Miniature dachshunds?

[Snowy Celandine]

Has anyone here got a miniature dachshund? OH wants one and I'm trying to find out what they are like. Googling them makes me not want one but then Googling Chihuahuas would make me not want one of those either, yet the one I've got is adorable so I'd like some 'real life' opinions if possible

 

[twiggy2]

Health problems and yappy nature would put me off

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Chihuahuas have health problems and a yappy nature too but, fingers crossed, mine seems fine health-wise at present and is only yappy occasionally when she hears sounds that she doesn't recognise at night. They have ears like satellite dishes so I can forgive her that as it's not a regular thing and I love her completely

 

[CorvusCorax]

A friend of a friend breeds and shows them and hers seem to reach their early to mid teens fairly regularly.
One I am acquainted with is elderly but is a real little character and professional hot water bottle. She has dental issues, separation anxiety and a sensitive stomach. Plus the best nose I have ever seen, she can hunt down the smallest crumb!

I wouldn't mind one. In their country of origin they still do working tests and are sent down holes!

 

[MotherOfChickens]

I love dachshunds, I'd love a standard long hair. I am going to see some miniature wire haired week after next (as an adjunct to another visit) so will let you know how I find them-not known many miniature personally.

 

[Snowy Celandine]

A friend of a friend breeds and shows them and hers seem to reach their early to mid teens fairly regularly.
One I am acquainted with is elderly but is a real little character and professional hot water bottle. She has dental issues, separation anxiety and a sensitive stomach. Plus the best nose I have ever seen, she can hunt down the smallest crumb!

I wouldn't mind one. In their country of origin they still do working tests and are sent down holes!

Thanks CC Maybe the minis could dig down into the mole runs with which my garden is plagued?!!! I saw that they are prone to separation anxiety which wouldn't necessarily be a problem as I am normally at home or can take the dogs with me when I go out but I still don't like the sound of it It's very difficult to know what decision to make if you don't personally know a breed.

 

[debsandpets]

Daschunds in general I have never found them to be happy but they can and do frequently have spinal issues due to their shape etc, so never let one get overweight as it is exacerbated then. Normally easy to train although can be a little headstrong at times - friends have had them for years and grew up with lots of them in our neighbourhood that I used to spend a lot of time with too and did their training as a kid too - loved them all as they have some seriously cool characters .....

 

[Snowy Celandine]

I love dachshunds, I'd love a standard long hair. I am going to see some miniature wire haired week after next (as an adjunct to another visit) so will let you know how I find them-not known many miniature personally.

Thanks MoC That would be useful. OH has been smitten ever since we stopped and talked to a chap with two mini daxies and they were so friendly and funny. I love the way they look but am inclined to perhaps get another Chihuahua although mine doesn't get on with my daughter's rescue Chi at all so maybe a different breed would be better? Difficult question to answer I know

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Daschunds in general I have never found them to be happy but they can and do frequently have spinal issues due to their shape etc, so never let one get overweight as it is exacerbated then. Normally easy to train although can be a little headstrong at times - friends have had them for years and grew up with lots of them in our neighbourhood that I used to spend a lot of time with too and did their training as a kid too - loved them all as they have some seriously cool characters .....

Oh my goodness I would not want an unhappy dog!!!! My whippet and Chi are very happy in their individual ways I think. They are both incredibly friendly to any humans and the whippet gets on with all dogs as well but the Chi is so small that she is normally scared of other dogs unless they ignore her. We never usually meet anyone on our walks though so it's not too problematic. I really hate the thought of a morose dog though.

 

[cobgoblin]

My parents had several...great little dogs. None of them had back problems..but they did get plenty of exercise and climbed lots of stairs, so we're quite muscular.
Very greedy and love to dig. Huge characters.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I think Debs meant 'yappy'? I don't think they could be described as morose!!

 

[Snowy Celandine]

My parents had several...great little dogs. None of them had back problems..but they did get plenty of exercise and climbed lots of stairs, so we're quite muscular.
Very greedy and love to dig. Huge characters.

Thanks cobgoblin, that sounds more positive. OH will like your post

 

[Snowy Celandine]

I think Debs meant 'yappy'? I don't think they could be described as morose!!

Oh dear, silly me I was very concerned about them being sad all the time. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[Pinkvboots]

my partners daughter has one she is 8 now mabel is a short hair black and tan she is not yappy but she doesn't like everyone she won't even let some people touch her, she did have an operation on her back when she was 5 but she has been fine apart from that she has been quite healthy.

 

[satinbaze]

I have heard that there is an epilepsy problem in mini wires, this was from a breeder of standard long hairs.

 

[Snowy Celandine]

my partners daughter has one she is 8 now mabel is a short hair black and tan she is not yappy but she doesn't like everyone she won't even let some people touch her, she did have an operation on her back when she was 5 but she has been fine apart from that she has been quite healthy.

Thanks Pinkvboots. I love the name Mabel

 

[Snowy Celandine]

I have heard that there is an epilepsy problem in mini wires, this was from a breeder of standard long hairs.

I read about this too but it only seems to affect wire-haired ones at present

 

[debsandpets]

Yes sorry predictive text !!! Yappy was indeed meant, they are lovely happy little dogs

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Yes sorry predictive text !!! Yappy was indeed meant, they are lovely happy little dogs

Thanks debsandpets, you had me worried there

 

[debsandpets]

Thanks debsandpets, you had me worried there

Hahaha sorry !!!!

