Dachshunds are a very popular breed, so chances are you have received a plethora of advice from friends and family who have owned Dachshunds over the years. Maybe you have owned several of the breed and consider yourself a Doxie expert. But no matter how many Dachshunds you’ve owned, we all forget tips we’ve been told as life gets busy. Unfortunately, mistakes made because we’ve forgotten these tips can affect your Dachshund’s quality of life. The following are five mistakes Dachshund owners make that may affect their Doxie’s health and well-being.
#1 – Allowing Your Doxie To Jump From High Up
A Dachshunds long back is just not made for jumping. While your Doxie may be able to get on your couch, chair or bed, allowing him to jump up and down causes a ton of stress on his spine. After a while, your Doxie may develop any number of back problem. One jump can cause permanent damage if your Dachshund lands wrong.
#2 – Treating Them Like A “Small Dog”
It’s easy to just carry your Dachshund everywhere –either in your hands or in a backpack, purse, etc. But your Doxie needs to be treated like a dog. Walking on his own legs and experiencing the world around him can be the difference between a well socialized Dachshund and one that is nervous, shivery and even may bite when people approach. Make sure you are letting your Doxie be a dog and experience things as dogs should – with paws on the ground.
#3 – Not Training Early Enough
Another mistake that is common with many dogs, is not starting training early enough. Dachshunds have a strong will, and if they do not learn early on that they need to listen to you then you will be in for a nasty shock later when you want them to behave. The sooner you can start training, the better.
#4 – Impatience With Potty Training
Potty training is the number one issue I hear from clients with Doxies. But often one of the main problems is that the owners expect their tiny Dachshund puppy to hold it as long as a lab puppy would. It’s just not going to happen. Why? Because of bladder size. A Dachshund puppy has a tiny bladder. Even as an adult, it’s not that big. So if you are having trouble with potty training, you may want to think about how long you are expecting your Doxie to hold it and whether or not it’s a realistic amount of time.
#5 – Giving Your Dachshund Human Medications Without A Vet’s Approval
This can result in a hefty vet bill and even the loss of your Dachshund. In fact, over-the-counter human medications is #1 on the ASPCA’s top list of toxins and human prescription medications is #2, according to cases handled by their Animal Poison Control Center. While many of these are accidental poisonings, it’s important to remember human medication is dangerous to your Doxie and you should not be giving it her unless directed by a vet.
