ABOUT MINIATURE LONGHAIR DACHSHUNDS
I have always been a Dachshund lover, but I totally fell head over heels in love with the Longhair Dachshunds. Maybe it’s because of their more laid back, calm and reserved nature… From the three different coat types of Dachshunds, the Longhair Daxies seem to be the sweetest-natured, quietest and most outward loving. If you like to cuddle with your dog, you will love having a Longhair Dachshund as they love to cuddle and snuggle under the covers (if you let them). The Longhair Dachshunds differ from the short haired Dachshund as they were originally bred from small longhaired Spaniels to create long, flowing hair. Their fur is soft and silky, and grows longest on their ears, neck, chest and legs. The longest fur grows on their tail and fans out like a flag. They come in a variety of colours, like black, chocolate, cream, dapple etc.. They love swimmimg – like a Spaniel – and they are excellent with children. They get along well with other dogs and cats, but they do love hunting, so if you are a chicken-lover with the most beautiful free-range chickens, the chance is very good that your lovely, so innocent Daxie will proudly come showing off his latest victim… that could be your Hendriena show-chicken…
They love being with their humans, following their every step and also love to travel. If you are gone most of the time and don’t have time to train your pet or bring your pet with you, a dachshund may not be the best fit for your lifestyle.
Health
All breeds of dogs are prone to certain health issues (just like humans). The number one health concern of any Dachshund is their backs. With their long bodies and short legs, Dachshunds are genetically prone to several musculoskeletal conditions. The most serious of these is intervertebral disc disease, which causes the vertebrae to weaken and possibly protrude into the spinal canal. You can help reduce the potential for spinal stress by:
- Maintaining your dog at a healthy weight with a well-balanced diet;
- Discouraging your dog from jumping off furniture or regularly travelling up and down flights of stairs; and
- Supporting your dog when holding them to keep the spine horizontal.
The Longhair Dachshunds are also prone to degenerative eye disease that causes blindness, called Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA). All our breeding dog’s PRA get tested to make sure we breed healthy pups.
Dachshunds are also prone to problems with their joints, thyroid, hips, knees, weight and skin.
Grooming
Longhaired Dachshunds are easy to groom, they go through as low-maintenance grooming breed. They should be combed and brushed at least twice a week. Mats can develop behind the ears and need to be untangled by hand. They don’t need to be bathed very often, once every three months or so, should be more of than enough.