Before bringing our dachshund home for the first time, we did a lot of research about are dachshunds good for first time dog owners or not. Before that, I had no knowledge about dog ownership at all, but now that I have a dachshund, I have learned a lot about it.
In today’s blog, I will explain from my long-time dachshund ownership experience whether this dog is good for first-time dog owners, and if not, why it might not be. For me, a dachshund is a good choice for both first-time dog owners and those who have owned dogs before.
Here are reasons why dachshunds are good for first-time dog owners:
Loyalty: Although dachshunds can be stubborn at times, they are always loving and loyal to their owners.
Small size requirement: Another reason why dachshunds are good for first-time dog owners is that their small size makes them easy to accommodate. If you also want to have a small, loving, and energetic pet, you can consider getting a miniature dachshund.
Fun personality: Dachshunds have a very fun personality—they love to play, have fun, and stay active. Through their playful behaviour, they can turn your stressful or bad mood into a good one. This is also very helpful for me.
Easy to care: Taking care of a dachshund is not as difficult as taking care of other breeds. Because of their small size, it’s easier to bathe and groom them. They don’t require a lot of different types of care like other dogs—occasional bathing and regular grooming from time to time are enough for them.
Also, they don’t need many hours of exercise in one day. To keep a dachshund healthy, taking them for a walk twice a day for 20–30 minutes each time is enough.
Adaptability: Dachshunds quickly adapt to any situation or new place. They easily adjust to new environments. Like other dogs, dachshunds may feel a bit anxious at first when they go to a new owner and a new home, but they usually adjust to the situation after a short time.
Good with Children: If you have children at home, a dachshund can still be a suitable pet for your family. But remember, if children pull their tails, ears, or tease them, dachshunds can become aggressive.
Relatively Easy to Travel With: If you enjoy going on walks with your pet, then a dachshund is also suitable for you. Travelling with a dachshund is not as difficult as with larger dogs like huskies or pitbulls, because dachshunds are much smaller in size, and they also fit in a small-sized carrier bag.
Here are some disadvantages of owning dachshund
When we have any pet, we have to face some challenges, and the same goes for dachshunds as well. Some of the challenges that may come with owning a dachshund are listed below.
Separation anxiety: Separation anxiety is a behavioural condition where your dachshund becomes anxious when separated from their owners or left alone. Dogs become very attached to their owners, and when they are separated from them, they become anxious.
Obesity: Dachshunds are highly energetic and active dogs. If dachshunds are kept less active than they need to be, they fall victim to obesity. To keep a dachshund healthy, you should include at least 30 minutes of exercise daily.
Dental disease: Due to the structure of their mouth, dachshunds have a higher chance of developing periodontal disease. It is a serious condition that affects the gums, ligaments, and bones around your dog’s teeth.
Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD): Due to their long spine and short legs, they are prone to IVDD. This is a common condition in Dachshunds that affects their spine. We can protect dachshunds from this by maintaining a healthy weight and preventing them from jumping from heights.
Dachshunds are frequent biters: Dachshunds love to chew on things. When you provide items like beds and toys for them, they will chew on them and tear them into pieces. That’s why we need to find toys that have very strong build quality and that can’t break down from their teeth.
Exercise needs: To keep a dachshund healthy, we need to involve them in daily exercise, such as walking or other activities, for 20 to 30 minutes, once or twice a day. This may not be practical for a busy individual, but compared to larger dogs, dachshunds require less exercise to stay healthy.
Stubbornness: Dachshunds are considered to be part of the group of stubborn dogs because of their stubborn and independent nature. They are a bit difficult to train compared to other dogs, but it is possible to train your dachshund when being consistent in a training routine. I also train my Toby to do a lot of things in my order, and he honestly follows my orders. But sometimes he tends to be stubborn.
Conclusion
I think you’ve figured out the answer to are are dachshunds good for first time dog owners or not?
Dachshunds can be the best dogs for first time owners, They have a playful, energetic nature that you really like. If you’re looking for a loyal pet for yourself, then you can go for a dachshund. Dachshunds have various options in their breed according to your preference.
Dachshunds are a little hard to train; they have a higher chance of having a back issue like IVDD. If you really like to have a pet, these challenges don’t matter to you because challenges occur in any dog ownership, whether a bulldog or a pitbull.
Lastly, a dachshund is a good, loyal, energetic, and easy-to-care-for dog breed. If you are an enthusiast about owning a pet dog, you can definitely go with the dachshund breed.
