The ultimate guide to the on-trend sausage dog
You’ve landed on this blog post because you’re curious. Are dachshunds good dogs? Maybe you’re thinking about buying or rescuing a sausage dog.
But before we start, I guess we should tell you how these pint-size pets found their way into our homes and hearts.
Enter Saus
When our son, James, tried to persuade us to get a dachshund, we didn’t put up much of a fight.
We fell head over heels for the breed.
And who wouldn’t?
These little pocket rockets are easy to love.
We were instantly taken in by their stocky little legs, cute faces, and those eyes…true puppy dog eyes you simply cannot resist.
So, we bought home our little bundle of fur, a red female sausage dog called Saus.
But we were a little bit unprepared for what was to come.
As Saus grew, it became clear that she had severe anxiety issues.
She couldn’t cope with being alone, was frightened by loud noises, and was terrified of people she didn’t know.
The answer?
The vet told us that another dog was often the best thing for a dog like Saus.
And so came dachshund number two.
Snoop was a black and tan sausage dog with a short coat. He was feisty. And he had swagger. Snoop wasn’t afraid of anyone or anything.
He was the perfect match for our little anxiety-ridden Saus.
And he immediately became a loved member of our family.
We’ve learned a lot about dachshunds over the years, and we want to share our experience with potential sausage dog owners.
Where do sausage dogs come from?
These little cuties originated in Germany.
They’re a mix of a miniature French Pointer and a Pinscher.
What does Dachshund mean?
The dog we affectionately call the sausage dog is actually called a dachshund.
Dachshund loosely translates to mean badger hunter, with Dach meaning badger and hund meaning dog. And they were made perfectly for the job, with their short, strong legs that allow them to dig out prey and their small size letting them fit down badger burrows.
Are there different kinds of Dachshunds?
There sure is.
There are three recognised varieties:
- The smooth coat
- The wire-haired coat
- The long-haired coat
These variations of the breed appeared at different times. Smooth coated are the original or oldest type of sausage dog.
They also come in two sizes, miniature and standard. The standard was the original size.
So, if you have a smooth-coated, standard dachshund, you are the proud owner of a dog with the longest bloodlines for the breed.
Can sausage dogs be trained?
The short answer is yes.
But it isn’t easy.
You must be consistent and firm to train one of these wilful little dogs. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile.
We never trained Saus and Snoop.
Should we have?
Maybe.
But we were too in love with them to set strict boundaries.
How to toilet train a dachshund
Good luck!
When it came to toilet training our two, we had good intentions, but ultimately, we failed.
It didn’t matter what we did; we failed.
All the books said consistency was the key, but all we consistently did was clean up!
Sausage dogs go where they want to go, and if they go once in a place, they will forever return to that place – inside the house or outside the house, that’s their spot.
We Googled all the ways to stop them.
We madly sprayed white vinegar in the favourite toilet spot, hosed areas down and did anything we could to remove all traces of their scent. But it didn’t make a bit of difference.
Our prized Bison rug had to be cleaned constantly.
It was infuriating.
How to train a sausage dog
Teaching them to come and stay is doable.
They quickly learn their names and will, in most instances, come when you call them. Especially if they know a reward that motivates them is waiting when they get there.
That wasn’t easy with Saus.
She wasn’t really food motivated and didn’t have a favourite toy.
Snoop, on the other hand, acted like we starved him and would do anything for the next treat or meal.
But beware. If your voice is angry when you call them, they know they’re in trouble. And the guilt sends them running in the other direction as quickly as their tiny legs will take them.
Dachshunds are creatures of habit
Ok, we’ve talked about how they like to do their business in one spot.
But their love of a consistent routine doesn’t end there.
They like to sleep in the same place, drink from the same bowl, eat the same food and go for walks at the same time every day.
They don’t like change.
Saus absolutely hated being out of her comfort zone.
With her anxiety running high, she managed to chew through skirting boards, scratch doors and wreck whatever had been left in her path.
When we took her to work one day and left her in the car momentarily, she chewed up a pair of sunglasses, destroyed the driver’s side car seat cover and peed on the seat.
It took her no time to leave an impressive trail of destruction.
Why?
Because she didn’t have access to her bed, and she hated being left alone.
From that day on, we would take everything from home with us whenever we took them somewhere to keep them comfortable.
Sausage dogs are hunters
Sausage dogs are scent hounds.
Their noses and their bellies guide them.
They were bred to hunt and cover a lot of ground, sniffing out badgers, rabbits, and other small animals.
It’s a good idea to lock up your chickens when your sausage dog is around.
When you don’t give these dogs a chance to follow their instincts, they can become depressed. They show this by damaging your property, and some can become problem barkers if they’re bored.
To help fulfil their natural hunting instinct, it helps to let them hunt for food and treats.
Sausage dogs will be your best friend
This is a fiercely loyal breed of dog.
They love to snuggle up with you on the couch, in bed, or in the car.
They do not like being on their own. Even if you own more than one.
We learnt this the hard way, coming home to utter chaos on the two occasions we tried to leave them at home alone.
They love to dig. If you have a perfectly manicured lawn and garden and don’t want any holes dug, this breed may not be for you.
They also love sunbaking and will zero in on the warmest spot to lie down in.
And don’t be fooled by their short stature. They love going for long walks. And it’s a joy to watch their little legs powering away to cover the ground as quickly as they can.
If you can meet their needs, they will be your faithful companion.
Where are Saus and Snoop today
Sadly, Saus passed away when she was 15.
The average life expectancy of a dachshund is 12-16 years, so she had a pretty good innings.
We were devastated but knew it was coming.
When she was 11, we found out she had a heart murmur, and she was never quite the same again.
The vet prescribed heart medication for her, and we gave this to her twice a day.
In typical Saus style, she didn’t make it easy.
We had to have the medication made into a chicken flavour liquid.
When she finally passed, we could rest easy knowing that we had given her a great life and have lots of beautiful memories to remind us of her.
On the other hand, Snoop is still going strong, He’s eight years old, and his health is excellent. His antics never fail to entertain us, and we’re so glad he’s still in our lives and hopefully will be for many years to come.
Pet-friendly accommodation
As you can probably tell, we love and treat our dogs like family members.
And we know a lot of dog owners are the same
That’s why, when we open our accommodation at Sleatbank, it will be pet friendly.
You can enjoy a holiday without worrying about whether your dogs are being properly looked after. And without worrying about whether they are fretting without you.
So, are sausage dogs good dogs?
We are huge fans of this breed.
Are they the easiest dog in the world to own?
No, they’re not.
But if you’re willing to put in some work and want a lifelong friend, who will stick by you, Dachshunds might be a perfect fit.