Perhaps you are thinking about getting a family dog and you like the thought of a Dachshund. Being aware of the traits of a Dachshund will help you to decide whether one of these little dogs is right for your family. It is important to know that they are energetic, intelligent, have a strong prey drive, and can be noisy.
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Are Dachshunds a good family dog
Are Dachshunds a suitable family dog? Yes, a well trained and socialized Dachshund can make an excellent family pet for the right family. Dachshunds are a pack dog and love to be part of the family. They are best suited for a family that can devote the time to provide them with the attention and affection they need.
Dachshunds are a breed that can be prone to separation anxiety. They were bred to hunt in packs and the tendency to become anxious, when separated from their pack, is hard-wired into the breed. They are not suitable for a family where they would be left home alone for long periods of time. For more on Dachshund anxiety see here.
Are Dachshunds good with kids
Are Dachshunds good with children? Yes, in general, a well trained and socialized Dachshund can make an excellent companion for kids. They are affectionate, loyal, and playful. They can try to dominate a child sometimes so it is important they know they are not in charge.
It is absolutely crucial that the children are very gentle with their Dachshund friend. Kids tend to want to hug and pick up their dog. They must be taught the correct way to do this. Dachshunds are prone to back issues and a child could do harm if they are too rough with them. For more on Dachshund back issues see here.
The key is to introduce your kids and Dachshunds slowly and in the correct way.
Teaching kids how to treat your Dachshund
Most kids naturally love dogs and gravitate towards them. They love to cuddle them and play with them Dachshund whether they are ok with them or not. In most cases, a Dachshund will be extremely tolerant of kids.
Your Dachshund is likely going to be happy to see your children and will quickly get used to them coming up and touching them. However, it is important to teach your children to not be too rough or do anything that may hurt the dog. Any dog may react if they are hurt or feel threatened.
There is a proper way in which you should hold a Dachshund, especially kids. Please teach your children and family members the ideal way to hold them. If you follow them carefully the chances of them suffering from a back problem is reduced.
So the steps are as follows:-
- Put one of your hands under their chest.
- You should always take care of the rear end. As Dachshunds are long, always place your other hand around their rear end, to save them from any back problem.
- Don’t allow them to jump from your arms. Hold them tightly but gently.
- While you are holding them try to keep them near your chest and while you want to set them down, please be gentle.
It is a good idea for your children to be involved in the training process. This will not only provide your Dachshund with the required obedience. It will teach your children a lot about their new friend.
No matter how your dog interacts with your kids, you want to make sure your kids understand that not all dogs are the same. You should teach your children to ask permission before touching a dog they don’t know, not to annoy them while they are eating and to be aware of body language such as growling.
These important lessons will teach your children to respect dogs and keep themselves safe. Teaching children to respect dogs and your dog to respect children is key to safe interactions between them.
Training your Dachshund for kids
Training and socialization is the key to having a Dachshund that is good around children. The Dachshund is an affectionate and playful breed. However, sometimes they can become over-excited. This may result in them gripping on to a child’s clothing or play a little ruff.
It is important to teach your Dachshund a good leave command and learning ways to settle and calm them if they get carried away.
Consistent training will help your Dachshund learn quickly what is and is not acceptable behavior.
Dachshunds, in fact, all dogs, need a structured environment to feel comfortable and safe shine and coexist with their people. They will learn through consistency what you allow when it comes to interacting with your kids. By rewarding and praising them for being gentle and correcting them for unwanted behavior such as nipping they will quickly learn the rules and boundaries.
Dachshunds want to be apart of the family and they can easily learn how to do that safely. Training is a key part of having Dachshund as a family pet and a companion to your children.
How are Dachshunds with babies
In general, Dachshunds are good with babies as long as they are introduced slowly and are fully supervised. You should never leave your Dachshund alone with a baby.
Dachshunds can get jealous if they are not getting attention. If you do need to leave the room, even for a minute, take your Dachshunds with you or put them in their crate.
Introducing a Dachshund to a baby or toddler
Dachshund owners are often concerned about how their dog will accept the arrival of a new baby in the home. There are many stories of Dachshunds being rehomed for this exact reason. This does not have to be the case if you take the right steps in preparing for and introducing the baby and Dachshund.
Every dog is an individual even of the same breed. You will know the personality of your own Dachshund. If they have a dominant personality caution needs to be taken. It is important for the dog to know their place in the family.
