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Wire Haired Dachshund Dog Breed Introduction
Wire Haired Dachshund is a medium-sized dog derived from Germany. They are popularly known for their distinctive wire-haired coat where they got their name. This dog is also called Badger Dog, Doxie, and Dashie. Some also refer to them as Wiener dogs due to their hot-dog-like look. Wiry Dachshunds were designed to do risky and honorable tasks of hunting badgers.
In earlier days, these dogs were mostly known as hunting dogs. They are highly energetic dogs that are fairly healthy but still prone to some health conditions like disc damage. A wiry dachshund needs frequent exercise for mental stimulation, to build strong muscles that can support and protect their back, and to stay fit since they are prone to obesity.
These dogs are highly trainable but are independent thinkers and sometimes stubborn. Wire Haired Dachshunds are quite protective and playful dogs that can easily adapt to different weather, living settings, noise, etc. Despite their protective nature, these dogs are more likely to be friendly to strangers rather than bark at them. They also make good family dogs since they are fairly good with kids and other dogs.
Origin
These dogs were derived from Germany in the 17th century as hunting dogs. Wire Haired Dachshunds are believed to have existed since the 15th century. These dogs were made to intently dig their way into badgers’ dens to hunt them down. Wire Haired Dachshunds have short legs and long, low bodies that perfectly fit this task. Their ribcage is well-developed for tolerance and protection and their back legs are curved to help them kick up dirt when digging.
Wire Haired Dachshunds have a loud and hound-like bark that used to inform their owners or hunting partners of their whereabouts while they were underground hunting during the early days. The initial Badger Dogs had a short and smooth coat. However, those with long coats for protection in cold climates and wire coats for working in thorny brier patches were achieved through selective breeding. Badger Dogs of several sizes were produced to work on various kinds of quarry.
The procedure of regulating the breed according to their coat, size, and color varieties was proceeding fully in the late 1800s. Wire Haired Dachshunds have been known as Germany’s national symbol for a long time. These dogs are closely linked with Germany and throughout World War I, American enthusiasts began referring them to as ‘Liberty Hounds’ because of anti-German sentiment. Wire Haired Dachshunds gained popularity in the U.S. after their acknowledgment in 1885 to the AKC Stud Book.
Lifespan
The Wire Haired Dachshunds can live between 11 to 16 years.
Wire Haired Dachshund Grooming
Brush your dog’s coat with a quality bristle brush for routine brushing at least twice every week. Use a King Komb during shedding to brush the wiry coat at least four times a week in order to remove all the loose and dead hair. Routine brushing also prevents mats and tangles. Clean your Badger Dog’s ears at least once a week using an ear cleanser, and cotton balls or dog wipes. Also, check their ears for infection, debris, wax accumulation, dirt, and parasites.
Bath your Badger Dog four times a year, that is once every three months using a canine shampoo, conditioner, and lukewarm water. Rinse your dog properly and dry their coats using a suitable drier to avoid skin irritation, infection, and hot spots. Cut your dog’s nails using suitable pet nail clippers once every two weeks or at least once a month to prevent overgrowth. Ensure you brush your dog’s teeth at least thrice a week using a canine-friendly toothbrush and toothpaste or suitable dog wipes.
Silky Wire Haired Dachshund Grooming
Clean your Silky Dog’s ears once a week using dog wipes or an ear cleanser with cotton balls to prevent wax accumulation while looking out for dirt, parasites, infections, pests, and debris. Brush your dog’s coat three times a week using a soft-bristled brush to remove mats, tangles, and loose hair. It is advisable to brush your dog’s coat before a bath for easier cleaning and lathering of the shampoo.
Bath your dog in a sink, or bathtub, or using a bucket with lukewarm water. Use a dog shampoo and conditioner to lather your dog until the shampoo gets to your dog’s skin and avoid the eyes and ears from getting water and shampoo. Empty the sink or bathtub before rinsing your dog so that they are not standing on dirty water.
Rinse your dog properly until the water is clear and dry your dog using a towel to prevent them from catching a cold. You can also use a drier and be cautious not to blow air in their ears and eyes and brush their coat once again to remove any tangles. Clean your dog’s face using a wet clean cloth. Brush your dog’s teeth three to four times a week if not daily, using a canine toothbrush and toothpaste your dog likes. Clip their nails twice a month using dog nail clippers.
