Dachshund in home
19 Dec 2009
The name Dachshund is German for “badger dog.” Although plenty of people pronounce it like dash-hound, the word is correctly pronounced docks-hoont. Yet, in Germany, the Dachshund isn’t called a Dachshund at all. The dog is a Teckel or Dackel. (Back in the 19th century, the Dachshund was even called the Royal Teutonic Dog by some.) The name Dachshund is somewhat misunderstood. Dachs means “badger” in German; hund doesn’t, contrary to what you may think, mean “hound.” It simply means “dog.” Although Dachshunds are, to this day, classified in the Hound group according to the American Kennel Club, they could arguably fit just as well with the Terriers. Terrier means “earth dog,” and going underground is what Dachshunds do best (well, one of the many things they do best). Dachshunds hunt by scent and have keen noses like their Hound brothers and sisters, but if you’re on the other side of a door, that bark sounds an awful lot like a Terrier.

A hard fact of life is that the drawbacks to owning a Dachshund can outweigh the benefits for some people:
- Dachshunds need plenty of attention and affection. They want to be with you, not tied to a chain in the backyard.
- Dachshunds aren’t people (even though they may think they are!) and must be taught how to live with people. Without proper and consistent teaching and socialization efforts, your dog may end up becoming an annoyance to you, your family, or your neighbors. He may even inflict damage on your possessions, other people, or himself.
- Dachshunds must be housebroken, and until they are, your carpet or other household surfaces may suffer.
- Dachshunds cost money. Most people can expect to spend around $1,000 in the first year to give their new puppies the proper care and supplies.
- Dachshunds need your time. They require walking, feeding, training, grooming, and attention every single day to stay healthy and happy.
- Dachshunds aren’t a commitment to be taken lightly. Many live to be 15 years old or more.
- Your Dachshund will probably grow old and die before you do. You have to make decisions about your Dachsie’s health care and quality of life, and eventually you must deal with your own grief.
- Your Dachshund requires regular preventive veterinary care. If he becomes ill or injured, you’re also responsible for his care and treatment. Dachshunds are prone to several serious health\ conditions, and the medical costs to treat these problems can be high.
- Dachshunds tie you down. You can’t just fly off on a spontaneous vacation for a long weekend, or decide not to come home after work without arranging for your dog’s care.
- Dachshunds don’t speak English. You have to learn to communicate with your dog in a way he understands.
-Dachshunds live to eat. Obesity puts further strain on a Dachshund’s back — not to mention his heart and entire body. Cute and pleading as he may be, you must be prepared to keep your Dachshund’s eating under control. No, your Dachshund shouldn’t eat that quarter-pound burger with cheese, let alone too many extra dog treats! Dachshunds (like all dogs) have fewer taste buds than humans, so the taste of food isn’t as intense for them as it is for us. For this reason, dogs are more likely to eat just about anything, taste not withstanding.
-Dachshunds bark. Barking is part of their modus operandi. They were bred to hunt badgers or other small game underground . When the game was cornered, a Dachshund would bark to alert his human. Although you
can train any dog not to bark excessively, Dachshunds bark pretty frequently. Get used to it, or don’t get a Dachshund.
-Dachshunds are manipulative. They’re cute, and they know it. They’re clever, too. They can get you to do just about anything, unless you have rules and you stick to your guns. Your dog has to know that rules are rules and that what you say goes. If you’re a big marshmallow when it comes to consistency and rule enforcement, you can’t get angry at your dog for making his own rules. Somebody has to do it!
Dachshunds have special-care needs related to preserving the integrity of their spinal cords. Dachshunds are chondrodystrophic, an inherited condition that results in dwarfism and makes the Dachshund’s spine vulnerable to disc rupture. One hard jump off a high bed, a fall from a porch, or even a sudden twisting movement to catch a ball can rupture a disk. The result can range from severe pain to paralysis — temporary or permanent.
Do you have the patience required not to lose your cool when your Dachshund steals your pot roast right off your plate? Or eats the last half of your book before you get to the exciting conclusion? Or has an accident in the house again? I’m not saying you can’t get irritated — or even downright angry — at your Dachshund. But yelling, screaming, flailing your arms around, and, dog-forbid, hitting your pup are activities that will do more harm than good every single time.
Every time your Dachshund makes a mistake — accidentally or on purpose — you have an opportunity to teach him something. This is especially true when you catch him in the act. But this teaching has to be performed calmly and rationally. Teaching a Dachshund is a lot like teaching a child: Losing your temper will only scare and confuse your charge. Keeping your cool will prove that you’re the pack leader and the one with all the power.
Think long and hard about whether you have a short fuse or a long one before bringing home a Dachshund. And then, who knows? You may end up with a perfect little angel, and the whole discussion will be moot. Better to be prepared, however, because most Dachshunds are about half-angel, and half-, well . . . you know.
