Contact Verified Dachshund Breeders

The Dachshund – the breed's official name; in Germany it's usually called the Dackel, and among hunters mostly the Teckel – wins people over with its friendly, curious and spirited nature. Originally bred in Germany for the demanding job of hunting badgers underground, this compact dog, with a shoulder height of 20 to 27 centimeters and a weight of 7 to 9 kilograms, brings enormous courage and stamina. To give your future companion the best chance of enjoying its life expectancy of 12 to 15 years as free of trouble as possible, choosing a responsible Dachshund breeder is the most important step before you buy.

Dachshunds have clearly increased health risks because of their unique anatomy. The long back combined with short legs makes the intervertebral discs and the spine in particular vulnerable. On top of that, the joints, the eyes and a clear risk of obesity remain central issues throughout life. A health-focused breeder works specifically against these anatomical risks: when choosing parent dogs, they look for balanced anatomy that isn't exaggerated, along with well-developed muscling, and they avoid extreme body shapes.

After you buy, you also carry a great deal of responsibility for your dog's musculoskeletal system. Consistently stop it jumping onto the sofa and using stairs, use ramps in everyday life and for the car, and keep your Dachshund strictly lean. And from the start, plan realistically for regular checkups and a higher vet budget.

Responsible breeders have the back, eyes and heart of the parent dogs examined by a vet before breeding and use established DNA tests. These measures significantly lower the likelihood of serious diseases in the puppies, even though they can't entirely eliminate the breed's fundamental anatomical risks. In the Deutscher Teckelklub 1888 e.V. (DTK, Germany's Dachshund breed club), these specific issues are among those in focus:

• Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease): There's an established DNA test for this. The test reliably shows whether a parent dog is genetically clear or a carrier. A reputable breeder pairs carriers only with partners proven to be clear. No puppy can then inherit the mutation from both parents.
• Intervertebral disc disease: To lower the risk of later disc herniation ("Dackellähme", the German term for Dachshund paralysis), committed breeders use X-rays of the spine to assess calcifications and consistently select for a sound topline.
• Acanthosis nigricans: This chronic skin disease is one of the issues recorded by the breed club, and breeding dogs are checked for it clinically.
• Clinical eye and heart exams: Regular specialist vet checks of the parent dogs lower the risk of hereditary eye diseases such as cataracts, corneal dystrophy, microphthalmia, dermoids or optic nerve hypoplasia and micropapilla, as well as heart diseases such as mitral valve disease (endocardiosis).

The Dachshund also has other breed-typical health issues for which there are no routine DNA tests in advance. These include cutaneous asthenia (Ehlers-Danlos syndrome), cleft palate, cryptorchidism (undescended testicles), congenital deafness, demodicosis (demodectic mange) and histiocytoma. Here it's up to you to take the initiative: ask to see all the parents' exam results in the original and ask the breeder specifically whether these diseases have occurred in their lines.

A reputable Dachshund breeder raises their puppies as part of the family, socializes them carefully for life in the city or the countryside, and prepares you honestly for the breed's often independent, sometimes stubborn personality and its strong hunting instinct. They ask a fair price, which for a Dachshund is usually between 1,200 and 2,500 euros. Use these specific questions on your first visit to gauge the quality of the breeding:

• 1. Can you show me the parents' DNA test results for osteogenesis imperfecta?
• 2. Are there current X-ray results of the back and clinical exam forms for the parents' eyes and heart?
• 3. Have there been any cases of disc herniation, mitral valve disease or skin problems such as acanthosis nigricans and demodicosis in your lines?
• 4. Are the parents worked as hunting dogs, or do your pairings focus more on suitability as a family companion?
• 5. Have cryptorchidism, cleft palates or eye diseases such as cataracts occurred in previous litters from these parents?
• 6. How do you get the puppies used to everyday stimuli, and how will you support us with questions about consistent training after we take the puppy home?