Grooming Tools
The Wire Haired Dachshunds need various grooming tools like:
– Clippers.
– Cotton balls.
– Slicker brush.
– Canine shampoo.
– Ear cleanser.
– Canine toothbrush.
– Bristle brush.
– Pet nail clippers.
– Cloth.
– Canine toothpaste.
– Towel.
Haircut
As a wiry Dog owner, you should strip your dog every six to eight weeks. Owners who prefer to clip their dogs rather than strip them can clip them two to three times a year using clippers.
– Stripping – use your finger and thumb to hold part of your dog’s hair as close to the roots as you can. While still grasping your dog’s hair between your finger and thumb and the knife, pull it in your direction with your arm and finger. This clears the undercoat as well as the loose hair. Never use your wrist while stripping your dog since it can lead to cutting the hair instead of pulling it out.
– Clipping – to clip your Wire Haired Dachshund, use a No. 10 blade. First start by moving the clipper over your dog’s head, then the underside of the neck, and finish with the outer edges of the ears. For the tail, back of the neck, and body use No. 5 or 7 blade, moving the clipper in the direction of your dog’s hair growth. This helps to clip only the loose ends of your dog’s coat.
– Trimming – for your dog’s face, let your professional groomer use the trimming method. Your dog’s groomer will use a pair of small scissors for your dog’s beard and eyebrows to cut the hair from the corner of the lip to the corner of your dog’s eye. He/she will also get rid of any long hairs under your dog’s eyes leaving the eyebrows long but cutting them to become thin towards the outside eye corner. The groomer will then blend your dog’s eyebrows into the shorter hair on the cheek.
Hand Stripping
Hand stripping a wiry Dog is done by using your finger and thumb and a stripping knife. Do this before bathing your dog to achieve the best results. Hold a section of your dog’s hair using your finger and thumb and the knife as close to the roots as possible and pull the hair in your direction. If your fingers start to ache it is best to stop and continue later.
Best Brush
A good bristle brush is the most suitable brush for your Wire Haired Dachshund’s routine brushing.
Shedding
These Wire Haired Dachshunds are moderate shedders all year-round and tend to shed more heavily in summer and spring. This helps them get ready for cold seasons like winter and to keep cool during summer.
Shedding Brush
The perfect de-shedding brush for your Wire Haired Dachshund is the King Komb that is regarded as an effective and comfortable brush that will help to get rid of all the dead and loose hair during shedding. It also contains retractile edges that make it easier to remove hair that may be stuck on the brush. The King Komb can also be used on both dry and wet coats. Additionally, it helps in getting rid of dander and has soft edges that prevent the comb from cutting your dog’s fur or skin.
Coat
They have a hard and wiry double coat that has a soft topcoat and a tough, coarse undercoat. A Badger Dog’s coat forms an attractive beard, mustache, and pleasant eyebrows.
Coat Care
Brush your Badger Dog with a good bristle brush at least twice a week to remove mats and tangles. When your dog begins shedding, use a King Komb at least four times a week to remove all the dead and loose hair and to get rid of dander. Bath your Badger Dog once every three months to give their coat a nice shine. If you notice your dog’s hair starting to look dull and dry, strip your dog’s coat. It is mostly recommended to strip your dog before a bath using your hands and a stripping knife to achieve the best results.
Hypoallergenic
Badger Dogs are not hypoallergenic since they produce dander especially when they shed or shake. This Dachshund variety also drool particularly when outside but once in a while in small amounts. Drool and dander are known to cause allergic reactions hence these dogs are not suitable for allergy sufferers.
Training
Start socializing your dogs when they are still young and introduce them to various sounds, smells, people, places, and noises, for them to be well-behaved dogs. When training your dog, it is important to use distraction techniques such as your voice, verbal praise, or low-value treat to teach a command like leave it. If your dog manages to leave the treat you can reward it with a high-value treat like a chicken, kibble, premium dog treat, etc. Badger Dogs react well to positive reinforcement training.
