How to Choose the Right Dachshund Type to Add to Your Family

How to Choose the Right Dachshund Type to Add to Your Family

Read on to learn about the personalities and needs of different types of dachshunds to make the best choice for your family here.

Did you know that 63.4 million U.S. households own a dog? Dogs are the most popular pet to own in North America, followed closely behind by cats.

But with so many breeds, sizes, and shapes, it can be difficult for families to decide which dog is right for them. Dachshunds are a great family pet as they are small dogs that are smart, vigilant, loyal, and have big personalities.

If a dachshund is an attractive family member for your home, keep reading to find out more about the different types of dachshunds so you can choose the one that is right for you.

How Many Types of Dachshunds Are There?

Dachshunds make great family pets because they’re friendly, curious, and people-centric. They’re also quicker learners, thanks to their history as a hunting dog.

Like many dog breeds, dachshund dogs, also known as wiener dogs, have several different dachshund varieties.

Dachshunds come in two different sizes. They also can have three different coat types that come in a variety of colors and patterns.

What Are the Different Types of Dachshunds?

Although all Dachshund dogs are quite small, the two sizes are standard and miniature.

A standard Dachshund has a height of between 8 and 9 inches and weighs between 16 and 32 pounds. While a miniature Dachshund is much smaller, with a height of 5 to 6 inches and a weight of 11 pounds and under.

What Are the Different Types of Coats?

The three coat types of wiener dogs are smooth-haired, wire-haired, and long-haired.

The smooth-haired (or short-coated) Dachshund has glossy, smooth fur. The original purpose of the Dachshund was for hunting and the smooth fur allowed these dogs to burrow easier underground when looking for prey. The smooth-haired Dachshund requires less grooming and bathing than the other two coat types.

The wire-haired Dachshund has a rougher and wiry coat. The thickness and toughness of the coat also have a thinner and softer undercoat. Most notably the wire-haired Dachshund has facial hair such as eyebrows and a beard which is similar to that of a terrier (which the breed was originally crossed with, for hunting purposes).

If you get a wire-haired Dachshund, the dog will require weekly brushing and regular cleaning to ensure his/her fur doesn’t get all matted.

The long-haired Dachshund has a sleek, silky long coat that can either be wavy or straight. The fur on the long-haired Dachshund is long on the dog’s tail, legs, body, and ears.

Similar to the wire-haired Dachshund, the long-haired Dachshund was originally crossed with other hunting dogs, such as spaniels. Long haired Dachshunds also need to be brushed at least once, if not twice a week, and should be bathed several times a month. Find out more about the long haired dachshund here.

Find the Right Dachshund for Your Family

All types of Dachshunds make great family pets and can be the perfect addition to any home. The best way to find the right Dachshund for your family is to think about how much time you have for the dog. All Dachshunds need walking and a good amount of attention, but the wire-haired and the long-haired Dachshund also need more grooming and bathing.

If you enjoyed reading this article, be sure to check out some of our other dog articles.