Adopting a Dachshund in Glasgow: rescues, rules and costs

The count under the short answer is live: it shows the Dachshunds and Dachshund crosses listed with us in Glasgow and within about 41 miles. If it shows none, nothing is broken: Dachshunds rarely reach the general rescues around the city, so the breed charity below is the likeliest route. Our Glasgow Dachshund page shows any that are listed, and our Glasgow small dogs page the other small dogs listed today.

The charity sets basic criteria that every adopter must meet:

• A secure garden is a must. It says Dachshunds are notoriously difficult to toilet train, hence the need for a garden, so a flat without a secure garden won't qualify.
• No children under 10. It may place a dog with older children if the dog is used to family life.
• Someone at home. No homes where everybody works or studies full time, and no regular daycare. It says separation anxiety is common in the dogs it takes in.
• Adopters aged 21 or over.
• Cats only by history. It can't test dogs with cats, so it only places a Dachshund with a cat if the dog has lived with one before.

Dachshund Rescue UK says Dachshunds come into its care for a variety of reasons, giving divorce, bereavement, illness, a change in family circumstances and behavioural issues as examples. As a result, it says, many can be traumatised, anxious and very insecure at first, and adopters need to be ready to work on that with its support.

Dachshund Rescue UK says every female is spayed or comes with a spay agreement, and every dog is microchipped and vaccinated; it does not routinely neuter male dogs, so ask about that for a male. Its £150 to £650 fee helps cover vaccinations and medical expenses.

Buying a puppy costs £400 to £3,000, says Blue Cross, before food, insurance and vet bills. Running costs are the same either way: PDSA puts the set-up cost of a small dog at £415 and the monthly cost at £69 or more.

Dogs Trust says Dachshunds are predisposed to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), a condition similar to a slipped disc in humans that can compress the spinal cord and lead to weakness, loss of balance and even paralysis, most often in the back legs. In the DachsLife 2015 survey of 2,031 Dachshunds, most of them in the UK, run by Royal Veterinary College researchers, owners reported a vet diagnosis of IVDD in 15.7 per cent of the dogs assessed, from 24.4 per cent of standard smooth-haired dogs to 7.1 per cent of standard wire-haired ones.

• Back. Has the dog had any back trouble, weakness or wobbliness? The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders, at a minimum, to screen spines under its IVDD screening scheme, supported by Dachshund Health UK, a Dachshund health charity.
• Exercise. In the same survey, dogs exercised for more than an hour a day were less likely to have IVDD, and those exercised for under 30 minutes more likely, though the researchers say this needs further study. Ask how much exercise the dog is used to.
• Age. Older dogs and neutered dogs were also at higher odds of IVDD in DachsLife, so an older dog's back history matters.

Rescue Dachshunds are adopted, not sold. You apply, the rescue matches a dog to your home, and you pay its adoption fee. You can't plan on a puppy from rescue, so be open to an adult whose temperament is known.

If you decide to buy, ask the breeder about IVDD screening, and Dogs Trust suggests a word with your vet first, since some practices offer pre-purchase consultations on likely health conditions and rough costs. The Royal Kennel Club runs a "Find a puppy" service. Police Scotland advises against paying for anything you haven't seen, and takes reports of online marketplace fraud.