The Dachshund is a bold, lively, clever little hound packed with more attitude than its size suggests — and behind that famous long body lies the single most important thing every owner must understand. Bred to dive into burrows and face a badger underground, the Dachshund is brave, tenacious and stubborn, with a working scent-hound nose and a surprisingly big voice. It is also a chondrodystrophic breed, which means its signature low-slung shape comes with a genuine vulnerability in the spine. Train the Dachshund and you train a smart, comical, devoted companion; care for it well and you spend a lifetime protecting that long back. This guide covers temperament, the central IVDD risk, coat care for all three varieties, and a breed-tailored plan that gets the best from a determined little dog.
The American Kennel Club places the Dachshund in its Hound Group and describes the breed as spunky, curious and friendly — a courageous hunter on a comically short undercarriage. Two facts shape everything that follows: the Dachshund was bred to make its own decisions chasing quarry underground, which is the root of its clever, independent, “stubborn” streak, and its elongated back over short legs makes spinal health the defining welfare concern of the breed. Understand both and you can give a Dachshund a confident, well-trained, long and comfortable life.
Temperament: bold, clever & stubborn
The Dachshund is a big personality in a small, low package — lively, playful, devoted to its people and convinced it is a much larger dog. Bred to corner a badger alone underground, it is genuinely brave and tenacious, and that same self-reliance shows up at home as a clever, opinionated, sometimes downright stubborn companion that likes to do things its own way. Dachshunds are alert watchdogs that can be suspicious of strangers and quick to sound off, and many form an intense bond with one person and dislike being left alone. They are funny, affectionate and full of character, but they are not pushovers: this is a thinking hound that responds to patient, rewarding, consistent handling and shuts down under heavy-handed correction. Lean into their cleverness and food motivation and you have a willing, entertaining partner.
Exercise — moderate, and back-aware
Dachshunds need real daily exercise to stay fit, lean and out of mischief, but it must respect the spine. A couple of moderate walks on the flat, sniffy explorations that let the nose work, and gentle play suit the breed well; what you avoid is repetitive high-impact stress — big jumps, stair-pounding, leaping for toys and twisting at speed. Build fitness gradually, keep walks regular rather than weekend-warrior bursts, and let scent games drain mental energy. A well-exercised, mentally satisfied Dachshund is calmer and less prone to barking and digging, while strong, steady muscle tone helps support that long back. For tailored guidance see dog exercise needs by breed.
The central health concern: IVDD
If you remember one thing about Dachshund care, make it this. The breed is chondrodystrophic — its long-backed, short-legged shape is caused by a cartilage trait that also makes the cushioning discs between the spinal vertebrae degenerate and harden abnormally early. The result is a strong predisposition to Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), in which a damaged disc bulges or ruptures and presses on the spinal cord, causing pain, wobbliness and, in severe cases, paralysis. Breed-health resources commonly cite that around one in four Dachshunds is affected by IVDD in its lifetime, making it the defining health risk of the breed. Prevention is hugely in your hands: do not let the dog jump on and off furniture, provide ramps or steps, avoid stairs or carry the dog, keep it lean (extra weight directly worsens spinal load), use a harness rather than a neck collar, and always lift with one hand under the chest and one under the rear so the back stays level rather than dangling. Learn the warning signs — a hunched back, reluctance to move or jump, yelping, shivering, dragging a limb — and treat any sudden back pain or weakness as an emergency that needs a vet at once.
Other health notes
Beyond IVDD, a few predispositions are worth knowing so you can stay ahead of them with your vet. Obesity is a huge issue for this food-loving breed and is doubly dangerous because excess weight directly worsens the spine, so honest portions and treat-counting matter enormously. Dachshunds are also associated with patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps), dental disease (small mouths crowd teeth, so brushing and dental checks count), and several eye conditions including progressive retinal atrophy and, in some lines, issues linked to coat colour. Responsible breeders health-test their dogs. None of this predicts your individual dog’s health, and nothing here is a diagnosis — but keeping a Dachshund lean and active within back-safe limits protects nearly all of these systems at once.
Grooming the three coats
Dachshunds come in three coat varieties, and each has its own simple routine. The smooth (short-haired) Dachshund is the lowest-maintenance: a quick weekly wipe or rubber-mitt brush keeps the sleek coat glossy, with a little more during seasonal sheds. The longhaired variety carries soft, slightly wavy feathering on the ears, chest, legs and tail that mats easily, so it needs brushing and combing several times a week, with extra care behind the ears and on the trousers. The wirehaired coat is harsh and dense with a bushy beard and eyebrows; it benefits from regular brushing and periodic hand-stripping (or at least tidying) to keep its weatherproof texture rather than going soft. All three share the same essentials: check and gently clean the long drop ears to prevent infections, keep nails trimmed so they don’t alter the dog’s gait, brush teeth in that crowded little mouth, and — given the breed’s appetite — watch the waistline like a hawk.
