One of many peculiarities of Dachshunds that has puzzled canine lovers for years is their tendency to sit down up on their hind legs like a prairie canine.

For those who’ve ever owned a Dachshund, you’ve in all probability witnessed this conduct firsthand. 

Your furry little pal may abruptly pop up onto his hind legs, along with his entrance paws dangling within the air, and stare at you along with his heartstring-pulling eyes. 

It’s an odd sight, to make certain, but it surely’s additionally extremely cute.

So why do Dachshunds sit up like this? Is it only a random quirk of their breed, or is there a deeper purpose behind it?

On this article I discover some potential causes why your Dachshund might sit up and talk about the security of doing so.

Why Do Dachshunds Sit Up?

If you’ve caught your Dachshund sitting up on their hind legs, you will have questioned what prompted them to do it.

The reality is, no one is aware of for positive. 

There are a couple of theories, although, which may assist shed some mild on this quirky conduct.

To get a greater view

One concept is that Dachshunds sit up like this as a approach of getting a greater view of their environment. 

As a result of they’re such small canine, they could discover it troublesome to see every little thing that’s happening round them when they’re down on all fours. 

By sitting up, they’ll get the next vantage level and soak up extra of their surroundings.

Begging and a spotlight

One other concept is that Dachshunds sit up like this as a approach of begging for meals or consideration.

After they sit up like this, they give the impression of being extremely cute and endearing, which could make their homeowners extra probably to provide them treats or pet them.

Intuition

Whereas many canine homeowners prepare their canine to sit down up like a prairie canine, Dachshunds simply have a pure intuition to do it.

There isn’t a definitive reply to why their intuition is to do that, however Dachshund have been created to use as looking canine.

They ran via the woods and noticed sport for hunters.

Since Dachshunds are brief, sitting up on their haunches was probably one of the best ways for them to see over an extended distance (no pun meant).

Regardless of the purpose, I can say that sitting up on their haunches is widespread to Dachshunds.

Is it Unhealthy for a Dachshund to Sit Up on Their Hind Legs?

You’ve in all probability seen somebody publish a cute photograph of their Dachshund sitting up on their butt on social media… solely to get blasted by a couple of individuals as a result of “it’s harmful” or “will harm their again”.

However is that true?

Sitting up on their haunches for brief intervals of time is mostly not dangerous to wholesome, grownup Dachshunds. 

On the contrary, sitting up may very well be helpful in your Dachshund.

The rehab veterinarian we noticed when my Dachshund Gretel was recovering from her again damage, confirmed my analysis.

Sitting upright on their hind legs can truly assist strengthen a number of the muscle mass in a Dachshund’s physique that assist to help the backbone.

Sitting upright engages their hind leg muscle mass to keep up stability and help their weight. 

It additionally engages their decrease again and core muscle mass to maintain their higher physique regular and keep correct posture.

By repeating this conduct, your Dachshund can construct power in these muscle mass, which can assist enhance their total agility, stability, and stability.

Nevertheless, our vet did say to not ask a Dachshund to increase the time they might naturally sit up and encourage them to do it typically.

In different phrases, allow them to select to do it when the temper strikes and allow them to select to cease doing it naturally.

Canines are fairly good at understanding when to self-limit after we don’t push them.

Ought to You Let Your Dachshund Sit Up?

As I all the time do, I wrote this text to tell, to not let you know the selection it is best to make for your Dachshund.

Whether or not you let your Dachshund sit up on their butt is as much as you and will think about their well being, health, and your consolation with danger.

Though sitting up isn’t inherently harmful in your Dachshund, and should even assist their health, maintain these two issues in thoughts:

1. There’s a danger of falling in case your Dachshund sits upright and the autumn can twist and put stress on the spinal disks
2. Sitting up on their hind legs shouldn’t be the one core-strengthening train your Dachshund will get

In case your Dachshund falls over incessantly once they attempt to sit up, it’s possible you’ll wish to discourage the conduct.

Maintain your Dachshund reasonably to extremely energetic, and think about bodily remedy workouts, to assist to maintain their core muscle mass robust and assist cut back the danger of damage when they’re sitting.

Additionally, it’s necessary to notice that sitting up like that’s not good for all Dachshunds.

For instance, it will probably put pressure on their backbone, so if your Dachshund has Intervertebral Disk Illness (IVDD), it’s possible you’ll not need them to do it.

Remaining Ideas

Regardless of the purpose behind the phenomenon of Dachshund naturally sitting up on their hind finish, there’s no denying that it’s one of many particular quirks that endear us to them.

Sitting up isn’t inherently unhealthy for a Dachshund and should, the truth is, assist to strengthen their spine-supporting muscle mass.

So, the subsequent time your furry pal sits up like a prairie canine, it’s possible you’ll wish to simply smile and benefit from the second. 

Nevertheless, it’s necessary to be conscious of the potential well being dangers and be sure that your Dachshund isn’t overdoing it.

For those who discover any indicators of discomfort after your Dachshund has sat up on their hind legs, comparable to limping or issue strolling, it’s greatest to discourage the conduct and seek the advice of along with your veterinarian.