Long Haired Dachshund Breed Facts and Care Information

The Long Haired Dachshund is a very popular breed that is one of 3 varieties of Dachshunds. Moreover, this coat type is very distinct and appealing in these “Weiner Dogs” or “Doxies”. This coat type can be found in both the standard and miniature size Dachshunds. Let’s find out about them in this article.

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Long Haired Dachshund Highlights

Miniature Dachshunds stand 5-6 inches tall and weigh below 11 pounds, while Standard Dachshunds stand 8-9 inches tall and weigh 16-32 pounds. Both may have long coats.
The name Dachshund originated from Germany with a direct translation of “badger dog”.
In World War I, Americans became interested in the Dachshunds and in America, they were called Liberty Hounds by anti-German groups.
In 1885 the American Kennel Club recognized the breed and registered the first Wiener Dog.
Doxies may respond well to reward-based training to reinforce their positive behavior.
Dachshunds may be good apartment dogs due to their compact physique.
This breed may give birth to 1-6 puppies in a single litter, regardless of their coat type and size.
For their long coats, this breed may be bathed and brushed about 2-3 times a week to maintain their coat and avoid matted fur.
The Doxie may live an average of 12-16 years. However, Dachshunds may surpass this life expectancy when provided with proper care.
The Long Haired Dachshund is a very friendly breed. However, they are also known for being curious and spunky.

Appearance

The miniature Dachshund may also come in the long haired variety. This type of Wiener Dog usually stands 5-6 inches tall and weighs below 11 pounds. However, this Doxie may also come in other coat types and all of the possible colors. On the other hand, standard Long Haired Dachshunds stand 8-9 inches tall and weigh 16-32 pounds.

Standard and Miniature Dachshunds are both accepted in the breed standards set by the American Kennel Club. These Wiener Dogs may also be in a wide variety of colors accepted for this breed. This type of Doxie may slightly change the appearance of certain colors in the breed due to its long fur. Besides, a dog’s appearance is always subjective.

History

The name Dachshund originated from Germany with a direct translation of “badger dog”. These breeds were initially bred a little over 600 years ago. Moreover, Doxies were bred to hunt badgers by digging in their burrows and dens. The body gives it an advantage when digging and raiding the burrows of badgers.

Dachshunds are strong enough to take down badgers that weigh around 25 to 40 pounds. Moreover, badgers are very strong opponents for these little dogs. The intelligence of the Dachshund is a great edge for them during hunting these wild badgers.

As a watchdog, this breed can be loud. However, these came from their ancestors so that their human partners can easily identify their location when underground in the burrows of the badgers. Doxies were bred as hunting dogs and they have the strength, intelligence, and physique for the job of hunting wild badgers with their human companions.

As years go by, Wiener Dogs became more popular and selective breeding allowed various coat types to emerge due to the climate of its origin. In the 1800s, these coat types began to be part of the breed standards set by various kennel clubs.

In Germany, the Dachshund is one of the national symbols. In World War I, Americans became interested in the Dachshunds and in America, they were called Liberty Hounds by anti-German groups. In 1885 the American Kennel Club recognized the breed and registered the first in their studbook. Since then, the popularity of the Wiener Dog has only been increasing in the US.

Trainability

Dachshunds may be smart, but this doesn’t mean that they can be trained easily. The prey drive and hunting instincts of the Doxie may be very strong. Hence, they can be very independent at times and might not be responsive to training. Usually, Wiener Dogs respond well to reward-based training to reinforce their positive behavior.

The hunting background of the Long Haired Dachshund from its ancestors makes it a very intelligent breed. However, their intelligence might sometimes be a double-edged sword as they may be too smart and too independent to just do what they want to do and not respond to commands at all. Choosing the right activities to stimulate your Doxie may help you train them.

Dachshunds like interactive games and training sessions, so obedience training might be too boring for them. You might even find difficulty in making your Wiener Dog stay in one place for a while. However, with various retrieving, hunting and chasing games which are very stimulating for their curiosity. Hence, the Doxie may enjoy it and respond well to these types of training.

Long Haired Dachshund Temperament

The Doxie is a very friendly breed. However, they are also known for their curiosity and being spunky. They can easily get bored with the lack of adequate stimulation. But, Dachshunds can do well with other dogs. So, if you plan to leave your Dachshund alone for a few hours a day, having another dog companion may be beneficial for your dog.

If you live in an apartment, the Wiener Dog may also be an ideal companion. Due to their compact physique, the Dachshund may be good apartment dogs. Moreover, they seldom exhibit destructive behavior in apartments when left with enough toys.

