Other grooming needs include making sure your dog’s ears and eyes are regularly cleaned to avoid any nasty infections – ask the vet for the appropriate cleaning solution to use, and don’t attempt to get in there with a Q-tip. A cotton ball soaked in the recommended solution will do just fine; clean gently, and make sure not to dig your finger in farther than the first knuckle.
Clipping their nails on the regular is another thing to keep in mind – if you can hear them click on the floor as your pup pads around your home (or as Queen Victoria said, your castle), they’re in need of a trimming.
A Riot of Personalities
Just like people, dachshunds have their own personalities and temperaments, but dachshund lovers and breeders identify certain character traits in the three varieties of dachshund, so you can find yourself a doxie who can be your spirit animal.
Wire-haired dachshunds can be mischievous, energetic and sometimes-stubborn, attributes inherited from their terrier backgrounds, while their long-haired cousins tend to be quieter and sweeter in nature, due to their spaniel heritage.
Smooth-haired dachshunds, meanwhile, are squarely in the middle.
It’s important to note that despite this spectrum of personalities, dachshunds are characterized by their independent, domineering personalities – the American Kennel Club pen the official standard for the dachshund as “clever, lively and courageous to the point of rashness”; if a dachshund is meek, this is considered a fault.
One thing’s for sure – there is hardly a dull day with a pup with such a distinct personality, and there’s clearly significant consensus on this, with doxies ranked #12 of 193 in breed popularity by the American Kennel Club.
A Friendly Reminder
As wonderful as doxies are, it’s important that prospective owners don’t make the decision to adopt one lightly.
Dachshunds are not the easiest breed to housetrain, and their stubbornness might be off-putting for some, though the long-term rewards are certainly worth it.
Make sure to ask your breeder for the health profiles of your pup and their parents, to be aware of potential health risks and appropriately tend to the needs of your furry friend.
