Trimming Your Dachshund's Nails

I hear it time and again, "I won't trim my dachshund's nails because I can't handle the possibility of hurting him." With a little knowledge and patience, it will be a much less scary process for both of you. Your dog will pick up on your emotions, so the more nervous you are, the more nervous your dog will be. So take a breath, relax, and read this article.
  One grooming step that all dogs need is to have their nails trimmed regularly. This should be started right away when they are just weeks old. That is the responsibility of the breeder to get them used to the process. Depending on when the breeder will let their puppies go home, their nails should have been trimmed at least two or three times already. If you have found a good breeder, they will be handling their puppies all of the time anyway, so they should be well socialized and not afraid of having their nails trimmed. If your dog has not been properly socialized and is skittish when you try to trim their nails, you can slowly get them used to being handled for a trim. When you are sitting or lying with your dog, touch and hold their feet, one at a time, just so they can get used to you handling their paws. This process can go on for weeks before they are comfortable. When you start trimming your dachshund's nails, just take the tips off so there is very little chance of cutting too short. 
 You will need to make some plans before you decide to trim your dachshund's nails. One of these is what kind of trimmer to use. I do not recommend the use of a guillotine type trimmer as these are trickier to use and the nails can catch if your dog decides to move their foot at the wrong time.
The trimmer I like to use is the basic bypass trimmer, not a guillotine type. There are wide varieties to choose from, so pick the one you feel most comfortable with. Nail grinders are available, but they can be loud and it takes longer this way. It does leave a nice smooth surface; however, I would only recommend this for experienced groomers. 
 You should also buy some styptic powder while you are getting your trimmer. Even professional groomers and veterinarians will sometimes get the nail trimmed too short and the nail can start to bleed. The styptic powder will act as a clotting agent and will stop the bleeding fast. To use the powder, pinch some styptic in between your pointer finger and your thumb, gently grab your dog's foot with your other hand, and push the powder onto the bleeding nail and hold it there for 15 to 30 seconds. This should successfully stop the bleeding. If it still bleeds through, put more powder on the nail until it does stop bleeding. 
 If you have someone who can help you hold your dog while you do the trimming, that would be great. Since the dachshund's legs are short and do not stretch or bend as easily as other breeds, I recommend that your partner holds your dog vertically against their chest while supporting their but. Definitely use two hands! That way their paws are out front and easier to access. 
 Start by gently but firmly holding your dog's paw. Pushing softly on the pad of each toe will set the nail out further to give you better access to the nail. If your dog has white nails, you should be able to see where the quick is and trim the nail just a bit longer than the quick. If your dog has dark nails, you will want to start out a little further and trim off small bits until you get close enough that you can just barely see a lighter color on the inside of the nail. That means you are getting close to the quick. You should also be able to see how your dog's nail starts to curve just after the quick ends. That is a good guide on where to start trimming. Most dogs will still have their dew claws on their front feet, occasionally; a dog will have them on their back feet also. Do not forget to trim these dew claws every time. These claws can easily curve around and dig into your dog's leg if they get too long. 
If you go into this with confidence and patience, you will have a much better experience and your dog will be more comfortable and easier to handle. After just a few times, you will wonder why you were so worried in the first place.

Miniature Dachshund Puppies - Complete Guide to Mini Dachshund Puppies

Miniature Dachshund Puppies are adorable and fun little dogs to love and own. It's hard to own just one of these cute little guys. Miniature Dachshund Puppies are not AKC recognized like their standard sized friends. They usually end up weighing between 8-12 pounds, so if you're looking for small dogs that like to have fun, Miniature Dachshund Puppies just might be the perfect dogs for you!

Mini Dachshunds usually grow to 5-10 inches in height and can come in a variety of colors and coats. Miniature Dachshund Puppies can have coats that are Smooth, Long Hair, or Wire. The Smooth coat is sleek and short, the Wire-Haired coat is a double coat (the outer coat is short and hard and the under coat is soft and fine), and the Long-Haired coat is elegant, usually shiny, slightly wavy, and is longer on the neck, chest, underside of the body, and behind the legs. Their coats can have a color consisting of brindle, sable, or dapple, bi-color of black, chocolate, blue, or fawn, and solid of red and cream. Miniature Dachshund Puppies were originally bred to hunt hare, while their bigger standard sized friends were bred to hunt badgers. These Terrier puppies were originated in Germany. Mini Dachshunds are very popular pets and are even occasionally still used for hunting.

Mini Dachshund Character:

Miniature Dachshund Puppies, although small, are a robust and muscular breed. They are most well known for their short legs and long bodies. These cute little puppies are very adventurous, curious, bold, and possess an alert and intelligent expression.

Dachshund Temperament:

Mini Dachshunds are known for being devoted, affectionate, and loving. It is important to keep in mind that when they begin to mature they can become snappish when teased. You should also be careful of their small size, so they seem to do best in a home with older children. Miniature Dachshund Puppies can sometimes grow to be aggressive or jealous of other pets and can be wary of strangers, so just keep this in mind. They are great at alerting their family to visitors or out of the ordinary occurrences.

Wiener Dog Care:

It's good to know that a Miniature Dachshund Puppy is relatively easy to care for. If you own a Smooth or Wire-Haired coat puppy, they require weekly brushing to remove loose and dead hair. Wire-Haired puppies also need to be professionally trimmed twice a year. If you own a Long-Haired puppy, be sure to remember that they require daily brushing to prevent matting and tangling. They do not tend to smell like other dogs do, requiring baths when necessary. Some of the health issues that Mini Dachshunds can encounter in their lives are obesity, hip dysplasia, spinal problems, epilepsy, bloat, and eye disease. So, just be sure to look out for these health issues and try to prevent them and care for them.

Mini Dachshund Training:

Dachshunds tend to be a bit stubborn and willful, which can make training a little bit more challenging. They have a tendency to like to do things their way. They are known to be difficult to housebreak, so housebreaking combined with crate training is recommended. Be sure to socialize your Miniature Dachshund puppies early, while knowing that obedience is a must. Keep in mind that they will not respond to harsh or heavy-handed methods. In saying that, training your mini dachshund puppies must be done with firmness, fairness, patience, and consistency. Be a calm and assertive pack leader to your dachshund puppies.

Miniature Dachshund Activity:

Mini Dachshunds will do great in city or country living. Although they do not need a ton of exercise, be sure that the exercise you provide them is sufficient to prevent boredom and obesity. Be sure to keep them on a leash when out for walks, as they by nature love to chase!

Overall, Miniature Dachshund Puppies are a wonderful dog to own. They are fun-loving, loyal, full of energy, and can be great alert dogs. As with a lot of breeds, Miniature Dachshund Puppies need plenty of love, training, stability, and consistency. They do love to please their owners, so working with them will be to your benefit. Miniature Dachshund Puppies have been very popular puppies to own and probably will be for a long time. Who could resist such a cute and loveable puppy! Miniature Dachshund Puppies might just be the perfect puppy for you and can be a great addition to your pack.