The question I get asked most often by prospective Dachshund owners is, “Do you think a Dachshund is the right breed for me?”
Dachshunds have been my life for the last 20+ years. To say I am obsessed with them is an understatement.
I likely will never own another dog breed in my life. Or at least not while also owning a Dachshund.
But I think it’s very important to be honest; I always tell people that a Dachshund isn’t the right breed for everyone.
They have unique quirks; they can be challenging; and they can require more dedication than some “easier” breeds.
Of course, I think Dachshunds have a lot of amazing qualities too.
But many Dachshunds end up in shelters every year because people didn’t understand the breed’s personality and know what they were getting into before getting one.
Below are the reasons that I think the Dachshund breed isn’t the right choice for every person.
Please note, I am not saying that these things are an issue for everyone, nor an issue with all Dachshunds, but these are the most common reasons that someone may regret getting one.
1) Dachshunds Bark a Lot
Boy, does this breed bark! It’s in their genes (seriously – they were bred to alert their hunters of prey and danger).
In general, many people would describe a Dachshund’s barking habit as “excessive”.
While some Dachshunds can be taught to limit the duration of their barking, and some can be desensitized to bark less often at little noises, barking will absolutely never be eliminated and a Dachshund will often seemingly bark at “nothing”… all of the time.
Dachshunds have a “big dog” bark too.
While some small dogs sound “yappy”, the Dachshund’s deep chest more often than not bellows out what might be interpreted as a Rottweiler behind the door (I had several pizza delivery people say this).
No matter how many times I warn people who ask to pet my Dachshunds, they are almost always startled to the point of tripping over themselves because they don’t expect such a loud bark to come out of a little dog.
If you like a dog that is seen more than heard, a Dachshund probably isn’t the best choice for you.
If you have a newborn baby that wakes up and cries every time they hear a loud noise, or a noise phobia yourself, I would probably continue your breed search.
2) Dachshunds Are Stubborn
This is a Dachshund personality trait listed by the American Kennel Club (AKC). However, stubborn is not an appropriate descriptor in my opinion.
You see, Dachshunds were bred to hunt mean vermin down in holes and think on their own. That means that they may have different ideas than you do and they may try to get their way.
Contrary to popular belief, a Dachshund can be trained. Most are actually super smart and eager to please (or at least get the treat).
It’s just that you may have to put more time, dedication, and be more consistent when training them so your dog doesn’t develop these common behavior issues. And you must use very clear communication (nothing harsh, just in a way they understand).
If you aren’t willing to put in extra effort, or don’t think that you have the time, a Dachshund may not be the right breed for you.
3) They Can Be Hard to Potty Train
According to people on the internet, it’s almost impossible to potty train a Dachshund. People report their Dachshunds still having accidents in the house at 3 years old or never being 100% potty trained.
I don’t agree with this though. Following my “foolproof” dog potty training method, both of my Dachshund puppies have been 100% potty trained within 3 months of coming home.
I’ve also used these techniques as a refresher for older dogs with great success.
However, I do think that Dachshunds generally require more consistency and attention to potty train than some other breeds.
If you aren’t able to take 2-4 weeks off after your Dachshund comes home to kickstart their potty training, you are not willing to never leave them unattended until they are fully potty trained, and you can’t clean up many messes in the meantime without getting mad, then a Dachshund may not be for you.
4) They’re Prone to Separation Anxiety
Dachshunds are very social dogs and get very attached to their people. Some might even describe them as needy.
This hyper attachment is something that needs to be actively counter-conditioned when they are young by desensitizing them to being apart from you, first while you are in the house and then later when you leave.
If you don’t, your dog may scream and “yell” when you leave them alone, disrupting neighbors and potentially getting you kicked out of your apartment.
Separation anxiety can also manifest as destruction of furniture, floors, walls, and going potty on the floor even if they just went outside.
In extreme cases, once separation anxiety is established, it may never completely go away.
You may feel like you can never leave your dog or you may have to spend a lot of money on dog daycare or dog walkers to help comfort them when you are away.
If you aren’t able to put in the time to incrementally desensitize your dog to being away from people for longer and longer periods, or you don’t have the money for or access to dog walkers and daycares, a Dachshund may not be for you.
I will note that a component of separation anxiety is suspected to be genetic – some dogs are just prone to it and others aren’t – so your dog may actually be independent and not mind if you leave from day one.
