Dachshunds For Sale – Australia

1. They bark. They can’t help it. It’s in their genetic makeup. They are bred for hunting, and when they are hunting, they use different types of barks to communicate with the hunters. They will bark to alert you to any changes in their environment, from a burglar right down to a bird landing in their yard. They will bark to communicate with you and with other dogs. You can contain the barking with lots of training, but you won’t eliminate it. So if you live somewhere where a barking dog will cause problems, you don’t want a dachshund.
2. They dig. If they can see daylight on the other side of a fence, most of them will dig to try to get to it. If you don’t have solid fencing that reaches right down to the ground, expect some holes. There are exceptions, but if you are super proud of your yard and the thought of holes upsets you, you don’t want a dachshund.
3. They are agile. Way more agile than they look. Do not for one minute be fooled that because they are small and cute, that they don’t get around. They CAN and will jump on the furniture, your lap, get up on your bed, find a way out of the back yard and more. If you don’t want dogs on the furniture or on your lap, you don’t want a dachshund
4. They get fat! Most dachshunds love their food and will put on weight very quickly if you don’t watch their diet. This is worse for dachshunds than it is for most dogs because of their backs. So if you like to feed your dog people food, or extra treats, you don’t want a dachshund.
5. They need to be indoors. Not all the time, but lots of the time. They need to be the centre of attention, and love to spend time with you and your family. If you want a dog simply to live in the back yard, you don’t want a dachshund.
6. They are not easy to housetrain. Most dachies get it, given careful training and patience. If it’s raining or cold outside, you’ll probably find that your little princess won’t step foot outside to go. They will whine to come into the house if left outside, but they won’t do it to get out! They do housetrain, but they are not easy, so if the idea of accidents bothers
   you and you have a pristine white carpet, you don’t want a dachshund.
7. They chew. If they can see something, it belongs to them. They have incredibly strong jaws and teeth, and love to use them. You will need to be super-vigilant about what they can get to, especially as a puppy, and if you can’t bear the thought of losing your favourite Jimmy Choos, then you don’t want a dachshund.
8. They have delusions of grandeur. They have no idea of their size in relation to other dogs. They will happily pick on big dogs in the park to protect you. They were bred to hunt badgers in their holes and have courage that far outweighs the size of their bodies (and their brains!). They are incredibly loyal, so they will protect you and their territory from
   anything, no matter how big the dog. If you don’t like the sound of that, you probably don’t want a dachshund.
9. They are incredibly stubborn. They learn quickly but they are not perfect – what they don’t want to hear and don’t want to see doesn’t exist. Some dachshunds do incredibly well at obedience, but be aware that it is ALWAYS on their terms. They also have selective hearing, so no matter how well trained, if you want a dog that you can walk off the leash, you probably don’t want a dachshund.
10. They want to spend time with you. Obsessively. They will be under your feet, on your lap, in your bed, in front of the fridge when the door opens, in the loo with you. If you like your own space, you don’t want a dachshund.
11. They can be OCD. They like it their way, and that’s about all kinds of things – where they put bones, what food they eat, what time you come home, about where furniture should be, what cushions are allowed on the couch – anything. If you aren’t prepared to spend time reassuring them, you don’t want a dachshund.

And now, if you’ve come this far and you still think that you might want a dachshund after reading all that, this is why. They are one of the most interactive breeds, with huge personalities and so much character. Every single one is unique and a whole lot of fun. Who can resist those big brown eyes and that deceptively sad face? They are loyal and protective of those they love to the very last and one of the most affectionate breeds out there – always ready for a cuddle with a waggy tail and a wet sloppy kiss. They are people magnets – when you walk a dachshund you have to be prepared to meet new people. They are addictive, once you’ve had one, you will probably end up with at least one more and will also be ruined for owning any other breed ever again. They are funny and will make you laugh more than they make you cry. If you’ve read all this and you think you still want a dachshund, you probably do want a dachshund!

**Please note that all dogs are different and your dachshund may exhibit none or all of the characteristics above – this is a generalised outline of the breed, intended for basic information purposes only.

Author: Joanne Emery
www.ivdd.org.au (A fantastic resource for all dachshund owners)

1. What makes a good dachshund breeder?

In my opinion a good breeder is a person that has gained the appropriate knowledge of the breed they are going to produce puppies with, a person who has the knowledge to send a puppy to its new home with all the necessary information about the puppy so it will thrive and the new owner has confidence in rearing their new family addition.

A good breeder has facilities in place and a breeding program to produce – most importantly – healthy and well conformed puppies  from a gene pool that has produced exceptional quality representatives of the breed.

It should be obvious that puppies are well socialised in an inspiring environment that has constant attention and contact with a loving caring breeder

2. Where can prospective owners find a good breeder?

The best place to start is searching for Australian National Kennel Control [ANKC] members which you will find listed in breed section on the dogzonline website

www.dogzonline.com.au and you can certainly utilise Facebook groups again stipulating ANKC registered pups and members .

Also contacting your state affiliate office for breed listings dog Victoria, Dogs Queensland, Dogs West, Dogs NSW and Dogs South Australia. Breeders can also be verified from these contacts .

BIG No No ‘s are Gumtree and trading post and the majority of back yard breeders fb pages . Most often there are scammers on these pages and unscrupulous breeders.

3. What questions should prospective owners ask breeders to ensure they are buying the healthiest, happiest puppy.

When enquiring about a puppy from a breeder, here are some questions you can ask and points to consider:

a. Ensure you puppy is fit for the purpose of pet or possibly show: Is his/ her mouth correct? Are there testicles for male puppies? Are there any dew claws or kinks in tails?  Has the puppy been vet checked for clefts heart? Are the lungs, patella and hocks sound?

b. Ask about any incidents of IVDD in the sire and dam’s history.

c. Ensure there has been DNA testing for PRA cord1 and muscular Dystrophy.

d. Inspect the environment your puppy is reared in .

e. Check that vaccination and microchip is included.

f. Check what age puppy is expected to be available – 10 weeks is ideal, sooner can create settling issues.

4. What should potential owners avoid when looking for a puppy?

On your search for a puppy, avoid becoming impatient is my biggest hint.

• Search safe avenues firstly and avoid breeders that appear set up for turning over numbers just for income.
• There are lots of micro breeders out there and many do very ordinary efforts of rearing and producing quality puppies.
• Breeders charging excessive amounts for fashionable colours and selling to other back yard breeders and micro puppy farmers are a big red flag .
• If you are requested to pay deposits or full payment prior to pick up, tread carefully until you are sure they are genuine person at the other end.
• Breeders that won’t speak to you on the phone or will not forward regular photos or video be careful as you may have found a scammer.
• If registered ANKC breeder, ask for prefix and state body they are affiliated with and contact for verification of their details.

5. Do you have any other advice?

• Do as much research as you can via Facebook and registering bodies or clubs.
• Do not pay in full until pick up if in person and if flying move forward when your  confident you have a genuine Breeder .
• If the deal is too good to be true walk away.

I hope my perspective on breeders and puppy searching helps with a family finding the perfect outcome.

Kind Regards Vicki