Long Haired Dachshund The Complete Guide

Remember the lovely little Weenie from the cartoon show “Oswald”? Everybody would want to have such a cute little pooch at home. Well, here we would be particularly talking about his brother the Longhaired Dachshund.

Long-haired Dachshunds are very adorable, lively, and cute looking dogs who can be easily spotted due to their unique appearance.

Read further to know more about them.

 

Long Haired Dachshund:

Quick Breed Summary Table Long Haired Dachshund

Height 11 to 14 inches
Weight 16 to 32 pounds
Lifespan 12 to 16 years
Colors Red, black, tanned, brown, brindle
Intelligence Above-average intelligence
Breed type Hound
AKC Breed Popularity Ranks 12 of 195
Temperament Lively, curious, intelligent and sometimes dominant
Daily Food Consumption 1000 calories per day
Common Health Issues IVDD, Patellar Luxation, eye disorders, hormonal problems

 

Facts about the Long Haired Dachshund:

Dachshund, a name used worldwide, is a German word but is not used in Germany, where these dogs are commonly called as Teckel or Dackel.

Dachshunds had been associated with Germany and were used as the symbol of Germany during World War I.

Due to this association as well as due to their popularity in Munich, the Dachshund was chosen as the first official mascot naming Waldi for the Summer Olympics,1972 in Munich.

Famous leader Napoleon Bonaparte too owned a Long Haired Dachshund whose name was Grenouille. In a painting, young Napoleon can be seen with his pet Dachshund Grenoullie.

 

About the Long Haired Dachshund:

The Longhaired Dachshund is one of the three types of Dachshund, based on the types of coats they have. These graceful looking dogs are little hairy bunches of joy.

Their unique shape and size with long hair make them the center of attraction wherever they go.

These dogs usually come in two sizes, the standard and the miniature versions.

Their ancestors were used for hunting. So they do have a hunting instinct and love digging.

Because of having a sausage-shaped long body, these dogs are popularly known as “sausage dogs”.

These pooches need a lot of grooming because of their long hair and also have quite a bit of shedding.

Dachshunds are difficult to train as they have a moody and dominating nature. So, if you are a first-time owner and do not have much experience in training dogs, then you might have to drop your idea of getting a Dachshund. Though the Longhaired type is considered to be a little gentle, they do have the moody genes which can make things difficult for you.

These dogs do not do well alone, unattended for long, because of which they can get bored and agitated. So, try not to leave your Dachshund alone at home for long, or else you might have to come back to a destroyed home.

 

The appearance of Long Haired Dachshund:

The Long-haired Dachshund is a small to medium-sized breed and is one the 3 coat varieties of the breed, the other two variations being the Smooth Coated and the Wire-Haired Dachshunds.

These Sausage dogs can come in a standard as well as a miniature version. While the standard Dachshund size is 14 inches, the miniature version of it can be as small as 5 inches in height. The standard weight of the dog can range between 16 to 32 pounds and 11 pounds or less for a miniature Dachshund.

As they are popularly known, The Sausage dog, they have a long body in the shape of a sausage, short legs, and a pointed nose, features which makes them stand out in the crowd.

The long hair adds to the uniqueness of Dachshunds, making it a delight to watch a cute little dog running with his long shiny hair flowing in the air.

About the coat color, these dogs are commonly found in red, tan, and black coats. But you may even see Dachshunds having bi-colors or even tri-colors; having patches of white, cream, red, brindle, etc.

These dogs have long, straight, shiny, and silky hair, just what a girl would have dreamt of. The hair is longer particularly on the ears, stomach, and chest with short feathering on the legs and tail. Their hair can grow as long as to even swipe the floor.

Do not underestimate the power of their short legs. They have strong, large, paddle-shaped front paws perfect for digging.

 

History and origins of the Long Haired Dachshund:

Originally, Dachshunds were short-haired and smooth-coated dogs. There are certain theories about the appearance of Long Haired Dachshunds.

