Wire Haired Dachshunds are the 13th most popular dog in the United States, and it’s easy to see why! The unique appearance of these friendly and intelligent dogs, as well as their ability to adjust to any lifestyle, make them popular among many people. In spite of the fact that these dogs were originally bred to hunt badgers, they are now considered loyal companions by many people.
These little dogs can become your new best friend if you exercise them and take care of them. Discover everything you need to know about Wire Haired Dachshunds and whether they might be the right puppy for you below.
History and Origins of the Wire Haired Dachshund
With Prince Albert, Dachshunds were brought to Britain from Germany in the 15th century. In order to get hunters’ attention, Dachshunds bark loudly to let them know where they are underground after badgers and other burrowing animals.
Their Germanic origins led to their loss of popularity during World War I in Britain and America.
Wire-haired Dachshunds are an attractive breed, which is a bit shaggy. Dachshunds are popular family pets in the modern world today.
Characteristics of the Wire Haired Dachshund
Buying a Dachshund can be expensive since they are extremely popular dogs. It might be harder to find wire-haired Dachshunds because they are an uncommon variation of the Dachshund.
There are usually 1 to 6 puppies in a litter of these small dogs, though larger litter sizes can result in more stillbirths. Wire-Haired Dachshund puppies are priced differently depending on the breeder. The breeder you choose should always be reputable.
Appearance of the Wire Haired Dachshund
Most Dachshunds are known for their appearance – short legs, elongated backs, and low muscular frames. As well as long, slender faces, they have low-hanging ears.
In terms of size, there are two official varieties of Dachshunds. It must weigh less than 11 lbs to qualify as a miniature Dachshund. Secondly, there is the standard Dachshund, which weighs between 16 and 32 pounds.
The third size variation does not have an official classification. There are 11 to 16 pounds in this size, called a Tweeny.
Coat
A wire-haired Dachshund’s coat is one of the biggest differences between it and other Dachshunds! A Wire-haired Dachshund has a thick double coat with a soft undercoat and a coarse overcoat that give them their wiry appearance.
Also, these dogs appear to have bushy eyebrows and a beard. Dogs like these shed very little, so they are a good choice for allergy sufferers. We will discuss grooming in more detail later, but they only need to be stripped very rarely.
Color
The Wire-Haired Dachshund comes in a variety of colors like standard Dachshunds. Dogs can be colored black, gray, red, piebald, or dapple, but a black and tan coat is the most common.
Temperament of the Wire Haired Dachshund
In addition to being extremely intelligent, the wire-haired Dachshund also enjoys staying active and busy. These dogs are very loving and bond very quickly with their owners – especially one or two members of the household – and want to be by their side at all times. With their goofiness, these dogs will certainly bring a smile to your face, but you must be careful as they can often injure themselves while playing.
It is true that Wire-Haired Dachshunds are brave animals, but sometimes their stubbornness can make them a handful! In order to train them properly, you must persevere with training until you can trust that they will not run away. They can have a very high prey drive, so you will need to supervise them until you can be sure that they won’t run away.
Being hounds, they bark very loudly and howl a lot. You will need to ensure you control this behavior, though some owners find it endearing. When trained at an early age, they can be trained to stop barking at strangers, which makes them effective guard dogs and watchdogs.
Lifespan of the Wire Haired Dachshund
A Wire-Haired Dachshund can live for up to 16 years, which is a relatively long life expectancy.
Known Health Issues of the Wire Haired Dachshund
Wire-haired Dachshunds, like all dogs, are prone to certain health conditions. Health concerns faced by other Dachshunds are similar to these problems.
- Intervertebral Disc Disease — Dachshunds are often prone to Intervertebral Disc Disease due to their elongated backs. In this situation, the jelly-like intervertebral discs protrude into the spinal canal and push against the spinal cord. In addition to causing pain and paralysis, this can also result in incontinence. When holding or carrying your Dachshund, you should support its back and rear when holding or carrying it. This condition can be treated with surgery.
- Epilepsy — this seizure disorder can be treated with medication.
- Gastric Torsion (Bloat) — this is potentially fatal due to their deep chests. Too much air gets inside their bodies, causing their stomachs to twist. To recognize the symptoms, you need to know what they are. Rather than a big meal, your dog should receive smaller meals more frequently.
Deafness, diabetes, and eye problems are also common in Wire Haired Dachshunds. You can catch any of these issues earlier if you keep an eye on your dog and schedule regular vet visits.
Daily Life of the Wire Haired Dachshund
It’s now time to look at what it’s like to care for a wire-haired Dachshund daily. Even though these pups don’t require massive amounts of care, they can still be a challenge! Find out what their food and diet requirements are, how to exercise them, and how to groom them below.
