Wire Haired Dachshund Breed Facts and Care Information

The Wire Haired Dachshund is a variety of the purebred Dachshund. Moreover, this coat type can either be a standard or miniature. Also, this coat type is less common, so you might not easily find one in pet stores. Nevertheless, this Dachshund variety is very lovable and it has all the best qualities of the breed. Let’s find out about them in this article.

Table of Contents

Wire Haired Dachshund Highlights

Dachshunds with wired coat type function well in areas with thorny shrubs and heavy vegetation.
The Dachshund was originally bred in Germany to hunt badgers 600 years ago. Moreover, the name of this breed directly translates to “badger dog”.
The Dachshund is a very popular breed that is used to create various designer dog breeds.
The price of this breed in the USA usually ranges from $1,400 upwards to $4,300 because the wire haired variety is less common in Doxies.
This breed can have a litter size of 1-6 puppies. However, more puppies might be born from a healthy dam.
Some of the health problems can be avoided with proper breeding practices, a healthy diet, and proper care.
The wire haired coat type requires the most grooming of the fur that involves brushing, plucking, trimming, and combing.
You have to choose the right harness during walks since a collar and leash may injure your Dachshund during walks.
Training practices that usually utilize the natural hunting instinct and prey drive is often effective for the breed.
The strong hunting background requires the Doxie to be curious and spunky during tasks, yet still remain great companions and family dogs.

Appearance

The wire hair is another variety of Dachshund coat type. Wire Haired Dachshunds in the standard size have an expected height of eight or nine inches and weight that ranges from 7-14.5 kilograms and the miniature size stands five or six inches and weighs just below 5 kilograms. All accepted colors for the Dachshund can also come in the wire haired coat type.

The wire hair has a distinct texture that is very different from the long haired or short haired Dachshund. Moreover, the bearded appearance of the wire haired variety gives it a different appeal compared to all other Dachshund types. Looks is subjective, so you might want to compare the various Dachshund coat types to determine your preference when it comes to the coat type of this breed.

History

The Dachshund was originally bred in Germany to hunt badgers 600 years back. Also, the name of this breed directly translates to “badger dog”. The main purpose of the Dachshund’s elongated body and its short legs is to allow the Dachshund to dig badger’s dens and hunt them down. This elongated body of the Dachshund is meant for subterranean work.

Due to the immense popularity of the Dachshund, they were later on selectively bred for various coat types. Moreover, this coat type is more appropriate for areas with thorny bushes and dense vegetation. It helps the Dachshund hunt better. So the wire hair is not just aesthetically pleasing, it is very functional for the Dachshunds, too. With such a strong hunting background of the Dachshund, you can still expect hunting instincts in the modern-day Dachshunds.

Trainability

Dachshunds are smart, yet this does not guarantee that your Doxie will do the tricks that you want it to. Some training methods that work well for Dachshunds than other breeds. Moreover, these training practices usually utilize the natural hunting instinct and prey drive of the Dachshund. Besides, Dachshunds aren’t hard to train once you determine what interests them.

If your Dachshund refuses to listen for you after all other training methods that you have tried, you may want to consider using a humane training collar to ease your training sessions. There are different ways to train your Dachshund. They are highly trainable, yet you just have to keep them interested in the training to help them accomplish various tasks.

Wire Haired Dachshund Temperament

Dachshunds are popular because of their friendly temperament, curious nature and spunky personality. Moreover, if you are a real animal enthusiast who also likes cats, the weiner dog may be the right breed for you since they are known to be good with cats when socialized properly. The Dachshund is a very intelligent breed that allows it to respond well to various things around them.

This breed is highly alert and curious, yet cautious. Moreover, this might have been due to their strong hunting background that requires the Dachshund to be curious and spunky at the same time. They are often very active and up for various tasks. You might not experience a boring moment with your pet.

Nutrition

Proper nutrition is the key to maintaining your Dachshunds’ health. Moreover, if you want your dog to love long, you might want to choose a dog food brand that is beneficial for your dog. Organic and grain-free dog food is often better than their artificial counterparts. However, you might want to avoid these 10 worst dog foods that may not be beneficial for the health of your dog.

You may give pet vitamins to support the health of your dog. Besides, it may help your dog age well. Moreover, vitamin and mineral supplements may be necessary for older dogs since they can experience bone mineral loss due to aging. Besides, strong bones may help prevent back and joint problems later in the life of your Doxie. Sometimes, commercially available food does not provide enough nutrients, so choose a good dog food brand and you may also supplement the nutrient needs of your dog.

