Dachshunds are scent dogs bred to hunt badgers and other tunnelling animals, foxes and rabbits. Packs of Dachshunds have been used by hunters to trail wild boar. Today their adaptableness makes them excellent family companions, show dogs, and small-game hunters.
But don’t let this pup fool you. As a legendary literary critic and humorous journalist, H. L. Mencken said, dogs of this breed might be “half a dog high and a dog and a half long,” but this small dog is tough enough to confront a badger. Their name is derived from Dachs, meaning badger and hund, meaning dog.
Dachshunds use many nicknames, including Sausage Dog, Wiener Dog, Doxie, and more. The Dachshund may be your breed if you’re looking for a little puppy who will shower you with love and keep you on your toes.
Famous Dachshunds
Toy Story (1995), Toy Story 4 (2019)
Wiener-Dog (2016)
The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
Famous Owners
Kirsten Dunst, Ashley Olssen, Adele, David Hasselhoff, David Bowie, Fergie
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History
In Germany, the Dachshund was called the badger dog, with dachs meaning badger and hund meaning dog. From the 15th century, illustrations of dogs resembling Dachshunds appeared, and documents from the 16th-century mentioned “earth dogs,” badger creepers,” and “dachsels.” Badgers weren’t the only prey of the Dachshund.
Packs of Dachshunds trailed wild boars and den animals like foxes. The size of those early Dachshunds varied greatly. Badgers and boars were hunted with dogs weighing between 30 and 35 pounds. Smaller 12-pound Dachshunds hunted hares and weasels, while larger 16- to 22-pound Dachshunds hunted foxes and deer. 5-pound Dachshunds bolted cottontail rabbits in the early 20th century.
A German breed known as the Teckel was refined over many years by foresters in the 18th and 19th centuries. To fight badgers to the death, they created an elongated, fearless dog that could dig into badger burrows and fight them until they died. Smooths were made through crosses between the Pinscher, a small terrier-type breed and the Braque, a small French pointing breed. French Basset Hounds may have also played a role in the development of the Dachshund. Dachshunds with long coats are likely to have been bred with spaniels, while wirehairs were probably bred with terriers.
AKC-recognized Dachshunds are the only breed that hunts both above and below ground, thanks to years of breeding. Due to their short, powerful legs, Dachshunds were capable of digging deep into narrow tunnels to pursue their prey. The Dachshund’s long, sturdy tail provided hunters with a “handle” for pulling the animal from its burrow. Digging was a breeze with the Dachshund’s paddle-shaped paws. As the dog traversed into tight holes, its loose skin would not tear. Long noses enabled them to be efficient scent hounds, and their deep chest and ample lung capacity gave them the stamina to hunt. Even their deep, loud barks had a purpose – so the hunter would be able to locate his dog after he had gone into a burrow.
Their boldness and tenacity were also essential. Even the smallest varieties of German Dachshund show the fearlessness for which the breed was developed. The Dachshund will likely “kill” a squeaky toy by destroying the squeaker as quickly as possible. This breed of dog was bred to kill prey.
Dogs like Dachshunds started to be bred primarily as pets in the 1800s, especially in Great Britain. There was a particular fondness for the breed in royal courts all over Europe, including that of Queen Victoria. As a result of this trend, their size gradually decreased by about 10 pounds. In time, a smaller version – the miniature Dachshund – was developed.
In the early 1900s, the breed was prevalent, and in 1913 and 1914, they ranked among the top 10 at the Westminster Kennel Club Show. The breed, however, suffered during World War I due to its close association with Germany. The owners of Dachshunds were sometimes called traitors, and their dogs were stoned. Breeders in the U.S. imported some Dachshunds from Germany after World War I, and the breed became popular again. During World War II, the breed suffered a similar fate, but not nearly as severely.
Since the 1950s, Dachshunds have been one of the most popular family dogs in the U.S. Dachshunds are not commonly used as hunting dogs in the U.S. or Great Britain but are in other parts of Europe, especially France.
Traits
There are three types of Dachshunds: smooth (shorthaired), wirehaired and longhaired. This breed is either miniature (11 pounds and under) or standard (usually between 16 and 32 pounds) in the United States. Dachshunds between 11 and 16 pounds are called tweenie Dachshunds. Sizes vary more widely in other countries. According to the German Standard, Miniature, and Kaninchenteckel classifications of Dachshunds based on their chest measurements at fifteen months of age, Dachshunds were born in Germany.
Regardless of their size, Dachshunds make excellent family pets, which is why their popularity has increased since the 1950s. They have been affectionately nicknamed wiener dogs, hot dogs, sausage dogs, Doxies, Dashes, and (especially in Germany) Teckels, Dachels, and Dachsels due to their cute appearance and lively disposition.
The Dachshund’s playful nature is evident at home. You can count on him to be close to you and assist you with things such as tying your shoes. He has his ideas about playtime because he is intelligent-and. Those rules may differ from yours or even those of other breeds of dogs. Dachshunds are known for their lively personalities and chasing small animals, birds, and toys. Probably the closest description of the Dachshund’s personality is in the breed standard. It states: “the Dachshund is clever, lively, and courageous to the point of rashness, persevering in above and below ground work, with all the senses well-developed. Any display of shyness is a serious fault.” (Dachshund Facts, Worksheets, History & Origin For Kids. https://kidskonnect.com/animals/dachshund/)
There is a soulfulness to the eyes of Dachshunds and complexity to their facial expressions. Its chest is barrel-shaped, and it has large lungs for a dog of this size. As a result of these factors, Dachshunds bark loudly and deeply, sounding like much larger dogs. The brave little Dachshund does like to bark so that you may bark. Therefore, twice if you have neighbours who might be annoyed rather than amused by its antics.
There is often a strong bond between Dachshunds and a single person. They can even become jealous of their owner’s attention if not properly trained and socialized.
Those without backyards or who live in apartments might consider Dachshunds a suitable pet. Their small size and ease of care make them popular with urban dwellers. They enjoy going on walks as well as being active indoors. Don’t let them gain too much weight or jump off furniture to injure their backs. It would help if you also support their backs when holding them. They are susceptible to slipping or ruptured (herniated) disks in their backs, which can cause partial or complete paralysis.
Dachshunds make excellent companions. It’s easy to find a Dachshund to suit almost anyone due to the variety of sizes, colours, coats, and personalities.
Health
This breed is typically healthy, but like all breeds, they may experience specific health conditions. Not every dog of this breed will get these diseases, but it’s essential to be aware of them. Some common health problems include:
- Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD)
- Epilepsy
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
- Gastric dilatation-volvulus (Bloat)
- Cushing’s Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism)
- Canine Diabetes Mellitus (D.M.)
Regardless of how healthy your dog is, a pet’s health insurance plan can
help you stay prepared for any of your dog’s medical needs.