Everything You Need To Know About The Short Haired Dachshund
The dachshund has become such a popular dog in recent years. There’s something about those little legs and floppy ears that makes them so cute and irresistible.
They also make ideal pets for the home, bonding with a particular owner over time. There are also lots of different types of dachshunds, from the standard size dachsie to the miniature dachsie, as well as short haired, wire haired, and long haired.
If you’re looking to add a short haired dachshund to your home, then you will of course want to do your research first into the breed. What is their temperament like?
Can they be trusted with kids and small animals? How much exercise do they need? These are important questions for you to know the answer to before you commit to buying your dachsie.
The short haired dachshund is understandably one of the more popular varieties of dachshunds around the world.
So today we’re going to take an in depth look into this breed so that you can get a better understanding of it, and work out whether this is the ideal dog for you and your family.
Short Haired Dachshund Appearance
You will easily recognise a short haired dachshund if you were to spot one on the street. Both their standard and miniature sizes are recognizable from their floppy ears, long snouts, long bodies, and short legs.
They tend to feature lots of different colors, with black and tan being some of the more popular, as well as red, chocolate and tan, and merle.
Their size will differ depending on whether you have opted for a standard size dachsie or a miniature dachsie. They tend to weigh between 5 to 6 pounds all the way up to 32 pounds.
It’s also worth noting that dachsies are notorious for gaining weight, so you will need to monitor their diet and ensure that they have sufficient exercise.
Overview Of The Short Haired Dachshund
| Coat colors | Black and tan, chocolate and tan, red, brindle, isabella, blue, merle, English cream |
| Coat patterns | Piebald, dapple, or solid color |
| Overall temperament | Loyal, stubborn, loving, energetic, protective |
| Dachsie height | Miniatures are between 5 to 6 inches in height, standard dachsies are between 8 to 9 inches in height |
| Dachsie weight | Miniatures have an ideal weight of 11 pounds, standard dachsies have an average weight of between 16 pounds to 32 pounds |
| Are dachshunds hypoallergenic? | No |
| Grooming requirements | Low |
| Do short haired dachshunds shed? | Low |
| Common health issues | Spine issues, intervertebral disease, obesity, diabetes, gum and dental problems, cancers, Cushing’s disease, tumors, Lafora |
| How much exercise does my dachsie need? | Between half an hour to an hour every day |
Fun Facts About Short Haired Dachshund
- Dachshunds love digging, so you will need to keep an eye on the fencing around your backyard
- Dachshunds are available in both miniature and standard sizes
- Dachshunds love cuddling their owners as well as burrowing under blankets
- Dachshunds are available in a range of colors
- Your dachshund may need a sweater or coat to keep them warm in winter
- Dachshunds have a reputation for being very stubborn
- Your short haired dachshund will get emotionally attached to one person in your home
- Short haired dachshunds are hunters so tend to have a high prey drive around smaller animals
- Your dachshund will cost you between $1,200 and $1,500 if bought from a reputable breeder
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Choosing A Short Haired Dachshund?
| Dachshund pros | Dachshund cons |
| Dachsies require very little grooming | Dachsies like to dig |
| Dachsies are highly intelligent dogs | Dachsies can be stubborn, which makes them harder to train |
| Don’t tend to smell of wet dog | Dachsies tend to get attached to one person |
| Dachsies are wonderfully low maintenance | Dachsies can suffer from back issues which require expensive treatments |
| Dachsies are loving and loyal to their owners | Dachsies may get cold during the fall and winter months |
History Of The Dachshund
The dachshund breed was originally bred in Germany around the 1600s with the intention of being a hunting dog.
In fact, the name dachshund literally translates to “badger hound”, because they were bred to go down badger holes and flush the animal out.
That’s why dachshunds have such small legs and such a long back. Your short haired dachshund is less likely to go burrowing after badgers in this day and age, and is more likely to be found burrowing under blankets on your couch.
After this breed started to become highly popular as a pet, the miniature size was developed around the 1800s.
