Dachshund

Dachshunds can do well with children who already know how to be calm and gentle. Expect a small dog that is moderately active, sheds a normal amount and needs regular brushing. Fine alone for a few hours.

Source: American Kennel Club breed standard.

The name means "badger dog" in German, and that is exactly the job: go down a badger sett, alone, in the dark, and confront something that fights back. It explains everything about the breed's personality. Dachshunds are brave out of all proportion to their size, stubborn, loud, and utterly convinced they are large. They make excellent, funny, devoted companions and terrible obedience competitors. The shape carries a serious cost — intervertebral disc disease is common, and roughly one in four Dachshunds is affected at some point. Practical consequences: no jumping off sofas or beds, use a ramp, keep them lean, and support the whole body when you lift. Three coat types exist; the wire and long coats need more brushing than the smooth.

Day to day. Moderately active — a proper daily walk plus some play in the garden or the hallway keeps this breed happy. On noise, it is very vocal, so thin walls and close neighbours are worth thinking about.

The coat, honestly. This breed sheds a normal amount and needs regular brushing. A brush a few times a week and the occasional tidy-up keeps it in good order.

Being left alone. Fine alone for a few hours. A few hours is fine; a full working day, every day, is asking a lot.

Training. Needs an experienced handler. That does not mean badly behaved — it means this breed thinks for itself, and it will not do something just because you asked. First-time owners often find it frustrating.

• You are short on space and want a dog that fits your home

• You share walls with neighbours who need quiet
• You want a dog that does as it is told the first time

Every animal is an individual, and plenty of Dachshunds live long, healthy lives. This is here so nobody is surprised — ask a vet, and ask whoever you get the dog from what they have tested for.

Rough running cost: $$ (middle of the pack) — because the breed has known health issues that can mean extra vet visits.

Those are relative bands, not live prices. For real numbers across every pet we cover, see the pet cost study and the cost calculator.

Rescues do have Dachshunds and Dachshund crosses, usually adults whose size, coat and temperament you can see rather than guess at.