What Is The Temperaments Of A Dachshund?

Doxies have quite the reputation for being exciting and fun-loving pets that will liven up any home. However, they can be a little problematic at times which is why you need to know exactly what you are getting yourself into if you are interested in one.

Generally, Dachshunds are an active and lively breed. Their temperament stems from their history as working dogs who spent a lot of their time outdoors and with their human companions. This is visible in other traits including their love for playtime and their knack for exploring.

However, Dachshunds have some undesirable traits as well including stubbornness and their propensity to occasional aggressive outbursts.

There is no denying the fact that you are in for quite the treat if you are considering getting one of these firecrackers for your family.

Therefore, it is always best to go in informed so that they do not shock you with their less-than-pleasant side.

So, let us take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to these doggies and their temperament.

Dachshunds Are Devoted

Dachshunds love their owners more than anything and live for the sole purpose of proving this.

They love to follow family members around and will never miss the opportunity to cuddle up with you for a casual hangout.

This makes the Dachshund a good family dog as you are pretty much guaranteed that they will get along with everyone.

This close relationship with humans can be traced back to their working dog roots.

They were bred to help with hunting small animals and spent most of their time with their human masters.

In addition to developing affection, they also became loyal and trustworthy doggies who were devoted to helping their human besties in any way necessary.

Gone are the days when Doxies were used to chase badgers and hares out of burrows. However, their loyalty has not faltered.

They are actually known for being very protective over people that they care about and even over other pets in the home. This makes them particularly awesome to have in homes with children and other pets.

All they need is a little socialization so they know who to trust.

While they typically get along famously with every member of the family, Dachshunds do tend to cling to one person in the family. This is usually the person who spends the most time with them at home and who offers the most care and attention.

If you want that title of your furry best friend’s best friend then all you have to do is match the affection that they show you.

They will notice your efforts and you will be the object of their obsession. And is there really anything more heartwarming?

Dachshunds Have Separation Anxiety

Dachshunds have a reputation for being clingy whether it is to one family member or basically anyone who will show them the smallest amount of attention.

While their love for cuddling and this general overwhelming affection is a part of their temperament, it can also be a sign of a dog that is struggling with serious anxiety issues.

One negative way this manifests is when the weenie easily gets jealous.

This happens a lot when a new pet, child, or guest enters their home space and they feel that their affection from you will be threatened. This usually triggers unusual behavior including aggressiveness.

All these stem from separation anxiety which is a problem that a lot of Doxies suffer from.

While they are typically confident and independent, early separation from their litters has serious emotional and mental consequences down the line. This affects everything from their interactions with their families to sleep and mood patterns.

The anxiety can also be due to their sensitive nature.

Dachshunds put up a strong front but are sometimes pretty easy to spook especially when they are young. This could lead to trauma that in turn results in anxiety down the line with the same manifestations as separation anxiety.

One of the best ways to deal with these issues is by using essential oils, such as lavender, hemp, chamomile extracts, and many others.

Consider using the ASAKUKI Essential Oil Diffuser to easily and effectively disperse these essential oils for aromatherapy to help your Doxies keep calm.

It has a convenient wide base for stability, so anxious Doxie won’t knock it over when they are having an episode. It also doubles up as a humidifier which comes in handy if your Dachshund has allergies as well.

Dachshunds Are Aggressive

Doxies are for the most part very cute and lovable little doggies. They are incredibly affectionate and love to be shown the same amount of care and attention that they give.

However, it is not always cuddles, wagging tails, and happily ever afters when you embark on a journey to raise a Doxie.

Doxies can be incredibly stubborn.

This happens when they feel frustrated for one reason or another. Maybe they feel like they aren’t getting enough attention or that you are not letting them play enough.

This can be quite problematic especially when they choose to throw a fit in a public place.

Sometimes, the dog can get so frustrated that it starts to get aggressive. This makes it difficult to safely let your Dachshunds go off their leash especially in public places as you never really know what may trigger them.

What’s worse is that Dachshunds are courageous little buggers and are not afraid to punch above their weight.

Dachshunds have been known to bite at humans and even provoke other dogs whenever they get into an aggressive mood.

