Our breed: discover the dashing dachshund diversity
Welcome to the Alberta Dachshund Club's guide to understanding the remarkable Dachshund! As a CKC-recognized provincial specialty club, we're dedicated to educating the public about the six distinct purebred varieties of Dachshunds and connecting prospective owners with responsible breeders in Alberta, Canada. Explore their unique personalities, origins, and what makes each one special.
Unpacking the dachshund's unique characteristics
Dachshunds are recognized across three primary coat types and two size variations, leading to six unique combinations. Here’s a closer look at what makes each type special.
Standard smooth dachshund
The original, classic dachshund with a short, sleek, and shiny coat. They were bred for hunting, requiring little grooming. They are confident, curious, and often have a strong, independent, hound-like personality.
Standard wire-haired dachshund
These dachshunds have a thick, wiry, and short topcoat with a softer undercoat, including a distinctive beard and eyebrows. They are often described as having a more mischievous, Terrier-like temperament compared to the other types, making them highly energetic and scrappy.
Miniature long-haired dachshund
They possess the luxurious, long coat and gentle, affectionate personality of the standard long-haired but in a miniature size. They are often very affectionate, making them excellent, pampered lap dogs.
Standard long-haired dachshund
Known for their sleek, slightly wavy, and long coat, particularly on their ears, legs, and tail. While they share the tenacious personality of the smooth-haired, they are generally considered slightly more mellow. They require regular grooming to prevent tangles.
Miniature smooth dachshund
All the characteristics of the Standard Smooth-Haired (sleek coat, high energy) but in a tiny package (typically 11 lbs or under). Their smaller size makes them ideal for apartment living.
Miniature wire-haired dachshund
These small, scrappy dogs combine the wiry, protective coat of the wire-haired with the compact size of a miniature. They are known for their playful, bold, and adventurous nature.
Important considerations before bringing a dachshund home
Dachshunds are wonderful companions, but prospective owners should be aware of specific needs and traits to ensure a happy and healthy life together.
Health hazards (IVDD)
Because of their long spines, they are prone to serious back injuries and diseases. Prevent them from jumping on/off furniture, and use rugs on slippery floors to protect their backs.
Weight control
They gain weight easily, which places extra stress on their backs. Strict diet management is necessary.
Lifespan
They live a long life, typically 12–16 years, requiring a long-term commitment.
Behavioral traits
They love to dig, burrow under blankets, and can be picky eaters.
Intelligent & independent
Originally bred to hunt, they have a strong, independent nature, needing consistent, patient, and reward-based training.
High energy & barking
They are active and require regular walks. They are known for being loud, alert barkers.
Grooming
Grooming depends on the coat type (smooth, wire-haired, or long-haired), but all require regular nail trims and ear cleaning.
Separation anxiety
They are known to be vocal and may not handle being left alone for long periods, potentially developing separation anxiety.
Connecting with the Alberta Dachshund Club
The Alberta Dachshund Club is your trusted resource for everything Dachshunds in Alberta, Canada. We are committed to fostering responsible ownership and maintaining the highest breed standards.
Educating prospective owners
The Alberta Dachshund Club provides extensive resources to help the public understand Dachshunds, covering their unique traits, care requirements, and how to prepare for a new companion.
Supporting breeder development
Our Club acts as a forum for members to continually educate themselves on the latest best practices, health standards, and breed specific knowledge, fostering continuous improvement in Dachshund breeding.
Connecting with responsible breeders
We serve as a trusted point of contact, guiding individuals to CKC-registered breeders in Alberta who are committed to ethical breeding practices and maintaining the health and integrity of the breed.
Community & advocacy
We build a supportive community for Dachshund supporters and advocate for the breed's well-being, organizing events and sharing news relevant to the Dachshund community in Alberta, Canada.
Fun facts & common myths about dachshunds
Dachshunds are full of personality and charm! While they're known for their distinct quirks, there's always something new to learn about these lovable dogs. How many of these surprising facts did you already know?
