The Wire Haired Dachshund is the 13th most popular dog in the United States and it isn’t difficult to see why! These friendly and intelligent dogs are loved by many for their unique appearance and their ability to adapt to any lifestyle. While these dogs were originally bred to hunt badgers, they are now a loyal and brave companion to many.
If you’ve got the time to exercise these little dogs and take care of them, they really can become your new best friend. Take a look below to find out everything you need to about the Wire Haired Dachshund and whether you think they might be the pup for you.
History Of The Wire Haired Dachshund
The Dachshund has a unique look with an elongated back and little legs, which has led to them being given the name “wiener dogs” or “sausage dogs”. Extremely popular in the US, Wire Haired Dachshunds are part of the hound classification of dogs and are used for hunting. However, they are also excellent family members and companion dogs.
The Dachshund has been registered with the American Kennel Club (AKC) since 1885. There is also a Dachshund Club of America in which the Wire Haired is recognized.
Breed Origin
The Dachshund breed first appeared in Germany in the 15th century, but Dachshund type dogs have appeared in ancient Egyptian and Mexican art. The German breed standard was set in 1879 and these dogs became a national symbol of Germany.
The word Dachshund translates into “badger dog”, given to this breed thanks to their ability to dig into badger holes to run them out. They have also been used for hunting wild boar in the past, too.
Dachshunds arrived in Great Britain and the United States in the 19th century. The Wire Haired Dachshund first appeared in the late 19th century, following the smooth and long-haired versions.
Characteristics Of The Wire Haired Dachshund
The Dachshund is an extremely popular dog and therefore they can be expensive to buy. The Wire Haired Dachshund is one of the least common variations of the Dachshund and so they might be more difficult to find.
These small dogs are normally born in litter sizes of between 1 to 6 puppies, although larger litter sizes can result in more still births. You can expect to pay between $500 and $3,500 for a Wire Haired Dachshund puppy, although it will depend on the breeder. You should always make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder.
Appearance
The Dachshund is most known for it’s appearance — the elongated backs, short legs and low muscular frame. They also have low-hanging ears and long, slender faces.
There are two different official size varieties of the Dachshund. The first is the miniature Dachshund which must be under 11 lbs in weight. The second is the standard size Dachshund which weighs between 16 and 32 lbs.
There is also a third size variation, although it is not an official classification. This size is called a Tweeny and is between 11 and 16 lbs.
Coat
One of the biggest differences between the Wire Haired Dachshund and other Dachshunds is their coat! The Wire Haired Dachshund has a thick double coat; they have a soft undercoat and a thick coarse overcoat that gives them the wiry appearance.
These dogs also look like they have a beard and bushy eyebrows. These dogs are low shedders which means they can be the pet for those with allergies. They only need to be stripped very infrequently, but we will go into more detail about grooming later on.
Color
Just like standard Dachshunds, the Wire Haired Dachshund can come in a range of colors. The most common coat color is black with tan accents, but these dogs can also be brown, gray, red, piebald and dapple Dachshund.
Temperament
The Wire Haired Dachshund is an incredibly intelligent breed who likes to keep busy and active. They have a lot of love to give and will bond very quickly to their owners — especially one or two members of the household — and will want to be by their side. These dogs are playful and will certainly make you laugh with their goofiness, but you will need to be careful as they can often injure themselves while playing.
Wire Haired Dachshunds are brave animals, but their stubbornness can sometimes make them a little bit of a handful! They can have a very high prey drive so they will need to be supervised until you can trust they will not run away.You will certainly need to persevere with training until they understand what is right and what is wrong.
Due to the fact they are a hound, they have a very loud bark and will howl. While some owners see this an endearing, you will need to make sure you get this under control. They will often bark at strangers, but, while this does make them a good watchdog and guard dog, this can be trained out of them if done at a young age.
Lifespan
The Wire Haired Dachshund has a relatively long life expectancy and can live for between 12 and 16 years.
Known Health Issues
Unfortunately, as with any dog, the Wire Haired Dachshund is prone to some health problems. many of these problems are health concerns other Dachshunds face too.
- Intervertebral Disc Disease — this is often caused by the Dachshunds elongated back. It is when the jelly-like layer of the intervertebral discs protrudes into the spinal canal and pushes against the spinal cord. This can cause pain, paralysis or lack of bladder control. It can be treated with surgery but can be prevented by proper support of the back and rear of your Dachshund when you are holding or carrying them.
- Epilepsy — this seizure disorder can be treated with medication.
- Gastric Torsion (Bloat) — this is potentially fatal and is due to their deep chests. It is when their stomachs to twist when too much excess air gets inside the body. You need to know the symptoms of it. Feeding your dog smaller more frequent meals instead of one big meal can help to reduce the risk.
The Wire Haired Dachshund can also be prone to diabetes, eye problems and deafness. Regular vet checkups and keeping an eye on your dog will ensure you can catch any of these issues before they become untreatable.
Remember — buy from a reputable breeder and the chances your dog will suffer any health conditions will be greatly reduced.
Daily Life
Now we know all about the traits and characteristics of the Wire Haired Dachshund, it is time to take a look at what looking after one of these dogs on a day to day basis is really like. While they do not have massively high care needs, these pups can still be a handle! Read on below to find out about their food and diet, their exercise requirements and their grooming needs.
Food And Diet
The Dachshund loves food but is unfortunately very prone to becoming overweight. This can be extremely dangerous for them, as the extra weight can pull on their elongated backs and cause Intervertebral Disc Disease.