The world looks a lot different to a Dachshund than it does to you. Can you imagine walking around with your eye level less than a foot above the ground? No? Try it. In fact, the best thing to do before you change one single thing about your household in preparation for your new puppy is to get down on your belly and look around each room in your house.
Make a note of everything you see that could possibly cause trouble for a small dog. Stay down there until you’re sure that you’ve exhausted the possibilities. Read on for some things to look for while you’re surveying. Then, after you’re done, you may just feel the urge to curl up and take a nap. See any comfy pillows? A Dachshund-friendly house should have at least a few.
So you think your sweet little dog couldn’t make too much of a mess? You’d be surprised. Do you really love your collection of antique teacups or crystal vases? Then either display them well above the level any Dachshund can reach or put them away for a while. Puppies are exuberant and curious, and they haven’t yet
learned what areas are off limits to them. It’s not the puppy’s fault if he jumps onto that end table to see just what’s up there and breaks something valuable. Imagine that you have a toddler in the house and pack away the fragile stuff accordingly.
Also, although a Dachshund is small, he has a pretty big mouth, and I don’t just mean he barks a lot. He can also chew to the point of major destruction. Really. No two ways about it, Dachshunds love to chew. In fact, they not only love it, but they also consider it their dog-given right. Your Dachshund will consider anything that looks chewable to be his own personal property. So you thought that slipper was yours? Think again. As far as your new puppy is concerned, if he sees it and decides he wants to chew it, it’s his.
Avoid giving your Dachshund cat toys, even if you have a Mini. Dachshunds are more enthusiastic chewers than cats and they have larger mouths and stronger jaws. Cat toys often have small pieces like bells, feathers, or felt that a Dachshund can easily swallow or choke on. The best way to discourage this sort of destruction in the early stages is to offer a firm “No” when your Dachshund is in the process of chewing or clawing; then immediately redirect him to an acceptable but similar activity. For example, if your Dachsie is chewing your shoe, say “No!” and then take away the shoe, replacing it with a chew toy in his mouth. If he chews the chew toy, heap on the praise.
If you have a piece of furniture or other object that your Dachshund just won’t leave alone, buy a bottle of chew-deterrent spray, like Bitter Apple brand spray, and follow the directions. This spray makes the object taste horrible, and your Dachshund will probably learn quickly to leave it alone. If this doesn’t work, you
may also try wrapping the area in aluminum foil or keeping a spray bottle filled with water on hand to deter the behavior. Or you can keep a can filled with pennies nearby to startle your Dachshund away from the forbidden area.
If you have a digger, you may want to consider purchasing a few carpet squares or remnants that are reserved for your Dachshund. He can dig and scratch on them to his heart’s content. If he scratches and digs on your carpet or wall, move him immediately to his carpet — even help move his paws in a digging motion over it. If he gets it, praise him for all you’re worth. He’ll get the idea eventually.

A big thing to consider when Dachs-proofing your home is how to make your stairs Dachshund-friendly. Stairs are hard on Dachshund backs, especially for the Minis because each step is a lot bigger to a 7-pound dog than to a 30-pound dog. If you have stairs in your home, that’s no reason to give up your Dachshund
dreams. But you do need to take a few precautions. If you have the space and the resources, a ramp is great for Dachshunds. A ramp is most practical outside, where you can offer your dog an alternate route off the deck. The problem is that some Dachshunds ignore that carefully constructed ramp and take the stairs anyway.
You can install a gate so the ramp is the only way down for your pet, but now you’re getting pretty fancy. Some gates, made for small children or pets, bolt onto walls or decks and have an easyopen swinging mechanism for the convenience of adults. This option is worth it if you can afford it, but it’s not for everyone.
Deciding whether or not your Dachsie is allowed to climb the stairs comes down to risk assessment. Going up and down stairs can be hard on those Dachshunds who’ll probably have back problems anyway, and climbing the steps may trigger an incident. Other dogs, though, will be fine. You can play it safe but expend more
effort, or you can expend a lot of effort to prevent something that may never happen. As long as you recognize that you’re taking responsibility for your pet, you can make the decision.
Dogs are often classified as man’s best friend. Which is why they deserve to be looked after properly – especially when they are ill.
Why your dog needs a bath?
him from shaking vigorously. Another tip to try and stop your dog from shaking is to place one hand over the back of his neck when washing – this can stop the shake before it starts. Wash his face with a facecloth rather than trying to wash his face and then rinsing the soap off, although most of the dog shampoos are tear-free the soap is still harmful to the eyes. This will also keep water out of your dog’s nose which can lead to choking.
should not bathe any puppy until they are more than 12-weeks-old. Until then, you will have to satisfy any cravings for a puppy wash with a sponge bath. 

