7 Things You Didn’t Know about the Wire Haired Dachshund

Cute as a button, Dachshunds were originally bred as badger dogs, but they eventually began to merge into homes as just pets, and also became popular as show dogs.

They are used as work dogs because of their ability to use their sniffers for different types of work. They have a great sense of smell, due to the elongation of their nose and nasal passages.

Many people love the look of the Dachshund, with their short, squatty legs and long body. The original breed has short, smooth fur, however, over time, breeders began to breed the Dachshund with different types of Terriers to give the Dachshund longer fur that was more wiry and compatible for outdoor work that put them in areas where briers and thick brush and other outdoor barriers would not affect them.

These were considered the “rugged workman,” because these dogs could handle the harsh conditions without having problems with things getting stuck in their fur. There is more to learn about the wirehaired Dachshund that you may not know. Here are seven things you didn’t know about the wirehaired Dachshund.

1. Extroverts

There is a distinct difference in the personalities of the Dachshund and the wirehaired breed. Wirehaired’s are known to be more of an extroverted personality. They love to clown around and put on an act for their owner, but they can be a bit more headstrong than the original breed.

This may mean that your dog will require a more firm form of training, but they won’t need more than a firm voice for correcting. They will listen and are trainable, so long as you are consistent and patient.

2. Typically bond to one person

Wirehaired Dachshunds tend to bond to one member of the family, the one who they spend the most time with. They are friendly, for the most part, to all family members, but the one who is the main caregiver, socializer with the dog, will be the one he clings to.

They want to be involved in what the family, especially primary caregiver, does and be a part of the action. They are also friendly with children and can make great pets for families with kids, granted, they are socialized early on from puppyhood, to be around kids.

Of course it is never a good idea to leave a child alone with any breed of dog, and this includes the wirehaired Dachshund.

3. Can be destructive

Wire haired Dachshunds are not good loner dogs, ones who spend a great deal of time alone and having to wait for long periods of time for attention. If left alone too long and in a home where they have free roam of things, they begin to get mischievous out of boredom and frustration.

They can chew up your personal belongings and take their frustration out on your personal items. Its usually to put your puppy in a little crate while you are away, if for a few hours or more, but it is important to make sure he is well exercised before he is put into his crate.

4. They’re noisy

This is a noisy breed of dog. They love to bark at a lot of different things they see, bark out of warning, talk to you, whatever sparks their barker, they will let it out. It is important to work with your wirehaired Dachshund from an early age to prevent him from becoming a persistent barker, or it can easily get out of hand and cause issues with neighbors or even keep the household in disruption.

5. Grooming

The grooming is fairly simple for the wirehaired. That being said, due to their longer coat, depending on the type of fur they have, it may need to be stripped occasionally. A pin-wire, wire-haired may not need his coat stripped, but just tidied up here and there.

An average wire-haired usually just needs a stripping about 2-3 times a year, while the fluffy-fur version, will need to be stripped multiple times a year. Other than that, a once a week brushing is all it will require, along with teeth brushing and nail trimming.

6. Health

The wirehaired is prone to the same back issues that the average Dachshund is prone to. This is because of the shape of their back and spine. Precautions need to be taken to make sure they do not jump from too high of places or are mishandled.

Keep an eye on their back and be gentle with them when handling them. Even a simple jump from the couch can injure their back. They are also prone to itchy skin or grass allergies. If you notice a lot of itching and scratching, it’s best to seek the medical advice of a veterinarian to help relieve the irritated skin.

Generally, this breed is healthier than the full breed of Dachshund due to the breed stemming from two separate breeds and is not a full breed. Of course, a lot has to do with the health of both sides of its lineage as to what can be passed on to the offspring.

7. Escape artists

If yo have a fenced in yard and plan to let your puppy or adult dog run free in the yard, be sure to dog-proof the yard and make sure any area of the yard is free of escape routes. This breed is known for being escape artists and with their natural instinct to hunt, they will hunt for a place to escape and run off. They should also not be let off their lead on walks for the same reason. They can be headstrong and run off without concerns about coming back when being called. They can easily get on a scent and run with it.

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