1. They make other hounds look enormous
Dachshunds are categorized as part of the hound group — sharing hunting origins with breeds ranging from basset hounds to greyhounds. Standard dachshunds average 8 to 9 inches tall, and mini dachshunds are 5 to 6 inches tall, so it's no surprise that doxies are the smallest of the hound group.
3. Their ears are floppy for a reason
Dachshunds’ ears are adorable, sure, but they’re not just there for show. Back in their hunting days, doxies’ low-to-the-ground ears protected dirt, grass, and debris from getting stuck inside their ears. You can thank early dachshund breeders for those soft, long ears you love! (Just remember to take extra care to keep them clean.)
5. Not all doxies have bad backs
Intervertebral disc disease, or IVDD, is unfortunately common in the breed we know and love. That said, it is not inevitable, and while impossible to completely prevent (IVDD is a disease, not an injury), there are things you can do to protect your doxie’s spine. Limiting jumping, keeping them at a healthy weight, and using a harness instead of a collar can all help keep your pup’s spine happy. Ultimately, about 25% of dachshunds will suffer from IVDD.
7. Little legs don’t equal laziness
They may be a small breed, but dachshunds come packed with energy. The average adult dachshund usually needs at least one hour of exercise per day, and some doxies are even known to love super-active pastimes like hiking. And though they love to snuggle, if you’re looking for a calm lap dog, you may want to keep looking…
9. They can’t keep quiet
Ok, we know doxies can be quite noisy, but that doesn’t mean that you can never have a dachshund if you live in an apartment building or require a little more quiet. While dachshunds may be a bit chattier than other breeds, incessant barking usually means that they’re trying to tell you something, and getting to the root of the barking will allow you to return to a lower-volume state.
2. They come in many shapes and sizes
Many people imagine a black and tan doxie when they think of the breed, but as dachshund lovers know, our beloved pups can vary dramatically in appearance. Dachshunds come in two official sizes (standard and miniature) and three coat types (smooth-, long-, and wire-haired). Beyond the size and coat combinations, the CKC recognizes 15 different color combinations. Ranging from solid chocolate, black, or red to color combinations like black and cream or Isabella and tan, the possibilities are nearly endless. It seems fitting that a breed with a unique personality would have so many distinct appearances, too.
4. Hot dogs got their name from dachshunds
Whether or not you like calling your doxie a wiener dog, it’s not hard to see where the nickname came from. When digging into the origins of the hot dog, though, evidence points to its name coming from the term “dachshund sausages.” Served at baseball games, vendors would call out things like “Get your red-hot dachshund sausages” as they walked through the crowds, which was later shortened to hot dogs. There’s talk of a cartoon that portrayed these origins, but the cartoon has since disappeared.
6. Training is not impossible
While there may be good reason that dachshunds have earned a reputation for being intelligent and independent, with a bit of patience, they can be trained. From potty training to tricks, consistency and follow-through (and maybe some special treats) will go a long way in teaching your dachshund who is the head of the house.
8. Every heard of liberty pups?
Dachshunds frequently made appearances in German propaganda during the first two World Wars, given how popular they were in Germany. The breed’s reputation suffered in the US as a result, and AKC tried renaming dachshunds. Liberty pups and badger dogs were two names that were tested in this attempted “rebrand,” but they didn’t stick.
10. Two is better than one
Dachshund owners have been known to say that the breed is like potato chips — you can’t have just one. The Brits took this literally, apparently, and the first dog successfully cloned in Britain was a dachshund. In 2014, Mini-Winnie was cloned from a skin-sample of a doxie named Winnie, and has lived a healthy life since, even giving birth (naturally) to two pups of her own a few years ago.
Your journey to a delightful dachshund begins here
Whether you're looking for an energetic companion, a cuddly lap dog, or simply curious about the breed, the Alberta Dachshund Club is here to guide you. Discover responsible breeders and valuable resources to welcome your new family member.