Dachshunds live a long time — often 12 to 16 years — and you should plan to keep your new friend through thick and thin, for better or for worse, unless it's absolutely impossible to do so. Dachshunds (and all dogs, for that matter) are living, breathing, sentient beings who form a relationship with you, depend on a regular routine, and look to you for guidance, care, and affection. Although they may be considered chattel by legal definition, they are more than property. They feel pain, loss, and neglect if they're hurt, abandoned, or abused. If you take on the responsibility of a dog, take it on for life. Don't let your friend down. And if you absolutely must give up your dog, at least see that it finds a new home where it can receive proper care and love.