We are thinking of getting a miniature wire haired dachshund and although we do not have a family yet would like to know whether they are good around young children or if they have a tendency to snap. Also is there much of a difference between the males and the females as we are thinking to get a bitch? Thanks so much for your help.

I was raised with mini-smooths and my parents also bred and were members of the local Canine Society (in Canada). NEVER had a problem at all. I think they are one of the best family breeds there is (next to my new breed the whippet LOL). I don't know what the wires are like but I can't imagine them being much different.

WEndy

All the mini wires I've ever met (only 5 :o) have all been really nervous. It seems to me to be a trait of them although as you can see I haven't come across that many.
Lara x

Oh Gosh now I am worried. A nervous dachshund does concern me. I wonder if it was anything to do with the breeding or rearing!!!

Hi Wendy
I really like whippets too. I have been told that the different coat types of dachshunds kind of tell you about their breeds ie long haired are gentle, wire are stubborn etc I am slightly concerned about them being nervous do you think this is true or that it just depends on the way they are bred and raised?

I honestly don't know - I haven't had enough experience with the other varieties aside from the smooth. Until I moved over here 8 years ago I didn't even know there WAS a wire-haired variety.

I do know that in my lifetime so far our family has had 6 smooth mini-dachsies, raised a few more and I co-owned one with a friend until I moved to the UK from Canada. They were all fantastic with kids (even the ones we bred and sold all went to family homes where they never had any problems with the kids). So really the only type I can reliably comment on are those ones.

Wendy

Thanks for your advice Wendy I really appreciate everyones comments and advice and have just been reading up on past dachshunds posted questions which have also been helpful.
Best wishes
Van

Hi Van.
In response to your query about wirehaired mini dachs - I had a fabulous one for 12 years. He was great with kids (my daughter was 8 when we got him) and they are fabulous characters.
As with any pedigree they do have certain health problems to look out for.
One is any dachs has an unusually long back which can cause them problems and it's important to always pick them up correctly and discourage them from jumping up on furniture etc - the other warning is a very rare problem and only I think in the mini wirehaired dachs - is Lafora's disease. I must stress this is rare but tragically our little Otto had it.
It's a disease that kills humans before the age of 4 but in dogs they can live for many years with it. It starts with epilepsy type symptoms at around the age of 6. The fits progress and change as they get older and are very distressing for everyone. Otto developed heart problems and Cushings syndrome and eventually his organs started to pack up due to all the medication he had to have over the years.
However, having probably put you off which I'm NOT trying to do! - I see a lot of mini w-hs in London who do not have that problem... it IS rare. It's just something you should find out about from breeders if you're going to go ahead.
If we hadn't had that experience, I would have gone on having dachs for ever!
We have a Shih Tzu now who is so fabulous with kids and babies - and every dog in the world. For temperament, I couldn't fault him!
Hope that hasn't scared you too much - if you have small children just remember to watch them and show them how to handle the puppy you get. If any dog is hit or has his tail pulled or whatever, they can react.
Alison

I've got a mini long Dachs and he's adorable. As with any breed of dog you have to make sure they are properly socialised and don't let the kids think it's a toy!
Bec

Hi van, i've had three mini wires in the past (got only one now). The first was aggressive towards men, but he came to me aged 8, and i don't know his background. The other two were both timid. Could possibly be the breeding, but my last came from a very well respected breeder, so i do tend to think it is a trait. Doesn't mean to say though that they won't be good with your kids. I currently have three minis, one of each coat. My neice comes over occasionally, she's 5, and they play quite happily with her.
I think young children and dogs should be supervised at all times, no matter what the breed.

Snoopy I totally agree with you, if we did have young children which I guess eventually will happen they would have to learn to play gently with any dog that we have and would certainly have to be supervised. May I ask you where you got your mini wire haired dachshud from. I have searched the dachshund showcase but don't seem to be getting too much joy. If anybody knows of a reputable breeder I would be thrilled to hear from them.
Thanks
Ps - do you know how to post a smilie on this site? I wanted to post one after thanks but I can't find out how to do it!!!