One of the theories suggests that the long hair feature used to appear by chance in certain litters, that caught the attention of the breeders and such dogs were then selectively bred for the feature.

Yet another theory says that the short-haired Dachshund was crossed with long-haired Spaniels to give rise to Long Haired Dachshunds.

The purpose of this feature is believed to be the need for such hound dogs who are able to hunt in cold weather.

Whatever the theory might be, we got this graceful looking dog from the original Dachshund breed. So, let us have a look at the history of this breed.

 

History of Long Haired Dachshund:

This is yet a debated topic as to when and where the Dachshunds originated from. While according to the American Kennel Club, Dachshunds were bred in the 15th century, the Dachshund Club of America says that they were bred by foresters in the 18th century.

One of the reasons for a confusing history is the presence of similar-looking dogs in Egyptian and Mexican art.

In German, “Dachs” means “Badger” and “Hund” means “dog”, that helps us to make a link between the breed and its origin as well as know the purpose of the breed.

Initial references of the breed were found in books from the 18th century in which they were named “Dachs Kreiger” meaning “Badger warrior” or “Dachs Kreischer” meaning “Badger crawler”. So, as the name suggests, the dogs were famous for badger baiting and hunting. As supported by their size and shape, they were able to dig their way into the dens of badgers and hunt them out.

Not only hunting, but Dachshunds have also been attendees of many royal courts of Europe, such as the court of Queen Victoria who was quite captivated by the breed.

During World War I, the Dachshunds were used by political cartoonists to ridicule Germany, which resulted in the decline of its popularity in the United States. But today the breed has gained his popularity back and has become a very lovable breed across the world.

 

Is Long Haired Dachshund good with children?

If you have a toddler at your home, then it is better to delay your plan of bringing a Dachshund home, as Dachshunds are generally not so good with small children. Your kid might unknowingly excite your dog by running around it or teasing it, which can lead to your dog biting your child.

So, it would be better if you wait for your child to grow up, learn how to be with animals, and understand his limits with animals.

Also, it would be more helpful if you bring home a Dachshund pup so that your pet gets to learn socializing with humans and their children from a young age.

 

Care of the Long Haired Dachshund:

Prior to bringing any pet home, it is of utmost importance to know all about the care and maintenance of the pet, as bringing a pet home is like welcoming a new member into your family, for whom you will have to invest a substantial amount of time and energy.

So, read on to know everything about the care of Long Haired Dachshunds.

 

Food requirements:

Dachshunds are small to moderate-sized dogs who do not need more than 1000 calories per day.

These dogs have a tendency to have obesity, so you have to be careful about the amount of food you give your dog.

A standard sized adult Dachshund can be given about 2.5 cups of food a day by dividing it into 2 meals of about 1.25 cups. Try to give an exact amount of food at a particular time to maintain a daily routine.

In case you want to give your dog a kibble diet, then make sure to pick the one formulated for small breeds like Dachshunds which would be suitable for their small mouth and teeth over the standard kibble.

As a puppy, you can give your pet the same food that its breeder used to give. Gradually you can shift to other food options.

As mentioned earlier, your dog can easily put on weight and have obesity to prevent which you can include vegetables and fruits in their diet.

Sometimes, your dog can be a fussy eater. For such situations, you might need to have in store a variety of food options and see what your pooch likes the most.

 

Exercise requirements:

Being small to moderate-sized dogs, it would be enough for them to have about 60 minutes of physical exercise a day.

You can split up a day’s exercise into 2 to 3 sessions of 20 to 30 minutes of walk and play. This will keep your dog engaged and active throughout the day, thereby preventing unwanted bouts of aggression and also keep it from adopting any negative behavior.

Prevent your dog from overdoing or overwalking so as to avoid spinal cord injuries, musculoskeletal issues, and fatigue.

