Are Dachshunds good family dogs? Often yes, with two real caveats that most breed pages skate over: the back, and the barking. Neither is a reason not to get one. Both decide whether you end up happy.
This is the honest version, from a breeder rather than a brochure.
The short answer
Dachshunds are devoted, funny, portable and tougher than they look. They bond intensely with their people and are genuinely good company.
They are also loud, stubborn, prone to guarding their person, and built on a spine that children can injure by accident. Families who do well with them go in knowing that. Families who expect a small, easy, placid dog are frequently surprised.
This page answers whether the breed fits a household. If you want the prior question — what a Dachshund is actually like as a dog, how intelligent it is and why it behaves the way it does — the temperament guide covers it in full.
Dachshunds and children
The deciding factor is usually the age of the child, not the temperament of the dog.
Under five. Hard work. Not because Dachshunds dislike toddlers, but because a toddler cannot reliably be taught to support a long spine when lifting. One badly handled pick-up can cause real damage. If you have a toddler, either wait or commit to a hard rule that the child never lifts the dog at all.
Five to ten. Usually good, with teaching. Children this age can learn the lifting rule, the no-jumping-off-the-sofa rule, and to leave a sleeping dog alone.
Ten and up. Often excellent. Old enough to handle the dog properly and to enjoy the training, which Dachshunds respond to well from anyone who brings food.
A standard Dachshund is more robust with young children than a miniature, purely on body mass — our guide to miniature versus standard covers the trade-offs.
The one rule every family member needs
Support the chest and the hindquarters at the same time, keeping the spine level. Never lift by the front legs. Never scoop under the chest alone. Never let the back end dangle.
Teach it to every child, every grandparent and every visitor. It takes thirty seconds and it is the single most protective habit in the house. The full picture is in our guide to Dachshund back problems.
Ramps to the sofa, a gate at the stairs, and no jumping down from furniture belong in the same category. Introduce them from day one — a puppy that grows up using ramps keeps using them.
The barking, honestly
Dachshunds bark. They were bred to bark underground so the hunter could find them, and the volume is genuinely disproportionate to the dog.
For a family this cuts two ways. You get an excellent early-warning system that notices everything. You also get a dog that announces the postman, the neighbour’s car and a leaf.
It can be reduced substantially with consistent work — our guide to training a Dachshund covers the method — but not eliminated. If you live in a flat with thin walls or a noise-sensitive household, factor that in before rather than after.
Other pets
Other dogs: generally fine, particularly with early socialisation. They are bold to the point of being unaware of their own size, which is worth watching around much larger dogs.
Cats: usually workable, especially if raised together.
Small pets — hamsters, rabbits, guinea pigs: this is the real problem. Dachshunds were bred to hunt small burrowing animals and the prey drive is intact. Secure separation rather than supervision is the sensible approach.
How much work are they?
Less than most families expect on exercise, more than most expect on attention.
- Exercise: two moderate walks a day suits an adult. Flat ground, on a harness rather than a collar.
- Company: they bond hard and dislike being alone. A household out for ten hours a day is not a good fit.
- Training: short daily sessions, indefinitely. They do not stay trained by themselves.
- House-training: slower than most breeds. Four to six months is normal — see potty training a Dachshund.
- Grooming: depends on coat. Smooth is almost nothing; long needs brushing two or three times a week.
Who should not get one
We would rather say this than sell you a puppy that does not fit.
- Households out of the home all day
- Anyone who needs a quiet dog
- Families with toddlers who cannot commit to the no-lifting rule
- Homes with free-roaming small pets
- Anyone wanting reliable off-lead recall in open country — scent beats training in this breed more often than not
- Anyone who cannot absorb a potential surgical vet bill; back problems are the breed’s defining risk and pet insurance deserves serious thought
Frequently asked questions
Are Dachshunds good with kids?
Generally yes from school age. Under five is harder, mostly because of safe lifting rather than temperament.
Are miniature Dachshunds better for families than standards?
A standard is more robust with young children. Temperament is the same.
Do Dachshunds bark a lot?
Yes. It can be reduced, not removed.
Can they be left alone?
For a few hours, once adult and gradually accustomed. Not for a full working day.
How long do they live?
Twelve to sixteen years, often well into the teens.
Are they good first dogs?
They can be, for an owner who enjoys training a dog with opinions. They are not a low-effort starter breed.
Thinking about it?
We would rather talk you out of a puppy than sell you the wrong one. See who is available, read about the breed, or ask us anything — including whether we think a Dachshund suits your household.
