Do Dachshunds Bite?
5/16/2008By: Dachshund Lover
Yesterday I was at the Thousand Oaks Post Office to pick up my mail and a poster with a Dachshund, along with several other dogs, caught my eye. I picked up my mail and came back to read that next week (starting May 18th) is National Dog Bite Awareness Week.
It’s was strange that a picture of a Dachshund was prominently posted in the upper left hand corner of the poster. I had to ask myself “do Dachshunds bite?”
Now, being owner of three Dachshunds, I have to admit that I’m biased. But like all dogs, Dachshunds do bite.
I don’t think that Chloe would ever bite anything. She is the most passive loving dog we have. Molly is timid, will bark, run away and never bite unless really provoked.
Odie, on the other hand, is very protective. I fear that he would bite someone if they got too close and he wasn’t on a leash. Fortunately, our Dachshunds never have bitten anyone.
It doesn’t mean that they won’t. We’re just careful and introduce them to strangers so that they will know they are not a danger to us. Like all dogs, you really need to keep Doxies leashed and under control.
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Topics: Dog Training Tips |
If you (and by you, I mean everyone) haven’t read the Dog Whisperer books, they’re books I believe every dog owner should read. They really explain how dogs think and after reading them you’d really know whether your dog is likely to actually bite someone or not. If your dog has even the possibility that it would bite someone its a sign that your dog needs some serious changes.
Dogs that are frightened a little or not socialized or bark a lot or even seemingly viscously insecure are different than dogs that will bite, but the differences are subtle. The books will teach you to know the difference.
Most important, dogs that will bite are dogs that aren’t having their basic needs met. And for owners that love their dogs, that’s almost scarier that the fact that they might bite someone.
@Matt you raised some really good points. I think the reason Odie may be overly protective is because of me. He senses it in me cause I fear that he might injure and I’m overly protective of him.
Like I said, the other two I don’t believe it is in their nature to bite. But I don’t have a nagging insecurity about them.
I haven’t read the Dog Whisperer books, but my wife has and tells me that I should read them. Perhaps I should take both your and my wife’s advice.
Yeah, definitely read them. They will change the way you think about your dogs in an everyday way, and a good way. They tend to cause a little guilt, but just power through it. (And I work from home and have a puppy I haven’t yet messed up, I still felt guilty!) None of us can be as perfect as he claims to be, but it’s more the general knowledge that helps.
I have found that the knowledge from his books is essential. But after you’ve read them and want to go about fixing normal problems, other dog trainers give more concrete advice that’s going to be more useful. Cesar tends to come up with very grandiose solutions to problems that are way more difficult than they need to be. And he admits he’s not a trainer, and he’s right, he isn’t.
I like the show It’s Me Or The Dog on Animal Planet. She’s a great trainer. Some of the things she does are like magic, and really work. Like the hand signal she uses for “sit.” She has the same basic beliefs as Cesar, but is more practical.
Yes they certainly do bite!
I’m a groomer, so I’ve deal with a couple of doxies that I didn’t know personally. And of course we have to do some unpleasant things such as clip nails or trim feathering on the legs. Many dogs will bite when you fuss with their legs. But for dachshunds its especially easy because their short legs are very close to their face (and my face because i’m trying to see what i’m doing). Not only will doxies bite, but its hard to prevent the biters from chomping you unless you use a muzzle. Whereas on other dogs I’m able to restrain them, get nails done asap, and avoid muzzles, with the short legs of a dachshund its hard to hold the leg in such a way that will restrain the dog and prevent a bite. Often to get things done quickly and safely you need a second person to hold the dog (many dogs need this, but for doxies its especially important because we want to avoid back injury).
As much as I’m afan of Caesar Millan, this has nothing to do with dog psychology. This has to do with a dog trying to ease discomfort in the most efficient way they know of. and it has to do with the advantage of having short legs their face being so close to their legs (and the groomer’s face!).
Of course I don’t speak for other occasions when a doxie (or any other dog) will bite. But just saying, the grooming table is a time when many dogs will, dachshunds included.
@Tatyana, very good point of view from someone who works with dogs all day long.
Bath day is always stressful for our dogs, whether or not they go to the groomers or if we do it.
I know that I cannot trim Odie’s nails so I have the Vet trim them. Odie has very sensitive paws.
No matter how often I groom Molly, her baby-fine hair always tangles and doesn’t like them combed out. So I need to be careful.
i’m getting a doxie! i hope mine won’t bite.