Black & Tan

Jet coat with tan points. The formal-wear Dachshund.

Chocolate & Tan

Warm brown with tan points, common in mini lines.

Cream

Pale gold to nearly white, especially in longhaired lines.

Dapple

Marbled merle pattern. Striking, and worth reading up on.

All of these come in three coat types — smooth, longhaired and wirehaired — so the combinations run well past fifty. One honest note: dapple is beautiful, but breeding two dapples together ("double dapple") carries real vision and hearing risks, so buy only from breeders who test. Whatever the pattern, a Pawtrait renders it faithfully, marbling and all.

Did you know

The name is literal German: Dachs (badger) plus Hund (dog). They were bred to follow badgers into their burrows — the long body, loud bark and total fearlessness are all job requirements, not accidents.

The 60-second match test

Is a Dachshund right for you?

Six honest questions. No email required, no judgement. Mostly.

Dachshund vs the small-dog royalty

3 breeds

	Dachshund	Pembroke Welsh Corgi	Beagle
Adult weight	11–32 lbs	22–30 lbs	20–30 lbs
Energy	Moderate	Moderate	High
Shedding	Low–moderate	Heavy	Moderate
Vocals	Big-dog bark	Chatty	Full opera
Apartment fit	Excellent	Good	Good

What one actually costs

First-year estimates, USD

Puppy price$800–$3,500

Reputable breeders. Miniatures and dapples often run higher; rescues far lower.

Insurance / yr$500–$1,000

Genuinely worth it here: check the policy covers IVDD and spinal surgery before you sign.

Food / yr$300–$600

Small dog, modest appetite, zero self-restraint. Measured portions protect the spine.

Vet & extras / yr$500–$1,000+

Routine care, a proper harness (never collar-pulling), and ramps for every sofa they claim.

Still unnamed?

The Dachshund name dealer

Frank

As in furter. The people's choice.

See your Dachshund as a Pawtrait

6 styles

Photorealistic Dachshund custom pet portrait preview

Bring it home

Starting at $27

Framed Print

From $66

Phone Case

MagSafe Case

Spiral Notebook

$27

Dachshund FAQ

The questions everyone Googles

Are Dachshunds good apartment dogs?

Size-wise, they're ideal — small, low-shedding and happy without a yard. The honest caveat is the voice: Dachshunds are enthusiastic alert barkers, so thin walls demand early training and a plan for boredom. Two proper daily walks are still non-negotiable.

Why do Dachshunds have back problems?

The same gene that gives them short legs (chondrodystrophy) also makes their spinal discs age prematurely, so intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is the breed's defining health risk. The best defences are a lean weight, ramps instead of jumping, and a harness rather than a collar.

Do Dachshunds bark a lot?

Yes. They were bred to bark loudly enough to be heard underground, and modern couriers get the full benefit of that engineering. Training and enough exercise moderate it considerably, but a fully silent Dachshund is not a realistic expectation.

How much does a Dachshund cost?

Roughly $800–$3,500 from a reputable breeder in the US, with miniatures and fashionable dapples often at the top of that range. Budget $1,200–$2,500 per year for food, insurance and vet care — and make sure any insurance policy covers IVDD.

Are Dachshunds good with kids?

With older, respectful children, yes — they're playful and devoted. They're less tolerant of rough handling than sturdier breeds, and their fragile backs mean picking them up incorrectly can genuinely hurt them, so households with young kids need firm handling rules.

Can Dachshunds be left alone?

Four to six hours is a realistic ceiling. They bond intensely with their people, and long isolation tends to surface as recreational barking, digging or furniture excavation. Puzzle feeders and a good walk beforehand buy you a quieter absence.

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