Wire Haired Dachshund Diet and Food
Unfortunately, the Dachshund has a tendency to become overweight because of its love of food. Their elongated backs can become severely damaged by this extra weight, causing Intervertebral Disc Disease.
450 calories are recommended per day for Dachshunds, which is approximately one cup of kibble per day. To determine how much of a particular food your Dachshund should be feeding based on their weight, always check the back of the food packet.
Choose a kibble that meets their nutritional needs and is formulated for their size. In addition, you can choose a food that helps you manage your weight, like the one we have recommended below.
Best Dog Food for Wire Haired Dachshunds
Dry dog food for small and mini dogs made by Hill’s Science Diet
For wire-haired Dachshunds, we recommend Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight dry dog food. Small and mini-breed dogs will be happy to eat this food because the kibble pieces are small, making them suitable for their small mouths.
In addition to being made with real chicken as the number one ingredient, this food provides all the nutrients your wire-haired Dachshund needs. The food also helps the Dachshund maintain lean muscles throughout its lifetime since it can be known to gain weight.
Exercise of the Wire Haired Dachshund
It is recommended that Dachshunds exercise for at least an hour a day. If they are not on a lead, make sure they have good recall as they may follow their noses and get into small spaces and under fences.
Suitability for Family Life
Families with older children or those without children can enjoy the Dachshund as a family dog. As a result of their long backs and short stature, children tend to try to pick them up and treat them like toys, which they won’t tolerate.
In spite of the common belief that dogs and children get along and respect each other, all dogs and children should be taught to be safe together. Children and dogs should never be left alone together, and all interactions between them should be supervised by an adult.
Training of the Wire Haired Dachshund
Despite their intelligence, Dachshunds can also be very stubborn as we’ve mentioned above. You will need a lot of patience and perseverance to train effectively.
Positive reinforcement and reward-based training are the most effective training methods for the Wire Haired Dachshund. Treats and verbal praise are both included. Dachshunds don’t like to learn from people who are angry or frustrated with them, so don’t get angry or frustrated at them.
Their strong prey drive may make training them easier inside where distractions are minimal.
Socializing of the Wire Haired Dachshund
Despite their love for their owners, Dachshunds aren’t always comfortable at strangers. They bark and howl at strangers, and they can be aloof toward them. This makes them excellent guard dogs!
This is why your wire-haired Dachshund should be socialized at a young age to learn how to behave around strangers. Additionally, it will train them not to bark and howl.
To ensure your wire-haired Dachshund learns there is nothing to be afraid of, introduce them to different sights, sounds, places, smells, people, and animals in a safe and controlled manner. Their behavior will improve as a result, resulting in a well-rounded and well-mannered dog!
Grooming
Due to their minimal shedding, wire-haired Dachshunds don’t require much grooming. The dead fur from their undercoat must be removed about three times a year by stripping their coats. Consequently, fur can grow healthily after regrowth. In spite of that, it is still recommended that you brush your Dachshund once a week to prevent knotting.
Because Dachshunds have very mild body odor, they don’t require frequent bathing. If you want to prevent furniture scratching, you need to keep its nails trimmed regularly. This can be handled by a groomer. Dental decay and disease can be prevented by brushing their teeth regularly. It may be easier to use dental sticks for this purpose.
Conclusion
Dogs with elongated backs and little legs are extremely popular, including the Dachshund. Despite being a rare breed of dog, the wire-haired Dachshund can fit in very well with a family and adjust to life in an apartment or in the country. Its goofy and fun-loving nature makes it a great companion for children and other animals.
The wire-haired Dachshund requires a lot of training and socialization to fix issues like the barking and wariness of strangers. However, as long as they’re in a home with people, they’ll be happy. The wire-haired Dachshund is a wonderful dog that adds to any family.
FAQs
Known for their bold and courageous nature, Dachshunds (wire-haired) are popular dogs. Despite its independent and stubborn nature, the wire-haired Dachshund is also loyal and good-tempered, so it is regarded as one of the hardest-working Dachshund varieties.
If you have a miniature Dachshund, he or she will need half an hour of exercise every day. It should be divided into two walks, one of which should be slightly longer so that you have plenty of time to sniff. They should also have plenty of time for running and playing off-lead.
It is generally recommended to leave any adult dog alone for no more than four hours at a time. You may find a foldaway pen more practical and provide more space for your dog if you do not leave them in a small cage for long periods.
Dachshunds are typically not suited to living outside or in a kennel but are indoor dogs. It is not recommended for them to jump on and off the furniture because they have back problems.