http://www.akc.org/breeds/dachshund/puppy.cfm If you want to buy a pup start with these reputable breeders first who offer health guarantees and pups
from show dogs rather then backyard breeders, They will cost more from better lines but less chances of unhealthy pups
being purchased too.
These two sites above should get you started to doing your breed research before you buy a dachshund pup or adopt
an adult.
This is a
great book for those new and old to the breed: Dachshunds for Dummies by Eve Adamson.
Quote from page 61:
"Fortunately, rescue organizations and animal shelters carefully screen the Dachshunds they're attempting to
place, so they can usually tell you what they observed about the Dachshund's behavior and temperament, as well as his health
status. Take advantage of the people who know and ask a lot of questions. They also want to know that they are
placing the dog with someone who won't bring the dog back in a couple of days."
Please note that most breeders will not let you know the following.
We do:
1. Dachshunds are extremely jealous around children and are not good to be left alone with any children unsupervised
as they will bite when pushed or cornered. We do not adopt to most households with children under age 7 as many of our
rescues came to us with kid problems or biting before they arrived. Not all dislike children but many do and most breeders
will not tell you that.
2. This is a breed of hunting
dogs and they need their exercise hence we do not adopt ours to those folks without fenced yards unless they have a farm and
are well away from a road. This is a requirement to adopt from us unless you live in the country where you have
room for them to run to work off steam so they are better family members. Any hunting dog breeds need room to run and
do what they were bred to do, run and chase. This is a high prey drive sort of breed so they are very playful, active
and lively. They need room to be active.
3. Dachshunds
alert when they hear strangers so we do not recommend apartments because they are bred to use their ample voices and most
can not be untrained to bark. This is a loud breed of dogs no matter how tiny they are. If you do not like noisy
dogs then this is not your breed. Even the tiny ones are very loud when barking.
4. They were bred to hunt badgers or wolverines so they are not always a sweet dog as their prey is pretty vicious
in the animal world. These dogs were bred to hunt alone or in packs so they are not always known for minding their
owners. If you want a perfect pooch who will stay trained for a lifetime then this is not your breed. Dachshunds
are spunky, clown-like, happy, social when socialized properly as pups and love getting into trouble. They also like
running their home so if you are not one to make them mind and stay their pack leader then this is also not your breed.
5. Because they were bred to hunt underground about half
of them love digging holes in people's yards for fun. Like your landscaping as it is without being customized via the
dog then this is not your breed. About half of them dig holes in the yard and the other half like laying in the sunshine
watching the rest dig holes.
6. Unless your Dachshund has
been properly introduced to cats at an early age then they will hunt and hurt them. Most of this breed can get along
with cats if they were raised with them, but if a rescuer tells you this breed as a whole is not good with cats then I suggest
you listen. No need to get your cat hurt. Most of the dogs that come into rescue are not good with cats,
Some are but most aren't. If you have a house full of kitties and do not want them hurt then we suggest you consider
adopting a different breed as many of the dogs we have have already hurt the cats in their lives. Their list of "prey"
also includes hamsters and ferrets, pocket pets and birds, etc. If it moves they will hunt it.
7. Dachshunds are stubborn and extremely hard to housebreak. Every book out
there, if honest, will tell you the same thing. If you want a housebroke dog for a lifetime then this might not be your
breed. They stay housebroke about 95 percent of the time.
8.
This breed is also like adopting a new child in someone's home. They will follow their people around the house helping
to make dinner, do laundry and showering. They have to be in the same room usually so if you want a cute couch pillow
then this is not your breed.
9. They hate going potty in
the rain so if you can't make them go outside in bad weather then this is not your breed. They also need paths shovelled
in winters too.
Thanks for researching this breed before
getting into them so they are not passed around later on.
More
questions? Email Margo at dragoonfr @ hotmail.com (remove spaces before emailing)
PS Please do not email me and tell me that "so and so person has sweet dachshunds and they never dig or bite
the kids or chase the cats, kill their pet birds, etc." I have been in this breed for many,
many years and my job is to tell people the trusth so their future pets are not bounced around later. I have seen my
share of this breed since a very young age and these dogs are not for everyone actually most people can not make them mind
and stay housebroke much less destroy their homes if not geting enough exercise and attention.
I personally do not mind a noisy, un-housebroke, yard digging and cat chasing breed
on the farm here as they are charming little devils. Some people might not want a wiener terrorist in their homes so
we warn many folks off this breed so they make an informed buying or adoption decision.
The sweet, well behaved, kid and cat loving wieners are the exception in this breed, not the rule, so please do
not email me about the most perfect wiener you have ever had. Thanks. After working with over 1,000+ Dachshunds
for the last 40 years I have met exactly 50 of them that I would trust with all cats and kids, to stay housebroke, never dig
holes or try to dig out of fencing, wait patiently on the couch while their people were working or busy and not yell too much.
My husband and I like dogs with "more personality" and Dachshunds are it. But their people do have to stay
one step ahead of this breed at all times which is not always easy to do with a highly intelligent breed of howling,
hound dogs.
If folks want an easy breed of dogs to have
as family members then we always suggest a different breed. Or if they want an intelligent, happy, trouble maker with
a great sense of humor who adore their people then this is your breed. If you want a dog that is extremely protective
plus have a fenced yard then by all means research this breed before buying a pup or adopting an older one from us.
