Dachshunds have always been a dog close to my heart, especially wire-haired Dachshunds and long-haired. As a boy, I grew up with a long-haired Dachshund, and right now, my family has four wire-haired Dachshunds.
The wire-haired Dachshund, also known as a Teckel, Doxie, or Dackel, is an exceptional little dog, full of personality and intelligence. I will share what I’ve learned about this fascinating breed with you because people shouldn’t dismiss them as toy lapdog.
Wire-Haired Dachshund At A Glance
Personality: Lively, fun-loving, entertaining, can be lazy, intelligent, always alert to what’s going on around him, very nosy, enjoy long naps in the sunlight, enjoys barking, and a friendly dog.
Lifespan: 12 to 16 years
Size and Weight:
- Standard- 15 to 30 pounds and up to 9 inches in height
- Miniature- 8 to 11 pounds and up to 6 inches in height
Wire-Haired Dachshunds Quick Facts
- There are two sizes of Long-haired Dachshunds, the Miniature and the Standard. You will notice a variation in personality between the two.
- Dachshunds were originally hunting dogs, particularly badgers, foxes, and hares; they still retain their prey instincts and barking to alert their owners.
- Breeders developed Dachshunds to be capable of burrowing into the lairs of animals to trap them until hunters arrived on the scene.
- Long-haired Dachshunds are brilliant dogs and are food-driven, making them easy to train. But it’s difficult to control the dog’s appetite.
- Toilet training a Dachshund is notoriously tricky.
- Wire-haired Dachshunds are low shedding dogs but not hypoallergenic.
- They have a large variety of coat colors.
- Dachshunds are renowned barkers.
Dachshund History
The official version of the Dachshund history begins in 15th century Germany; back then, there were two distinct sizes; the Standard Dachshund and Miniature Dachshund both were bred for hunting. Hunters used the Standard to burrow down into the lairs of badgers and other nuisance burrowing mammals; hunters bred the Miniature to hunt smaller animals such as rabbits.
Dachshund (Daks – hund) translates into badger dog in German; however, the Germans typically use the name Teckel. Dachshunds are also affectionately known as sausage or weiner dogs because of their short legs and long body.
If ever hunters bred a dog to perform a specific function, it’s the Dachshund. Starting with breeding from small versions of hounds such as the Schweisshund and the Bibarhund. The Dachshund’s legs became shorter through further selective breeding, enabling the dog to dig down into burrows created by animals like the badger.
Another version of the Dachshund’s origins is from the Dachshund Club of America. They offer the supposition the Dachshund is descended from the Basset Hound. That dog already has short legs and a longer body, albeit in more significant proportions than the Dachshund. Records show the first officially registered Dachshund was in Germany in 1840, with the Dachshund’s standard written a few years later in 1879.
The first Dachshunds arrived in America in 1887 and proved to be a very popular dog breed. But from the First World War until the end of the Second World War, the Dachshund’s popularity tumbled because of dislike of anything associated with Germany. However, through the hard work of the Dachshund Club of America, the dog began to regain his lost popularity until he entered the top ten most popular breeds in the United States; today, he sits just outside the top ten at number twelve.
Wire-Haired Dachshund History
The long-coated and smooth-coated Dachshunds have been with us for centuries, but not so the wire-haired Dachshund; he’s a relatively new addition to the Dachshund family. Dachshund breeders began developing the wire-haired variety back in the 19th century.
The most likely explanation for his wiry-type coat is crossing the smooth-haired Dachshund with terriers and wire-haired pinschers, which might explain the slightly different personality to the smooth and long-coated varieties. Breeders may have experimented with several breeds such as the Schnauzer, Dandie Dinmont Terrier, Scottish Terrier, and the German Wire-Haired Pointer.
Wire-Haired Dachshund Appearance
According to the AKC (American Kennel Club), the Dachshund should be low to the ground, longer in the body than height, with short legs and well-developed musculature.
A wire-haired Dachshund’s outer coat should be short, tight to the body, with a rough texture and a softer undercoat, with fine and short hairs. From a distance, it should be challenging to differentiate the smooth variety Dachshund with a wire-haired. One distinctive feature of a Wire-haired Dachshund is the beard and bushy eyebrows.
