Posted by Tony Sarma - The Vetspert on the 6th August 2009
Jane asked the Petsperts®:
“I really want a miniature sausage dog - is it true that they have an aggressive nature?”
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Hi Jane,
Speaking as a bloke of 5′6″, the phenomenon of “Small Man Syndrome” has always been interesting to me; small doggies (like us midget blokes) frequently get a bad press for being “snappy”!
Certainly Jack Russells and terriers are prone to that; but personally I think that, like children, it’s all down to the upbringing. This question made me stop and think about all the Dachshunds I know - I don’t actually think I’ve ever seen a truly nasty one! Nearly all of them have been quite sweet.
So, no, it’s not something I’d think of. But you do need to make sure you check up on the various problems these dogs are prone to - get insurance, spinal injuries in particular can cost fortunes with these guys. Make sure you’re covered to at LEAST £2500 per condition, to give you an idea of what sort of bills you can get!
I actually checked with a friend of mine who exclusively looks after dogs with spinal problems (so sees a LOT of Dachshunds); he said he has seen nasty Dachshunds, but “rarely”.
So, temperament probably not a problem - but be warned, lovely as they are, they can be expensive in vet bills!
All the best!
Tony