The smaller size of the miniature dachsie made it easier for this version of the breed to go after hares and foxes, which were able to go down smaller holes than the standard dachsie.
Interestingly, the dachshund only got recognized by the American Kennel Club in the late 17th century. The popularity of the dachshund as a pet boomed between the 30s and 40s, and it is still a highly popular pet to own today.
What Is The Temperament Of A Short Haired Dachshund?
You will notice that your short haired dachshund tends to be quite loving, especially towards “their” person. They tend to become attached to one person in the household, and will become very protective of them.
They tend to be quite loyal to their owners, and are highly intelligent dogs.
It’s also worth noting that the dachshund is typically a very stubborn animal, which makes them very hard to train.
They tend to be motivated by food, so it will be worth using this and positive reinforcement to help them learn their training so that they will listen to you better.
The best way to keep on the good side of your dachshund’s temperament is to give them lots of toys or puzzles to keep them occupied. This can also prevent them from becoming destructive around the home if they’ve been left on their own.
You will also need to bear in mind that because the short haired dachshund tends to get attached to one person, they also suffer from separation anxiety if they are separated from their person.
So they don’t tend to cope well when left alone for long periods of time, and you will notice that they start to become more vocal, and can even be destructive around the home.
On the whole, dachshunds tend to be a very loving breed. It’s best to stick to a routine so that they know what to expect, and so that they become less distressed when they are separated from you.
Exercise Requirements Of A Short Haired Dachshund
Dachshunds don’t tend to require a lot of exercise, and will be very reluctant to partake in any exercise at all if it means being separated from their person.
However, because they tend to be prone to putting on weight, you will need to make sure that they get around half an hour to an hour’s exercise every day.
This will be essential for managing your pet’s weight. If they were to sit around the home without any exercise at all, they would put lots of weight on in a fairly short amount of time.
They certainly won’t complain about hiding under those blankets, so it will be down to you to ensure that you give them the exercise they need to stay happy and healthy.
It’s also worth noting that young adults and puppies will need a lot more exercise than an older dachsie will. Miniature dachsies also won’t need as much exercise as a standard dachsie, because they are much smaller.
If you want to train your dog for any particular exercises such as agility, you will need to ensure that they are fit and healthy.
The best way to keep your dachsie in tip top shape is to walk them for 15 minute sessions twice a day. This will keep them healthy, and won’t overwhelm their little legs.
You can also let them run around your backyard, too, to let them stretch their legs a little.
You will need to avoid strenuous exercise that will put too much strain on your dachshund’s back. This will mean avoid letting them jump off higher objects such as couches and beds, and don’t let them run up and down the stairs.
If their back becomes damaged, this will then mean that your dachsie will need treatment to ease the pain on their spine. This can be very expensive, so anything you can do to help will save you a lifetime of stress.
Shedding And Grooming Needs
Even though your short haired dachshund has relatively short hair when compared to its long haired counterparts, they do still shed some of that fur throughout the year.
It may not be as noticeable, because the hair is much shorter and won’t gather in clumps, but your dachsie will still shed.
To prevent the shedding from getting out of control, you will need to brush your dog’s fur around once a week. This will prevent their fur from getting everywhere, and will be especially helpful during the change of seasons.
You will find that a bristle brush or short slicker brush will work best for your dachsie, and help you to remove any loose hairs. This will also help to keep your dachsie clean and get rid of any debris or dirt.
Seeing as dachshunds have floppy ears, you will need to make sure that you are cleaning these properly once a month.
Your dachsie most likely won’t like you playing with their ears, so it will be best to purchase veterinarian ear wipes to undertake this task.
This will be safe for your dachsie’s ears, will be less distressing than ear drops, and means you can get things done quickly and efficiently.
It’s best to clean your dachsie’s ears at least once a month, if not twice a month. Do you find that your dachshund’s ears tend to emit a nasty smell despite the cleaning?
