Wirehaired Dachshunds are the clowns of the Dachshund World.  They love to make you laugh.  Don't EVER laugh at a wire unless you are prepared to see the "trick" again.  In general they are loyal to their people and very smart.  Sometimes to the point of your not believing what you just saw happen.  They think and decide.  The decide is the hard part.  THEY decide you don't, you may think you made the decision but trust me you didn't.

     The standard states that a Wirehaired dachshund has the same conformation as the other two varieties except for coat.  A wire should look like a smooth from a distance with the exception of hair on the jowls and legs.  In my opinion coat is a very important part of this variety of Dachshund.  It should be hard to the touch and carry a fair amount of beard and leg hair, but not in excess.  If the coat is proper you will see no matting and very little shedding. You can read and print the standard by going to the American Kennel Club site at www.akc.org .  It can also be found on the Dachshund Club of America site at www.dachshund-dca.org .  The same standard is to be used for the miniature dachshund.  A miniature weighs under 11 pounds at a year of age (I might add in correct weight.). A standard weighs between 16 & 30 pounds. 

    This variety works in many ways with it's family and friends.  It is an excellent obedience dog, does it's part in agility.  I have enjoyed tracking events with my dogs.  This is something they do with great joy and very little training.  I have not ever hunted or field trailed my dogs, but I know people that enjoy this aspect of the wire with great success.

     If you think you are interested in owning or being owned by a wirehair you should know that they take a bit of persistence on your part.  You need to be the leader of the pack.  They will do anything and be trained to do anything you ask, but they need to have a healthy respect for you.  Without that you will lose your leader title and they will become the leader. 

     I have been owned by wires for about 30 years and would not trade the experience.  My dogs have delighted in raising my two children to adulthood. They have played games with the boys, like "you dig here" and the boys favorite "puppy races".  More than once I have found one of the boys in the whelping box asleep with the mom watching over them along with her litter.   I highly recommend the breed to be a child's best friend.

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How to groom your Wirehaired Dachshund