Hi Alison
Poor Otto and what a thing for a little dog to have to go through and for you all to see. I had not heard of Lafora's disease and will certainly quiz any breeders about it - that is when we finally find a breeder!!!!! - Thank you so much for sharing this information with me. I am so glad you are happy with your Shih tzu. I just kind of have my heart set on a MWD have done for years hope we find one soon though.
Van

Van, have a look on the www.the-kennel-club.org.uk.
As for posting smilies, click on help at the top of the page, this tells you how to do it.
Hope this helps.

All the best with your search for a WHD and hope you find one soon! I know just how you feel about them and I'm sure yours will be disease-free! As I said, Lafora's is very rare and I'm sure reputable breeders are aware and careful of it.
I wouldn't have said anything about it but I feel it's better to know about these things and I'd feel so guilty for not giving out that kind of info.
Last year when I was looking, I found a breeder by looking for them in google - afraid i've lost the address of the Chairman of mini WHDs.... but his name was Ian Seath and he might be able to direct you to the right breeder. He sounded like he knew his stuff!
Best of luck
Alison

Ditto what Alison says about proper handling. Because of their long backs they can get bad back problems if handled incorrectly. Someone once said if a bridge were built on the proportions of a daxie it would break in minutes! So they really are a wonder of nature LOL! It really is a matter of supporting the whole back when picking them up and handling them.

Though I have to say ours, as adults, did always get on the furniture and were great little acrobats - there was no problem with them jumping once they reached full size.

Wendy

Thanks Wendy & Alison
I actually spoke to a lady today who breeds MWD's so fingers crossed we may have one as soon as the end of May. I am sooooo exited. My one worry is that I am not sure if they can handle long walks ie an hour and a half or more as we are huge walking addicts. I am sure it will all work out fine though. It is good to find out as much as possible about the breed first and we have certainly tried to do our homework well.
Thanks a million again
Van

As a puppy that would be way too much. As an adult ours used to go hiking with us for 2-3 hours sometimes.

Congrats. I hope it all works out for you:)

Wendy

Wwith that active a lifestyle, had you cionsidered a Standard Wire? When I was on holiday in Europe, the hunters use the Wire Daxhs for Boar hunting, and they were certainly athletic and capable of long trecks in the forest.

Van, I found my docs on Ian Seath's website - the address is www.sunsong.co.uk
He told me Laforays is still in the mini WH Dax and not too many breeders are open about it. He suggested a Standard as being a safer bet(mind you, he breeds Standards!!)
Here is the name and number of the Secretary of the WH Dax Club -
Laura Sexton 0208 302 5919
Ian's number is 01628 529936
He said the Standards tend to have fewer back probs but I'm not sure that's true!
If you still love the minis best - go for them!
Before Otto was ill, he could walk for miles though I think Standards are probably a bit more robust for exercise. They're both fab dogs anyway and I'm sure you'll love whatever you get!!
Just be careful - breeders can be tricky and it's best to go and see several before you decide - if possible!! good luck and
All the best
Alison

Van, minis can walk for miles, don't worry about that. They're not lap dogs, they're extremely hardy.
I've often gone over to Cumbria and hiked round the big lakes there with my lot, they love it.
As for the back problems, i've had three that have suffered with degenerative disc disease. I lost one with it, and have had two recover from it, it's something you need to be aware of, i.e. no stairs, or jumping on the furniture.
After discussions with breeders, i believe that it's in the breeding, so be very careful and ask about this from the breeder you choose.
I've never had a problem with Laforays (i've never heard of it until now), and i've had three mini wires, so it must be very rare. I've had dachsies for the last 19 years, no other breed beats them in my opinion.
Good luck in your search.

Thanks again to you all for the advice you have given me. I never expected so many wonderful responses. It is great to know that there are so many caring responsible dog owners out there. I don't think we ever considered a standard Dachshund we just keep coming around and around to the mini. I will certainly be contacting Ian though thanks for that and thank you again to eveyone who has helped. - van