I would love one but unfortunately the price tags they achieve are just a little bit off putting !!! I am having a whippet next I have put my foot down and told the OH that is what is happening too lol !!!

 

[Snowy Celandine]

Hahaha sorry !!!!

I would love one but unfortunately the price tags they achieve are just a little bit off putting !!! I am having a whippet next I have put my foot down and told the OH that is what is happening too lol !!!

You can't go wrong if you add a whippet to your menagerie. I've had some lovely ones and still have actually Mine have always been from show stock and the current girl is very pretty but also very loyal and has surprisingly good recall even when something exciting is happening!!

 

[neddy man]

We have a 9 yr old mini smooth never had any health problems , OH has bred mini wires over a 6 yr period always kept one of each litter, had 5 at one time, never any health problems bar a ceserian on one that had 9 pups. Walk for miles ,hardy ,loyal, very keen hunters, small enough to pick up and carry when needed . Do NOT overfeed keep their weight down and they will live a good long life .Our current one lives with 2 x Whippets and travels ,runs ,plays sleeps with them no problems. We have had smooths, long haired, and wirehaired, personally wires are best .

 

[Snowy Celandine]

We have a 9 yr old mini smooth never had any health problems , OH has bred mini wires over a 6 yr period always kept one of each litter, had 5 at one time, never any health problems bar a ceserian on one that had 9 pups. Walk for miles ,hardy ,loyal, very keen hunters, small enough to pick up and carry when needed . Do NOT overfeed keep their weight down and they will live a good long life .Our current one lives with 2 x Whippets and travels ,runs ,plays sleeps with them no problems. We have had smooths, long haired, and wirehaired, personally wires are best .

Thanks neddy man. That sounds good

 

[Pinkvboots]

Thanks Pinkvboots. I love the name Mabel

it is a cool name and it suits her.

 

[jakkibag]

I got a mini smooth puppy in November! Our old Dalmatian passed away and I was keen for another big dog to buddy up with our remaining Dalmatian, hubby put his foot down and said no more big dogs, so the only breed I really fancied was a sauasge dog! I'd done a lot of research and they are big personality dogs trapped in tiny bodies! Ours was very very quick to pick everything up, we crated him for the first 12 weeks and now he sleeps with the spotty dog on the sofa, he is hard as nails, has no fear and I don't find him yappy at all, he has quite a loud strong bark for a little dog! He is very portable and can be left on his own and taken away from the other dog no problem, when we picked him up the breeder gave me war and peace on what to do and not to do, to any normal person they might have handed him back, i presume it's to really warn off people trying to buy a headstrong hunting dog, when people have no idea, now they have become so popular, but he has been an absolute dream compared to the Dalmatians and even compared to my sisters dustbin of a lab!

A xmas pic, just because he is cute

 

[MotherOfChickens]

beautiful jakkibag.

my ex's mum kept standards-in the Australian outback. They always had kelpies for working, a labrador and she had a dachs. when she wanted a pup, the whole family would travel 1000s kilometres to go and pick one up. All their dogs made old bones, talking about 14-17 for all three breeds. Massive characters and hers certainly ruled over the others.

 

[wren123]

I think they are the lovely dogs.
However I only got to meet loads at the royal veterinary college when waiting to see our dog's specialist. There were loads of dachshunds in the waiting room!! Without exception they had lovely personalities but it did rather put me off seeing so many in the waiting room on every visit! There were a lot of pugs too, but these are very popular dogs so not so surprising, with the dachshunds it was the fact that there were so many of a not that popular dog. This was all a couple of years ago.

They did strike me as very cute,characterful dogs though and this was only my experience and it doesn't prove anything. In fact I would love to hear this is not the case as I would love to own one.

 

[Snowy Celandine]

jakkibag, he is absolutely gorgeous! Daren't show OH

 

[rara007]

It's worth remembering the working ones are a far cry from the deep chested modern bred ones, as are the 'healthy' ones of people's childhoods from 20 years ago. Any extreme of conformation will predispose you to issues, and it is so severe when it does occur... Breeding them to this shape as many currently are (I am sure there are 'responsible breeders still!) is a welfare issue IMO. Buying one supports that. Unfortunately it isn't as simple as keep it well and fit Current stats it's looking like about 1/4 will have problems so it is likely yours will be fine, but that's too high a % for me to be comfortable with them as a breed.

 

[Snowy Celandine]

It's worth remembering the working ones are a far cry from the deep chested modern bred ones, as are the 'healthy' ones of people's childhoods from 20 years ago. Any extreme of conformation will predispose you to issues, and it is so severe when it does occur... Breeding them to this shape as many currently are (I am sure there are 'responsible breeders still!) is a welfare issue IMO. Buying one supports that. Unfortunately it isn't as simple as keep it well and fit Current stats it's looking like about 1/4 will have problems so it is likely yours will be fine, but that's too high a % for me to be comfortable with them as a breed.

Oh, have they changed so much rara007? I have no real knowledge of the breed other than recent Googlings. I am not keen on 'extreme' breeding in any animal as a rule so that would put me off although I have to admit to owning a very tiny Chihuahua (not deliberately bought to be tiny) and she has been a delight to own without any health problems so far other than a skin problem when she was very young which has never recurred.