Dachshunds come in two different sizes, standard and miniature, and in three different coat types: long-haired, smooth-haired and wire-haired, with each variety developed at slightly different times and for specific purposes. All varieties have long backs and short legs, a long muzzle and long droopy ears, and are often referred to as ‘sausage dogs’ or ‘hot dogs’. Due to their long back, Dachshunds are prone to disc problems and are not designed for leaping about and should be discouraged from running up and down stairs and leaping on and off furniture. However, that does not mean that they aren’t full of energy and they will enjoy regular exercise, which is also important to keep them fit and healthy. Dachshunds are highly entertaining and playful little dogs, who will bask in the attention of their owners and definitely keep everyone on their toes! They can also be mischievous, wilful and destructive at times, so ideally need an owner with the time and patience to train them well. Despite their size, this brave dog will have no problem standing up to much larger dogs and some may be aggressive towards strangers and other dogs without good early socialisation. Overall, Dachshunds make lovable and fun companions, who thrive around their human families. There are some personality differences between the varieties, with the long-coat dachshund being the calmest variety, the wire-coat being the more outgoing and the smooth-coat the most aloof and discerning.