Golden Retriever Vs Dachshund – What Is The Best Breed For You
Though these two appear to be different animals, let alone different breeds, they actually have more in common than you might have thought. Which one is better for you will ultimately depend on your preference and which aspects of your life complement their needs.
Both Golden Retrievers and Dachshunds have hunting backgrounds, Goldies originally being used as retrievers for hunters in Scotland and Dacshcunds come from Germany, where they were used to kill badgers, foxes and even boars.
Key Similarities
Dachshunds and Golden Retrievers don’t have much in common, yet, they are both highly popular breeds known for being adaptable and affectionate companions.
Because of this, both are used as therapy dogs and because of their predispositions towards hunting, both have also been used as sniffer dogs. One other thing they have in common is that neither of these dogs are hypoallergenic, something people who suffer from allergies will want to consider.
Key Differences
You’d be able to tell that these dogs are nothing alike just by looking at them. The Dachshund is low to the ground with a long body and short hair, while the Goldie is much larger with long flowing locks. This also means that Goldies need much more grooming than Dachshunds.
Apart from their appearance, the differences in their temperaments and personalities are also evident. Dachshunds are loyal and brave and they might even be aggressive if they are uncomfortable, while Golden Retrievers are calm and friendly. While both require exercise, Golden Retrievers need a bit more to satisfy their needs.
Pros over each other
Both are extremely popular breeds, each with its own advantages. Golden Retrievers are more sociable than Dachshunds so they get along better with kids and other pets. They also aren’t as needy when it comes to attention.
Dachshunds, on the other hand, are extremely loyal and require less grooming and cleaning than Goldies.
Who Should Consider Owning Each One?
If you want a close companion who can spend a lot of time with you, Dachshunds are a great option. They are popular breeds for single people and first-time owners as they don’t require much apart from your love and attention and offer their endless loyalty in return.
If, however, you have an active lifestyle or a home with children or other pets and you don’t mind a bit of housekeeping, Golden Retrievers make excellent family pets.
All About the Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever came from Scotland and originated in the 1800s. The breed was designed for hunting ducks and waterfowl.
Golden Retrievers are excellent hunting dogs but are wonderful family dogs as well.
All About the Dachshund
Dachshunds are hounds, which means they are originally hunting dogs, but it turns out, they also make great companion dogs.
History:
The Spaniel breeds came from Spain and were all sizes and shaped. The types of spaniels were land, water, springer, field spaniels, and Sussex.
All of these spaniels were bred for different hunting duties. The dog’s size was the main point of difference between all these dogs.
The Cocker Spaniel was used to retrieve and flush out small game such as woodcock, pheasant, and quail. In 1946, both the American Cocker Spaniel and the English Cocker Spaniel were recognized officially by the AKC as separate breeds.
Size and appearance:
Cocker Spaniels have incredibly expressive faces and stand out in a crowd. However, their tail keeps wagging, their eyes are dark, and big floppy ears.
Your Cocker Spaniel’s weight will be between 24-28 pounds, with the male being 15 inches at the withers and the female being 14 inches. The head is graceful and round with a broad square muzzle. The ears are feathered long, and the dog’s back slopes towards the tail. There is feathering on the ears and the legs, underside, and chest. Most of the time, the tail is docked.
There are a variety of colors with Cocker Spaniels. The colors can be solid black, tan, or red. Other coats are bi-colored and tri-colored. The coats can be black and white, black and tan, or black and white with tan flecks.
The AKC has the Cocker Spaniel divided into three varieties for show. The divisions are parti-color, black, or ASCOB, which stands for Any Solid Color Other Than Black.
Lifespan:
The life expectancy of your Cocker Spaniel is between 14 to 16 years.
Guard dog or family pet?
The guarding instinct is very low in this breed.
You can train them to bark when someone is at the door, but that’s about it. These dogs are friendly, gentle dogs who make great family pets.
First Impressions & History
The Dachshund originates in Germany, back as early as the 16th century, where it was used to kill badgers (from where it got its name), foxes and even wild boars.
Though it has become smaller over the centuries, the Dachshunds we know today has kept the fearlessness and ferocity that were the trademarks of their ancestors.
Size & Appearance
Dachshunds are categorized according to the type of coats they have, so either smooth, wirehair or longhair. They usually grow to be around 8-9 inches tall, weighing 16 – 32 pounds and miniature variations stop growing at only 6 inches tall and must weigh less than 11 pounds to qualify as a miniature.
Dachshund coats and colours vary wildly according to lineage. While they come in one of the three variations mentioned above, they still differ in colours and markings across the board.
