19 Reasons (Not) to Adopt a Dachshund
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The dachshund, with its elongated silhouette and short legs, wins over plenty of future owners. But behind that adorable look are some serious demands that many people underestimate. Before you fall for this "sausage dog," read the 19 reasons not to adopt a dachshund that might make you reconsider.
Answer 4 questions to find out whether your lifestyle fits this demanding breed.
1. What type of home do you live in?
2. How available are you day to day?
3. What is your monthly budget for a dog?
4. What is your experience with dogs?
📊 Your result:
Analyzing...
⚡ Key takeaways: Dachshunds face a 10 to 12 times higher risk of disc herniation than other breeds, have a stubborn streak that calls for firm training, bark excessively (a real problem in apartments), and can cost over €1,000 a year to maintain (French market). These major constraints explain why this breed is not right for every type of owner.
📑 Table of Contents
Health Problems: A Worrying Fragility
1. Spinal Fragility: The Major Risk
The dachshund's elongated build is its Achilles' heel. Dachshunds are 10 to 12 times more likely to develop a herniated disc than all other breeds combined. This intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) affects roughly 25% of dachshunds during their lifetime and can lead to partial or total paralysis. Surgery for a herniated disc costs between €2,000 and €4,000 in France, and the recurrence rate reaches 31 to 50% of cases.
2. Predisposition to Eye Disease
The dachshund is prone to several hereditary eye conditions, notably cataracts and glaucoma. These diseases require regular follow-up with a veterinary ophthalmologist and can lead to blindness if not treated quickly. Specialist visits and treatments add up to a significant cost for the owner.
3. Hereditary Heart Problems
Heart disease, notably mitral valve disease, frequently affects this breed. These conditions often progress silently before showing up as serious symptoms that require lifelong treatment and regular visits to a cardiologist.
4. A Tendency Toward Obesity That Worsens Back Problems
The dachshund is naturally greedy and gains weight easily. Obesity makes spinal problems considerably worse by putting extra pressure on the intervertebral discs. Strict control of food intake is essential, which makes living with children who might hand out treats thoughtlessly more complicated.
5. Recurring Dental Problems
Tartar buildup and gingivitis are common in dachshunds and can lead to dental infections. A professional dental cleaning under anesthesia costs around €200 a year in France, not counting tooth extractions that may be needed.
6. Sensitivity to Weather Changes
With a short coat (in some varieties) and a belly close to the ground, the dachshund handles extreme temperatures poorly. It suffers from the cold in winter and the heat in summer, which calls for specific gear (coat, cooling mat) and constant attention on walks.
⚠️ Warning: Vet bills for back problems can quickly reach several thousand euros. Pet health insurance is strongly recommended, but monthly premiums for a dachshund are higher because of these predispositions.
🦴 Herniated Disc: The Dachshund's Nightmare
Risk: 10 to 12 times higher than other breeds
Symptoms: Intense back pain, paralysis of the hind legs, incontinence
Treatment cost: €2,000 to €4,000 for surgery in France, with a 31 to 50% recurrence rate
Prevention: Avoid stairs, use ramps, maintain an optimal weight, limit jumping
👁️ Hereditary Eye Diseases
Common conditions: Cataracts, glaucoma, progressive retinal atrophy
Consequences: Gradual or sudden vision loss that can lead to blindness
Follow-up needed: Annual eye exams starting at age 3-4
Cost: €150 to €300 per specialist visit in France, surgical treatment possible
❤️ Silent Heart Problems
Main disease: Degenerative valve disease (mitral valve)
Progression: Often without symptoms for years before a sudden decline
Treatment: Lifelong medication, low-sodium diet, limited exercise
Monitoring: Regular heart ultrasounds recommended from age 6-7
⚖️ Obesity: A Dangerous Vicious Circle
Risk: A very greedy breed with low energy expenditure relative to appetite
Consequences: Worsening back problems, diabetes, heart failure
Ideal weight: Standard dachshund 15-31 lb (7-14 kg), miniature 9-11 lb (4-5 kg) (strict adherence required)
Management: Precise portions, absolutely no snacking, monthly weigh-ins
Behavior and Training: A Daily Challenge
7. A Stubborn Streak That Makes Training Complicated
The dachshund was bred to hunt independently in burrows, which gave it a particularly independent and strong-willed temperament. This breed has a reputation as one of the hardest to train, requiring endless patience and great consistency in teaching methods. For a first-time owner, this resistance to obedience can quickly become frustrating.
