You may be wondering how much exercise your Dachshund needs. Specifically, how often you need to walk your dog per week and for how long. The short answer is that it varies by each particular Dachshund. Factors like age, health, mobility issues, and fitness level must be considered. Another thing to reflect on is their behavior. A Dachshund that is always chewing up things they … [Read more...]
Jessica lives and breathes everything Dachshund, hiking and camping with dogs, and blogging. Given her cumulative 25 years of owning Dachshunds, studying the breed, and organizing an 800-member Dachshund club, she's considered a breed expert by many. Jessica's dogs have been her best hiking and camping buddies for the last 16 years. She started this blog in 2010 to share what she knows. She's since won several industry awards and become one of the premier blogging experts in the pet industry.
How to Get Your Dachshund to Walk in a Harness or Jacket
There are many reasons a Dachshund may refuse to go for a walk. Two of the most common scenarios I see are related to a harness or dog jacket. If your Dachshund is used to walking on a collar, and you are trying to switch to a harness because you learned it’s safer your dog may not like the feeling of restriction or may feel weird walking because the harness touches their body in a … [Read more...]
12 Reasons Your Dachshund May Refuse to Walk on a Leash
I hear it all the time: “What do I do when my Dachshund refuses to walk?” It’s not uncommon for me to hear stories of people who tried to take their Dachshund out for a stroll and their dog dug in - pulling in the opposite direction on the leash - refusing to take even that first step. I also hear a lot of stories from people who were happily walking along with their Dachshund and their dog … [Read more...]
15 Tips for a Successful Group Hike with Dogs
I've watched as, over the last few years, hiking with groups of friends and their dogs has become more popular. Whether you call them group hikes or pack walks, going with other friends and their dogs can be fun. However, there are some things that can be not so fun if the group doesn't think ahead. And these potential issues can be easily amplified the larger the group is. Large … [Read more...]
Top 3 Things to Do with Your Dog in Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is a very unique place to travel with your dog. It's a gorgeous, rustic land of extremes. I've taken many vacations to Death Valley National park with my Dachshunds so I thought I would share my favorite things to do. Whether you're already planning to vacation in Death Valley with your dog, or you are searching for something fun to do, this article will help … [Read more...]
Top 5 Mistakes People Make When Cutting Their Dog’s Nails
This article is a case of do what I say, not what I do because I've made a lot of mistakes when it comes to trimming my Dachshund's nails. For the most part, their nails are ok but Gretel has nails that are a bit too long. It's a long story but, in short, she has back issues and, despite working with her for years, she fights me to the point I worry I will injure her so I have to take her … [Read more...]
Why Your Dachshund Should Wear a Harness for Walking
The most essential accessory for your Dachshund is something to attach their leash to while you're out walking, whether it be a collar or harness. A standard collar is normally the “default” option for most pet parents. However, in my opinion, Dachshunds should only be walked using a harness. Harness vs Collar: Why a Harness is Safer Has your Dachshund ever started coughing or … [Read more...]
Protect Your Dog from the Elements by Layering
If you are taking your dog outdoors, a key to keeping them safe in all kinds of weather is layering their clothing. I don’t know about where you live, but in Washington State, we pretty much have to be ready for any weather condition at any time. As they say around here (I've actually heard people from all over the world say it about where they live), “If you don’t like the weather, wait 5 … [Read more...]
Can You Take a Dachshund Hiking?
Many people don't think that Dachshunds can hike. That's especially true for those that haven't owned a Dachshund. However, I've also heard many stories from other owners over the years about their Dachshund sitting at home. They say they didn't think theirs could hike but want to try it now that they saw us out on the trail. I get excited when I hear that. Obesity is one of the … [Read more...]
10 Surprising Benefits of Traveling with Your Dog
There are a lot of benefits of traveling with your dog. Some are obvious and some are not so obvious. The more obvious benefits, which most articles about traveling with your dog mention, include: Your dog gets to experience sights and sounds that are different than around home You don't have to miss them You know they are well taken care of because no one takes better care of … [Read more...]
