Before bringing any pet dog into the home, we tend to think about their behaviour with children, how they appear in front of a small child, and whether they are aggressive in front of a small child. Before owning a dachshund, I also have one question: are dachshunds good with children or not? A dachshund can be a good pet with a small child if they are treated and trained properly.
In this blog, I will share some reasons why the dachshund is considered a good pet option for those who have a small child in their home.
Why is the dachshund considered good with children
Loyal and Affectionate
Dachshunds are social dogs; they love to be social and play with children when they are trained well. They are known to form a strong bond with human children, who can love their loyal and affectionate nature. They are very committed to humans near them and protect them from dangerous situations.
Playful Nature
They are playful by nature, and their playful and curious nature makes them adorable. One of the main reasons for their being good with children is their playful nature; they like to play with children. But we need to avoid rough play, as they have fragile backs that are easily injured.
Protective Instincts
Dachshunds are used to protect their things, which are close to them, whether it’s a person or things. They are protective of their toys, beds, or their owner. Normally, dachshunds were bred to hunt animals; their hunting history made them naturally protective.
Their protective nature reflects their loyalty toward their owner, which is important for a good relationship with children. Their Protective nature helps to feel comfortable in a situation where children are feeling tired; they like to cuddle, which helps to feel better for both.
Small Size
Dachshunds are smaller in size, especially miniature ones. They are perfect for small children because small children love small dogs. The similarity in size made them perfect for small children who are full of playfulness and friendliness.
A large dog can be overwhelming for small children; a dachshund’s small size makes them approachable and less scary, making it easier for children to feel comfortable interacting with it.
Their smaller size made them easier to handle not like other large dogs. They are easier to handle, which makes them less risky dogs for children, because large dogs can pull and drag children when leash walking in Dachshunds have no chance to have because they are small in size.
Potential risks of a dachshund with children
Back injury in your dog
Dachshunds have fragile backs because of their unique body shape, long backs, and short legs. They are inclined to back issues like IVDD; they are handled roughly. During play, children can ride on their backs, which puts lots of stress on their backs and potentially causes back-related issues in the future.
During playing time, they can copy children’s activities like jumping from a height and running fast, which can severely affect their backs. Once your dog has a back-related issue, there are hard to get rid of, can negatively affect your dog’s health, and potentially cause paralysis. You can prevent this issue by teaching how to correctly lift your dog to your child.
Aggressiveness
Dachshunds can be aggressive when they feel annoyed. An aggressive dog can bite children and cause injury.
Show their territorial nature
Dachshunds are territorial by nature. They are very loyal to their person; they can bark at other people or animals to show their territorial nature. Dachshunds show their territorial nature despite the training because their hunting instinct makes them territorial. But you can help your dog overcome their territorial nature by early socialization.
Always supervise your child with a dog
Leaving them alone without supervision is risky for both children and the dog. Supervision helps to identify potential dangers before they become problems, and take action on time. That’s why you need to supervise them for both’s safety. If your dog and child have been left alone in the past, in this case, you can leave them with supervision can be good with children if they are handled properly. Dachshunds have fragile backs, which makes them prone to certain back issues like IVDD. If they are not handled properly, their back can be injured, which can develop serious health conditions like intervertebral disc disease and potentially paralysis in the future.