Grooming & Shedding
A smooth Dachshund has a short and shiny coat that doesn’t need much brushing. Wirehair and longhair Dachshunds have coats that need to be brushed more often to prevent matting, but none of these variations has a tendency for shedding.
Their folded ears need to be checked and cleaned often to prevent infections.
Lifespan
12-16 Years
Quick Facts
- The Dachshund is the only breed recognized by the AKC that hunts both above and below ground.
- They tend to bark quite a lot, especially minis.
- They can become quite possessive and even jealous if not socialized properly.
Golden Retrievers In More Detail
Temperament And Behavior:
Golden Retrievers are naturally well-behaved and friendly. Their temperament is playful, gentle, and outgoing. Plus, this breed is intelligent and devoted to its family.
A Golden Retriever gets along with other animals. However, these dogs do exuberant jumps on people when young. Plus, this breed does tend to mouthiness and likes to carry things around.
Training and obedience:
A Golden Retriever has a puppy frame of mind until he is over three years old. Early training is essential so you can instill good manners and calmness.
Even if he is eager to please, your dog will be distracted by the wonderful new sights and smells, so patience is a must.
Exercise Needs:
These dogs are from the sporting class, so they need exercise. If your dog can’t vent his energy and you find him interesting things to do, then he’ll find them. This breed has an extremely high energy level and a high exercise level.
An hour of exercise at least will help keep your dog’s exuberance under control. After that, your dog will love to retrieve stuff and bring back just about anything thrown to him.
Shedding, grooming, and maintenance:
Golden retrievers shed a lot and often. They require regular brushing to keep ahead of the hair shedding.
Because the breed is a hunting and waterfowl dog, the outer coat is dense and will repel water.
You will regularly need to brush and comb your dog to avoid his coat getting matted and tangled. Some dogs of this breed have a medium-length coat that isn’t as hard to groom. Other dogs have a heavier coat with lots of feathering.
Plus, Goldens need to be clipped and scissored occasionally, so a trip to the groomers may be necessary to keep your dog sanitary. Keeping nails trimmed is also a part of the grooming. These dogs shed moderately in the winter and summer but heavily in the spring and fall.
Because this breed has fold-over ears, they are prone to ear infections. The ears create an environment for bacteria and fungus to grow. It appears as black dirt-looking particles with a terrible odor. Simply gently wipe the outer ear with a cotton ball that’s been dampened with pH-balanced ear cleaner.
Health issues:
Golden Retrievers are prone to cancer, heart problems, skin allergies, eye defects. Plus, they gain weight easily, so overfeeding should not be done. In addition, they are susceptible to bloat, hypothyroidism, and hip dysplasia.
Quick Facts:
These dogs have a distinctive doggy odor and produce a lot of dander.
The breed is a good match for children, other dogs, cats, families, and seniors. They are excellent dogs for first-time pet owners, and these dogs love water.
The cost of a Golden Retriever is about $500.
Dachshunds In More Detail
Temperament & Behaviour
Dachshunds are lively and loyal. They are brave and confident and tend to pick one person whom they will love and protect. They will accept your family but will be wary of outsiders. At home though, they are playful and fun-loving.
Intelligence levels & Affections Level
They are extremely intelligent and very affectionate with their loved ones. Their intelligence means that they sometimes come across as naughty or rash, but really they are just playful, creative and very brave.
Training & Obedience
Their intelligence causes them to be headstrong, making training them an endeavour that requires immense patience. That said, they are intelligent and they want to please you. So, with enough time and energy invested, they can be very obedient.
Exercise Needs
They are surprisingly energetic and athletic. They absolutely love playing around, digging or hunting, but they only need a moderate amount of exercise each day and a walk around the block or a game of fetch will suffice.
Guard Dog or Family Pet
They are quite alert but they might be too vocal to make good watchdogs. They are probably best suited as a companion or family pets.
Gets On With Other Pets, Animals And Children?
They tend to do alright with other pets as long as you don’t give them too much attention. They will try to hunt smaller animals and they will love and accept your children, but might not be as welcoming to their friends.
Who Should Consider Buying
Anyone looking for a fun, intelligent and loyal companion will find a friend in a Dachshund. They are great company to keep and adaptable enough to live in apartments.
As an added bonus they will also keep your property clear of any small creatures that might be feasting on your vegetable garden.
Conclusion
The Dachshunds have been more popular as pets than as hunting dogs since the 1800s. Royals throughout Europe, famously including Queen Victoria, kept them as their preferred pets.
In the 1950s, they shot to popularity in America too and have remained one of the most popular breeds across the globe since. This is no accident. They are wonderful pets. Their expressive faces and undying love make owners feel that they can form a truly special bond with their Dachshunds.
