Better known by its curious nickname - the Sausage Dog - the Long Haired Dachshund is a short-legged, long-bodied dog that makes for a friendly companion!
Descended from hunting dogs, the unusually shaped Long Haired Dachshund was deliberately bred to be close to the ground to sniff out prey. Though, their unusual shape can lead to several unfortunate Dachshund back problems that owners need to be aware of.
In this article, we’ll take a look at the physical attributes, personality, and temperament that you can expect to see in a Long Haired Dachshund, as well grooming, care, and health tips that will help you raising your pup.
Keep reading to find out everything there is to know about the Long Haired Dachshund.
What is a Long Haired Dachshund?
The Long Haired Dachshund is best known for its unique body shape and long fur coat. Of German origin, the Long Haired Dachshund is part of the wider Dachshund family of dogs, of which there are three common varieties.
These three types of Dachshund all have short legs and a long body but are distinguishable by their coats. As well as the Long Haired Dachshund, there’s also the Wire Haired Dachshund and the Smooth Haired Dachshund. As you might expect, the Long-Haired Dachshund has the longest coat of them all!
The Long Haired Dachshund was specifically bred to be a hunting dog, and Long-Haired Dachshund puppies are born with a keen sense of smell and a desire to search out prey and dig holes. Their short legs keep Dachshunds close to the ground, where it’s much easier for them to keep on the scent of badgers, rabbits, and any other countryside animals they are trained to look for.
Of course, these days, the Long Haired Dachshund is much more prevalent in its role as a family dog, and these pups are unlikely to be used as working dogs. These are lovable, intelligent dogs with an undeniably friendly personality with their big hearts and curious nature. With their long, luscious fur coat, Long Haired Dachshund grooming opportunities abound. Given their small, slender body shape, these pups are perfect for apartments, tiny houses, and families with young children.
Long Haired Dachshund appearance
The Long Haired Dachshund is a small dog with (you guessed it) a long fur coat. Let’s take a look at the appearance of this puppy in more detail, so you can see if this is the pet dog for you and your family.
Height and size
The Long Haired Dachshund might have long locks, but it’s actually a small dog in terms of height and size. These dogs are bred in two significant sizes as a breed standard. They are either a standard Long Haired Dachshund, or they are a miniature Long Haired Dachshund.
Standard Long Haired Dachshunds will grow to around 9 inches in height and can weigh anywhere between 15 and 32 pounds. The miniature Long Haired Dachshund is much smaller and must be no more than 6 inches in height and 11 pounds in weight.
Whether it’s standard-sized or a miniature Dachshund, these pups always have that distinctive ‘wiener dog’ look about them.
Coat and colors
The Long Haired Dachshund (the standard and miniature Long Haired Dachshund) always has a long, luscious coat of hair. Their coats are super soft, but they can quickly start to reach the ground if left untamed!
Long Haired Dachshunds come in a variety of different colors. These include black, tan, brown, red, cream Long Haired Dachshund colorings. These dogs are commonly one color but can also be a mixture of colors.
Long Haired Dachshund Temperament
The Long Haired Dachshund has a lively yet quirky personality. Remember, these dogs were bred for hunting, and that means they are incredibly curious, intelligent, and always looking to discover new and exciting things around the home or in the garden.
Of course, this inquisitive nature may very well get them into trouble, particularly if they start digging up the flowers to see what’s underneath. They are also well known for their friendly personality too, and they make a welcome addition to families.
The Long Haired Dachshund is, however, also seen as a noisy dog. They aren’t afraid to bark at either strange humans or unknown dogs (even if that dog is many times larger than them). Their love of barking can be put to good use if you want to warn of intruders, but those intruders might not be put off when they see it’s a sausage dog guarding the home!
Long Haired Dachshund care and grooming
The Long Haired Dachshund is a lovable character, but its outgoing personality does ensure that a lot of care and attention is required to keep them happy (not to mention grooming). They’ll take up a lot of your time, but it’s well worth it for their loyalty and affection.
Because of this, though, the Long Haired Dachshund isn’t recommended as a pet dog for first-time owners or those with little time to spend on their new pooch. Long Haired Dachshunds need plenty of training to stop them from taking over the home and the garden, and they’ll need lots of socializing to keep them from barking at new dogs all the time.
Start training early, and ensure that your Long Haired Dachshund masters all of the basic commands, such as sit and stay. It’s often wise to take them to puppy training classes as soon as possible to instill these commands in them and to help them to meet other dogs early in life.
A well-trained Long Haired Dachshund will be much easier to groom as well, and given the length of their coats, grooming is something you’ll need to get them used to. Their long coats are wonderfully smooth and silky, but they won’t stay that way if they are caked in mud or full of leaves, twigs, and thorns from their rummages in the garden.
Brush and groom your Long Haired Dachshund regularly (at least once a week, and more if they’ve been particularly active) to keep their fur coats free from debris, dust, and dirt. This not only keeps the coat itself nicely cleaned but helps to avoid the spread of parasites and other unwanted things that might be found in the fur!
Fur coats can quickly reach the ground, so owners need to have their Long Haired Dachshund trimmed every few months, too. Unless you have experience doing this yourself, it’s recommended to have them trimmed by a professional dog groomer.
Long Haired Dachshund health and exercise
Long Haired Dachshunds have a reasonably long life expectancy. When well cared for, you can expect a Long Haired Dachshund to live between 12 and 16 years. For them to reach their entire lifespan, they need to be fed a healthy diet and have regular exercise.
One of the biggest problems owners face in terms of health is keeping their Long Haired Dachshund at a healthy weight. These small dogs (the miniature Long Haired Dachshund have this problem) are very prone to put on weight quickly. They won’t need more than two meals a day and avoid feeding them snacks and leftovers to keep their weight down.
Another common health problem that all Dachshunds face is Intervertebral Disc Disease (or IVDD, as it’s known). IVDD is an inherited degenerative disease that affects the spinal column as dogs grow older.
Long Haired Dachshunds are prone to this disease due to their selective breeding and long bodies. You can keep the disease in check by ensuring your pet pup has access to a bed ramp for dogs when they move around the home. Regular checkups with the vet can also help to catch signs of the condition early on.
Long Haired Dachshund: the final word
That’s everything you need to know about the Long Haired Dachshund. Whether it’s a standard-sized or a Long Haired mini Dachshund, these sausage-shaped dogs not only have a quirky look about them, but they’re quirky, lovable characters, too!
Although they do experience back problems as they grow old, these are generally healthy dogs that can live a long life. They are energetic, curious, and above all, loyal. If you’re looking for a new pup, then why not bookmark our guide to Long Haired Dachshunds for future inspiration?
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