Wire-Haired Dachshund Temperament And Personality
- Lively, fun-loving, entertaining, can be lazy, intelligent, always alert to what’s going on around him, very nosy, enjoy long naps in the sunlight, enjoy barking, a friendly dog, they are dogs that love a routine, and they can be stubborn when the mood takes them.
As we mentioned, the personality of a Wire-haired Dachshund differs slightly from the other two varieties; in part, this is probably due to the crossbreeding involved while attempting to create a wire-haired version of a Dachshund. Dachshunds are notorious for finding sunlight to lay in and take a nap. It’s extraordinary how they manage to find even the tiniest sliver of light to lay in. I have seen my Dachshund move up the staircase step by step as the sun retreats and moves up the stairs.
Wire-haired Dachshunds are also dogs that love a routine; they must have a built-in clock because they know when every daily routine should occur; what’s more, they aren’t impressed when you throw out their routine. They will come and sit in front of you and never take their eyes and disapproving gaze from you until you perform what’s required.
As I say, they love to nap, and they can be pretty lazy at first when you want them to get up and go for a walk. But once you get your Dachshund outside, he’ll be pretty happy to have a stroll around with you. Surprisingly, they love to take longer treks as well, and they enjoy splashing through wet and muddy terrain.
Don’t take their love of naps as a sign they aren’t alert because nothing could be further from the truth; a Dachshund hears everything and will bark at everything. Woe betides any errant squirrel that dares to come into your garden. Some of the more negative sides to the Wire-haired Dachshund’s personality are the digging, beware of your favorite flowerbeds, toilet training, and excessive barking.
Wire-haired Dachshunds can be pretty stubborn at times if they are in that mood. But being so food-driven, it’s not difficult to motivate them into action. They are intelligent, and you can train them quite easily for obedience and plenty of tricks. Being so food-driven has its downside as well; a Dachshund can become obese very quickly after they mature, so you will need to be careful with the treats.
Wire-Haired Dachshund And Family
Wire-haired Dachshunds are family-oriented dogs, more so than the smooth or long-haired type. That’s not to say they won’t get jealous if they think there’s not enough attention coming their way. But generally, they fit in with family situations exceptionally well. Even other animals, like cats, are generally tolerated, although they’re more likely to be just ignored.
I would go so far as say they prefer living with another dog or two. You will often find my sister’s four wire-haired laid asleep on or close to each other. But they have their disagreements from time to time as well. The wire-haired variety is rarely aggressive to strangers; they will make quite a bit of noise when a stranger calls, and they will initially be very wary.
If you’re thinking about owning a puppy, I would suggest early socialization can be a tremendous help in dealing with any anxiety or nervousness. It might also help with separation anxiety because wire-haired Dachshunds don’t appreciate being left for long periods; they can cope a little better if there’s more than one of them in the family.
Wire-Haired Dachshund Training
Except for toilet training, a Dachshund learns very quickly. Start training and socializing from a very young age; the optimum age is from six to sixteen weeks.
As mentioned, Dachshunds are very food-motivated dogs, plus they love to please, and praising a Dachshund goes a long way.
Train them using positive techniques because shouting or getting upset with them will have the reverse effect, and they will become stubborn and uncooperative. Liberal use of treats and praise will get the desired results.
Wire-Haired Dachshund Health
We keep mentioning that Dachshunds are motivated by food, but we cannot point it out enough because this breed will eat and eat and obesity is a huge concern.
Obesity in any dog is not suitable for their health, but it’s even more crucial with Dachshunds because of their body shape. Being overweight can damage joints and create a situation where a Dachshund can injure their already fragile backs.
You would do well to speak to your vet and get an accurate understanding of how much you should feed your Dachshund to keep him at the optimal weight. Dachshunds are prone to IVDD (Intervertebral Disk Disease) or slipped disc disease, which is inherited and affects 25% of Dachshunds.
Final Thoughts
We’ve discussed the typical traits of the Wire-haired Dachshund, but remember, every dog has their distinct personality. But early training and socializing will have a significant influence on your Wire-haired Dachshund’s personality and behavior.
