Dog Breed:
DACHSHUND
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Good Dachshunds are low to the ground, long in
body, have short legs with strong muscular development. The Dachshund is
well-balanced with a bold and confident head and intelligent, alert facial expression. His
hunting spirit, good nose, loud tongue and distinctive build make him well-suited for
below-ground work and for beating the bush. His keen nose gives him an advantage over most
other breeds for trailing.
The Dachshund has a strong mix of both hound and terrier characteristics: he has a strong
sense of smell, a loud voice and he was breed to hunt badgers and graduated to small
ground game. In Germany, where the breed has existed since the early 1600s, the dog was
named Dachshund which means "badger dog" and historians believe the original
smooth variety evolved from the French Basset. Later on, crosses with field spaniels
created the longhaired type and crosses with terriers created the wire-haired types. Know
for their long bodies and short legs, this breed is commonly referred to as the
"wiener dog". Miniature versions of all three coat varieties were then developed
by breeding only the smallest specimens from subsequent litters. The breed became popular
and was recognized in the late 1800s in Britain and North America. The Dachshund enjoys
family life in the country or the city. The combination of excellent tracking abilities
and short, compact yet muscular body made the Dachshund an obvious choice for game which
liked to burrow or hide in dense thickets. Their life expectancy is normally 14 - 16
years.
Height: Miniatures are
generally under 9" (23 cm), while the Standard Dachshund are several inches taller.
Weight: Miniature variety must
weigh under 10 lbs (4.5 kg); Standard variety usually weighs between 16 and 32 lbs (7-14
kg).
Coat Type: There are three
coat-types: smooth, longhaired and wire-haired. The Smooth's coat is short, flat-lying and
shiny. The Longhaired's coat is longer, wavy, and glossy. The Wirehaired's coat is thick,
tight and wiry and is the most weather-resistant of the three types. Colors for all types
are solid red, or black with tan markings. The Longhaired and Wirehaired require extra
attention for grooming purposes.
Temperament: The Dachshund is
intelligent, energetic and brave beyond his means. They make lively, friendly, loyal
family pets and make excellent house dogs with regular walks and exercise. Dachshunds can
be very good with children, provided they are socialized properly when they are puppies.
Because they are very social animals, they do not do well as outdoor dogs. They need
to be with their humans and are happiest when they are in "the thick of things".
Health Problems: Epilepsy has
been demonstrated to have a genetic component in this breed. The Dachshund has a very long
back, and is the breed at most risk for disk-related problems (studies have shown that
about 25% of Dachshunds will have some disk-related problems in their life). Therefore he
should not be allowed to jump from heights, including chairs and beds. He needs moderate,
daily exercise to prevent him from becoming overweight, particularly in his senior years.
Prone to eye disorders and osteoporosis.
Special Interest: Dachshunds
were a favorite of Queen Victoria's, and she was a serious Dachshund breeder. Because of
their fearlessness, Dachshunds have been known to get into trouble which they can't get
out of easily; for example, they can scale a high chainlink fence but strand themselves at
the top.
Classifications:
AKC: Group 2 - Hounds
CKC: Group 2 - Hounds
KC: Sporting - Hound Group
FCI: Group 4
ANKC: Group 4 - Hounds
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