8. Excessive Barking That Is Hard to Control
Dachshunds are known to bark often and loudly. Their hunting instinct pushes them to announce every presence (a squirrel, a passerby, an unusual noise) with persistent barking. In an apartment or condo building, this noise can create friction with neighbors and even lead to formal complaints. Dachshunds love to bark, and this behavior is extremely hard to correct completely.
9. A Hunting Instinct That Creates Tension With Other Animals
The dachshund keeps a highly developed prey drive that can make it incompatible with small pets (cats, rabbits, rodents, birds). Without early and intensive socialization, it will tend to chase them, or even attack. This difficult cohabitation limits the options for families who already have other animals.
10. A Tendency to Dig and Destroy
An earthdog through and through, the dachshund has an irresistible urge to dig. In a yard, it will quickly turn your lawn into a field of craters. Indoors, this behavior shows up as scratching at rugs, sofas, and even doors. This natural destructiveness requires constant supervision and plenty of environmental enrichment.
11. Separation Anxiety and Intolerance of Being Alone
The dachshund develops an extremely strong attachment to its owners and handles being alone very badly. When left by itself, it can show its stress through massive destruction, nonstop howling, and even house-training accidents. This separation anxiety takes long behavioral work and is not always fully resolved, making the breed unsuitable for people who are away all day.
| Behavior Problem | Difficulty Level | Possible Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| Stubbornness | ⚠️⚠️⚠️ Very high | Consistent positive training, endless patience |
| Barking | ⚠️⚠️⚠️ Very high | Hard to correct completely, dog sitter |
| Hunting instinct | ⚠️⚠️ High | Early socialization, leash required |
| Digging | ⚠️⚠️ High | Dedicated area, enrichment, supervision |
| Separation anxiety | ⚠️⚠️⚠️ Very high | Gradual desensitization, never alone 8+ hours |
Costs and Upkeep: A Serious Budget
12. High Purchase Price From Breeders
Buying a registered, pedigreed dachshund is a significant investment. The average price in France ranges from €1,000 to €2,500 depending on the variety (standard, miniature, kaninchen), coat type (smooth, wire, long), and pedigree. Miniature dachshunds from quality bloodlines can reach €2,000 to €3,500, an increase of 150% compared with prices five years ago.
13. Regular Specialist Vet Costs
On top of regular annual checkups (€80 to €150 in France), the dachshund needs specialized veterinary follow-up because of its predispositions. Preventive spine exams, eye checks, and heart checks add significant extra costs. In the case of a herniated disc, surgery costs between €2,000 and €4,000, and monthly parasite treatments add €15 to €30 to the budget.
14. Upkeep and Grooming Costs
The yearly upkeep cost of a dachshund is between €900 and €1,000 (French market). Longhaired and wirehaired dachshunds need regular professional grooming (every 2-3 months), at €40 to €60 per session. Dental care, essential for this breed, can cost up to €200 a year for scaling. The overall budget for preventive vet care comes to about €550 a year.
15. Special Gear to Protect the Back
To protect your dachshund's health, you will need to invest in specific gear: access ramps for the couch and car (€50 to €150), a back-support harness (€30 to €80), an orthopedic bed (€60 to €120), and possibly a wheelchair for a paralyzed dog in case of disc herniation (€200 to €600). These costs come on top of the usual dog supply budget.
- Acquisition budget: €1,000 to €3,500 depending on pedigree
- Yearly vet costs: €550 to €1,000 (excluding emergencies)
- Yearly grooming: €200 to €400 for long or wire coats
- Specialized gear: €200 to €500 (initial investment)
- Health insurance: €40 to €80/month (high premium for this breed)
- Estimated yearly total: €1,500 to €2,500 (without surgical surprises)
Fit With Your Lifestyle
16. Not a Match for Sedentary Owners
Despite appearances, the dachshund is bursting with energy and needs substantial daily outings. This hunting dog needs at least two active walks a day, totaling 60 to 90 minutes of exercise. Sedentary or older owners will struggle to meet these needs, which leads to behavior problems (destruction, barking, obesity).
17. Difficulties in Homes With Young Children
The dachshund's fragile spine makes it vulnerable to rough handling by young children. A child who picks the dog up incorrectly or plays too roughly can cause a herniated disc. A dachshund can also react unpredictably if cornered or disturbed, especially by sudden movements. The breed is generally recommended for families with children over 8.
