Adopting a Dachshund in Sheffield: rescues, rules and costs

Below the short answer sits our live tally of Dachshunds and Dachshund crosses with rescues in Sheffield or within roughly 25 miles. When we checked on 21 October 2026 nothing was available, and a Dachshund cross we had seen at Jerry Green Dog Rescue, whose centre is near Blidworth about 24 miles away, was already reserved. That is common for the breed, which is why most Sheffield adopters will go through the charity below.

Dachshund Rescue UK lists basic criteria every adopter must meet:

• A secure garden. Non-negotiable, it says, since Dachshunds are notoriously difficult to house-train.
• No children under 10. An older child is possible if the dog is used to family life.
• Company. At least one person in the household must not be in full-time work or study, and the dog must not need regular daycare.
• Aged 21 or over.
• Cats only with history. It cannot cat test, so a Dachshund only goes to a home with a cat if it has lived with one before.

Most arrive because an owner's life has changed: the charity's criteria page gives divorce, bereavement and illness as examples, along with family upheaval and behaviour problems. It is frank that many of its dogs can be traumatised, anxious and insecure, that separation anxiety is common, and that an adopter has to be ready to help a dog recover, with the charity's support.

Patience matters on both sides. Although hundreds of its Dachshunds find homes each year, applicants outnumber dogs, and the charity says a fast match "would be unusual". Your application stays live for a year, so tell your coordinator if your circumstances change.

Females leave Dachshund Rescue UK spayed or with a spay agreement, chipped and vaccinated. Males are not routinely neutered, so ask whether yours has been and set money aside if not. Its fees help it cover vaccinations and other medical costs.

With a bought puppy the breeder must chip it by 8 weeks, so the chip is not an extra, but neutering, later jabs and insurance are yours, on top of the £400 to £3,000 Blue Cross quotes for the puppy. A rescue adult also offers something no puppy can: often, a back history you can ask about.

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is the condition the breed is predisposed to, in Dogs Trust's words. Much like a slipped disc in a person, it can press on the spinal cord and cause weakness, poor balance or paralysis, usually in the back legs. In the Royal Veterinary College's DachsLife 2015 survey of 2,031 Dachshunds, owners reported a diagnosis in 15.7%, from 24.4% of standard smooth-haired dogs down to 7.1% of standard wire-haired ones. Questions for the rescue:

• Back history. Any weakness, wobbling or reluctance to jump? The Royal Kennel Club asks breeders to screen spines under its IVDD screening scheme, but a rescue dog's parents may never have been screened.
• Activity. In the same survey, dogs their owners called highly or moderately active had lower odds of IVDD. The authors treat such findings as leads for future studies rather than proof, so ask your vet how much exercise suits this dog.
• Eyes. For miniature smooth-haired breeders, The Royal Kennel Club recommends eye testing and a DNA test for progressive retinal atrophy (cord1).

Dogs Trust says Dachshunds usually need daily walks but may not manage long walks or mountain hikes, and The Royal Kennel Club lists up to an hour a day and a small house as enough. Dachshund Rescue UK's FAQ suggests ramps for furniture and fewer steps outside, and a quiet spot the dog can retreat to.

Its dogs often arrive with their own things from the previous owner, such as a lead, harness, bed or toys, and at least two days of their usual food to avoid an upset stomach. It suggests the dog sleeps in the same room as someone at first, perhaps in a crate near your bed if it is crate trained.

Far more people around Sheffield search for a Dachshund to buy than to rescue, but rescues don't sell dogs. You apply to the breed charity, its coordinator matches you with a dog and you pay its fee, and any dog on our Sheffield Dachshund page is there to be adopted, not bought. A rescue puppy is a rare find, so keep an open mind about adults.

If you buy, ask whether the parents were screened under The Royal Kennel Club's IVDD scheme, and Dogs Trust suggests a pre-purchase chat with your vet about likely health conditions and costs. The Royal Kennel Club lists litters through "Find a puppy". An advert that looks like a scam should go to Report Fraud, which took over from Action Fraud.