Dachshunds are generally friendly. So, they may do well with cats. If you are a pet lover that isn’t specifically a dog or cat person, you might want to keep both, so a Doxie might be a great choice if you want a dog that does well with cats. However, they have to be socialized at a young age and it might be better if they grow together.

This breed makes great watchdogs as they have loud barks that can alert you if something is going on in your surroundings. Moreover, they are intelligent and cautious with strangers. They are naturally curious and their overall temperament is agreeable, so they may also do well with kids that don’t handle them roughly.

Long Haired Dachshund Nutrition

Dachshunds may thrive well with high-quality commercial dog food.

Proper nutrition coupled with proper exercise may keep your Doxie healthy. Also, you may want to offer healthy treats in the form of fruit, vegetables, and other healthy meals. Nutritious food is essential for any dog. Moreover, the Wiener Dog is often a very active breed that requires enough nutrients daily.

You may also provide vitamin and mineral supplements to your dog to support their nutrition. Moreover, you have to provide dog food that is packed with essential nutrients to keep your Wiener Dog going. Doxies may be prone to obesity if they aren’t provided with the right healthy foods.

Health and Care

The health of a dog is always important. However, your dog’s general health is influenced by how you take care of it. The Doxie is a small, yet highly active dog that requires proper care to avoid injuries and health problems. Moreover, Dachshunds are also predisposed to certain health problems that may affect their lifespan. Some Wiener Dog health problems may be avoided through responsible breeding practices and by getting a puppy from a responsible breeder while avoiding puppy mills.

Lifespan

The Long Haired Dachshund may live an average of 12-16 years. However, Doxies may surpass this life expectancy when they are given proper care. The life expectancy of the miniature and the standard dachshund are similar.

Common Diseases

Just like most purebred dogs, the Wiener Dog may also be predisposed to certain health issues attributed to the breed. However, some of these can be avoided with proper breeding practices, selective breeding and health testing of puppies and breeding dogs. Here are some of the common health issues that you have to look out for in Dachshunds:

Back problems and disc damage
Obesity
Hip or elbow dysplasia
Eye problems
Cardiac issues

Specific Care Information

This breed has short legs and long backs that aren’t built for running, leaping, swimming or climbing. Moreover, they might be prone to injury if they engage in these kinds of activities. To avoid health problems in Dachshunds, strenuous activities that they aren’t bred for have to be limited. Also, if you have stairs in your home, you might want to install some gates to avoid your Wiener Dog from falling, even though they may be capable of climbing stairs.

Elevated areas may also be accident-prone for Doxies. So, if you leave them alone in your home, you might want to puppy-proof your home for your dog’s safety. To avoid injury, Dachshunds may be prevented from climbing elevated areas to reduce their risk of falling and getting injured. Besides, their backs are highly delicate.

Long Haired Dachshund Grooming

Dachshunds are not included in the hypoallergenic dog breeds in the American Kennel Club. However, no dog is entirely hypoallergenic. The long haired dachshund sheds, but it may be manageable with proper grooming. For their long coats, this breed may be groomed and brushed about 2-3 times a week to maintain the appearance of their coat. Besides, regular bathing and brushing may help avoid matted fur in dogs with long coats.

Long Haired Dachshund Puppies

Doxies regardless of the coat type and size may give birth to 1-6 puppies in a single litter. However, depending on the health of the breeding female it may also give birth to more puppies. Dachshund puppies usually reach their maximum size between the 6th or 8th month of their lives.

Price

In the US, the price of this breed usually ranges from $200 to $3500. However, other factors may also affect the price, such as champion bloodlines and rare colors that may increase the price of these weiner dogs. This is only the cost of the puppy alone and does not include other costs in raising a Wiener Dog puppy.

Mix Breeds

Due to the immense popularity of the Doxie, it is not surprising that they are combined with other purebred dogs to create a designer dog breed. Moreover, these designer dog breeds aim to combine the best qualities of both the Wiener Dog and another purebred dog breed. Various designer dog mixes include the Dachshund. However, among them these are the most popular Dachshund mix-breeds:

Long Haired Dachshund Breed Organizations

As a purebred dog, the Doxie is recognized by various kennel clubs in both the US and UK. Moreover, the Wiener Dog is a very popular breed in both countries. There are many contests and competitions hosted by these organizations for Dachshund owners to take part in. Here are the breed organizations that recognize the various types of Doxies:

USA

The Long Haired Dachshund is a very appealing dog with all of the expected qualities of the Dachshund. Moreover, they have a pleasant temperament that makes them easy to get along with other pets.