5) Dachshunds Need a Lot of Attention
As I said earlier, Dachshunds are very social dogs and get attached to their people.
This most often means that they will be your shadow, following you to the bathroom, waiting outside the shower for you, touching you when you are sitting on the couch, and just generally being under foot a lot of the time.
An unhappy Dachshund forced to be away from you will often find ways to busy themselves, which is typically by doing things that make you angry and/or aren’t safe for them.
If clingy pets aren’t your thing, you work long hours, or can’t devote a significant portion of your non-working hours to your Dachshund, then the breed might not be right for you.
6) They Need Moderate Exercise and Plenty of Mental Stimulation
Many people mistakenly choose a Dachshund because they think a small dog doesn’t need much exercise. Oppsie!
Dachshunds were bred as hunting dogs, running through the forest to chase critters, so they have plenty of energy and stamina.
While they can adjust to a more sedentary lifestyle, they need plenty of exercise to keep them happy, healthy, and at a proper weight.
My minimum recommendation is 45-60 minutes of brisk exercise 4-5 days a week.
It’s important to also provide plenty of mental stimulation through training and canine enrichment activities so that these smart dogs don’t become bored and develop behavioral issues.
If you aren’t able or willing to make sure your Dachshund’s physical and mental exercise needs are met, then you may want to choose a dog breed with lower exercise needs.
7) Dachshunds are Scrappy and Prone to Reactivity
Dachshunds like to act tough, are often described as “big dogs in a small body”, and have a tendency to be wary of strange dogs, people, and situations.
All of these things can lead to what is called reactivity – barking, lunging, snapping, or acting out when you are on a walk or company comes into your house.
There are always exceptions to the rule – some Dachshunds are naturally chill and adapt easily to a changing environment – but this is a common trait you need to be aware of.
If you are getting a dog expecting that they will be calm and friendly towards everyone in every situation, a Dachshund probably isn’t the breed for you, at least not if you aren’t willing to put hundreds of hours, and potentially dollars, into training.
8) Dachshunds Have a High Prey Drive
Generally, a Dachshund will chase anything that moves – farm animals, wildlife, cats, kids, leaves blowing in the wind, etc. because of their high instinctual prey drive.
In my experience, puppies raised with things they aren’t supposed to chase like cats and kids have the best chance of not growing up to chase them. At least not the ones that live in their own house.
However, I wouldn’t bet on a Dachshund not wanting to chase anything they perceive as “prey”, so if you would be frustrated by this behavior, or it would pose a risk to other animals and humans in your household, a Dachshund may not be the dog for you.
9) They Are Prone to Back Problems
Approximately 25% of Dachshunds will experience back issues in their life due to a genetic disease called Intervertebral Disk Disease (IVDD).
Of that 25%, many will have minor to moderate issues that can be “healed” through conservative treatment, a portion will become completely paralyzed and require expensive back surgery.
In extreme cases, a Dachshund may be paralyzed or crippled for life.
There is no reliable test for IVDD so, despite all efforts and promises, a breeder can’t make a 100% guarantee that your dog won’t have issues.
While that leaves 75% of Dachshunds that won’t experience a back issue, you won’t know if yours is one of the unlucky ones until it happens to them.
If you don’t want to take the risk and/or aren’t willing or able to set up to $10,000 aside for emergencies (or pay for pet insurance that covers hereditary conditions like Trupanion), this breed might not be for you.
10) They Like to Dig (Holes In Your Yard)
When Dachshunds hunted, they dug into the earth to get to animals like foxes, rabbits, and badgers that lived in tunnels and dens.
This digging instinct hasn’t gone away just because most Dachshunds aren’t used for hunting anymore.
Now, I admit that this trait has been less of an issue with my Dachshunds – they either didn’t start a digging habit in the first place or it was easy to curb – I have heard many, many stories about Dachshunds that ruin their owner’s nice lawn or garden by digging holes everywhere.
My new puppy loves to dig and, if left to his own devices, he could probably dig a 1 foot deep hole in under 5 minutes, so we will see if I can break him of the habit.
Occasionally, it is possible to teach a Dachshund who develops a bad digging habit to dig only in a certain area of the yard, but that takes a lot of persistence and dedication to do.