18. Problems in Apartments and Condos
Although small, the dachshund is especially problematic in an apartment because of its excessive barking. Neighbors can quickly complain, and some building rules explicitly ban noisy dogs. Having no yard also makes house training harder, since a dachshund needs to go out several times a day. Noise disturbances can even lead to legal disputes.
19. Constraints for People Who Are Often Away or Travel
The dachshund handles being alone very badly and easily develops separation anxiety. If you work full time with days of 8 hours or more, this breed is not a good fit. Likewise, people who travel often will need to arrange expensive specialized pet care (€25 to €40 a day in France), since standard boarding kennels are not always suitable for anxious dachshunds. Two weeks of pet care during a vacation can reach €700.
⚠️ Profiles not recommended for adopting a dachshund: First-time owners with no dog experience, people away 8+ hours a day, families with children under 8, apartment renters with noise-sensitive neighbors, people on a tight budget (under €1,500/year), sedentary or older owners with limited mobility, households with small animals (rabbits, cats that are not socialized).
Estimate the real cost of a dachshund based on your situation
📊 Your estimated budget:
Details:
• Purchase:
• Yearly vet costs: €550 (base)
• Insurance:
• Grooming:
• Food & accessories: €400/year
• Special back gear: €200 (first year)
⚠️ This budget does not include surgery costs for a herniated disc (€2,000-4,000) or vet emergencies.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The main reasons include a fragile spine with a risk of disc herniation 10 times higher than other breeds, a stubborn streak that makes training difficult, excessive barking that is a problem in apartments, yearly upkeep costs that often exceed €1,000, and a marked intolerance of being alone. This breed only suits experienced owners who are home often and have a comfortable budget.
The dachshund has several major downsides: legendary stubbornness that complicates training, a tendency to bark constantly, a hunting instinct that can create tension with other animals, a natural tendency to dig and destroy, and marked separation anxiety. Physically, its elongated build makes it extremely vulnerable to herniated discs, calling for constant precautions (no stairs, no jumping, no improper handling).
The "hatred" often comes from bad experiences with poorly trained dachshunds. Nonstop barking creates significant noise disturbances, territorial aggression can surprise visitors, and stubbornness makes the breed frustrating for first-time owners. Apartment neighbors frequently complain about the noise, and families with young children can run into problems living together. The problem is not the dog itself, but the mismatch between its specific needs and what some owners expect.
The ideal owner for a dachshund needs several qualities: prior dog training experience (to handle the stubbornness), significant daily availability (a dachshund cannot handle 8 hours alone), a comfortable budget of €1,500 to €2,500 a year, suitable housing (a house with a yard preferably, or an apartment with very tolerant neighbors), endless patience for training, and a commitment to respecting its physical limits (ramps, no stairs). Singles working from home, active retirees, or couples without young children are the best-suited profiles.
Apartment life with a dachshund is possible but very complicated. Frequent, powerful barking causes problems with neighbors, and without a yard you have to take the dog out at least 4 to 5 times a day to relieve itself. House training is also longer and harder in an apartment. If you are considering this setup, make sure you have tolerant neighbors and time for multiple outings, and budget for professional dog training focused on managing barking.
Over an average lifespan of 12 to 15 years, the total cost of a dachshund can reach €25,000 to €40,000 (French market estimates). This includes: the initial purchase (€1,000 to €3,500), yearly vet costs (€900 to €1,000/year), health insurance (€720/year if taken out), grooming for long coats (€300/year), food and accessories (€400/year), and above all surgical surprises (herniated disc €2,000-€4,000 with possible recurrence). A dachshund that develops back problems requiring several surgeries can easily exceed €40,000 over its lifetime.
1. How does the risk of disc herniation in dachshunds compare to other breeds?
2. What is the dachshund's main problem in an apartment?
3. What is the average yearly upkeep budget for a dachshund?
4. What trait makes dachshund training particularly difficult?
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The dachshund is not a dog for everyone. Behind its adorable looks is a demanding breed that is medically fragile, stubborn in behavior, and expensive to maintain. The 19 reasons detailed in this article are not meant to demonize the breed, but to objectively inform future owners of the challenges ahead.
If you are ready to invest time, money, and patience, and to adapt your lifestyle to a dachshund's specific needs, this breed can bring you a lot of joy. If not, there are plenty of other dog breeds that may suit your situation better. Responsible adoption starts with an honest assessment of how well you fit a breed's demands.
Information & responsible advice – Teckel Paris