House-training: patience & routine
Be honest with yourself going in: Dachshunds are famously among the trickier breeds to house-train. The same independent, scent-driven cleverness that makes them charming also makes them inclined to slip off and toilet indoors, and their small bladders mean accidents come quickly. The reliable formula is crate plus schedule plus consistency. Use an appropriately sized crate the dog won’t soil, take the puppy or dog out very frequently — after waking, eating, playing and at set intervals — and reward outdoor toileting the instant it happens with high-value food and praise. Never punish accidents; clean them with an enzymatic cleaner so no scent marker remains, and tighten supervision instead. Expect this to take longer than the books promise, stay calm and utterly consistent, and most Dachshunds get there. Our puppy training guide walks the foundations step by step.
Recall, prey drive & barking
As a scent hound, the Dachshund follows its nose with single-minded focus, so recall must be trained carefully and managed honestly. Build come-when-called on a long training line with super-high-value food so the dog can explore without ever rehearsing running off after an interesting smell, and never trust off-lead freedom near roads or live quarry. Barking is the other classic Dachshund trait: bred to give voice underground, these little dogs are alert watchdogs with a big, persistent bark and a suspicion of strangers. Manage it by meeting exercise and enrichment needs, refusing to reward demand barking, rewarding calm and quiet, and teaching a positive “quiet” cue rather than shouting (which a Dachshund often hears as joining in). For a full system, see how to stop a dog barking.
| Dachshund essential | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Ramps & no-jump rule | Reduces the disc loading that triggers IVDD |
| Lean body weight | Extra weight directly worsens spinal strain |
| Y-shaped harness | Spares the neck and helps protect the back on the lead |
| Crate + strict schedule | The only reliable route through tricky house-training |
Breed challenges
A few hurdles come with the territory. Stubbornness is real — a Dachshund weighs up whether your reward beats its own idea, so keep training short, upbeat and genuinely well-paid. Separation can be hard for a breed that bonds intensely and dislikes being alone, so build alone-time gradually and consider our dog care routine to keep a home-alone hound settled. Digging is hardwired in a dog built to tunnel after quarry, so give a sanctioned dig spot or sandbox rather than fighting instinct. And the whole household must commit to a back-safety lifestyle: ramps in place, sofa rules enforced, everyone lifting correctly. Compare the breed’s scent-hound traits with our Beagle guide, or its small-companion temperament with the French Bulldog guide.
A breed-tailored training plan
A Dachshund plan layers back protection over reward-based training from day one: management keeps the spine safe while food drive and cleverness do the teaching. Build everything on positive reinforcement — a sensitive, intelligent hound has no need for choke, prong or shock tools, which only erode trust in a dog that already likes to make its own calls.
- Weeks 1–3 — foundation & back-proofingSet up ramps, gate the stairs and establish no-jump house rules. Teach attention, name response, sit and a hand target with small treats, and begin a crate-and-schedule house-training routine.
- Weeks 4–6 — recall & mannersStart long-line recall with super-high-value food, add “leave it,” a settle and a positive “quiet” cue. Fit a Y-harness and reward calm greetings instead of barking.
- Weeks 7–9 — enrichment & alone-timeAdd daily scent games and a sanctioned digging spot, and build short, calm absences to head off separation distress. Keep house-training consistent — this breed needs the extra weeks.
- Weeks 10–12 — proof gentlyGeneralise skills to new, busier places with the long line still attached, raising difficulty only as the dog succeeds, and never at the cost of a high-impact jump or twist.
Keep sessions short, upbeat and frequent, always ending on a win, and accept the Dachshund for what it is — a brave, clever, comical hound on a back that needs a little looking after. Meet that with management, enrichment and the best food in your pocket and you’ll have a devoted companion for many years. Reinforce loose-lead skills with our leash training guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Dachshunds so prone to back problems?
Dachshunds are a chondrodystrophic breed, so their long-backed, short-legged build comes with abnormal disc cartilage that degenerates early. This makes Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) the breed’s central health risk, with roughly one in four Dachshunds affected. Lower the risk by banning jumping on and off furniture, using ramps, supporting the back when lifting, keeping the dog lean and using a harness rather than a collar.
Are Dachshunds hard to house-train?
Yes — they’re one of the harder breeds because they’re independent, stubborn scent hounds with small bladders. Use a crate the dog won’t soil, a strict feeding and toilet schedule, very frequent trips outside, instant rewards for outdoor toileting and never punish accidents. Consistency and patience over many weeks are essential.
Do Dachshunds bark a lot?
They can. Dachshunds are alert, bold little watchdogs with a surprisingly big, persistent voice and can be wary of strangers. Reduce barking by meeting exercise and enrichment needs, not rewarding demand barking, rewarding calm, and teaching a positive “quiet” cue — though some alert barking is part of the breed.
Should a Dachshund use stairs and jump on the sofa?
Ideally no. Repeated jumping off furniture and pounding stairs loads the long spine and commonly triggers disc injury. Block sofa and bed access or provide sturdy ramps, carry the dog up and down stairs or gate them, and always lift level — one hand under the chest, one under the rear.
Sources
- American Kennel Club (AKC) — Dachshund Breed Standard & Profile
- ASPCA — General Dog Care & Positive Training
- AVMA — Pet Owner Preventive Care & Healthy Weight Resources