Standard Wire-haired Dachshund

[Cougar]

Hi all - have put this here for traffic (dachshund thread is a bit quiet!).

So as title asks - does anyone here have a standard wire dachshund? We're currently considering one as our next dog and I'd be interested in chatting with people who have them to find out some more info. We're heading off to the Melbourne Royal next week with the hope of meeting some breeders, fingers crossed there'll be some! Standard wires don't seem to be all that common/popular from the little research I've done so far.

We met a standard wire at LA airport earlier this year and were pretty taken by him, he was just a cracking little dog - which is why we're interested in them. We've always had big dogs, so this is quite a departure for us!!

At any rate, any info would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Wilbur]

Hi Cougar

My mother used to breed Std Wires in NZ and I have had considerable experience with these charmers. They are real characters. There are a couple of breeders in NSW and you should see some at Melbourne Royal as there is a breeder there also. Check out breed pages on DOL for contacts

[SUGEE76]

Hi There

My dad is a breeder - has been for over 30 years now

I grew up with them - feel free to fire any questions my way

[SUGEE76]

I will tell you this much they are a wonderful family pet

I find them to be a lot more outgoing and confident than the smooth and long haired varieties

They are great with kids - the things I used to put mine throug dressing them in dolls clothes (I was 4 at the time and did not know any better)

Very protective - for a little dog they have one heck of a bark if provoked

They love to be a part of the family - rides in the car, curled up on your lap on the couch as you watch TV and sleeping at the foot of the bed

The wires do need more grooming than the smooth - I still groom my mum's 14 year old wire every month as the hair can get a little wild in winter. I like to clip her in summer in a bid to keep her cooler

The only thing I would say is you have to watch them jumping down from say couches or high levels - repeated jumping and large staircases can over time result in back injuries and weekness.

For a little dog they really can keep up with the big dogs and love to go on long walks and swims at the beach etc. whatever it takes to be by your side they will make it happen

I hope that you can find some breeders at Melbourne - my dad sometimes goes down but I don't think he is headed there this year - most likely he will be at the Canberra/Sydney shows

I think if you look on the breeders page you can see plenty of pics of show dogs from the Wire variety

All the best with your quest!

[Cougar]

Thanks wilbur and Sugee - aren't those pups just gorgeous!!

I think its the stairs thing that worries me the most - we have a split level house with 2 sets of 2 stairs and I'm concerned that that's not a good thing with the dachshund back. Would this be a problem do you think? Like many things, seems like everyone has a different opinion on the stairs issue.

I also find the coat type/personality thing fascinating! Obviously there's variation within a breed, but what you've said about the wires being more outgoing lines up with what the man in the airport said. He was very nice, as was his dog!

[Trisven13]

We were seated opposite some lovely Standard Wires at the Melbourne Royal two years ago. They were absolutely delightful and had fabulous personalities. The red ones look quite a bit like a Fauve which is probably why I love the look of them and there is a lot of talk that they were a breed used when the Fauves were being re-established after WW1 & WW2.