Is a Dachshund a Good Family Dog?

Updated 04/16/2025 by Ava Jaine

Yes, a Dachshund can be a good family dog. However, it’s important to be well-informed and prepared before bringing one into your home.

Dachshunds are a unique breed full of personality, especially when it comes to training and temperament.

Many new Dachshund owners find themselves overwhelmed by the challenges that come with raising these high alert hounds.

Is a Dachshund a Good Family Dog? Let’s explore why they can be and what you need to know to make the experience positive for everyone.

What Type of Dog is a Dachshund?

That is a great question! Many folks describe the Dachshund as bold, stubborn, feisty, and bossy.

While all of these traits are true, there is so much more to this breed that can only be understood through experience and an appreciation of their ‘doxie quirks’.

What type of dog is a Dachshund? Here’s a summary of what to expect when welcoming a Dachshund into your family.

Personality: Dachshunds are experts at using their adorable puppy eyes to get what they want, which can lead to behavior issues if not properly managed.

They require lots of attention, structure, and training to maintain a healthy balance at home.

Letting them get away with everything is how many doxie parents believe they are showing them love, but all Dachshunds need clear boundaries to grow and show respect to their alpha, you!

Post You Should Read: How to Stop Dachshund Behavior Problems
Health: Dachshunds have an obsession with food, especially people food.

Many owners gladly share their meals and snacks with their doxies, which unfortunately leads to obesity and increases their risk of severe back issues.

It’s important to monitor their diet and keep them at a healthy weight.

Post You Should Read: 3 Easy Ways to Keep Your Dachshund Healthy
They Don’t Like Being Alone: Doxies love to be around their people. They will often act out and destroy household belongings to show their owners how upset they are when they leave.

So, if you have a doxie and you work outside the home, hiring a dog walker or a doggie day care to keep them occupied during the day is often a requirement.

Post You Should Read: How to Train a Dachshund to Be Alone.
Hard to Live Without: The special bond between Dachshunds and their owners is so incredibly deep. Many would describe this connection as unlike any other.

While training can be challenging, once a Dachshund is a well-established family dog, they become a loyal shadow, always by your side. Protecting you and your family from everything that moves with their booming bark!

Why Do So Many Dachshund Owners Struggle?

It’s not uncommon to hear about owner struggles with training, managing their unique temperament, or coping with unexpected behaviors.

Choosing a Dachshund over other dog breeds is similar to the “bunny and chick effect” at Easter. Kids receive fluffy new pets for Easter, but as they grow, they often become unwanted because they require a lot more work than anticipated.

Dachshunds are some of the cutest puppies ever. They are a very desirable breed because of their extremely adorable features.

Many owners even end up getting two puppies at once because they are so small and cute. What could go wrong?

Post You Should Read: 7 Risks of Adopting Two Dachshund Puppies at the Same Time!

First Steps for Future Dachshund Owners

If you are someone who has dreamed of raising a Dachshund without any prior experience with the breed, yes, it still can be done.

Start with reading some Dachshund Puppy Care Posts to get a real feel for what raising a Dachshund will entail.

It’s the responsible thing to do, and believe me, raising a Dachshund will be so much easier on you and your family if you are prepared.

Watch videos to familiarize yourself with the breed. Some of the most informative Dachshund videos are, of course, on our Dachshund Station YouTube Channel. Check them out!

Where It All Started for Me

So, where did all of this Dachshund knowledge come from? I was a young child when my parents adopted our first mini Dachshund, Heidi. She was a good family dog for my little sister and me… most of the time.

As a child, I am sure I wasn’t the most gentle or aware of her preferred comfort zone. Yet, she was very patient with me. I used to carry her around like my own personal baby doll, and she usually didn’t mind.

But I also remember times when my dad would have to get after her for stealing food, swallowing candy, or chewing my sister’s retainer and hiding under the bed.

There was a very sad incident when she got after our pet duck – a real ‘circle of life’ eye-opener for my childhood.

As an adult, I learned that Dachshunds have a very strong hunting instinct, which, if not carefully managed, can make it hard to own other small pets in the same home.

It’s in the Family

Heidi was actually the third Dachshund in my dad’s family. My grandparents had Trooper, a very feisty mini Dachshund, and my aunt and uncle had Charles, the loveable standard Dachshund who survived the dreaded IVDD.

There were stories for decades about Trooper and his antics, especially how he loved giving my grandfather a hard time about everything. Charles was also well-known for his supercharged eating habits.

Though Charles and Trooper were before my time, these stories definitely provided me with some of the best Dachshund education early in life. They were valuable insights for my future ownership of Dachshunds, that’s for sure.

Life with Dachshunds

Now that I’ve had 20+ years of experience with the Dachshund dog breed as an adult, I’ve gained a whole lot of doxie insight to share with others.

I began my journey with Reno and Bastian, whom I raised for many years. Reno was my best friend and Bastian was my hunter who had a strong bond with my dad.

I currently have Eko, who is my feisty, protective Dachshund (piebald Dachshund pictured below). And I have little Gretta, one of the sweetest, but sassiest doxies I’ve ever owned (black and tan mini Dachshund pictured below).

Is a Dachshund a Good Family Dog?

Yes, a Dachshund is a good family pet when properly researched and prepared for.

Lack of preparation often leads to these lovable dogs being surrendered to rescues or shelters, which is why it’s important to know what to expect.

By doing your homework and getting a better understanding of the Dachshund dog breed, you can ensure that a doxie will be a happy member of your family.