Zoie

Australian Shepherds are a beautiful breed with merle coats, high energy, and and an obsession with being close to their families. These dogs are wonderful family companions, but be prepared to keep them active and occupied to avoid having a sad, destructive Aussie. Full-grown, they typically weigh 40-65 pounds and stand 18-23 inches tall.

Australian Shepherds are generally excellent with children of all ages. Australian Shepherds are great companion for kids and other pets, especially if they’re socialized as puppies. These dogs can be happy in warm or cool climates, but they need plenty of space to run and play and should have their primary living space indoors. They're moderate barkers — they'll alert you when something's up but aren't excessive.

Aussies need a lot of high-energy activities and mental stimulation to keep them happy. They’re the perfect exercise buddies, especially for families that like being outdoors. Take your Australian Shepherd for a run, hike, or a long play session in a big backyard to keep their hearts soaring and their minds sharp. Overall, their exercise needs are very high.

The Australian Shepherd has a dense undercoat and outer coat with medium to long hair that’s straight or slightly wavy. Aussies’ fur is short and soft on their head and legs, with a thick mane around the neck. These dogs can be black, red, red merle (dark patches on a light background), or blue merle, and some may have white markings or tan points too. Grooming-wise, this breed is low-maintenance.

Australian Shepherds are best suited for a home with a yard, though they can adapt to apartment life with enough exercise. These dogs can be happy in warm or cool climates, but they need plenty of space to run and play and should have their primary living space indoors. They are highly trainable and eager to learn.

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.