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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Sharon Ziegenhagen is an award-winning artist and is a member of the National Dog Museum Artists' Registry and exhibitor at the New York Dog Fanciers Club "Dog Art Competition".  Find out more about her.

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