Easily discern by its long body and stubby legs , the small and spirited dachshund ( pronounceddahks - hund ) has long been a category favorite . Though they may not front it , dachshunds were bred as ferocious hunters , employed on the trail to fawn into Wisconsinite and rabbit mess to flush out their prey .
Still sometimes used as hunt andiron , most modern dachshunds are just as felicitous with plenty of daily looseness follow by lazing around the plate with their humans . Their sizing and grim - maintenance requirements make them adaptable to nearly any know place , but beware : These little hounds can make some mighty noise . Keep take to discover all about the dachshund .
Appearance
Beloved the world over for its short and stalwart cast , the dachshund ( known conversationally as a doxie or , dearly , as a sausage dog or wiener heel ) is a small hunting hound with a big personality . Bred in Germany to burrow into the dens of target , the dachshund stands much longer than it does tall . The breed come in three coat type : smooth , longhair , and wirehair , and two sizing : stock and mini .
accord to thebreed lodge ’s standards , smooth dachshunds have a short , shiny coat that derive in a variety of colours and patterns , include solid red or cream ; black and tan ; dappled ( also recognise as merle ) , with evenly distributed luminance and coloured colour ; brindle , with moody stripes against a light base ; and sable . The color of smooth dachshund ' eyes varies based on coat color and approach pattern . Solid- and bicolor - coated smooth dachshunds typically have sour oculus while maculation badger dog tend to have partially or altogether profane eyes .
Wirehaired dachshunds have a easy priming coat overlayed by a shortsighted , thick-skulled , and grueling top pelage with a stringy texture . These dachshunds also have a prominent beard and eyebrows . Wirehairs come in the same raiment of colors and shape as the smooth , but they ’re most typically seen in idle boar ( brown with blond highlights ) , black and tan , and various shades of red .
Longhaired dachshunds have sleek , shiny , often wavy hairsbreadth that ’s longer on the ears and under the cervix , body , and behind the legs . These doxy come in all the same colors as the smooth .
Temperament
With their adorable appearance and goofy personality , it may come as a surprisal that badger dog were originally breed as savage hunters . That ’s proper — that low , sausage - shaped dog used to tunnel into dens and either flush out its prey or agitate to the end . Though modern dachsie are more lick dog than Lancelot , the stock has keep on its braveness and spunk .
" They were cover to hunt badgers — this is not a timid short dog , " says Brian Kilcommons , founder of The Great Dogs Resort , a breeding facility in Connecticut . " They ’re very vocal and extremely predatory but cunning as a clit . "
Energetic and alert with a cheap , deep howling , dachshunds will be sure to voice the alarm at the vision of guest , but they ’re not , for obvious grounds , suit to guard dog piece of work . Dachshunds can be very playful and will need a decent amount of social attention every day . They also be given to be diggers and burrowers — it ’s not uncommon to bump them delve holes in the backyard or tunnel into mantle in bed .
Despite a repute as being stubborn and impish , dachsie can take toobedience trainingquite well . As with most hound dog , patience and consistency are primal . As with any breed , it ’s important to by rights socialise your badger dog from a youthful age . Though not considered instantly aggressive with humans , dachshunds can be nettlesome and responsive . " Mini dachshunds , which is what most people have , can be great with kids , depending on how well the shaver deport , " Kilcommons say . " But if the dog is uncomfortable or irritated , it can get snappy . " It ’s crucial to teach children how to properly interact with hound andalwayssupervise them when playing with any detent .
Living Needs
The dachsie is an adaptable breed and can make a expectant positron emission tomography in almost any base ( just beware of too many stairs ! ) . Though energetic , the dachsie is wholly contented hanging out inside , so long as her owner is close and she receives plenty of play . This strain tends to be lazy , so owners need to encourage daily exercise ( obesity is a big problem for this small - frame whelp ) . Twice - daily walk up to half a mi each should be sufficient . Dachshunds do n’t do well in cold weather , and she will need to wear a pelage when going outside for lengthy geological period of sentence when temps are low .
Though their small size make them swell for apartment dwellers and the older , there are a few very crucial token to consider before bringing a dachshund into your life story . For neophyte , dachsie may require special accommodations for get around the business firm , such as step or a incline up to furniture ( if allowed ) to palliate jump-start . Too much jumping can seriously wound a dachshund ’s coxa and back , and the bounder may require to be lifted frequently ( another reason to keep its weight healthy ! ) .