The Best Hiking Harness for a Miniature Dachshund
Finding a harness for hiking with your Miniature Dachshund can be a real challenge. Trust me, I've been trying to find one that fits well and doesn't chafe on wet, dirty trails and longer hikes for years. Literally YEARS. We're talking over nine. I've tried dog harnesses from the biggest names is outdoor dog gear to handmade ones I've found at craft fairs. The problem with trying to … [Read more...]
Our Favorite Casual Harness for Dachshunds! The VelPro Mesh Choke Free
I've tried almost every harness recommended for Dachshunds and I have two top favorites - one for normal life and and hiking. This review is for the first one. The one my dogs wear around 90% of the time. UPDATED: This post originally published in April 2019. Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I get a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a … [Read more...]
17 of Your Questions About Hiking with Small Dogs Answered
People generally don't expect to see small dogs hiking so I find they have a lot of questions. I don't mind answering. I've been hiking with my Dachshunds for 15 years and I'm passionate about opening people's minds to the idea of small dogs as hiking companions. I compiled a list of common questions I've received from our blog readers and social media followers over time. I figured if … [Read more...]
What’s the Minimum Exercise Required to Help Keep a Dachshund’s Back Strong?
As you know if you're read my blog at all, I am very passionate about making sure a Dachshund gets enough exercise. There are two main reasons for this: It helps to keep them healthy and fit It helps keep their core and back muscles strong so they are less likely to suffer from a back injury (or, as in our case, it was more mild and can recover faster) Over the years, I've found that … [Read more...]
What I Feed My Active Dachshunds to Help Keep Them Healthy
I've been asked these questions lot over the years: "What dog food do you recommend for Dachshunds?" "What should I feed my Dachshund to keep them healthy like yours?" "What do you think about food X or Y for Dachshunds?" For the most part, I've also creatively dodged those questions a lot over the years. You see, every dog is different. Every owner preference is different. Every budget … [Read more...]
How to Enjoy National Parks With Your Dog
Planning to visit a National Park and bring your dog along? Do you know that there are a lot of rules about what you can and can't do with your dog in National Parks? While your dog is allowed to visit the park with you, they aren't allowed to hike or visit most of the sights in the park with you. Note: There are a few National Parks that are dog friendly but these are rare … [Read more...]
Why You Should Rotate Your Dachshund’s Food and How to Do it Properly
Besides bringing variety, and a “thrill” to your dog’s taste buds, there are many reasons why you may want to rotate your dog’s food. Why Should I Switch My Dog’s Food? Dog Food Advisor sums it up perfectly, “Since there’s no such thing as a perfect dog food, it’s reasonable to assume every product is deficient or excessive in some way. So, built-in flaws tend to be magnified when the same … [Read more...]
The Pros and Cons of Ovary Sparing Spay (OSS) for Your Dachshund
For the first time, I brought home a dog that wasn't spayed. I knew that getting her "fixed" was the right thing to do for us but, now that I was bestowed the responsibility myself, I wanted to do some research first. I started to hear mumbling that perhaps spaying a dog at a young age wasn't as beneficial as once thought. It seemed that waiting until a dog was older to spay, or opting … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Flying with Your Small Dog for the First Time
The thought of flying with your dog may send shivers down your spine; no doubt you've heard more than a few terrifying tales of fellow dog owners who've had disastrous experiences taking their pups along with them. Whether you are moving overseas, or are fortunate enough to take your pooch along with you on vacation, the process may seem intimidating. However, there are a number of tricks … [Read more...]
Dachshund Owners Answer: 50 Tips to Make Life with Your New Puppy Easier
There is no better way to learn about raising a Dachshund puppy than to ask other Dachshund owners for advice. A few months ago, I asked our Facebook fans for their best tips and advice for getting through the crazy puppy stage. Over 100 people commented with their best puppy-raising advice. I compiled this answers into this article. I tried my best to arrange the comments by topic … [Read more...]
