Sailor

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.

Cocker Spaniels are equally at home chasing birds in the field or playing fetch in your living room. They take joy in almost everything they do and are always sniffing around for the next thing to get into. It’s important to work with a reputable breeder, but once you find the right one, this breed will capture your heart! Full-grown, they typically weigh 20-30 pounds and stand 13-15 inches tall.

Cocker Spaniels are generally excellent with children of all ages. It’s important that Cocker Spaniels are kept as inside dogs. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

Cocker Spaniels don’t need quite as much exercise as many other sporting dogs, but they still require daily playtime. They have a high prey drive, so if given the opportunity to hunt, they will do so. Cocker Spaniels enjoy activities like playing fetch, swimming, sniffing for trouble, and of course, cuddling. Overall, their exercise needs are moderate.

Cocker Spaniels have a soft, wavy coat that you can keep styled in one of two ways. The puppy cut is a shorter coat length that you’ll need to brush and trim about every two weeks. The famous, flowing show-coats take even more effort, including weekly bathing, brushing, and trimming. Grooming-wise, this breed is fairly high-maintenance.

Cocker Spaniels are best suited for apartments and smaller homes. It’s important that Cocker Spaniels are kept as inside dogs. The size of your house or yard is less important, and they can live just fine in almost any situation provided they get their exercise. They are fairly easy to train.