Health and Care

Providing proper care is the key to maintaining the health of any dog. However, some dogs that require specific care due to their physique and the Dachshund is one of them. The elongated bodies and short legs of the Dachshunds may be advantageous for hunting badgers, but it makes this breed prone to health issues, too. Providing proper care and the right gear for your Doxie may help prevent the onset of certain health issues.

Lifespan

The lifespan of your dog may be influenced by a lot of factors in your dog’s life. However, as a responsible dog owner, it is up to you to provide the needs of your dog to prolong its life. Besides, it is also up to you to bring the dog to the vet for vaccinations or when you notice something different about your dog.

You can expect your Dachshund to live for about sixteen years or longer if they are in good health. There are some Dachshunds recorded to live longer than 16 years. Besides, if your dog is fully vaccinated and free from genetic problems, it may reach its golden years in good health.

Common diseases

As a purebred dog, the Dachshund is also susceptible to some health problems due to selective breeding for some traits. Moreover, genetic health problems may be prevented with responsible breeding practices, a healthy diet, and proper care. Try to avoid puppy mills when getting a dog because if they aren’t bred responsibly, various genetic problems may be inherited. When choosing a Dachshund, these are some of the health problems that you must be aware of and get checked to make sure that you are getting a healthy dog:

Back problems and disc damage
Obesity
Hip or elbow dysplasia
Eye issues (congenital or acquired)
Heart problems

Notable care information

The long back and short legs of the Doxie makes it prone to injuries if they fall or hurt their back. With this being said, you have to prevent injury from your Dachshund by preventing falls or back injuries. Moreover, you have to choose the right harness for your Dachshunds during walks since a collar and leash may injure your Dachshund during walks, especially if your Doxie likes to pull.

Grooming

All types of Dachshunds shed. There is no exception to that. However, some types of Dachshund may be tolerated well by allergy sufferers. This is probably because some varieties of Dachshunds shed less than others. The Wire Haired Dachshund sheds a lot and it is the coat type of this breed that requires the most grooming. The fur around the face has to be plucked or trimmed regularly to maintain its appeal. Moreover, debris can easily get caught in the wire fur, so regular trips to the groomer may be necessary to maintain the coat of this breed.

This breed has a double coat wherein one layer of the fur is soft and short, while the top layer is the one that is wire-like. Regular brushing can prevent matted fur on your dog and remove debris. Besides, this coat type sheds moderately and shed fur may also form mats if left unattended. When bathing your dog, use a detangling shampoo and conditioner to maintain the appearance of your dog’s fur since debris can easily get stuck in between the layers of the fur.

Wire Haired Dachshund Puppies

Dachshunds can have 1-6 puppies per litter from a healthy female breeder. So, if you decide to breed your Dachshund you have to be ready to care for about 1-6 puppies. All types of Dachshunds can give birth to such litter. However, your Dachshund may also surpass this litter size and can give birth to more than 7 puppies at a time, if the breeding dam is in good health. Dachshund puppies stop growing at about 6-9 months old.

Price

In the USA price of the wire coat Dachshund starts at $400 upwards to $4,300. Besides, this variety is less common than the others. Moreover, show dogs and champion bloodlines can be a lot more expensive. This price only includes the Dachshund and the initial vaccines before its release to you, as its new owner. Furthermore, you will also have to spend on your dog’s food, toys, cage, and veterinary needs.

Mix Breeds

The Dachshund is a very popular breed that people bred them to other breeds. Some of the popular designer dogs that we have today are Dachshund mixes. Moreover, these designer dogs are Dachshund crosses is usually to preserve the traits of 2 different breeds in 1 dog. Also, some designer dogs are sometimes cheaper than their purebred counterparts. These are some of popular Dachshund cross breeds that you can find:

Breed Organizations

Breed organizations recognize the Dachshund of all coat types. Moreover, some breed organizations are also dedicated to a specific variety of this breed. The Doxie is highly popular so there are various dog events that Dachshunds can join. These breed organizations make dog events possible, so you can exhibit your dog’s elegance or skills. Here are some of the kennel clubs that you can join in the US and UK that recognizes the Doxie and its variants:

USA

You might like this breed’s variety due to its unique appearance or different texture of fur when touched. This coat type may look different, yet it also has the favorable traits of this breed that you love. The Wire Haired Dachshund is a less common variety of this breed that may also be slightly more expensive than other varieties.