Stefan has been writing about dachshunds since 2016, when the breed took over his page, his inbox, and his life. He reports; the doxies decide.
Back & Mobility
Luxating patella in dachshunds is a condition where the kneecap slides out of its normal groove, causing an intermittent "skip" in your dog's walk. It's especially common in chondrodystrophic breeds like dachshunds, affects both knees in up to half of cases, and ranges from
franks-desk
MEMORANDUM — DEPT. OF DACHSHUND AFFAIRS FROM: Frank, Director of Operations, The Dachshund Report TO: Dr. Stanley Coren, Professor Emeritus, University of British Columbia; the American Kennel Club; the general public; Border Collies (cc'd for awareness) RE: The Intelligence of Dogs (1994), specifically the ranking of the Dachshund at
Doxie Life
Yes, dachshunds are smart — genuinely, measurably smart. They rank 92nd out of 138 breeds in obedience intelligence, but that test only measures how quickly a dog follows commands from a human. It doesn't measure problem-solving, independent thinking, or the kind of intelligence that lets a twelve-pound
Yes — dachshunds are widely recognized as a breed that forms an intense, primary bond with one person. Research shows this isn't just a personality quirk. It's rooted in the same oxytocin feedback loop that bonds human mothers to their infants, amplified by 600 years of breeding
Back & Mobility
Dachshunds can lose their hearing gradually with age — typically starting in the last third of their lifespan — or suddenly due to chronic ear infections, ototoxic medications, or genetic factors linked to the dapple (merle) coat pattern. Most owners mistake early hearing loss for stubbornness. It's not. Call your
Doxie Life
Crate training a dachshund puppy isn't just about housebreaking or keeping your shoes alive — it's medical preparation. One in four dachshunds will face IVDD at some point, and conservative treatment means four to eight weeks of strict crate rest. A dog who's never been
Doxie Life
Yes, dachshunds can get along with cats — many live with them happily for years. But dachshunds were bred to hunt small burrowing animals for six centuries, and that prey drive doesn't vanish because you brought home a kitten. The answer depends on timing, introductions, and knowing which specific
Doxie Life
Dachshunds lick more than most breeds because of a combination of strong one-person bonding instincts, breed-specific skin conditions, and a self-reinforcing endorphin loop that makes licking feel genuinely good. Most of it is normal affection. But if your doxie is licking floors, walls, or their own paws
Yes — for most healthy adults, letting your dachshund sleep in your bed is perfectly fine. A Mayo Clinic study found dogs in the bedroom maintained 83% sleep efficiency, and a 962-woman survey found dogs less disruptive than human partners. The one real concern isn't behavior — it'
Doxie Life
Dachshunds aren't stubborn — they're independently intelligent. Bred to hunt badgers alone underground, dachshunds were selected for centuries to make life-or-death decisions without a handler's input. What looks like defiance is actually a dog doing exactly what 600 years of German engineering told
Dachshund incontinence usually comes from one of two places: nerve damage from IVDD (the breed's signature spinal condition, affecting 19-24% of dachshunds) or weakened sphincter muscles from aging, hormones, or spaying. The good news — most causes are treatable, and even the ones that aren't can
Doxie Life
Most dachshunds begin to settle down between 1 and 2 years old, after the adolescent hormone surge fades and their brain's impulse-control wiring finishes developing. But "calm" for a dachshund doesn't look like "calm" for a Golden Retriever — and that'