dachshund?

[mute]

Do dachshunds make good family pets.

[toboldlygo]

The ones I have known have been very big dogs in very little bodies, IYSWIM - a BIG and frequent bark, quite opinionated, lots of character, not necessarily easily trainable in the same houndy way as beagles, bassets etc.

I would worry about having one around very small children who might grab/drag/pick up a dog as they are inevitably more prone to back injury from mishandling.

[StarshitTerrorise]

They can't climb stairs with erections!

[SnoopyKnine]

I don't like dismissing dogs by breed but dachs generally are not great for family pets. Some can be a little nippy, they don't love little children.

See thread here for extreme problems if the dog is not trained correctly link here

[BeeStrainer]

My next dog will be a mini dachs! I love them!

[revolutionconfirmed]

I had a dach from the age of 3. He wasn't the best. I agree with a big dog in a little body and quite nippy. It wouldn't be a choice for us.

[Sausagedog27]

We have got a miniature smooth haired. We don't have a family but she can get a bit big for her boots sometimes. the positives of having her outweigh the negatives- Just make sure you train them properly, and watch their backs (sitting not the same and have to watch the stairs)

they are great! Mine is just curled up asleep, awww!

[BehindLockNumberNine]

My grandparents had dachsies (standard, smoothcoated) and whist they were lovely I can remember them not being great pets. They yapped and barked at everything, the postman, a car going past, the neighbours coming home, the doorbell, a leaf blowing around the garden... everything.
They were quite grumpy with other dogs and always had to be kept on a lead.
They were however lovely with dsis and I whenever we came to visit and we adored them (and because dear grandparents had two dachshunds and two grandaughters, dsis and I had claimed one each as 'ours' I have fond memories of Tessa and Toby!!)

[higgle]

We had a standard longhaired when DS1 was little. He was rescued via Bristol dogs home - he was advertised on the noticeboard there, not actually in the home. Longhaired are the mildest mannered of the lot for some reason and Henry was huge - he looked like a red setter with sawn off legs. He was great with DS1 who used to lean against him and have his bottle ( aged about 10 months ) he never snapped or got bad tempered, would just take himself off to his bed if family life got a bit much. He was quite a strong character and with effortless charm got his own way over most things, including being top dog over our Collie Cross bitch who was much older. Unlike most hounds he had quite reliable recall, and he loved swimming, despite the fact that his shape made him liable to drift out to sea.

The huge problem with dachshunds is the propensity to back trouble and sadly he became paralysed suddenly one day. He underwent emergency surgery at the Bristol University Vet hospital but it was not sucessful and as he continued with severe bladder problems eventualy had to be PTS. If it was not for the worry about having back problems again I'd love to have another.

[Grannylipstick]

We had a long haired miniature. Truly was a lovely dog. Lost him when he was 17. He did have lots of problems near the end. Couldn't walk very well, nearly blind, lost his hair so he became a smooth haired !! A lovely natured dog.