Dachshund
Wiener Dog, Badger Dog, Sausage Dog
This little dog with his very special appearance is adorable, cunning, balanced, gentle and affectionate, but he can be very stubborn at times. This lazy little fox doesn't deprive himself of the comforts of the home and knows his place in the household, but he will still tend to question it from time to time. This "sausage dog" is the joy of his owners and is generally very appreciated by the whole family. He is a small dog with great aptitudes and he is perfectly aware of it.
Quick Overview of the Dachshund
Temperament
- Very particular strong personality
- Very observant and cunning
- Affectionate
- Slightly lazy
Appearance
- Very low on legs and quite compact
- Very good musculature
- A sense of great pride
- Slightly clumsy appearance
Health
- Quite robust
- No particular health problems
- Potential discopathy
- Avoid obesity
Temperament of the Dachshund
Endowed with a strong and very special personality, the Dachshund is highly observant, cunning, affectionate and slightly lazy. He loves the comfort of the house and will choose the comfort of cushions or blankets for nap time.
This very endearing and cheerful little dog is particularly good at becoming the leader of the pack. He is very intelligent and will take this spot as soon as the master lets him. It is therefore necessary to limit permissions and train him very early.
As the Dachshund is a bit possessive, he must be taught, at a young age, where he belongs in the household. This lively, sturdy and courageous little dog will do as he pleases if left to his own devices without any special training. His master must be firm and loyal. That way he will know where his place is and he will happily take it.
Breed Appearance
Very low on his legs, the Dachshund is compact but has good muscles. He is very vigorous and despite his particular size, he gives an impression of great pride but still has a somewhat heavy appearance.
Height
Between 30 and 35 cm (11.81 to 13.78 inches) for the male
Between 30 and 35 cm (11.81 to 13.78 inches) for the female
Weight
Between 6 and 10 kg (13.23 to 22.05 pounds) for the male
Between 6 and 10 kg (13.23 to 22.05 pounds) for the female
Color
His coat exists in three colours, either unicolour (from dark red to light red, sometimes even black), bicolour (wild boar, brown and tan or black and tan), harlequin (brown and tan or black and tan).
Hair
His fur is short, hard or long. Each size has all three categories: smooth, wire-haired, or long-haired.
Morphology
His head has a rather rounded skull. His eyes are black and almond-shaped. His rounded ears are close to the cheek. His nose is black. His tail is the extension of his back line.
According to the FCI breeds nomenclature, this breed belongs to group 4, section 1 and is #148
Characteristics of the Dachshund
Does this dog suit your lifestyle?
Every dog breed has its own characteristics. However, the actual character of a dog can vary from one to another within the same breed.
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Dachshund pictures
Tips About this breed
Even if only a third of the breed's births are for companionship and family, the Dachshund is a pet par excellence. He is very forgiving, especially towards children. He has the great ability to differentiate between children and adults.
He's very patient and affectionate. He can be patient with a child and aggressive at the same time with an adult. He has a slight tendency to dominate and you need to know how to gently but firmly keep him where he belongs.
The Dachshund loves comfort even if he is perfect for hunting. He does not fear any climate especially if he is in pursuit of a prey but he will not ignore the reward of resting on the comfortable sofa cushions once his hunt is over.
Just as much a city dog as a country one, the Dachshund needs his daily walk to be happy. Even if he doesn't require the great outdoors, he still needs a minimum of fresh air because he loves walking.
Health of the Dachshund
This very robust little dog does not present any particular health problems. However, due to his physique, his spine is subject to discopathies. It is important to avoid obesity and to ensure that he can exercise daily.
GROOMING
Depending on the category of Dachshund, more regular care may be required. The short-haired Dachshund does not require any special grooming, while the long-haired Dachshund will require brushing at least every two days. The ears are particularly sensitive to ear infections. It is then preferable to check and clean them regularly.
History of this breed
This original basset hound from Germany was very popular at the time for hunting badgers because it simply managed to dislodge them from their burrows. Because of his unique size allowing him to enter underground galleries to capture his prey, the Dachshund was also very popular for hunting rabbits and even foxes.
Around the 17th century, the first specimens of the breed were born and many varieties evolved until the 19th century. The Brachets or Bracken are the ancestors of this particular variety of basset hound.
Probably dating back to the dawn of mankind, the true history of the Dachshund begins in Germany during the 18th and 19th centuries. Founded in 1888, the German Dachshund Club introduced the first type of short-haired Dachshund.
The long-haired and wire-haired breeds were introduced as a result of various crossbreeding during that century.
The Dachshund is part of history because several famous people were particularly fond of this breed. Queen Victoria owned a few dogs. Kaiser William II, her grandson, also owned Dachshunds. He never went out without them.
He owned a short-haired couple, Hexl and Wadl, who killed the golden pleasure pheasants of Archduke Franz Ferdinand during the visit of the Emperor of Germany. The pheasants were walking freely in the park during the attack, which caused quite a diplomatic stir at the time.
Karen Blixen, Anton Teckhov, Marshal Rommel, General Patton, Andy Warhol, Heidi Klum and even Pablo Picasso, to name but a few, also owned Dachshunds.
Originally an excellent hunting dog, the Dachshund has become today a pleasant companion. His great qualities and size promote considerable interest in the breed. Children and other animals are his friends and it is not uncommon to see him appear in various advertisements, which helps to make him even more popular.
