Overview: A very popular breed, you may be familiar with the Dachshund breed by the endearing name “wiener dog”. They have acquired that name quite obviously through their appearance that features a long body with short legs, giving them the appearance of a weiner/sausage. Both the standard Dachshund and the Miniature Dachshund are very popular breeds, as their small size and unique look make them a favorite of many dog enthusiasts. Miniature Dachshunds should weigh no more than eleven pounds, with standard Dachshunds reaching an adult weight of no more than twenty eight pounds. Like many small dog breeds, Dachshunds enjoy long lifespans which can reach up to fifteen years.

Exercise Requirements: The Dachshund has low to moderate exercise needs and will do well in a apartment as long as it is provided a daily walk and off leash outdoor opportunities. As a hound, the Dachshund will especially appreciate opportunities to sniff and follow outdoor trails whenever safely possible.

Grooming: The amount of grooming required for the Dachshund breed largely depends on whether you have a Short haired, long haired, or wire haired dog. While short haired Dachshund can do with only an occasional brushing, the long and wired hairs should be brushed twice weekly and bathed whenever an odor is present.

Training: The Dachshund is a hound that was bred to track small game, and like others from these roots can be difficult to train due to their stubborn nature. Firm consistency and positive reinforcement is a must when training any hound, including the clever but independently minded Dachshund breed. Furthermore, this breed is notoriously difficult to house break and may not be best suited for those without previous dog training experience.

Health Concerns: Like many popular dog breeds, the Dachshund has been subjected to a large amount of inbreeding to fulfill public demands for this breed. It’s of the utmost importance to purchase your Dachshund from a reputable breeder or rescue, and to avoid places like pet store that almost certainly have poor quality breeding stock. Dachshunds are prone to obesity and should have their food intake closely monitored, with free feeding (leaving food out all the time) avoided if possible. Obesity is very dangerous in dogs and raises the chances of health issues developing.

Dachshunds are prone to epilepsy, luxating patellas, progressive retinal atrophy, cataracts and back issues due to their build. While it is important not to allow any dog to become obese, it is particularly important in the Dachshund due to problems extra weight can cause for their spine (again due to their build).

Exercise Requirements: The Miniature Pinscher breed tends to have a higher energy level than most smaller breed dogs, and need to have their exercise requirements satisfactorily met. Failure to do so will most likely lead to a bored dog who make engage in destructive behaviors such as chewing objects (ex. furniture or shoes). While miniature Pinschers can get a fair amount of exercise indoors, they should be provided with a long daily walk in addition to outdoor off leash time when possible. Most Min Pins will not be happy to simply play the role of a lapdog and enjoy romps in the woods and other exercise and socialization opportunities.

Grooming: As a sleek, short haired breed the miniature Pinscher does not require a great deal of grooming. A weekly brushing (which literally only takes minutes), and the occasional bath will keep their coat in good condition and minimize shedding. Miniature Pinchers are not known to be a heavy shedding breed.

Training: While Min Pins are quiet smart their high energy level can make them difficult to train, especially as puppies. It is important to enroll the miniature Pinscher breed in obedience classes from an early age and to continually work on training with them, as this is the best way to ensure that they wll grow to be well adjusted family members. This is not a suitable breed for someone who does not have a good amount of free time to spend exercising and training their dog.

Health Concerns: Robust and healthy, the miniature Pincher breed is not plagued by a great deal of health problems and it is not uncommon for Min Pins to live over thirteen years. However ,they are somewhat prone to conditions that other small dog breeds are such as luxating patella and progressive retinal atrophy. They also have a higher than average incident rate of Legg’s Perthes Disease, which often requires surgery to correct. When purchasing a Min Pin it’s important to ensure that both breeding parents (and if possible, grandparents) are health tested and do not carry a history of these conditions.

Exercise Requirements: The Yorkie breed is relatively low maintenance and will do fine in an apartment provided that it is given a daily walk of at least thirty minutes. Ideally however, they would do well with an hour of outdoor exercise daily. These dogs are also quite active indoors, and will be able to meet much of their exercise needs through indoor play, such as tug-o-war or some fetch in the hallway.

Shedding: Despite the Yorkie’s long and abundance coat, this breed is not know to be especially heavy shedders. However, they should be brushed (twice weekly) and even trimmed regularly to avoid tangles and mats, as well as bathed whenever an odor is present. If you are interested in acquiring a Yorkie for dog show pursuits, be warned that their coat will require drastically more work to be in proper show condition, and you may want to consult an experienced groomer for assistance with this.

Training: Like many terrier breeds, the Yorkie is smart but stubborn, so training a Yorkie can be quite challenging. Firm consistency is a necessity and starting on training from an early age is beneficial. Unfortunately, this breed is also known to be difficult to housebreak (most toy breeds are), so it may take some time and a lot of training efforts before your Yorkshire Terrier is the model, obedient dog that it can be.

Health Concerns: Health Concerns: Yorkies generally live long lives, most commonly in the twelve to fifteen year range. They generally healthy animals, however are prone to certain health conditions, including luxating patella and dental issues, which are common in many toy breeds. Also of note is that the Yorkie breed is sensitive to the cold weather, and would benefit from a doggy jacket when the temperature is frigid.