Keeping your dachshund safe, happy, and healthy requires owning all the necessary pet supplies, finding a good veterinarian, and looking for the warning signs of dachshund back problems. ©Masarik / Shutterstock.comFinding a good vet for your dachshundWhen you’re looking for a veterinarian, you want someone that you and your dachshund are comfortable seeing.

Dachshunds have all the basic needs of a dog, but they come with a few of their own special quirks and considerations. If you have your heart set on owning a Dachshund, you must be ready to handle a few extras. The following list presents the common characteristics of Dachshunds: Dachshunds have fragile backs.

Dachshunds are one of only a handful of dog breeds eligible to participate in field trials. The purpose of field trials is to give breeds designed for field work the opportunity to exercise their natural abilities — their penchant for hunting, following a scent, and cornering vermin. Dachshund field trials are different from field trials for other dogs, like retrievers.

Despite taking preventive measures, a Dachshund sometimes will suffer a disk herniation where the disk bulges out from between the vertebrae in the spinal column. If this happen to your dog, you must know what to do, and you must do it fast. However, you can't do anything if you don't know that your Dachshund is having a problem in the first place.

Many Dachshunds are waiting patiently for new homes in breed rescue programs. Adopting a Dachshund from a rescue organization is a great way to find a lovable companion. Many of these dogs are wonderful, devoted, well-trained family members who just got the short end of the bone for one reason or another and no longer have a place to go.

Dachshunds have four basic personality characteristics. Knowing them and taking advantage of the personality traits of Dachshunds will help you take and maintain control. You're the top dog in your dog's pack (or at least you should be), so you need to know how your dog thinks. The hunter/tracker Dachshunds were bred to hunt, to track scents, and to follow their quarry — with unwavering persistence and courage beyond their size — until the prize is won.

In general, your Dachshund will probably stay pretty healthy throughout most of her life. Know how to recognize common health issues in Dachshunds so you can get your dog the right treatment right away. When treated promptly, most conditions can be treated successfully. Identifying back injuries Back injuries are the most common type of Dachshund health problem.

Is the Dachshund the right breed for you? Before you proceed further in your quest for the Dachshund of your dreams, think carefully about the pros and cons of Dachshund servitude (because, as you'll soon see, Dachsies own you, not the other way around). The pros of owning a Dachshund There are some major benefits to owning a Dachshund: Dachshunds love you unconditionally.

Keeping your Dachshund well-groomed is an important part of maintaining her overall health. When you regularly groom your Dachshund not only do you improve your bond with your animal, you have the opportunity to spot problems before they get out of hand. Basic grooming A regular grooming routine will usually consist of Brushing: Brush your dog's coat with a soft-bristled dog brush.