A long dog with short, bent forelegs. Bred for the hunt like terriers, to go to ground after badger and foxes.
The History Of The Dachshund
The Dachshund is also known as the Teckel and the Sausage Dog. They originated in Germany during the 1700’s.
The Dachshund probably originated from the same breeding stock ancestry as the Basset Hound. There are six recognized types of Dachshunds which, to some extent reflect the various animals that it was bred to hunt.
The larger smooth haired dogs went to ground after badger and fox. While the smaller smooth haired went to ground in the tunnels of weasels and rabbits.
The long and wire haired varieties could cope with briar and thickets rather better than their smooth coated relatives. The breed has been popular in the United States for over a century and is one of the foundation breeds of the American Kennel Club.
Description Of The Dachshund
The long tail is carried straight behind and is never altered. The long hanging ears are not altered.
There are three distinct types of Dachshund, the short-haired, the wired-haired, and the long-haired. Each one of these types come in two size categories (see below).
The Dachshund is long, muscular dog with short legs. The head is elongated with convex skull and arched, protruding eyebrows. The muzzle is long with strong jaws and a pincer or scissors bite and very strong canine teeth. Eyes are oval, dark red or brown-black and with friendly expression.
Miniatures average 5 - 6 inches at the shoulder and weigh around 11 pounds
Standards average 6 - 10 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 10 - 20 pounds.
Coat & Grooming
The long haired coat is silky and slightly wavy and is longer on the ears, behind the legs and under the neck. Hair on the underside of the tail is longest of all.
The allowed colors are:
single color - red or black (although not desirable) and red sable
two colored - black, chocolate, gray and white each with tan markings.
The most common are the black and tan and dappled, which is a clear brown or gray color with irregular patches of dark gray , brown or black. No single color should dominate.
Moderate grooming requirements.
Active and affectionate and can be willful. They are very intelligent and devoted to the family. All varieties can be difficult to train. Dachshunds are good traveling companions. They are better with older children and are somewhat protective. They do like to bark and are compulsive diggers.
Life Expectancy and Health
The average life span is around 12 - 15 years.
Prone to spinal disc problems (Dachshund paralysis) and can develop heart disease, urinary tract problems, and diabetes. They have a tendency to become overweight and lazy and this is a serious health risk, putting added strain on the back. Please read our page on health problems by clicking here.
Preferred Environment and Exercise Requirements
Good for apartment living. They are fairly active indoors and will be fine without a yard.
For More Information on the Dachshund
To get more information, check out the Dachshund web site:
There may also be rescue dogs available. Check for details on:
Dachshunds have little odor and adapt well to city life. A cheerful and faithful companion for both the young and old. The smooth coated Dachshunds are the most popular.
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