It is recommended you feed your Dachshund roughly 450 calories of food a day, which is around one cup of kibble. Of course, you should always check the back of the food packet to see how much of a certain food you should be feeding your Dachshund based on their weight.
Try to feed them a kibble that is formulated for their size and all their nutritional needs. You can also looks for a food that helps with weight management, like the one we have recommended below.
Best Dog Food For The Wire Haired Dachshund
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We recommend the Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight dry dog food for the Wire Haired Dachshund. This food is specially formulated for small and mini breeds and the kibble pieces are small in size, making them perfect for your dog’s little mouth.
This food is also made with real chicken as the number on ingredient and ensures your Wire Haired Dachshund will be getting all the nutrients they need. Even better, because the Dachshund can be known to gain weight, this food helps with weight management and ensures they maintain lean muscles throughout the course of their life.
Exercise
Although they are a small breed, the Wire Haired Dachshund has pretty high exercise needs. Exercising is very important for these dogs, especially when it comes to keeping them at a healthy weight. Keeping them active will also help to strengthen the muscles in their back and shoulders
You should expect to exercise your Dachshund for between 30 and 60 minutes a day. This can be split into two walks a day, but they can also accompany you while you’re out exercising. Don’t forget that the Dachshund is an intelligent breed who loves to play, so you can also keep them active both physically and mentally with toys and puzzles.
Family Compatibility
The Wire Haired Dachshund can make an excellent family pet if introduced to them at a young age. These wiener dogs bond to their owners very quickly yet can be aloof with strangers so proper socialization is always needed.
Thanks to their playful and goofy nature, the Dachshund dog will get on very well with children. Of course, very young children should be supervised while playing with these dogs as they can get hurt, but this should not be an issue. This breed also gets on very well with other animals and pets in the home if they are exposed to them from a young age.
Thanks to their small size, the Dachshund can do very well in small apartments and is therefore a great dog for those with limited space. However, as we mentioned above, they are known to bark and howl and so you must make sure you take the time to get this under control otherwise you may have some angry neighbors!
While the Wire Haired Dachshund is cute and friendly to those they know, they certainly can be a handle. You will need adequate time to train and socialize these dogs when you first get them and they require a fair amount of exercise every day. Therefore, they will do best in a family where there will always be someone around to spend time with them.
Training
The Dachshund is a very intelligent breed but, as we’ve mentioned above, they can be very stubborn. This means training can be a challenge and it will require a lot of patience and perseverance from you.
Like all dogs, the Wire Haired Dachshund responds best to reward based training and positive reinforcement training. This includes verbal praise as well as treats. You should never get angry or annoyed with your Dachshund because this will make them not want to learn.
Thanks to their strong prey drive, it may be easier to train them inside where there are no distractions!
Socializing
While the Dachshund loves their people, they don’t always do well with strangers. In fact, they can be very aloof with strangers and will often bark and howl. This is why they make such good guard dogs!
For this reason, socialization should take place from a young age so your Wire Haired Dachshund learns how to behave around others that they have not met before. It will also help to train the barking and howling out of them.
Introduce your Wire Haired Dachshund to different sights, sounds, places, smells, people and animals in a safe and controlled way to ensure they learn there is nothing to be afraid of. This will help them to develop into well-rounded and good mannered pups!
Grooming
Fortunately, the Wire Haired Dachshund doesn’t require too much grooming because they don’t shed very much. Instead, they need to have their coat stripped about three times a year to remove the dead fur from their undercoat. This allows the regrowth of fur to be able to grow healthily. That being said, you should still brush your Dachshund once a week to avoid knotting in their fur.
The Dachshund doesn’t need to be bathed often as these pups have very little body odor. You should keep on top of their nail trimming though to stop them from scratching your furniture. A groomer can help with this. You should also brush their teeth regularly to prevent dental decay and disease. This can be done with dental sticks if it is easier.
Wire Haired Dachshund FAQ’s
What is the difference between a Wire Haired Dachshund and other Dachshund variations?
While all Dachshunds are similar in their appearance with their elongated bodies and short legs, one of the main differences between the Wire Haired Dachshund and other Dachshund variations is their coat! The Wire Haired Dachshund has a thick double coat that does not shed very much. Their thick coarse overcoat is what gives them their wiry appearance.
It has also been said that the personalities of the Wire Haired Dachshund can be different to a standard Dachshund. Of course, all dogs are different, but the Wire Haired Dachshund is known for being a little more headstrong and therefore may require more training. They are also known to clown around and have more of an extroverted personality.
How much does a Wire Haired Dachshund cost?
A Wire Haired Dachshund is one of the rarest variations of Dachshunds and therefore can be expensive. Depending on the breeder, you can expect to pay between $500 and $3,500 for a Wire Haired Dachshund puppy. You should always make sure you are buying from a reputable breeder who can give you health clearances for both parent pups.
If buying is out of your price range range or you would prefer to adopt, you can always check your local shelter. There are also a number of well-known organizations and shelters that take in these dogs. You can go to the Dachshund Club of America to get more information on this.
Summary
An extremely popular dog, the Dachshund is known for their elongated backs and little legs! While the Wire Haired Dachshund is a rarer variation of the breed, this loving, affectionate and playful dog can fit into family life very well and adapts very well to apartment or country living. The Dachshund gets on with both children and other animals and their goofy and fun-loving nature will certainly keep you on your toes.
While they do have high training and socialization needs to fix issues such as barking and wariness of strangers, the Wire Haired Dachshund will be happy as long as they’re in a home where they can be around their people and get lots of exercise. If you’ve got the time, why not think about adding a Wire Haired Dachshund to your family?
