Adopting a Dachshund in Liverpool: rescues, rules and health

The count under the short answer is live: it shows every Dachshund and Dachshund cross listed with us in Liverpool and within about 25 miles, and our Liverpool Dachshund page links each one to its rescue. 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.

The charity says it will reject an application that can't meet its basic criteria, so read them first:

• A secure garden is a must. It says Dachshunds are notoriously difficult to toilet train, which is why it asks for one.
• 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 its females are spayed (or come with a spay agreement), microchipped and vaccinated, and that it does not routinely neuter male dogs, so ask about that for a male. Its fee, £150 to £650, helps cover vet fees, medication, boarding and transport. Freshfields Animal Rescue microchips, vaccinates, neuters and treats every animal for fleas and worms before it leaves.

A bought puppy should already be microchipped by its breeder, as the law requires by 8 weeks, but neutering and the rest of its vaccinations come on top of the £400 to £3,000 that Blue Cross gives for the puppy itself. Some charities charge less for older dogs: Blue Cross fees start from £235 for dogs aged 8 or over.

Dogs Trust says Dachshunds are predisposed to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), a condition similar to a slipped disc in humans. It can compress the spinal cord and lead to weakness, loss of balance and even paralysis, most often in the back legs.

A rescue Dachshund's parents may never have been screened, so ask the rescue these questions:

• Back. Has the dog had any back trouble, weakness or wobbliness? The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders, at a minimum, to screen their dogs' spines under its IVDD screening scheme.
• Eyes. The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders to have eyes tested, and miniature smooth-haired breeders to DNA test for progressive retinal atrophy (cord1), an inherited eye condition.
• Sight and hearing in a dapple. Since 1 January 2010 The Royal Kennel Club has not registered puppies from two dapple parents, because of the risk of impaired vision and hearing linked to the dapple gene.

The Royal Kennel Club recognises two sizes, each in three coats, so there are six Dachshund varieties sharing one breed standard. The standard size has an ideal weight of 9 to 12 kg, and the miniature an ideal of 4.5 kg with a desired maximum of 5 kg. With an adult rescue Dachshund there is nothing to guess: the coordinator can tell you its size, coat and grooming needs before you meet.

The Royal Kennel Club lists up to an hour of exercise a day for both sizes and says a small house with a small or medium garden is enough. Dogs Trust says Dachshunds usually need daily walks but "might not manage tough exercise like long walks or mountain hikes".

For the first days, Dachshund Rescue UK advises against walking a new dog in its first three days, and suggests stair gates, ramps for furniture and fewer steps in outside areas. If you rent, Freshfields Animal Rescue wants to see your landlord's permission, and it doesn't rehome dogs to families with children aged 5 or under; Dachshund Rescue UK's own limit is 10.

Rescue Dachshunds are adopted, not sold. You apply, the rescue matches a dog to your home, and you pay its adoption fee. Dachshund Rescue UK says dogs come into its care after a divorce, a bereavement, illness or a change in family circumstances, among other reasons. You can't plan on a puppy, so be open to an adult.

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. Be wary of adverts for dapple puppies from two dapple parents, and report a suspected scam advert to Report Fraud, which replaced Action Fraud.