Dachshunds are also a loud breed , specially when go forth alone for too long . " Barkingis a home gadget for blackguard that go to ground , " Kilcommons say . " If they ’re go into a hideaway that ’s 20 feet down into the world , the only path to know how to dig them out — because they ’re not backing out , they ’re struggle with or kill something — is by them skin . Dachshunds were bred to bark , and they ’re trashy . Their bark can be pierce . "
True to her past , the dachshund loves to trail scents and archeological site . If you ’re bring a dachshund to a home with a G , ensure the curtilage is to the full fenced - in and reinforced along the base . It ’s a good idea to keep an eye on your badger dog while outside , both for her condom and for the sake of your landscape gardening .
Dachshunds are also notoriously slow to housetrain and may take up to a twelvemonth to understand the concept . " A set of multiplication , as with many cad , house-train them is unmanageable and slow , " Kilcommons says . Even then , they may just encounter going outside inconvenient . It ’s recommended to teach your dachshund to utilise a water pad indoors , for those times it ’s too cold or your pet is feeling too lazy to go outside .
dachshund tend to have main personalities , but that does n’t mean they do n’t like to join in on family fun . This small breed can be good with children in the family but may take redundant training and socialisation to be serene around those she does n’t know . A dachshund is a keen fit for a single grownup , a sept , and the older alike , so long as her possessor is patient , forgiving , and has a sense of body fluid to match this pup ’s gritty position . It ’s of import to take your lifestyle before committing to any dog . blab to a dachshundbreederorrescue groupabout expectations to see if a dachsie is a good tantrum for you .
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Care
The dachshund pelage varieties have slightly different neaten needs . All three varieties are depressed - shedding , low scent , and stay on middling light despite the clock time spent alfresco ( though their paws may want tending after a vigorous digging session ) . They are not , however , turn over a hypoallergenic breed . All dachshunds should be bathed meagerly , no more than once a calendar month — any more and their sensitive skin can dry out out .
Smooth - coat dachsie are very low maintenance , need little more than a rub - down with a towel or a agile brushing once a week . Longhaired doxy will need more frequent brushing , paying particular attention to possible mat . Wirehaired dachshunds are the highest - maintenance of the three , requiring hebdomadary brushing and , often , frequent trimming of the beard and eyebrows ( though this is based more on preferred appearing than essential ) . Thisguidegives large confidential information and resources for grooming your longhaired dachshund .
Regular brushing is a estimable time to check for things like coating sheen ( dull hair can mean a want of nutrients in her diet ) , nail length , and pinna and dental health . Dachshunds will require excess weekly careto their ears , as their floppy Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe can forestall proper air circulation and leave to infections . It ’s important to talk to your veterinary about the right way to check and clean your dachshund ’s ear .
badger dog were breed to be focused and main - minded on the hunt , but that does n’t mean they ’re unsufferable to train . In fact , this stock can be eager to learn most obedience training — just remember to keep thing positive and fun . As with most heel , food can be a great motivator , but Kilcommons recommend play to a unlike inherent aptitude . " This breed can take to obedience training enceinte , but it ’s how you approach it , " Kilcommons say . It ’s all about lean into the dog ’s strengths and hardwiring . " With dachsie , they ’re predators . Get a toy out for training , and use that as a advantage . "
Health
The badger dog is debate a loosely hefty breed with a life of 12–16 years . Like all stock , the dachshund is prone to sure diseases , and if not properly feed and exercised , the breed ’s long body can lead to serious wellness issues . TheDachshund Club of America , the official breed club , strongly advocate breeders arrant thorough cardiac , patella , and eye exams . Of course not all dachshunds will take on serious health issue , but it ’s significant to be mindful of these common concerns when think this breed . It ’s important to buy all Canis familiaris from reputable breeders who will enter you to the bounder ’s parent and sib . If adopting , ask the rescue for all available wellness history .
History
Do n’t be put one over by this favorable side and little bod : The dachsie has long been a savage Orion . This hunting blackguard first appeared some 600 years ago in Germany , according to theAmerican Kennel Club . The breed ’s recollective , lissome consistence pair with a clever and brave personality made her a unnerving resister for badgers , George Fox , and hares . According to some authorities on the breed , packs of larger dachshunds were even used to hunt wild boar .
The dachshund began its transition to family positron emission tomography in the 1800s . No longer fighting Wisconsinite to the death , this version of the breed became lowly in stature but their with child personality remained . The spunky dachshund quickly won over the hearts of the people , including royal house such as Queen Victoria . The stock made its introduction in America at the end of the 19th century and quickly became a household favorite . Their popularity declined during the world wars ( they were frequently see as a direct representation of Germany ) but resurge in the fifties and have well been a devotee best-loved ever since . Though mostly keep as pets in the U.S. , dachshund are still used to hunt down in Europe .
Fun Facts