Use treats when training your dog with basic commands like sit, lie down, gentle, wait, down, or off. It is recommended to use certain treats to reward certain commands or behaviors. Crate training your dog is crucial in case you have to leave the house, have something to do, or need to sleep or nap and you want to keep them in one place. Gradually and consistently train your dog crate training until they are used to it and you can now lock them in.
Also potty train your dog outside the house. Take your Badger Dog every 30 minutes outside to potty until they can take themselves and also create a feeding schedule for housebreaking. Training sessions should not be more than 15 minutes although you can also find opportunities throughout the day to get your dog to do certain commands. If you notice your dog biting on things, provide them with enough toys for them to chew to avoid causing distraction.
Wire Haired Dachshund Temperament
– Lively.
– Curious.
– Courageous.
– Bold.
– Determined.
– Energetic.
– Independent thinkers.
– Devoted.
– Affectionate.
– Friendly.
– Adaptable.
– Mischievous.
– Stubborn.
Exercise
Badger Dogs are quite energetic dogs that need enough exercise for their general health, happiness, and mental stimulation. These dogs require 1 – 2 hours of exercise every day. They can exercise through play sessions such as a good game of fetch or long walks. If a Badger Dog does not get enough exercise, he/she will start getting anxious, destructive, unhappy, or lonely.
Barking
These dogs are known to bark a lot. Wire Haired Dachshunds have a loud and hound-like bark that was used in the early days to inform their hunting partners or owners of their whereabouts while they were underground hunting. Their loud bark came from the several breeds they were crossed with. Badger Dogs can bark when they notice sudden changes in their environment.
Size
Female Badger Dogs are 13 – 14 in ( Approx. 32 – 36 cm ) tall while males have a height of 13.4 – 15 in ( Approx. 34 – 38 cm ). Badger Dogs weigh 13 – 20 lbs ( Approx. 6 – 9 kg )
Height
Male Badger Dogs have a height of 13.4 – 15 in ( Approx. 34 – 38 cm ) while bitches stand at a height of 13 – 14 in ( Approx. 32 – 36 cm ).
Weight
Both male and female Badger Dogs weigh 13 – 20 lbs ( Approx. 6 – 9 kg ).
Standard Weight
A standard Badger Dog weighs between 15 – 32 lbs ( Approx. 7 – 15 kg ).
Mini Dachshund
Mini Badger Dogs are attained by carefully breeding the smaller-sized dogs of this breed. They weigh 9 – 11 lbs ( Approx. 4 – 5 kg ) and are 5 – 6 in ( Approx. 12 – 15 cm ) tall. Mini Badger Dogs have the same life expectancy as a full-grown dog of this breed and can live between 11 to 16 years.
Standard
A standard Badger Dog weighs between 15 – 32 lbs ( Approx. 7 – 15 kg ) and has a height of 7 – 9 in ( Approx. 18 – 23 cm ).
Long Haired Wire Haired Dachshund
Long-haired Badger Dogs are mostly known as the sweetest, quietest, and calmest dogs among the Dachshund dog breeds. They are believed to be a crossbreed of the smooth Dachhund and any of the small dog breeds in the spaniel group like the German Stoeberhund. These dogs are mostly known as show dogs and have elegant long hair.
Apart from Wire Haired Dachshunds, other dog breeds include:
Health Problems
Badger Dogs are popularly known as healthy dogs although they can still be susceptible to some health conditions like:
– Hypothyroidism.
– Bones and joint issues.
– Dry eye.
– Cataracts.
– Progressive retinal atrophy
– Ear infections.
– Mitral valve disease.
Names
Badger Dogs owners also give their dogs other names including:
– Nala.
– Molly.
– Fern.
– Nena.
– Kirby.
– Sigmund.
– Teddy.
– Charlie.
– Greta.
– Jezebel.
– Bruno.
– Cooper.
– Dot.
– Fifi.
– Delilah.
Food
Feed your Badger Dog a balanced diet that has high-quality proteins, healthy fats, fiber, minerals, and vitamins. Canned suitable canine food from well-known brands is also healthy for your dog. As a Badger Dog owner, you can also feed your dog whole foods and wet foods like beef or chicken but not excessively. For canned foods, give your Badger Dog a 1/2 cup divided into two meals.