Fortunately for you as the Doxie owner, you are not entirely helpless. There is actually a lot that you can do to prevent these episodes with the dog.

One of the best tricks is to give your Dachshunds an avenue to work out their aggression.

In this case, nothing works quite as well as chew toys. They can chew and rip at them to their tiny little hearts’ content. That way they do not have any pent-up tension to unleash on unsuspecting innocents.

The Toozey Puppy Toys are fantastic in this case with their fun and colorful design and high-quality construction.

The best part is that it is a pack of 7 so you can switch things up to keep them from getting bored and triggering episodes of stubbornness.

Dachshunds Are Intelligent Yet Stubborn

One may wonder just how smart a Dachshund is. Dachshunds are considered of average intelligence which is to be expected with lapdogs.

You could always sharpen their skills with a little training and some exposure. The best part is that they are very curious little doggies and love to learn so this should not be too hard for you.

The fact that they are intelligent means that Dachshunds are generally easy to train including potty training and housebreaking in general.

All you have to do is to be consistent and use good training methods and they will catch on pretty quickly.

Using treats for positive reward systems also helps a lot in this case.

However, despite being so intelligent, Doxies can be quite stubborn. This can complicate the training process especially if you are dealing with older and therefore less impressionable puppies.

Their stubbornness also makes it difficult to figure out how to punish the Dachshunds for bad behavior as they really do not listen.

Instead of trying and failing to reprimand the dog, simply focus on positive reinforcement. Their intelligence and love for treats and approval far outweigh their stubborn nature.

So, use these to your advantage when it comes to not only training and socializing but also day-to-day life with this dog breed.

The best part is that with patience and smart training, you can have your Doxie so well-behaved that you can let the dog go off-leash without too much incident.

That way you can have those fun trips to the park or dog beach without holding your furry bestie back from having an amazing time.

What Should I Look For When Buying A Dachshund?

Dachshunds come in all sizes, colors, and personalities. It is one of the most popular breeds so you will have a lot of options to choose from whether you decide to go through a rescue center or a professional breeder.

The puppy you decide to take home will decide the type of experience you have with the dog so it is vital to make this decision wisely.

Here are 3 of the most important factors to consider when buying a Dachshund.

Consider The Age

With any dog, it is always best to go with young puppies. This gives you the most time with them and puppies, in general, are just so darn cute.

With Doxies, in particular, getting them this early makes life a lot easier for you when it comes to training.

They are quite impressionable and have not yet settled into the stubborn aspects of their personalities.

However, be careful not to take them away from their litters too early.

Remember that this breed is prone to separation anxiety and that kind of trauma will only haunt your experience down the line.

Look Into Health Status

The healthier the Dachshund is the easier they are to manage. The problem is that despite their health issues rarely being fatal, they are quite expensive.

This can drive your cost of management of a Doxie up from $650 per year to more than $1,000.

Combing through the Internet, the costs of caring for a Dachshund could add up like this.

Fret not! Please check out pet insurance alternatives, like Pawp, if you would like to find peace of mind and cannot bear to see your beloved Dachshund sick. After all, every pooch deserves a chance to be healthy, right?

Source Of The Doxie

In this case, it is best to avoid highly controversial designer variants like rabbits and Double Dapple Dachshunds.

The breeding practices that produce these unique options also put them at risk of several health issues.

Related Questions

Why Do Dachshunds Dig In Bed? If you have noticed them doing this do not worry. It is just part of their instincts. Doxies tend to dig almost everywhere from dog beds and yards to furniture upholstery. The whole point is to soften and warm the spot up just right so they can lounge there as comfortably as possible.

Are Stairs Bad For Dachshunds? Stairs are generally not a good idea for Dachshunds. First off, their build makes navigating them a little more complicated than is comfortable for the dog. It is also extra problematic if the pooch is suffering from joint and back problems. It is, therefore, best to just carry them up the stairs.

What’s A Dachshund Temperament With Cats? Dachshunds were historically trained to hunt small animals and though they have since retired it is still part of their natural instincts to be a little aggressive with such animals. This includes cats. However, with exposure to socialization at an early stage or puppyhood, Doxies have been shown to create strong protective bonds with cats allowing them to coexist peacefully in homes in modern times.