If you have ever laid eyes on a long haired dachshund you know they are absolutely adorable. If you’re thinking of adding one to your family, you are in the right place. Here is everything you need to know about long haired dachshunds!
What Is A Long Haired Dachshund?
We all know dachshunds by their other moniker; the weiner dog. They get that name because they, obviously, are shaped like a hot dog. The name “Dachshund”, is almost as simple.
Read along to find out why.
Dachshunds have been around since at least 1719. They were bred in Germany to be hunting dogs. They were initially know as “”Dachs Kriecher” (“badger crawler”) or “Dachs Krieger” (“badger warrior”)” finally settling on “Dachshund” which means badger dog.
If you haven’t guessed already, they were used to hunt badgers and other small, burrowing animals. As the breed got smaller, miniature Dachshunds were still used for hunting but for smaller game like rabbits and mice.
What Do They Look Like?
Their most recognizable feature is their elongated body and short stubby legs. This is how they became known as the “weiner dog”. Oddly enough, however, the AKC, while having height and weight standards, have not set a standard for length.
Size
The AKC has set height and weight standards for both standard size dachshunds and miniature dachshunds. You can have a Long haired Dachshund in either size.
| Height | Weight | |
| Standard | 8″ to 9″ at the shoulders | 16 lbs to 32 lbs |
| Miniature | 5″ to 6″ at the shoulders | under 11 lbs |
Coat
Daschunds come in a variety of colors and coat types. We are going to o focus here mainly on the long haired Dachshund. However, they do come in three cost types. These three types are long, wire and smooth.
Coat types are determined by genes. The long haired gene in daschunds is recessive. This means that in order for a daschund to have long hair they must get one copy of the long haired gene from each parent.
While some breeds of dog only come in a select few standard colors, daschunds come in a huge variety. Add in patterns solids and you can really have quite the range of choices. Of course some colors and patterns are more common than others.
The main colors recognized by AKC for daschunds are:
Solid colors:
- Cream
- Red
Two colors:
- Chocolate and tan
- Black and tan
- Black and cream
- Blue and tan (blue is a dilute version of black)
- Isabelle or fawn and tan (Isabelle is a dilute version of chocolate)
- Wild boar (only in wire coat type)
There are also all white dachshunds, but they are not recognized by AKC as a standard color.
In addition to this variety of colors, dachshunds also come in several patterns. Those recognized in the breed standard by AKC are:
Dapple: white hairs are interspersed in patches over the colors of the coat. This can lead to a silver color on some dogs. They can also be double dapple pattern which has health problems associated. So, it’s best to not breed for or purchase a double dapple dog.
Brindle: a brindle coat is essentially one with darker stripes over a lighter base coat. Generally speaking, the light base coat will be a cream, red, or tan color while the stripes will usually appear as black or tan. There can be exceptions with other colors or with light stripes over a dark coat, but that is not very common.
Sable or Red Sable: sable is coat pattern that is exclusive to long haired dachshunds. The dog will have a black overlay on top of a red base coat. This gives them a black and tan look look.
Piebald: this is similar to dapple in that it is white hairs added into a color. However, in this pattern, instead of the white hairs being interspersed with the color, the white fully covers the color in several spots.
These patterns can go over any of the above mentioned colors leading to a huge variety of looks for dachshunds.
Eyes
Typically, dachshunds will have amber, green, or light brown eyes. AKC standards say that darker versions of these colors are best for the breed standard.
Dachshunds can also have varying degrees of blue eyes, as well. Both Dapple and Double Dapple Dachshunds can have fully blue, partially blue, or patched iris blue eyes.
How To Care For Your Long Haired Dachshund
Caring for your dachshund is the most important thing you can do for them. Obviously, purchasing a dog is a lifelong commitment, especially with small breed dogs that can live well over a decade.
Dachshunds are by no means low maintenance dogs. However, developing a bonding relationship with them can be incredibly rewarding.
Food & Dietary Needs
Generally speaking, you can follow the feeding directions on your bag of dog food. As we mentioned, a standard dachshund will weigh between 16 and 32 lbs whereas a miniature breed will weigh under 11 lbs.
You will want to monitor your dog’s weight and body condition to make sure they are not getting too much or too little food.
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) has an easy to follow body condition score chart you can reference here.
You will definitely want to make sure they are eating a good food made with high quality ingredients. It is also best if they eat a recipe formulated for small breed dogs as they have different nutritional needs than larger breeds.
Exercise
Dachshunds love to run and play. In fact, they will sometimes do this with reckless abandon and get themselves into unsafe conditions, like jumping out of your arms or off of tall furniture.
They will need around 30 minutes a day of exercise. This can be playing fetch or playing with a tug toy. They also enjoy short walks. We specify short because long walks over time can accelerate some of their disk based health problems. So, when taking your dachshund out for a walk, they will need a proper harness to help support their long body.
Training
Dachshunds are notoriously difficult to train. It isn’t because they are not smart enough for it. They are just really stubborn.
If you have the patience for it, they can be trained. They do best with positive reinforcement and praise. Negative reinforcement has little to no effect on them. They usually become scared and do not take the correction.
Health Concerns
Dachshunds have a few health issues that you should know about if you plan to get one.
