Leslie

A Dachshund may be short, but they’re long in body and personality. These dogs are stubborn and can be aggressive, but are extremely loyal, loving, and protective of their families. It takes patience to raise a Dachshund, but there are many rewards. Full-grown, they typically weigh 16-32 pounds and stand 8-9 inches tall.

Dachshunds are generally okay with older children who know how to handle dogs. Dachshunds fit best in homes where they can live indoors with their pet parents. Families with smaller children may want to choose a different breed, as Dachshunds can be a little too feisty and aggressive toward kids, especially if they don’t understand how to treat a dog with respect. They're very vocal and bark quite a lot.

Dachshunds need exercise a few times a day. They’ll enjoy a brisk walk, and their little legs can actually carry them for quite a distance if you’ve got time for a longer stroll. In general, plan on allotting about 30 minutes of exercise per day. Overall, their exercise needs are moderate.

Dachshunds actually come in three different coat types, wire-haired, long-haired, and smooth. For smooth-haired and long-haired Dachshunds, a weekly brushing will help clean their hair and cut back on shedding. For wire-haired Dachshunds, you’ll need to pluck or strip their hair about twice a year and trim their excess hair around their eyebrows and paws. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

Dachshunds are best suited for apartments and smaller homes. Dachshunds fit best in homes where they can live indoors with their pet parents. They will act out and dig even more if left to their own devices full-time in your backyard. They are fairly easy to train.

France has been officially recognized as the Poodle’s country of origin, but the Poodle’s earlier ancestors came from central Asia. The German variety has probably influenced the modern breed most (‘Poodle’ is German for ‘splash’ or ‘puddle’). They typically weigh 10-15 pounds.

Miniature Poodles are generally excellent with children of all ages. The Miniature Poodle gets along well with other animals, other dogs, and children. Poodles are highly adaptable and make good watchdogs. They're fairly vocal dogs that bark regularly.

The Miniature Poodle requires less exercise then the Standard Poodle, but should be walked or allowed to play outdoors. It should do fine with apartment life. Overall, their exercise needs are high.

The Miniature Poodle has a distinctive fine, frizzy, wooly coat similar in texture to sheep’s wool. Solid white is most common, but the coat may also be solid grey, brown, apricot, or black. There are three distinct grooming styles for show Poodles: puppy clip, continental clip, and English saddle clip. Grooming-wise, this breed is fairly high-maintenance. Miniature Poodles are considered hypoallergenic, which can be a plus for allergy sufferers.

Miniature Poodles are best suited for apartments and smaller homes. They are highly trainable and eager to learn.