Last Updated on May 18, 2022 by Marco
Dachshunds come in many visually-different types but how about their temperament? Here are the 5 ways the long haired dachshund personality is different from other Doxies. We are singling out long-haired dachshunds as their personality differences seem to spark the most conversations but we’ll touch on what’s unique about the temperaments of smooth and wire-haired dachshunds too.
What Is The Long Haired Dachshund Personality?
It’s the personality of a dachshund, quite simply put. Yes, long-haired dachshunds do have a few slight differences but they are dachshunds through and through at the end of the day. So, if you’re expecting an entirely different breed – don’t.
How Is The Long Haired Dachshund Personality Different From Other Doxie Coat Types?
Long-haired Doxies have soft and wavy coats and, coincidentally, their temperament is also believed to be a bit softer than that of their wire and smooth haired cousins. To expand a bit on that, however, here are the 5 main differences in the long-haired dachshund personality you can expect to see:
- Long haired Doxies are a bit calmer
Read more about 10 Best Long Haired Dachshund Brush Models
- They are also said to be a bit gentler and more affectionate
- Long-haired dachshunds tend to be friendlier and more easy-going around guests, strangers, and other canines
- Some of the base dachshund instincts such as prey drive and the love for digging also seem a bit lower
- Long-haired dachshunds are believed to be less noisy too – they can still bark when they want to, they just seem to do it less often
All this sounds like a major difference and it sometimes could be but it usually isn’t. In fact, as there’s no empirical and objective way to quantify temperamental characteristics, all five of the above “differences” are just the beliefs and opinions of dachshund owners, nothing more.
Add to that the individual differences each dog has even in the same litter, and to say that “every long-haired dachshund is always calmer than a smooth or wire-haired dachshund” is just not correct. Overall – sure, maybe. But it’s not that major of a difference.
So, if you think that a long-haired dachshund won’t need socialization cause it’s naturally more social or that it won’t need obedience training as it’s calmer – that’d be a mistake.
Why Is The Long Haired Dachshund Personality Different?
The same reason why dachshunds have three distinct coat types is why they have different personalities – each coat type was made by mixing different breeds. Or, rather – the original smooth-haired dachshund type was later mixed with additional dogs to produce the two newer varieties – long and wire-haired dachshunds.
In the case of wire-haired dachshunds, they are a combination of smooth-haired dachshunds with a few wire-haired terrier breeds. As for long-haired Doxies – for them, the smooth-haired dachshund was bred with spaniels.
And since spaniels tend to have a softer and calmer personality than the traditionally willful and obstinate smooth-haired dachshund, some of that softness transferred over to the long-haired Doxie. Similarly, as they have a bit of terrier in them, wire-haired dachshunds tend to be extra rowdy, mischievous, and playful.
Should This Slight Difference Inform Your Choice Of Pet?
It should, in part. But relying just on that likely won’t be enough. While there do seem to be differences between the smooth, wire, and long-haired dachshund personality traits, they are neither guaranteed nor all that significant. Dachshunds are individualists, after all – more so than many other breeds.
So, if you want a Doxie with particular personality characteristics, it’s much more important to look at the pup’s litter and try to assess the pup’s personality based on its interactions with its siblings. Does the pup always get to its mother’s teats before its siblings or is it always last? Does it play a lot or is it more chill? Things like that can give you more information than the coat type of the dog.
But, going for a long-haired dachshund if you want a calmer and more chill Doxie isn’t a bad idea either. Just don’t rely solely on that.
FAQs
Are long haired Dachshunds calmer?
Compared to smooth and wire haired dachshunds? Yes, long haired dachshunds are considered to be a little calmer. They are also believed to be a bit more social, somewhat quieter (or less noisy), and not to have as strong of a prey drive and digging instincts.
Do keep in mind that these differences are not all that significant and are basically impossible to quantify. Long haired dachshunds are still dachshunds so they have mostly the same personalities as wire and smooth haired Doxie. They are just a little “softer” thanks to the bit of spaniel they have in their distant heritage.
Are long haired Dachshunds good family dogs?
They are, especially if your family wants a mostly indoors, cute, and funny dog with a nice and mellow personality. Dachshunds, the long haired variety, in particular, are a nice middle ground between an energetic and playful breed and an overly passive “lap dog” breed. In that sense, they are a perfect family companion. They are still dachshunds, of course, so they can be a bit obstinant when it comes to training but that’s it.
Do long haired Dachshunds bark a lot?
Dachshunds are neither the loudest dog breed out there nor are they particularly quiet – they are very “middle of the road” in that regard. So, if you want an especially silent breed, you might want to look elsewhere. Or, you can just employ some basic obedience training and no-bark training, and teach your Doxie not to be too loud too. Plus, the calmer personality of long haired dachshunds compared to wire and smooth haired ones, makes them even less noisy.
Are long haired Dachshunds aggressive?
Not at all, not unless you’ve skipped their socialization or you provoke them too much. All dachshunds in general are low on aggressive tendancies, and long haired dachshunds are believed to be even calmer than other dachshunds. As we said, however – you should not skip their socialization. Miss that part and a dachshund – even a long haired one – can become aggressive toward guests, strangers, other dogs, kids, etc.
Jordan is an animal–lover who specializes in dachshunds. He has owned and cared for dachshunds since he was a child, and his passion for these unique dogs has only grown with time. Jordan is an avid researcher and learner, and spends a large portion of his free time studying the history, behaviour, and health of dachshunds. He has a knack for training and socializing his own dogs, and loves introducing them to new experiences. When not caring for his own pets, Jordan likes to volunteer at local animal rescue shelters, helping to find homes for abandoned dachshunds. He is a true animal advocate, and dedicates his time to ensure that all animals receive the love, respect, and care they deserve.
