If you are considering purchasing a Dachshund as a pet, you will benefit from reading basic Dachshund information so you will know what you expect when you take your puppy home. This is a short-legged hound dog that originally came from Germany. The translation of the name means 'badger hound'.  This is because it was bred to scent and hunt badgers. The long narrow build of the dog has led to it being nicknamed a wiener or sausage dog and in German speaking countries it is called the Dackel or Teckel.

There are three sizes of Dachshunds ?standard, miniature and kaninchen.  A fully grown standard Dachshund will weigh between 16 and 28 pounds, a miniature dog will weigh about eleven pounds , but the kaninchen variety is the smallest weighing between 8 and 10 pounds. They also come in three coat varieties ?smooth, long-haired and wire-haired. Of these the wire-haired Dachshunds are the least common. The coats can be almost any color, in either a solid color or two colors.

These are playful and active dogs, well suited for families with children. They love to chase objects and birds and can be challenging to train. They love to dig holes when outside, so if you have a garden in which you keep the dog or let it play, be prepared to find lots of holes.  They become really attached to their owners and with their loud bark, they make great watchdogs. They are good dogs with visitors because they will not jump on them. In fact they will appear to be afraid when strangers come to call, which could result in a period of barking. They do not like to be left alone and will whine when they do not have company.

Some of the health problems associated with this dog breed include spinal problems. It is important to take care when feeding the dog because if you allow it to become overweight, this will make the spinal problems worse. They should not be encouraged to jump or to climb stairs because of the stress this puts on the spine. Another common health problem in Dachshunds is displacement of the kneecap, called luxating patella.  You will see if your dog does have this condition quite early as it manifests itself before the dog is six months old.

Training a Dachshund requires time, patience and practice. This breed is known for its independent streak. You should keep the training sessions short ?only about 5 minutes at a time in 2 or 3 repetitions a day. Giving the dog treats is an excellent training method to use because it keeps the dog interested in what is happening. Although it is easier to train a puppy, you can also achieve positive results with an adult Dachshund. They love praise and when you heap praises on your dog, you will have a loyal devoted companion. From the age of 4 months on, the dog will try to assert itself as the leader of the pack. It is during this time that you have to be assertive in letting the dog know who is boss of the household. If you do not, you will have problems with the puppy that will extend into adulthood. Training an adult Dachshund requires different methods, such as incentives and dog training equipment.