Are Dachshunds Good With Kids?

Dachshunds are lovely pets. They are loyal, intelligent, and make great companions. They are popular among pet lovers due to their friendly and curious nature. Dachshunds are good with kids as long as kids are sensible around them.

In this article, we will be talking about dachshunds. This discussion will be mainly about the temperament, breed characteristics, and how well they behave with children.

History of Dachshunds

Dachshunds were developed around 300 years ago in Germany. Originally they were developed to hunt badgers. The determination and independence in their nature combined with their short legs and broad chests made them the perfect dogs for digging and fighting badgers. 

Over time, due to breeding practices, dachshunds are now available in two sizes. One is standard size and the other one being miniature. 

Temperament of Dachshunds

Dachshunds are playful but their training can be a tough task as they are hunting dogs by nature. So, much patience and consistency are required to train them. They are known for their loyalty and devotion towards their owners but their aggressive nature against other dogs or strangers can be a problem at times. 

If a dachshund isn't trained and socialized properly with other dogs at a young age, he can be aggressive and fearful. Training a dachshund requires a kind and consistent owner who does not give up easily. 

Although originally bred as hunting dogs, dachshunds have evolved as loveable companion pets. They have rightfully gotten the names like sausage dogs or hotdog due to their short stature. They are short and small but they can fill one's heart with love. Properly trained dachshund dogs are family dogs and make good lapdogs. Due to their history, dachshunds still retain the qualities of hunting dogs. They are protective and alert so they can be used as excellent watchdogs.

This description by American Kennel Club sums up the temperament of dachshunds quite effectively; “The dachshund is clever, lively and courageous to the point of rashness, persevering in above and below groundwork, with all the senses well-developed. Any display of shyness is a serious fault."

Characters of Dachshunds

Standard dachshund dogs have a height of around 8-9 inches and they weigh around 16-31 pounds. Miniature dachshund dogs are smaller and they weigh around 10 pounds with a height of 5-6 inches. Dachshunds are present in many different colors including black, chocolate, tan, etc. with various markings. There are three distinct coat varieties i.e. shorthaired, longhaired, and wire-haired. 

Dachshunds live for an average of 12-16 years. Keeping your dog up to date on his vaccines and routine health checkups increases the quality of life and can help your dog live longer. 

Are dachshunds good family dogs?

Dachshunds are great family dogs. They are loyal and love to be around the family. As mentioned earlier, dachshunds were originally hunting dogs so they retain the protective nature. Moreover their distrusting of the strangers contribute to their protective nature. Adults and teens enjoy the company of dachshunds but care should be taken when leaving kids with a dog. 

Every dog has a bit different nature from the others. So he may behave differently. But if we talk about the overall nature of dachshunds, they are quite good as family dogs if they are trained properly. 

Are dachshunds good with kids?

Before we discuss if Dachshunds are good with kids or not, we should establish what does being "good with kids" means. Being a kid-friendly dog means that the dog is gentle with kids and can bear the rough treatment from kids. 

These include hugs and rough love. The dog should be willing to play and run around whenever children want to play with him. Much patience is required by the dog so he doesn’t get frustrated by the noise of children. 

Now we come to the question if Dachshunds are good with kids. Dachshunds are good with kids but this statement has certain limitations. They were once hunting dogs and that still shows sometimes if not trained properly. Care should be taken and a kid should never be left alone with a dachshund dog. 

What makes dachshunds good with kids?

Multiple reasons make dachshunds very good pets for a house with kids. First of all, dachshunds know how to look after the kids. They protect the kids from potential dangers such as other animals and strangers. Secondly, kids get a playful companion in the form of a dachshund. Dogs need adequate exercise daily for maintaining good health. They can get this physical activity by playing with children. So this is a win-win situation for children as well as the dogs. 

Although dachshunds aren't the fittest of all dogs still they can be very alert and active. They have a curious and adventurous nature so they can be companions for walking, jogging, and hiking.

What are the possible downsides of dachshunds with kids?

Dachshunds are good with kids but this can have many possible downsides as well. Dachshunds are protective dogs but this can lead to an accident. For example, if a dachshund is physically hurt or feels threatened, he may try to defend himself. He may bite a kid in doing so. Similarly, friends of children that aren't familiar with your dog can get hurt.

Dachshunds are manipulative and motivated by food. They share the food with children or get excessive treats. They try to get treats from children all the time. This can lead to obesity and other health problems. Rough handling by children can hurt the long fragile back of dachshunds. This can cause some serious damage to the vertebral column of the dog. It is cautioned that you must never leave a child alone with a dog. 

How to introduce your dachshund dog to kids?

We talked about the possible downsides of having dachshunds as a pet with children earlier. Now let's take a look at some measures that can help minimize these risks. 

Introduce your children with your dog slowly. Don’t rush for it as it is going to take time. Give proper time to your dog so that he can get used to the presence of your children. When introducing children to new dachshund dogs, make sure the clothes of children don't have any food residues. 

Dogs have a sharp sense of smell and one may knock over the kids in an attempt to get a taste. Make sure 2 adults are present when introducing your dog to the children. One should focus on the dog and the other should keep an eye on children to prevent any undesirable incident. 

Another reason for taking precautions before introducing dogs to kids is hygiene. Dogs can have certain ectoparasites on their skin e.g. ticks, mites, fleas, etc. Kids should be allowed to play with the dog when he has been treated for these parasites. Apart from the parasites, microbes such as salmonella can cause problems for the health of children. 

On the other hand, dogs can get sick after human interaction as well. Kids can interact with other pets and bring any virus or bacteria home. If your dachshund gets this microbe, he can get the disease. 

So, proper planning before introducing your children to your dachshund has physical as well as behavioral advantages. 

How to treat dachshunds? Tips for children

Your cute dachshund dog may get aggressive if he feels threatened or attacked. He can feel this after an interaction with children who don’t understand how to interact. So, negligence and carelessness can lead to disasters. Following are some of the tips for the interaction of children with dogs. 

First of all, children should know the signs of aggressive behavior in a dog. They should step away from a dog that is looking aggressive and intimidating. 

Kids should not run around dogs. This should be followed strictly in the case of smaller dogs such as dachshunds. Dachshunds were once hunting dogs so watching kids run around can trigger their hunting drive. They may chase and knock the children over. 

Kids should be taught to pet the dogs gently. Rough handling can irritate the dog and he may behave strangely. Dogs are sensitive and even a hand being rubbed against the direction of fur growth can make them uncomfortable. 

Dachshunds are physically fragile as compared to other dogs. They have longer vertebral columns and this makes them predisposed to injuries. Kids should handle and pet dachshunds with care. The ears or tail of the dog should not be pulled by the kids. This can be painful for dogs thus triggering aggressive behavior. 

Conclusion

The above discussion has proved that dachshunds get along well with kids. But kids must know how to interact with dogs without harming the dog and themselves. Training your dog from a young age is equally important. 

If you’re planning on getting a dachshund as a pet, you should prepare yourself for the hard task of training him. If you have young kids at home, be vigilant during early interactions between kids and dog. After proper training, dachshunds make excellent family dogs.

References

https://dachshund-central.com/are-dachshunds-good-with-kids/

https://emborapets.com/are-dachsunds-good-with-kids-a-guide-for-parents/