With the first introduction, it is a good idea to have your Dachshund on a leash so you can pull them away if necessary. Stay relaxed so you are not projecting tension onto the dog. Allow your Dachshund to make the first move and don’t force them to show interest in the baby. The dog should view the interaction with the baby as a positive experience.
It is also crucial that you don’t exclude or ignore your Dachshund every time the baby is around. This can foster an environment of jealousy. You will still need to devote time to your Dachshund and ensure their exercise and enrichment needs are still being met.
One final and important point is that your Dachshund must have a safe space they can go to. This will allow them to remove themselves if they want to get away. This is especially important once the baby becomes mobile and is crawling.
Is a Male or Female Dachshund Better for a Family
Ultimately, it depends on which your prefer. Both male and female Dachshunds can make an excellent family dogs. Every dog is an individual even of the same breed.
However, in general, Males tend to be more playful and want more attention. This makes them good for an active family who can provide the necessary time for what can a attention demanding breed.
Female Dachshunds tend to mature quicker and may not be as playful. This means that they can be a little calmer and not be so attention seeking. That is not to say they won’t want attention but once they have had their fill they are content to go and lay down.
Female Dachshunds can be more moody and this can lead to them fighting, in particular with other female dogs. Male Dachshunds tend to get along with both male and female dogs.
The other consideration between a male and female Dachshund is whether or not you are going to have them desexed. Obviously, an unspayed female will come on heat around every six months. A male can reproduce at any time and if their is a female on heat in the location they may want to escape. Ideally, having your Dachshund desexed is recommended to avoid unwanted litters.
As Dachshunds desire company and companionship, many people get them in pairs. When it comes to what gender the second Dachshund should be, two males are generally better than two females. For more on Dachshunds as pairs see here.
Can Dachshunds be aggressive
Dachshunds are not aggressive in general. However, some individual
Dachshunds can show signs of aggressive and reactive behavior. This is more the result of a training and socialization issue rather than a trait of the breed.
Dachshunds can be a dominant and high prey drive breed, so it is important that they view you as the authority figure in their minds. See Are Dachshunds aggressive to learn more.
Are Dachshunds good with other dogs
If you are considering adding a Dachshund to the family, you may have an existing dog in the home. Most Dachshunds get along fine with other dogs. It does depend upon the individual dog. Some Dachshunds can be jealous or territorial with other dogs.
Males Dachshunds are more likely to be good with other dogs. Female Dachshunds can sometimes have a conflict with other female dogs.
Dachshund prefer living with other small dogs or other Dachshunds. However, many Dachshund do live with big dogs such as Boxers and Dobermans in perfect harmony. It does depend upon the individual temperament of your Dachshund.
Are Dachshunds good with cats
If you have an existing cat in your home you will need to be aware that training will be required with a Dachshund. The Dachshund was bred to hunt and chase small prey. As a result, they have a very high instinctive prey drive.
This is not to say that a Dachshund can not live with a cat. Although the instinctive drive of a Dachshund may not make them suitable to be around a cat, with the right training and socialization towards cats this is possible. There are many households where a Dachshund and a cat live in harmony and have become best friends.
The chances of a Dachshund and a cat living in harmony are greatly improved if they are brought up together from a young age. Alternatively, a Dachshund puppy coming into a home with an existing calm adult cat is usually successful also.
Caring for a Dachshund
When selecting any breed of dog for your family it is important to be sure that you are able to care for and provide to their needs. Things you need to take into consideration are;
- Financial costs – take into consideration the cost of food, vet visits, or pet insurance, boarding costs if going away, etc.
- Time needs – do you have the time to spend with your Dachshund They like to spend as much time with the family as possible. If they are going to spend a lot of time home alone, behavior problems may develop.
- Exercise needs – Dachshunds need a reasonable amount of exercise a day. They are also very smart and need enrichment and mental challenges to prevent boredom. For a guide to Dachshund exercise needs see here.
- Grooming needs – although Dachshunds don’t need a lot of grooming they will require regular brushing and bathing. The amount of grooming will depend on their coat type (short coat, long coat, wire coat).
Summary – Are Dachshunds a good dog for a family with kids
Dachshunds can make an excellent family pet, They are loving, loyal, and affectionate. They are best suited for a family that can spend the time with them as they love attention and affection.
Dachshunds generally don’t like being left home alone for long periods of time. They can be quite prone to developing separation anxiety. Therefore, if the family is never home, a Dachshund would not be a good choice.
A well trained and socialized Dachshund is usually excellent with children. However, it is crucial that the children are taught how to handle the Dachshund. Dachshunds are prone to back issues and rough handling may cause injury.
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