Or are you worried about a persistent ear issue? Then you will need to take them to visit your veterinarian to see if they can work out what the issue is.
Another thing to bear in mind is that you will need to regularly clip your dachshund’s nails. This will need to be done at least once a month to make sure that it’s easier to do.
If you find that your dachsie is reluctant to let you clip their nails, you can also take them to the vet to do this, or put a muzzle on them for the duration of the clipping.
Try not to cut too close to the quick either, because some dachsies have darker nails which make this harder to see.
Feeding, Diet, And Nutrition
It will be important to keep on top of your dachshund’s diet as much as possible. This is a breed that revolves around its stomach, and they will constantly tell you that they are hungry.
So no matter how much they beg you for dinner, you will need to keep them on strict portions.
Dachshunds are notorious for putting on weight, so you need to keep on top of their diet and feeding schedules to prevent them from gaining too much weight. This will be especially noticeable as they age, and if they don’t do a lot of exercise.
You will need your dachshund to be nice and lean for them to be happy and healthy. If you notice that your dachshund has noticeable fat rolls, it’s time to cut down on the food you are giving them.
You should be able to just about feel in between the ribs of your dachshund if they are a healthy weight. It’s also a good idea to consult with your vet if you’re unsure of what their ideal weight should be.
Remember that standard dachsies are going to weigh more than miniature dachsies, but that they will also need slightly more food because they are slightly larger dogs.
You will need to select a food that is high in protein but that is also low in fat so that your dog is getting the right balance of nutrients. If you don’t have the right balanced diet in place, this can cause lots of skin issues for your dachsie.
If you are unsure of what to feed your dachshund, you should always consult with your vet. They will be able to best advise you on which foods and diets are best suited to your dachshund, and which are best avoided.
Typical Health Issues For The Short Haired Dachshund
As with all pedigree dogs, the dachshund is more susceptible to certain health issues than other dog breeds. These are relatively similar for all dachsies no matter whether they are short haired, long haired, or wire haired.
The most common health related issue with dachshunds tends to be to do with their backs.
They are more susceptible to intervertebral disc disease, which is when the putty from inside the discs in their back squeezes outwards, which can be incredibly painful for the dogs.
Contrary to common belief, this is actually to do with the shortness of their legs rather than the length of their backs.
This requires expensive surgery to fix, with specialist veterinary surgeons drilling into the discs to remove this putty.
If you were to leave this issue untreated, your dachshund would be in a lot of pain, and it can even cause paralysis, which would severely affect your dachsie’s quality of life.
Other common health issues include progressive retinal atrophy, otherwise known as PRA.
This can cause blindness in your dachsie. Dachshunds are also susceptible to degenerative mitral valve disease, Lafora disease, Cushing’s disease, obesity, diabetes, dental issues, tumors, and a wide range of cancers.
Are Short Haired Dachshunds Easy To Train?
You will have a little more difficulty when trying to train a short haired dachshund when compared to other types of dogs.
This is because the short haired dachshund tends to be rather stubborn, and they tend to suffer from selective listening. So you will need to be persistent with your training and use lots of positive reinforcement when training your dachsie.
Don’t get upset with your dachsie when they don’t listen to you. Instead, stick to consistent, persistent demands, and be just as stubborn yourself.
By giving them lots of positive reinforcement and using food to bribe them, you can teach your dachsie the commands that you want them to learn in no time at all.
Try to keep your training sessions positive and avoid any scoldings. It may be worth keeping it to shorter training sessions, too, to prevent your dachsie from becoming bored.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will My Short Haired Dachshund Shed?
Yes, your short haired dachshund will shed, even though they only have short hair. You will need to groom them once a week so that you don’t get overwhelmed with short dachshund hair.
You will also notice that your dachsie tends to shed more in between the seasons, and particularly around the winter months.
Do Short Haired Dachshunds Get Cold Easily?
Yes, your short haired dachshund will get cold easily, particularly during the colder months of the year. You may find that they benefit from a sweater or a coat during the colder months.