Intervertebral disk disease
Probably the biggest health issue that all Dachshunds face is spinal health issues. Because their spines are so long they have more pressure and stress than most dogs their size. This can lead to Intervertebral disk disease (IVDD).
Hypoglycemia
Another concern for miniature Dachshunds is hypoglycemia. Miniature Dachshunds, like many small breed dogs, have a lot of energy but not a great ability to store energy.
Basically, they quickly burn through their carb supply, turning that into glucose for their energy. They then burn through their glucose while expending that energy. Doing this too quickly can lead to a drop in their blood sugar level, i.e. hypoglycemia.
You can remedy this by making sure they have a good small breed dog food and are eating frequently; 2 – 4 times a day depending on their age.
Some other health issues dachshunds face may be:
- Obesity
- Allergies
- Dental Issues
- Epilepsy
- Luxating patella
Grooming
One trait common in many dogs is that they produce their own oils to keep their skin and coats healthy. In the natural world, dogs are not bathing themselves every day or once a week even.
When on a proper grooming schedule, Dachshunds do well to only be bathed about once every 3 months. They can be washed more often if need be (like they found an exceptionally tempting mud puddle), but a few times a year is best for their coat and skin.
Buuuuuut, the time that you gain not giving them a weekly bath needs to be used while brushing them. Long haired dachshunds have a short, but thick, undercoat below a longer and thinner top coat.
To keep your long haired dachshund’s coat at it’s absolute healthiest, they will need to be brushed daily. Sine they do have an undercoat, it is really easy for that coat to shed and mat with their top coat. This is very uncomfortable and, if left untreated, can lead to sores and infection.
Puppy Needs
Dachshund puppies require much of the same care as their adult counterparts with a few exceptions. They will need a specially blended, small breed, puppy food.
They also need a bit more exercise than adults since they are going through a rapid growth period. According to Purina, they suggest no more than 5 minutes per age in months, twice a day.
For example, a 6 month old puppy would get 30 minutes of exercise, twice a day. As they get older this time can decrease. A dachshund puppy will reach adulthood at about 1 1/2 to 2 years of age.
Temperament and Personality
Dachshunds love their owners and want nothing more than to cuddle, run, and play. They have a ton of energy and will want to expend that energy with you.
If there is one thing they love more than spending time with you, it is their natural instinct to chase. Remember, they were bred to be hunters that would chase badgers into their own burrows. So, if they see another animal, bird, particularly suspicious looking shadow, they will chase it with unmatched focus.
You can try to use that against them and keep them chasing a ball or some other, more controllable, toy.
As we mentioned in the training section, they can be very stubborn and difficult to train. They do not like to take orders. This can be pretty frustrating at times, but if you have had success in their training, this should be less of a problem.
They are good family dogs with older and/or more well-behaved children. They do not like to be rough housed with and can potentially bite a child they find to be obnoxious.
When socialized at an early age they can cohabitate with other pets and strangers. If they do not know someone, however, they can show aggression. Typically, this is in the form of barking. Have any guests approach with caution and allow your pup to evaluate them on their own terms.
As for barking, their behavior can vary. Some dachshunds are super quiet while others can be very yappy.
Frequently Asked Questions
While researching Long Haired Dachshunds, we found a few questions that kept springing up. Here they are:
Q1. Do They Shed A Lot?
Not really. Long haired dachshunds shed more than smooth coat dachshunds. However, dachshunds in general are a low shedding breed and mostly do so seasonally.
Q2. Are They Good Family Pets?
They can be. They do very well with single adults or couples. Small kids can be a little too rough for them which can result in injury or them biting someone.
If you want one as a family dog, it is best to do so with no kids or older/well behaved kids.
Q3. Are They Hypoallergenic?
Not technically. However, due to their small size and seasonal shedding, they are less likely to bother someone’s allergies than other breeds.
Q4. How Long Do They Live?
When you get a dachshund you are in it for the long run. Dachshunds can live anywhere from 12 up to 16 years of age.
Q5. What Breeds Make A Long Haired Dachshund?
Obviously, a dachshund. To get the long haired variant from a smooth coat dachshund they were bred with long haired spaniels.
Q6. Do They Like To Cuddle?
Yes. Your dachshund will love you and want to lay in your lap as long as you will let them.
Q7. Are They Hard To Potty Train?
Yes. Since they are so stubborn, training them, in general, is not an easy task. However, with time and patience, they can be house trained.
Q8. Are They High Maintenance?
That depends on your definition. They are definitely not low maintenance dogs. They become attached and need a lot of time and attention. Leaving them alone for long periods of time can result in them feeling separation anxiety.
Q9. Can They Be Left Alone?
It is not recommended that they be left for periods longer than 4 hours. They become attached to their owner and can experience separation anxiety.
Q10. How Much Do They Cost?
Price can vary depending on color, size, pedigree, location, etc. We have seen long haired dachshunds anywhere from $200 up to around $1,000.
Final Thoughts
As you may have been able to tell, long haired dachshunds can be a lot of work. But, they are such loyal and loving dogs that it doesn’t feel that way.
If you find yourself a long haired dachshund, or a smooth coat for that matter, you will not regret it one bit!
If you have a longhaired dachshund or are looking for one, tell us about it in the comment section below!
