Adopt Dachshund Shelter Dogs

Taking in a Dachshund from a shelter is a wonderful decision. You give a dog with an impressive personality a second chance and gain an incredibly devoted, brave and friendly companion in return. If you want to adopt a Dachshund as an adult dog, you'll meet a fully formed character whose curious, spirited nature will enrich your everyday life. We'll show you what matters when you take this special step.

When a Dachshund loses its home, it's often down to a combination of changes in the owners' lives and underestimated breed traits. The dog, also known as the Teckel or Dackel in German, was originally bred in Germany to hunt independently underground – especially badgers. With a compact shoulder height of 20 to 27 centimeters and a weight of 7 to 9 kilograms, this dog has enormous drive and remarkable stamina.

Some people are taken in by the charming looks and are later surprised by the strong hunting instinct and the independent, sometimes stubborn personality. Because the Dachshund had to make its own decisions underground, it likes to debate commands. Without loving consistency, this clever dog quickly takes charge of the household. Then there's the long life expectancy of 12 to 15 years: sometimes illness, a move or a job change means the previous owners simply can no longer find the time the dog needs for care and exercise.

A rescue Dachshund comes with its own history. It has lost its people and first has to find its bearings again. But once it has built trust, it shows its typical devotion and forms a very close bond with its new family.

Health is a central issue: Dachshunds have clearly increased health risks because of their unique anatomy with its long body and short legs. Above all the discs and back, plus the joints, the eyes and a clear risk of obesity, remain issues throughout life. Diseases such as cataracts, corneal dystrophy or, in old age, mitral valve disease (endocardiosis) also occur in the breed. Responsible breeders (for example in the Deutscher Teckelklub 1888 e.V., Germany's Dachshund breed club) have the parents' back, eyes and heart checked clinically, look for balanced anatomy and use DNA tests such as the one for osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease), which shows whether a parent dog is clear or a carrier. Intervertebral disc disease is also in focus in their breeding controls, and good breeders also watch for acanthosis nigricans – but even so, the breed's fundamental anatomical risks can't be eliminated entirely.

With a shelter dog you usually don't know the genetic line, and many surrendered dogs originally come from puppy mills that skip these screenings. At the shelter, vaccinations, a microchip and a clinical check on arrival are usually covered; ask to see the paperwork.

A Dachshund puppy from a breeder costs between 1,200 and 2,500 euros. If you choose a rescue dog, you only pay the shelter an adoption fee, which is well below the breeder price and helps the shelter pay for medical care and food.

Put the money you save on the purchase price straight into reserves. Besides the basics – which for a Dachshund must include dog ramps for the car or sofa and a back-friendly harness – you need to budget realistically for higher vet costs for preventive care and any back or eye treatment.