Many people think of the
Dachshund as one type of dog that has short legs,
short hair, and a long body. This is partially
correct, but probably does not go quite far enough.
There are actually three varieties of Dachshund to
include shorthaired, wire-haired, and longhaired.
Although it is a rather small dog, the breed appears
to carry itself proudly and has a strong bite with
good teeth. Dachshunds are tan or yellow if
they are a solid color or have deep brown or black
coats with a brown underside. You will even see some
that are speckled and streaked.
The Dachshund breed comes from Germany and has a
history that stretches back hundreds of years. Its
name comes from the German word for badger, “dachs”
since the dog was trained to chase badgers to dens.
To have the ability to burrow in and dig the animal
out, the breed evolved to its long body and short
legs. The Dachshund has also been used to hunt other
small animals and can be quite a tenacious breed.
Temperament
The Dachshund, though widely known by slang names
such as wiener dog is a very clever breed and known
to be quite courageous, as you might expect since it
was used to hunt down badgers. Some experts say the
Dachshund personality borders on rashness, with any
sign of shyness considered a real fault. In
addition, this breed moves freely and smoothly, for
the most part, though the short legs and heavier
body may make it appear awkward. The gait can appear
to have a bit of a roll to it, as well.
Generally, the Dachshund has some of the terrier
personality with being tenacious and lively common
traits for this breed. This dog loves to dig and
will bark loudly, although it is interesting to note
that the longhaired variety of Dachshund is calmer
than the others are. Keep in mind that this breed of
dog can be irritable and sometimes are difficult to
train. However, if socialized young and well, it
makes a wonderful pet but typically does not like
being overly handled.
Size and Color
Again, there are three varieties of dachshund –
shorthaired, wirehaired, and longhaired. Each of the
varieties can have different sizes such as standard,
dwarf, and toy. Standard Dachshunds usually stand
from 14 to 18 inches at the withers and weigh about
20 pounds. Dwarf Dachshunds stand up to 14 inches
and weigh about nine pounds. Then for Toy
Dachshunds, you see a height of about 12 inches and
weight around 8 pounds.
Solid color dachshunds are tan or yellow, while the
two-colored variety consist of deep brown, black, or
even gray coloring, coupled with chestnut brown
markings. In addition, you will find that some
breeders end up with beautiful streaked and speckled
varieties of the Dachshund.
Feeding and Grooming Requirements
One of the first things experienced owners and
breeders may tell you about the Dachshund would be
not to overfeed it because the breed tends to gain
weight quickly. Even though this dog was a
working/hunting dog, the breed does not get the
demand for activity it used to, which can contribute
to weight gain. Overall, the Dachshund is a lively
and playful dog, doing well with outside exercise to
help control this problem.
When it comes to food, you might try using only
fresh, homemade ingredients similar to what you
bring home for yourself when you prepare the pet’s
meal. For instance, the area from which the
Dachshund originally came had foods that were high
in nutrients such as vitamin A, so it would be good
to try to include foods with this vitamin as part of
the diet. N addition, we would suggest feeding a
high fat/low protein, puppy food diet, even through
adulthood.
The longhaired variety requires regular combing and
brushing, while many people suggest professional
attention such as trimming for the wirehaired
Dachshund. Shedding is considered average for the
breed, and if the nails were not worn down through
everyday activity, you would need to trim them or
have them trimmed by a groomer or veterinarian.
Exercise Needs
Although the elongated back of the Dachshund could
lead to health problems, you want to avoid
overstress of this area. However, the breed is
relatively active, doing best with a modest amount
of exercise. This dog breed needs to be with humans
and should be walked rather than turned loose,
unless you have a moderate sized fenced yard.
If you do try any activity that requires excessive
agility, be careful not to injure the dog’s back.
The Dachshund has quite a bit of stamina, being a
breed that loves to play in the park. We also
discourage having the dog jump from any height due
to the possibility of back injury.