They will also love to stay under blankets so that they can maintain their body temperature better.
Does My Short Haired Dachshund Need A Coat In Winter?
Yes, your short haired dachshund will need a coat in the winter, mostly if you are taking them for walks outside. Make sure to find a coat that fits them properly, as a coat that’s too big or too small will be ineffective.
If you find that your dachsie gets cold easily around the home, it may be best to buy them a sweater. This can keep them nice and warm as they walk around the place, and prevent them from shivering too much.
Is My Dachshund Puppy A Miniature Dachsie Or A Full Size Dachsie?
Now this might seem like a silly question at first. Surely if both parents are miniature dachsies then your puppy is a miniature dachsie?
But because the miniature variety of the dachshund was bred from the standard size dachshund, this also means that they could still breed a full size dachshund, even though this dog comes from smaller parents.
The best way to tell whether you have a full size or miniature size dachsie is to look at the size of their paws in comparison to their littermates.
You will find that a dachshund that has larger paws and larger legs than its littermates will grow up to be a full size dachsie.
Another way to work out whether you have a full size or miniature dachsie is to weigh them. If your dachshund weighs more than 11 pounds when they are 1 year old, then you have a standard size dachshund.
Why Is Routine Important For My Dachshund?
Routine is very important for your dachsie as they will need to have a structure to their everyday life.
This is because they will need to know what to expect each day, and this will also mean that if you have to leave them at a dog sitter or need to leave for a couple of hours each day, they won’t become too distressed.
Your dachshund will know what time they are getting up, what time they get to play with you, what time they can expect to be walked, and most importantly, what time they can expect to be fed.
This will give your life a much more balanced routine and will help your dachsie to feel less stressed if there are deviations in the day to day running of things.
Why Does My Dachshund Smell?
Sometimes your dachsie likes to roll in suspicious substances when you take them for a walk. If you’ve just gotten back from a walk and notice that they smell a bit funny, you may need to give them a bath to wash off anything that they have rolled in.
If you have cleaned your dachsie and you still find that it tends to smell a bit funny, make sure to check them out all over.
Make sure to keep an eye out for any irregularities with their skin, look out for any skin damage, or any infected areas which could be smelling of discharge. Make sure to check whether their anal glands need squeezing, too.
If you find that it’s their ears that are the issue, then your dachsie likely has an ear infection, and this will need to be sorted accordingly. It will be best to take your dachshund to the vets so that they can examine them properly.
Can’t work out where that smell is coming from? Then you will need to take your dachshund to the vet so that they can give them a thorough check up.
Why Is My Dachshund Scratching?
If you notice that your dachshund tends to be scratching a lot, then this could indicate that they have pests on board.
Make sure to give them regular flea and tick treatment so that they can stay happy and healthy. Alternatively, they could have an allergy to something in their diet or something in the home.
In this case, you will need to consult with your vet to work out what the issue is.
Have you noticed that your dachshund’s skin tends to be flaky and dry? Then they need to have their skin moisturized. You may also need to alter their diet so that they are getting the right nutrients.
Remember to consult with your vet if you are concerned about your dachshund’s health.
Where Are Dachshunds Available To Buy?
It is important to always buy your dachshunds from a reputable breeder, and to do your research beforehand.
This is because reputable breeders will have your dog’s health at the heart of what they do, so you won’t have to worry about accidentally buying a sick dog that hasn’t had all of its shots.
Alternatively you can try to find a shelter that has adult short haired dachshunds up for adoption.
In Summary
So there you have it! You now know everything there is to know about the short haired dachshund. This is a loving breed of dog that is remarkably loyal to their owners, and they tend to get attached to one person.
This can make them very protective of their person, and they will hate being separated from them. Dachshunds are available in both standard and miniature sizes, and they will need to have their diet monitored on a regular basis.
Dachsies tend to suffer from separation anxiety and can be very vocal and destructive when separated from their owners. But on the whole, these are wonderfully rewarding pets to have in the home.
