Week 2: The Dachshund
‘Half a dog high and a dog and a half long.’ – H.L. Mencken
Introduction:The Dachshund (often nicknamed the ‘sausage dog’ or ‘wiener dog’) originates from Germany where they were bred for tracking and hunting. Their name literally means Badger dog: ‘Dachs’ meaning Badger/’hund’ meaning dog. The Dachshund come in two sizes, standard and miniature. The standard was typically bred to track and hunt Badgers and wild boar, whilst the miniature Dachshund was bred to hunt smaller prey such as rabbits. Their short legs and long backs were developed to achieve maximum tracking potential: being so low to the ground they could keep the scent of their prey and fit into dens and holes with ease.
Both sizes come in three types; smooth haired, long haired and wire haired. They also come in a variety of colours from Black and Tan to Silver Dapple.
They are the smallest of the hound group and with their huge personalities and often feisty natures they are a very popular dog among breeders and families.
- Known as ‘Dackel’ or ‘Teckel’ in Germany (supposedly ‘Teckel’ is the name given to Dachshunds which have passed the test to be a trained hunter, and ‘Dackel’ is just the general breed name.)
- Their name is properly pronounced ‘Daks-hund’ not ‘Dash-hound’
- Although there are only two sizes of Dachshund recognised in the UK and the USA, in Germany there are three recognised sizes. As well as the standard and miniature there is also the Rabbit Dachshund (recognised by the FCI World Canine Federation). This is because in Germany, the types are not separated by weight but chest circumference.
- Because of their association with Germany, Dachshunds lost popularity in the states during World War I and II, however they quickly returned to popularity now standing 11th most popular breed.
- In the American West they were known to hunt prairie dogs.
- A Dachshund named Waldi was the Mascot of the 1972 Summer Olympic Games.
- Their place among the hounds is quite controversial – some think that they belong more in the Terrier group. The FCI even give them their own group: ‘The Dachshund group’ due to the fact that they are the only certifiable dog to hunt both above and below the ground.
Top tips and Recommendations:
Discipline: The Dachshund can often have problems with barking; an excellent tool to help in stopping this habit is the Pet Corrector* or Hunter Training Discs which helps to make the dog associate barking with a negative and also strengthens your command of ‘no.’
Toys: Due to their hunter nature, chew toys are great fun for Dachshunds. The Kong small tennis balls* and our Pheasant Toy * make ideal choices.
Accessories: Harnesses* are often a more popular alternative to collars since the Dachshund have small necks and are prone to back problems. They are particularly good for the smooth haired Dachshunds as long hair can sometimes mat under the material.
*All recommended products can be found in our branches