When feeding your dog dry food, give them a 1/4 to 1/3 cup two times a day. Adult dogs of these breeds should be fed twice a day, seniors once a day, and puppies three times a day. It is important to note that Badger Dogs can have digestive problems at times hence it is important to watch their diet and make adjustments when necessary.
Types
There are various types of Badger Dogs including:
- Long Haired Dachshund.
- Wire Haired Badger Dogs.
- Smooth Haired Badger Dogs.
- Silky Wire Haired Badger Dogs.
Coat Colors
Badger Dogs have different coat colors. These colors include chocolate & tan, red, cream, wild boar, blue & tan, black & tan, wheaten, black, chocolate & cream, blue & cream, black & cream, fawn & cream, fawn & tan, chocolate, and fawn. Badger Dogs with fawn and black coat colors are considered as faulty by the American Kennel Club.
Silky Wire Haired Dachshund
A Silky Wire Haired Badger dog is achieved by cross-breeding a long-haired and a wire-haired Badger Dog. This dog is regarded as a rare species. A Silky Wire Haired Badger Dog has a long coat that seems to be silky although the single strand of its hair is wiry. This dog is the same size as the Wire-Haired Badger Dog and has the same temperaments as well as life expectancy.
Wire Haired Dachshund Allergies
Badger Dogs experience skin irritations linked to allergies. This might be because of food, genetic, or environmental factors. These dogs can also develop several symptoms like dandruff and rashes, scaly skin, and hair loss. Badger dogs also cause allergic reactions in people with dog allergies through their drool and dander. A dog’s urine can also trigger allergic reactions.
Tail
A Wire-Haired Badger Dog has a thickly-haired, robust tail, moderately tapering to a point, however, a Badger Dog with a flag tail is considered a fault.
Wire Haired Dachshund Puppy
A Wired Haired Badger Dog can litter between 2 – 6 puppies at a go and can also litter more puppies depending on whether it’s a miniature, full-grown, or standard dog.
Wire Haired Dachshund Terrier Mix
A Wire-Haired Badger Dog Terrier Mix is a crossbreed between a Terrier and a Badger Dog. These dogs love to bark a lot and need loyalty from their owner. They are also not advisable for first-time pet parents. However, some of their best traits are; that they are easy to maintain, have lovable personalities, and enjoy being around people. These dogs have a height of 10 – 14 in ( Approx. 25.4 – 36 cm ) and weigh 20 – 30 lbs ( Approx. 9.1 – 14 kg ).
Wire Haired Dachshund Chihuahua Mix
A Wire-Haired Badger Dog Chihuahua Mix is achieved by crossbreeding a Chihuahua with a Badger Dog. These dogs weigh around 4 – 12 lbs ( Approx. 2 – 5.4 kg ) and have a height of 5 – 10 in ( Approx. 13 – 25.4 cm ).
Wire Haired Dachshund Price
Badger Dogs’ prices vary depending on the breeder and the size of the dog. These dogs price vary between $600 – $3,500.
Frequently Asked Questions:
When Do Wire-Haired Dachshunds Get Their Full Coat
It roughly takes two years for a Badger Dog to have its full coat.
How To Groom A Wirehaired Dachshund
Brush its coat at least twice every week using a suitable bristle brush and a King Komb during shedding season at least four times every week. Bath them once every three months using a canine-friendly shampoo and conditioner and never a human shampoo. Rinse your dog properly to remove all the shampoo from their skin and dry them properly using a towel or a drier. Clip their nails once every two weeks and brush their teeth at least three times a week if not daily using a canine toothpaste and toothbrush.
What Is A Wire Haired Dachshund
These are curious, mischievous, and devoted medium-sized dogs derived from Germany. They are popularly known for their distinct wire-haired coats.
Are Wire Haired Dachshund Hypoallergenic
Badger Dogs are not hypoallergenic and are known to drool less and produce dander that triggers allergic reactions.
Do Wirehaired Dachshunds Shed
Yes. Badger Dogs shed moderately year-round and heavily during summer and spring.
Wire Haired Dachshund Quick Facts
- They are independent thinkers and can be stubborn at times, especially during training.
- Badger Dogs love barking hence are not advisable for people living in noise-restricted areas or apartments.
- They are energetic dogs and need 1 – 2 hours of exercise every day through play sessions or long walks for mental stimulation, general health, and to keep them happy.
