Dachshund That sound at 2 a.m., nails clicking across hardwood, then a determined scratching at the side of your bed: that’s the noise of a dachshund who has decided the blanket cave needs one more occupant, and that occupant is her.
Long dogs have opinions. Loud ones, sometimes.
Anyone who has lived with one knows the breed comes with a manual nobody hands you at pickup. You figure it out through trial, error, and a surprising number of chewed shoelaces.
So here are seven things that would have saved a lot of confusion early on.
1. That Back Really Is as Fragile as Everyone Says
The warnings sound dramatic until they aren’t.
Dachshunds carry a genetic predisposition to intervertebral disc disease, and the numbers are not small. Roughly one in four will deal with some form of disc problem in their lifetime.
The spine is long, the legs are short, and the physics are unforgiving.
Practical changes that matter
Ramps beat stairs. Every single time. A cheap foam ramp beside the couch does more for your dog’s future than almost anything else you’ll buy.
Pick her up with two hands, one supporting the chest and one supporting the rear. Never scoop under the belly like a football.
And the jumping? Off the bed, off the armchair, down the porch steps. That’s the stuff that adds up quietly over years.
A dachshund does not know her own back is a liability. That part of the job belongs entirely to you.
2. Housetraining Takes Longer Than You Expect (and That’s Normal)
Nobody warns new owners about this one, which feels like a conspiracy.
Dachshunds have a reputation for being stubborn about potty training, and the reputation is earned. Some take six months. Some take closer to a year.
It isn’t defiance. It’s a combination of small bladders, selective hearing, and a genuine dislike of cold, wet grass.
What actually speeds things up
Crate training, done kindly, works better than almost any alternative. Dogs avoid soiling where they sleep, and a properly sized crate uses that instinct in your favor.
Take her out on a schedule, not a hunch. First thing in the morning, after every meal, after every nap, and right before bed.
Reward the second she finishes, outside, in the spot you want her using. Not thirty seconds later at the back door.
Weather matters more than you’d think. A tiny raincoat and a covered patch of yard will cut your winter regression in half.
3. The Barking Is a Feature, Not a Bug
Here’s the thing that surprises people: the barking is doing exactly what it was bred to do.
These dogs were developed to go underground after badgers and bark loudly enough that the hunter above could track them through packed dirt. That voice is engineered to carry.
You cannot train it out. You can absolutely train it down.
Working with the instinct instead of against it
Teach a "quiet" cue by rewarding the pause between barks, not the silence you wish you had.
Manage the triggers. Window film on the front-facing glass removes ninety percent of the sidewalk patrol shift.
Give her a job. Puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, and short scent games burn the mental energy that otherwise gets spent announcing the mail carrier.
Every bark started as a message. Figure out what she’s saying and the volume takes care of itself.
4. They Bond Hard, Sometimes Too Hard
Dachshunds attach to their people with an intensity that flatters you right up until it becomes a problem.
The velcro thing is real. So is the separation anxiety that can follow it.
A dog who has never spent ten minutes alone will not handle four hours gracefully, and the resulting destruction is impressively creative for an animal that size.
Building independence early
Practice short absences from day one. Walk out the door, stand in the hallway, come back in ninety seconds. Build from there.
Make departures boring. No long goodbyes, no emotional buildup, no guilt-flavored speeches at the door.
A frozen stuffed toy given only when you leave creates a small positive association with your absence.
5. Weight Gain Sneaks Up Fast
A dachshund is a champion beggar and a physically compact animal, which is a dangerous combination.
Two extra pounds on a twelve pound dog is the human equivalent of gaining twenty five. On a spine that’s already carrying an engineering problem.
The eyes will lie to you. Those eyes have been lying to owners for centuries.
Keeping her lean without feeling like a villain
Measure food. Actually measure it, with a cup, not a guess poured from the bag.
Count treats as calories, because they are. Training rewards should be pea sized, and vegetables work better than most people expect. Green beans and carrot coins are usually a hit.
You should be able to feel her ribs under a thin layer without pressing hard, and there should be a visible tuck at the waist when you look down at her.
If she resembles a loaf of bread from above, it’s time for an adjustment.
6. The Digging and Burrowing Never Goes Away
The blanket tunneling is not a quirk. It’s several hundred years of selective breeding showing up in your laundry.
Dachshunds were made to go into tight, dark spaces and stay calm there. A pile of throw blankets is the closest thing your living room offers.
Fighting it is pointless. Redirecting it is easy.
Give the instinct somewhere to go
A burrow bed with a built-in hood costs less than replacing your comforter. She will use it constantly.
Set up a digging box in the yard, a shallow container of loose dirt or sand with a toy buried in it. Ten minutes there saves your flower beds for a week.
Indoors, a designated blanket that’s hers keeps the negotiation simple.
Instincts do not disappear because they’re inconvenient. They just find a target you didn’t choose.
7. Training Requires a Different Kind of Patience
Dachshunds are intelligent. They are also independent thinkers who were bred to make decisions alone, underground, without waiting for instructions.
That combination produces a dog who understands the command perfectly and is weighing whether it’s worth her time.
Harsh correction backfires spectacularly with this breed. Push too hard and she shuts down completely.
What works instead
Keep sessions short. Five minutes, twice a day, beats one long grinding session every time.
Make the payoff obvious. High value treats, real enthusiasm, immediate delivery.
End on a win, always. Finish while she’s still interested rather than pushing for one more repetition.
Consistency across the household matters enormously. If one person allows counter surfing and another doesn’t, she will simply learn which person to try it around, and she’ll be right.
A Few Small Things Worth Knowing
Ear cleaning is a weekly job for the long-eared varieties, and skipping it leads to infections that could have been avoided.
Nail trims matter more on a short-legged dog. Long nails change how she stands, which changes how her spine loads.
Dental care is not optional. Small breeds accumulate tartar faster, and dental disease is one of the most common health problems dachshunds face.
Harnesses over collars, always. Pressure on the throat is bad for any dog and worse for one with this neck structure.
And the sunbathing? Let her have it. A dachshund who has found a warm patch of floor in the afternoon light is a dog experiencing genuine joy, and interrupting that is nearly criminal.
Living With the Long Dog
The learning curve is steeper than most people anticipate.
You will spend more on ramps and orthopedic beds than you planned. You will apologize to neighbors about the barking at least once.
You’ll also end up with a dog who follows you room to room, burrows against your legs on the couch, and greets you at the door like you’ve returned from a decade at sea.
That trade seems fair to most of us.