If you want to keep a pristine lawn or garden, and are not willing to work to train your dog to dig only in a specific spot or not at all, a Dachshund may not be the best choice for you.
11) Dachshunds Like to Lick You
All of my Dachshunds have had trouble holding their licker.
All of them love to lick and “kiss” my face. All over. Like up my nose, in my eyeball, and even in my mouth sometimes if I’m talking to someone while they are licking my face.
Two of my Dachshunds also love to lick the water off of my legs when I get out of the shower and one licks my legs and feet under the covers for a few minutes almost every night in bed.
If the feel of something with a rough tongue licking you creeps you out, be prepared to be very firm from day one to put a stop to the licking right away… and be prepared for a constant battle about this habit.
Or don’t get a Dachshund.
12) Dachshunds Are Easy to Untrain
The majority of people parrot the stereotype that Dachshunds are difficult to train.
I would argue that these little smarties are easy to train, but they are also very easy to untrain.
This is just an observation I made over the last 20 years of owning and dog sitting Dachshunds, but if you let a Dachshund get away with something, they will know that you are a sucker and take advantage of you.
Explained another way, if your Dachshund learns to sit and you only give them a reward for sitting fully, then they are likely to do it every time.
However, if you get lazy a couple times and reward your Dachshund for a half sit, or they stand there staring at you so you give up and give them the treat anyway, you have just successfully untrained your Dachshund.
They will remember this – that they don’t always have to sit when asked to get the reward – and be less likely to do it in the future.
While this can often be corrected if you realize your mistake right away, if you don’t constantly hold your Dachshund accountable to follow through, then they will only do what you ask when they feel like it…. which for a Dachshund, isn’t often.
If you’re not willing to be clear and consistent with training, I wouldn’t get a Dachshund unless you are ok with owning an untrained dog.
13) You May Have to Spend Time Undoing Things You Accidentally Taught Them
Dachshunds are super smart, perceptive, problem solvers.
They will learn patterns, and work to figure out what they think you want, even if you are not aware you were actually teaching them specific habits.
For example, I used to run with my first Dachshund in the city and we stopped at every street corner, said “wait”, and looked before crossing.
Eventually, he put on the brakes each time we would get near an intersection, or when I said “wait”, even if it was in a different context.
Another example is if you look at and talk to your Dachshund every time they bark at you. They will likely learn that they can now “demand” attention any time that they want.
With a Dachshund, you will likely need to be very precise and thoughtful with your habits and actions, and be willing to recognize what you accidentally “taught” your Dachshund, and be willing to accept responsibility and unteach it.
14) Strangers Will Talk to You Very Often
Dachshunds are a cute but funny looking dog and many people are endeared to them.
When you are out walking, many strangers will make eye contact and make a comment about your dog, or they will come directly up to you to ask a question or share a story about their personal experience with Dachshunds.
This is very predictable and even gets a bit tiring even for extroverts.
If you’re an introvert or weirded out by random strangers approaching you, then a Dachshund might not be for you.
15) Dachshunds Can Be a “One Person Dog”
Dachshunds typically attach themselves to one primary person.
In a best-case scenario, they will be affectionate to another person in the household if their chosen person is not present.
At worst, they will be unconsolable when the chosen person is not present and/or they will become possessive of this person and “guard” them against other people in the house of visitors.
The biggest issue is that your Dachshund will choose their favorite person and it may not be the person that you want it to be.
I’ve heard stories where the wife gets a Dachshund as a companion, but the dog decides that the husband is the favorite person and wants to spend most of their time with him.
Or a parent gets a Dachshund for their kid, and the dog ends up becoming hyper-attached to the Mom instead.
While the “favorite” choice can be somewhat influenced by who does most of the caretaking like walking, feeding, snuggling, etc., it’s not always this person that the dog chooses.
This is a possibility you should be aware of and ok with if you choose to bring a Dachshund into your home.
16) You’ll Need to Regularly Resist Pleading Eyes
I swear that Dachshunds have developed “pleading eyes” as a survival mechanism. They’ll try to manipulate you with these eyes to get what they want.
This is most true when you have food. Through body language and a pathetic look, they will try to convince you that they are starving and that you should hand over the snackos.
The thing is though, Dachshunds are prone to obesity, which can trigger back problems and lead to a shortened lifespan.
As the human, you need to “know better” and stand firm – stick to the appropriate portion of food at meal time, limit the number of treats, and resist the urge to give them “just a bite” every time you have food.
