This entry was posted on 2014-07-02 by Schalk.

The Dachshund, scent hound is a small breed which has an elongated body and short legs. This breed came about in the 1600s, it was used in Germany to track, hunt and retrieve animals that lived in burrows. They mainly hunted the badger.

Personality and Temperament

This breed is curious, adventurous and daring. They are very happy chasing game, tracking by scent, hunting and digging. A true mix of hound and terrier. This dog enjoys playing with children, but there should be an adult present to supervise, as they do not have much tolerance for being mishandled.

The Dachshund does mind strangers but may sometimes snarl. They also tend to be shy and reserved. If this dog feels threated or feels his family is in danger it will not hesitate to attack.

The longhaired varieties are far more nervous then the wire-haired varieties. The toy sized Dachshund is even more nervous with strangers. However, this little dog enjoys getting involved in activities and spending time with people.
This breed is also a great guard dog as it has a loud voice and will not hesitate to alert you of an intruder. As they aren’t very big they would be comfortable living basically anywhere, an apartment, house or farm. Daily exercise is a must, playing in the back yard or leashed walks will ensure that your Dachshund will remain in tip top shape as well as relaxed and happy at home. One of its favorite things to do is play catch.

The shorthaired Dachshund, don’t require much grooming. Just a good brush and a wash now and again will do the trick. The wire-coated variety should be brushed at least once a week. The longhaired variety should be brushed at least twice a week; both need a wash now and again.

As this breed has a mind of its own and a curious nature it isn’t very easy to train. One trait that is hard to overcome is its hunting instinct; this causes it not to come when called. Socializing at an early age is a must; this will help them get along with strangers better and other cats and dogs.

Traits:

•    Other names: Standard Dachshund, Miniature Dachshund, Toy Dachshund, Kaninchen, Dackel.
•    Nicknames: Teckel, Dash it hound, Tekkel, TekkelDoxie, Weenie Dog, Wiener Dog/Hotdog, Sausage Dog, Bassotto, Sosis, PerroSalchicha, Worshond, Taksis, Jamnik, Little Burrow Dog, Earth Dog
•    Weight: Standard: 4.9 kg; Miniature: 4.9 kg; Toy: 3.5 kg
•    Height: Standard: 20 - 27cm; Miniature: 13 - 18 cm; Toy: 30 cm
•    Coat: Three types: shorthaired, the wirehaired, and the longhaired.
•    Colour: Solid colours are: black, red (from strawberry blond to deep auburn), chocolate (brown), isabella (tan or fawn), cream (blond with no trace of red, from golden blond to platinum (the lighter the better) and blue (gray)). In the wirehaired variety, cream is referred to as wheaten.
•    Litter size: 4–8 puppies
•    Life span: 12-14 years

Physical Characteristics

As the Dachshund has a long, low-slung body it can move easily through small spaces. This breed has a smooth gait, which is enhanced by its ease of movement, stamina and dexterity. The waist is narrowed slight and the muscles should be strong without being visibly bulky. In the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich this form of dog was used as a symbol. For hunting purposes the long tail makes it easier for hunters to follow the dog. The unique forward flopping ears protect its ear canals from entry of external objects, as it runs through the bushes.

The Dachshund comes in three sizes, each used for hunting different sized prey. The standard size is used for hunting boars and badges and weights about 4.9 kg. The miniature size, which basically weighs the same as the standard is used to hunt hares, badgers and foxes. The toy size is mainly kept as a house pet and weighs about 3.5 kg.

There are also three types of coats. All of these coats, even though a bit different offer protection from extreme weather conditions. The smooth coat is shiny and short; the silky longhaired coat is either wavy or straight and the wiry coat has a fine under coat, with a tight, thick, hard outer coat. This breed has an intelligent and pleasant expression on its face, which gives it a confident appearance.

Health

The life span of a Dachshund is about 12-14 years. It may suffer from patellar luxation, seizures,deafness, gastric torsion, diabetes, Cushing's disease, and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS). The major health concern is intervertebral disk disease (IVDD), which causes spinal cord problems. If your dog is obese this will increase the risk of spinal injury. For Dachshunds with two different coloured eyes, regular eye tests are a must as they are prone to visual and hearing problems.

History & Background

Mentioned in dog- books in the 18th century this breed was know as Little Burrow Dog, Dacksel, The Badger Dog or Low Crooked Legged breed.Dachshund is a German word directly translated as “badger hound”. This name was given to them as they were used to hunt badgers and other animals. This breed tends to have a fight to the finish attitude, which is one of their best qualities and makes them a worthy opponent. They fall short in self-awareness in terms of their size and may get into scary satiations where they are at a distinct disadvantage.

To create the smooth coated Dachshund they first crossbred the Vermin-killing Pinscher and the Bracke French pointer. The longhaired version is thought to be a mix of three dogs (The German Stoberhund ,smooth Dachshund, and spaniels). In the 1800s the wire-coated Dachshund was developed by mixing smooth Dachshunds with DandieDinmont Terrier and German Wire-haired Pinschers.

Before the 20th century they developed small Dachshund by crossing toy terriers with Pinschers, they were used to chase small rabbits. This type of Dachshund however lacked segments. In 1910, they made sure to cross with lots of different breeds to ensure the best results. During the wartime the Dachshund decreased in popularity but there were always those who would return to the breed. Today this breed is gaining more and more popularity and is one of the most popular companions to have in the U.S.

Nutrition

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