Dachshunds can be unpredictable and stubborn at times. So, when you take them to a dog park or any other park or playground or for a normal walk, you should make sure it is well under your control and leashed. These dogs can get agitated around other dogs sometimes and can show some unexpected behavior. So unleash only when you know that they are well trained.

On days when you cannot take your pooch outside, fun games in the backyard of your house like hiding and sniffing, tug-of-war, etc. will do.

Dachshunds love to explore new scents, so you can take your pooch on new scent trails and explore new routes on your daily walks.

 

Training requirements:

Dachshunds are intelligent and stubborn enough to decide what to do and what not to do. So training these dogs can be a difficult task. If you are somebody who has little patience and wants a dog who will always listen to you, then it is advised that you should not go for a Dachshund.

To train these dogs, you need to be very patient and should definitely include rewards in your training program. As in the case of most dogs, positive reinforcement is the key to train them. You should always try to avoid punishing your pet. You already know that Dachshund is an obstinate as well as an unpredictable breed. On top of this, if you try to punish them, then it can lead to adverse effects.

Keep them from being bored and frustrated. You should try not to leave them unattended ever, as that can lead to boredom and irritation and result in aggressive acts. So always try to keep them occupied with a toy or activity.

Start training them from a young age and make them familiar with human presence. It might be difficult for them to be familiar with the presence of some other dog breed or any other animal, such as a cat. So, it would be better to avoid bringing another pet home when you have a Dachshund.

 

Grooming requirements:

If you are thinking of bringing home this Long Haired Dachshund, then be ready to spend enough time grooming them. They might require everyday brushing of hair to avoid hair tangles and periodic haircuts.

Without proper, his hair can get tangled which if remains unattended for long, can tighten up and then nothing but cutting off that part of hair would be the only option.

So, regular brushing is mandatory. Bathing can be done whenever there is a need. Invest in a good shampoo that will suit their skin type, keep their body’s natural oils from stripping off, and also will be suitable for keeping the shine of their long hair intact.

For a proper brushing, you can buy a standard dog brush for removing the surface debris, a slicker brush for better reach inside their coat, and removing tangles and a metal comb for more difficult tangles.

Sometimes your dog can be fussy and might not let you groom. You need to train your dog since puppyhood so that it becomes used to frequent brushing. You can try giving him treats after your grooming sessions.

Along with taking care of hair, do not forget to keep a check on their nails, teeth, and ear. Brushing their teeth, cutting nails, and cleaning their ears is equally important as brushing their hair.

 

Common health issues:

These dogs, if lead a healthy life, can live up to 12 to 15 years.

Though these dogs are known to be quite healthy, they are prone to some of the following disease-

  • IVDD- Intervertebral Disc Disease, is one of the most common issues they have due to their long spine, short legs, and rib cage. In this condition, the discs of the spine become hard and stiff and can sometimes require surgery. This inherited disorder can be avoided if you go to a trusted breeder who will screen your dog for it and reduce the risk of this disorder as much as possible.
  • Patellar Luxation- this is a medical condition, in which the patella or kneecap of a dog gets dislocated. This condition is prevalent in smaller dogs and hence, your Dachshund can be prone to this condition.
  • Hormonal problem- they can have hormonal problems like Cushing’s syndrome in which there is excessive production of cortisol leading to weight gain, loss of hair, and changes in appetite and behavior.
  • Obesity- these dogs are prone to gaining weight, to prevent which you need to take care of their diet and make sure they are getting enough physical activity. If not treated, obesity can lead to various other health problems in them.

 

Summary:

Because of their unique personality and looks, the Long-haired Dachshunds have made their way to everyone’s heart.

The overloaded cuteness can lure you towards them but before you make up your mind of bringing them home, make sure that you do not have toddlers at your home or if you do have children, then they are grown enough to know their boundaries with animals.

These dogs are sometimes tough to deal with, stubborn and moody. So you might want to change your mind if you were looking for an obedient dog.

But once trained well, you will definitely love the company of this hairy little pooch.

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