Hound · Germany
Dachshundtemperament, daily life and costs
Small, funny and braver than their legs suggest. A big personality that likes being close to you.
Origin & original purpose: Dachshunds were bred in Germany to follow badgers (Dachs) underground: small, fearless hunters with a bark big enough to carry out of a burrow.
- They usually live
- 12–16 years
- Roughly, per year
- €1000–1700
Life with a Dachshund
What people love about them
- Fits happily into a small home
- Doesn't need long walks
- Bright and full of character
- Good company, always underfoot
Things to weigh up honestly
- Backs are genuinely fragile — no stairs or jumping off the sofa
- Likes the sound of their own voice, often at the doorbell
- Can be stubborn about training — expect to negotiate
- Puts on weight easily, which is hard on that long back
What they're like
Some breeds shed less than others, which people with allergies sometimes find easier to live with. But no dog is completely allergy-free, and reactions vary from person to person.
A typical day together
- 07:00
Morning Routine
A walk of 15–23 minutes before the day starts properly. Ten minutes of training or a scent game keeps their head busy.
- 12:00
Midday & Independence
Midday is the hard part — they'd rather not be left for long stretches, so most homes need a plan for it.
- 17:30
Evening Energy Burn
A longer outing later on — 30–45 minutes across the day in total — then settling down with you.
- 21:00
Decompression & Care
A quick brush once a week is usually enough
Estimated daily active commitment: ~0.5 hours
What they ask of you
- Exercise
- 30–45 min a day
- Your time
- 5–7 hours a week
- Walks, training, coat care and play together
- Space
- Content in a flat, provided they get out often enough
- Coat care
- A quick brush once a week is usually enough
- Typical yearly cost
- €1000–1700
- Food, insurance, routine vet care and grooming. Illness and emergencies come on top.
- Lifespan
- 12–16 years
- The whole of that time is the commitment, not just the puppy year.
What a year with this dog costs
An honest estimate, built from this breed's size and coat. Adjust the two things that really move the number, and you'll see the range change as you go.
Where you live
Insurance included
Professional grooming
- Food
- €285–€420
- Routine vet care and insurance
- €420–€630
- Grooming
- €45–€115
- Equipment and consumables
- €145–€255
- Buffer for the unexpected
- €105–€285
Your likely year
€1,000–€1,705
about €83–€142 a month
Real costs vary by country, by the size and appetite of your own dog, and by their health. Illness, dental work and emergencies can sit well above this range, which is why the buffer is here at all.
Best suited for
- Quieter homes and shorter, gentler walks
- Flats and town living
- Someone who likes a dog with its own opinions
Important things to consider
- Vocal by nature, which matters where neighbours are close
- Finds long days alone genuinely hard
- Feels the cold, so winter needs a coat and shorter outings
Health considerations
Back problems (IVDD) affect a good number of Dachshunds and can be serious, so the kindest things you can do are keep them slim, carry them on stairs and gently discourage jumping. Wire-haired lines tend to have fewer back issues. Some varieties have DNA tests for eye disease (cord1-PRA) and Lafora disease.
A poor match if…
- You're several flights up with no lift
- You need a quiet dog in a building with thin walls
- Little ones at home would love to scoop the dog up and carry it about
Key trade-offs
- Small enough to take anywhere, with the voice and confidence of a much bigger dog
- Clever and independent-minded, so recall and house-training usually take a bit more patience
Questions people ask before committing to a Dachshund
- Is a Dachshund good with children?
- Usually fine with children who have been shown how to behave around a dog. As with any breed, the mix of good manners and adult supervision matters more than the label.
- Can a Dachshund live in an apartment?
- Yes — apartments suit a Dachshund well. Give it a fixed resting spot and reliable walks and the space itself is rarely the problem.
- How much exercise does a Dachshund need each day?
- Plan for around 45 minutes of real activity a day, split into more than one outing, plus something that uses its head — scent games, training, or a proper sniffing walk.
- Does a Dachshund shed a lot?
- Light shedding. A weekly brush usually keeps things under control.
- Is a Dachshund a good first dog?
- A reasonable first dog if you prepare. Read up, book a course early, and keep the daily routine simple.
- How long can a Dachshund be left alone?
- Around 2 hours at a stretch once fully grown and gradually trained for it. Longer days need a dog walker, day care or someone dropping in — and a puppy needs far shorter stretches at first.
- What does a Dachshund cost per year?
- Budget roughly €1000–1700 a year for food, routine vet care, insurance, grooming and everyday kit. Country, size and individual health move that figure quite a bit, and a single unlucky year can cost more.
These answers come from the same trait numbers used everywhere on DoggMatch — no marketing, no guesswork.
Read more before you decide
The guides that matter most for this breed, written in plain language.
Compare with similar breeds
Side by side on exercise, coat, time alone and cost — the things that decide how the week actually feels.
- Dachshund
Basenji
Beagle
Basset Hound
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