If you can’t stay strong for your dog’s sake, then maybe a Dachshund isn’t for you.
17) Dachshunds Are a Long-Term Commitment
I inherited my first Dachshund from a friend and didn’t know anything about the breed in the beginning.
One of the first things I learned is that they have an average lifespan of 15-16 years and I thought, “Holy cow! I didn’t sign up for having a dog for that long.”
Of course, I loved him his whole life and was glad he lived to an old age, but larger dogs have shorter lifespans, typically ranging from 8-10 years old.
If you plan to retire and travel the world within the next decade, or you see your life circumstances drastically changing and a dog would no longer be desirable, you may want to choose a breed with a shorter lifespan and required commitment.
18) They Aren’t the Best With Children
If a Dachshund is raised around children from the puppy stage, they are likely to get along with them.
Some Dachshunds, even if not exposed to them often, love children. My first Dachshund did.
However, in general, Dachshunds and kids don’t mix if they are not exposed to them regularly or are introduced for the first time at an older age (the dog).
Children often move erratically and fast, are loud and shriek, and often cross a dog’s boundaries because they don’t know any better. These things can make a Dachshund fearful and cause them to act out.
If you have friends or family members that only come over occasionally with their kids, and you are not willing to constantly monitor your Dachshund during their visit or put your Dachshund in another room, a Dachshund may not be the best choice for you.
19) Dachshunds Can be Possessive
Dachshunds attach themselves to what they love and they are not always willing to share. They are most commonly defensively protect food, toys, people, or certain spots like a dog bed.
This overly-protective behavior can develop into resource guarding and may involve growing, snarling and showing their teeth, and snapping or biting.
When you own a Dachshund, you’ll need to pay close attention to body language and behavior with and around certain items to prevent these guarding issues from developing in the first place.
In some cases, you will even need to remove the resource like, for example, not allowing your dog to play with a toy that they get particularly possessive over.
20) You’ll Have to Change Your House Setup
There are many adjustments you’ll have to make to your house if you get a Dachshund.
Constantly jumping off high places, which Dachshunds love to do, is not advised for spinal health. To prevent this, you may need to get lower furniture or install a ramp to help your Dachshund get off and on.
In my case, to make sure that mine only used the ramp, I opted to put a “fence” around my couch using freestanding dog gates. It ain’t pretty, but it works.
Also, Dachshunds shed. Some shed a lot. My mini smooth haired do what I call “ejection shedding”. Hair is everywhere.
Depending on the color of your dog and how much visible dog hair bothers you, you may need to get different colored furniture so it blends in.
Are Dachshunds Good for a Beginner Dog Owner?
The most common sentiment is that, no, Dachshunds are not a good first dog. After owning several, I can see why.
I certainly wouldn’t describe the Dachshund as an “easy” dog breed. They’re not a “set it and go” dog.
Most first time dog owners know nothing about owning a dog, let alone addressing problems early on with training before they become habituated behavioral issues.
To raise a well-behaved Dachshund, people would ideally have some animal handling experience, the ability to stay firm and do what you know is best for your dog instead of giving in to their demands or pleading, and the foresight to outsmart your Dachshund.
With that being said, although I had a lot of childhood experience with animals, a Dachshund was my first dog as an adult and things worked out ok. I got lucky because my first one was generally a friendly, laid back, easy-going guy.
I didn’t formally train him. Partly because I didn’t know that I should be and partly because there were no glaring issues that I needed to stop.
Final Thoughts
The bottom line is, if you really want a Dachshund, get one. It will work out.
Unlike when I got my first Dachshund in 2003, the internet makes available a wealth of information and help and you can find almost any answer that you need in seconds.
I do believe it’s very important to be informed though and realistic about what kind of dog you expect, the type of life you envision, how much time and effort you have to dedicate to a dog, and choose a breed that is right for you.
However, everything on this list can be mitigated or addressed through management, training, a change in your mindset to minimize it or make it a non-issue (if it even is in the first place).
In fact, many of these “bad” Dachshund quirks are precisely what some people find most endearing about the breed.
For some more on the positive and funny side of Dachshund ownership, check out my articles Funny Things About Dachshunds Only Owners Will Understand and Hilarious and True Dachshund Memes That Will Totally Make Your Day.
