A front paw is lifted by many Dachshunds. It’s a trait that a lot of dogs of this breed have.

People who only have one or two Dachshunds or who don’t know much about the cute weiner dogs often think that their dog is the only one that does this.

Dachshunds are known for holding up one paw, and we’ll explain why that might be and what it means below.

Keep in mind that we’ll be talking about your Dachshund lifting a front paw, not a male just lifting a leg to urinate.

Why do Dachshunds Dogs hold one paw up?

There are a lot of things that could cause your Dachshund to raise a front paw.

This behavior could be caused by both mental and physical things.

The lift of the paw of hope

You just got the dog’s favorite treat from the cupboard. When they hear the bag, they look at you.

Your puppy runs right up to you, stops, and lifts its front paw.

This is the “paw lift of anticipation.”

Your Dachshund is very excited to get a treat, so it will lift a paw to show its excitement.

The anticipation paw lift can also happen when they are going for a walk or ride, or when they are playing with their favorite friend.

The sharp lift of the paw

If you are taking a walk in the park with your Dachshund puppy and they stop and raise their front paw, this means they are in hunting mode.

Your Dachshund has seen something, probably something to eat, since this breed was made to hunt.

Dachshunds may lift a paw to show that they’re pointing in a certain direction because they’ve seen something interesting there.

Some Dachshund owners think that “the focused paw lift” means that the dog is pointing in a certain direction, usually in the direction of what they want to do.

We’ll talk more about this below.

The worried paw lifted

If a Dachshund lifts its front paw, it may be because it is scared or feels threatened. When the paw is lifted, it can be a sign of doubt or fear.

It’s important to write down the exact reasons why your Dachshund is holding up one paw.

When a dog lifts their front paw, it’s often because they are worried, scared, or just want to pay attention to something.

There are physical reasons why a front paw is lifted.

Your Dachshund dog could be holding up one paw because of a physical problem instead of a mental or emotional one.

Let’s talk about some of these things!

One of the most obvious reasons why a paw is lifted is because something is stuck in there.

It could be a burr, a cactus needle, a foxtail grass seed, snow, ice, or pitch. As a pet owner, you should be able to tell if your Doxie may have stepped in something bad.

When you go for a walk when there is snow on the ground where you live, salt could hurt your Dachshund’s paws. This could cause them to pick up the person in pain.

The same could be said about pavement that is very cold or very hot, or even about wet grass.

Also, your Short Haired Dachshund may be holding up one paw because the original Dachshund was mixed with a little bit of Pointer breed. This is a rare and unproven theory.

Smooth-coated Dachshunds may be a mix of the German Shorthaired Pointer, the Pinscher, and the Bracke (a type of bloodhound).

So, their breed name comes from the way they naturally “point” to a hunting target. But this rumor is just a theory that hasn’t been proven by science yet.

If their paw is shaking, you might want to see if they are hurt.

Now, if your Miniature Dachshund lifts its paw and shakes it, it’s likely because it hurts in the area of its foot.

This could be a cut, a burn, a torn muscle, or something else.

If there is pain or something irritating in the paw, the animal will often cry or whimper as it shakes the paw while lifting it.

In this case, you should call your vet as soon as you can.

Lastly, if your Dachshund raises a paw but doesn’t shake it, it could mean they are hurt. Watch to see if they are limping or taking care of it.

If you think your Doxie might have been hurt, like by a broken bone, take it to the vet right away.

Depending on the situation and surroundings, you should be able to figure out why your Dachshund is holding up one paw.

Do Dachshund Dogs Favor Lifting One Paw Up?

Some people think that, like people, dogs have a tendency to favor their left or right side.

Some dog owners seem to notice it, but others don’t.

About 74% of the 18,000 dogs in a study done by Psychology Today showed a clear preference for either their left or right paw.

Dogs are much more likely to be “left-handed” than people, who only make up 10% of the population. Isn’t that crazy?

Make a note of which paw your longhaired Dachshund raises when it does this. Which paw? The left or the right? Does the same one always get lifted?

If a cat always lifts the same paw, that could mean it is “left-handed” or “right-handed.”

One Last Thing

Figuring out what our dog is trying to tell us can be hard, but often we can figure out why he or she is acting or moving in a certain way.

It’s common for mini Dachshunds to lift a front paw, and now it’s up to you to figure out why yours is doing it.

It could be caused by something simple and natural, so there’s no need to worry.

Or it could mean that something is wrong with your body.

If you think your Dachshund might have a bigger health problem that needs medical care, you should always talk to your vet.