Dachshund
A Dachshund is a small and very popular dog. They have short legs and a long body. The word “Dachs” means “badger” in German, and this breed was originally bred to hunt badgers. However, in Germany, these dogs are usually called “Dackel”, not “Dachshund”.
Some of their nicknames in English are “sausage dogs” or “wiener dogs”, because they look like a sausage, down low to the ground.
They are a member of the Hound Group of dogs.
Appearance
There are two sizes of the breed, the regular size, and the miniature version, which are classified in the breed standard by the weight of the dog. The standard size weighs between 12 to 24 pounds. The miniature Dachshunds weigh less than 12 pounds.
There are 3 types of coats which can be found on Dachshunds. Some have smooth coats, some have long haired coats, and some have wire haired coats.
Dachshunds were bred to have short, crooked legs; their skin is loose, and they have a barrel chest. They were bred this way so that they could fit into the burrows of the badgers and other small animals that they were hunting. Their tails are kept long.
As far as colors, there is a huge variety of different colors: black, tan, red, cream, blue, chocolate, fawn, and lighter red. They can have color patterns such as sable, piebald, and dapple. Some have two colors, such as brown and tan or chocolate and tan. There are even some white ones.
Dachshunds must have traditional colors in order to be able to compete in dog shows, so check this out if you want to be able to show your dog.
Also, be careful of certain colors like double dapple. Breeders must severely inbreed the dogs to get this coat, so the dogs often have eye problems or other conditions.
Temperament
Dachshunds love to play and hunt small animals. They are very loyal and smart. They are brave and persevere in the face of obstacles, which was bred into them due to the hunting. They are not a quiet or shy dog.
They can get spoiled and snap at people if they are not trained properly.
They have quite a loud bark for their size due to the barrel shape of their chest.
Some think that the long haired Dachshunds are more calm, but this is not always true.
This breed needs to get regular exercise and training in order to be the well-behaved dog that you would expect.
Health
Dachshunds can have problems with their spines, because their body is so long and their rib cage is short. You must be careful not to let them get too overweight, because this can make the problem worse. They might also need to stay away from stairs or a lot of jumping.
However, lately, breeders have been working on getting rid of the gene for this problem, since it is mostly caused by heredity.
Other Facts
Dachshunds were first bred in Europe, to hunt badgers and other small animals. A lot of royal families had Dachshunds. Queen Victoria especially liked them.
They came to be seen as a symbol of Germany, probably because of the German name, even though they were bred in other parts of Europe as well.
Some of the sports that Dachshunds participate in are “earthdog” trials, where they look for bait inside of tunnels, and scent tracking. There is also Dachshund racing specifically for this breed.
Dachshunds are one of the most popular breeds, and are a great apartment dog due to their small size.
Getting a Dachshund
If you would like a Dachshund puppy, think about adopting one from a shelter or a rescue group. For more advice on the breed, contact the American Kennel Club or the Dachshund Club of America.
Some of their nicknames in English are “sausage dogs” or “wiener dogs”, because they look like a sausage, down low to the ground.
They are a member of the Hound Group of dogs.
Appearance
There are two sizes of the breed, the regular size, and the miniature version, which are classified in the breed standard by the weight of the dog. The standard size weighs between 12 to 24 pounds. The miniature Dachshunds weigh less than 12 pounds.
There are 3 types of coats which can be found on Dachshunds. Some have smooth coats, some have long haired coats, and some have wire haired coats.
Dachshunds were bred to have short, crooked legs; their skin is loose, and they have a barrel chest. They were bred this way so that they could fit into the burrows of the badgers and other small animals that they were hunting. Their tails are kept long.
As far as colors, there is a huge variety of different colors: black, tan, red, cream, blue, chocolate, fawn, and lighter red. They can have color patterns such as sable, piebald, and dapple. Some have two colors, such as brown and tan or chocolate and tan. There are even some white ones.
Dachshunds must have traditional colors in order to be able to compete in dog shows, so check this out if you want to be able to show your dog.
Also, be careful of certain colors like double dapple. Breeders must severely inbreed the dogs to get this coat, so the dogs often have eye problems or other conditions.
Temperament
Dachshunds love to play and hunt small animals. They are very loyal and smart. They are brave and persevere in the face of obstacles, which was bred into them due to the hunting. They are not a quiet or shy dog.
They can get spoiled and snap at people if they are not trained properly.
They have quite a loud bark for their size due to the barrel shape of their chest.
Some think that the long haired Dachshunds are more calm, but this is not always true.
This breed needs to get regular exercise and training in order to be the well-behaved dog that you would expect.
Health
Dachshunds can have problems with their spines, because their body is so long and their rib cage is short. You must be careful not to let them get too overweight, because this can make the problem worse. They might also need to stay away from stairs or a lot of jumping.
However, lately, breeders have been working on getting rid of the gene for this problem, since it is mostly caused by heredity.
Other Facts
Dachshunds were first bred in Europe, to hunt badgers and other small animals. A lot of royal families had Dachshunds. Queen Victoria especially liked them.
They came to be seen as a symbol of Germany, probably because of the German name, even though they were bred in other parts of Europe as well.
Some of the sports that Dachshunds participate in are “earthdog” trials, where they look for bait inside of tunnels, and scent tracking. There is also Dachshund racing specifically for this breed.
Dachshunds are one of the most popular breeds, and are a great apartment dog due to their small size.
Getting a Dachshund
If you would like a Dachshund puppy, think about adopting one from a shelter or a rescue group. For more advice on the breed, contact the American Kennel Club or the Dachshund Club of America.