Dachshund Information

Dachshund History

The Dachshund was first created in Germany. The word Dachs means badger. This says a lot about the Dachshund. The breed was originally bred to hunt and follow the badgers. The breed was able to conform to these needs becoming evolved with shortened legs which are used to be close to the ground and dig with ease. Some of the smaller Dachshunds were used for hunting different prey such as hare and stoat. The Dachshund is very similar to that of the terrier and carries the same traits. They are known to be courageous and take on all types of prey.

Dachshunds' Appearance

The dachshund comes in three different types. There is the short-haired dachshund, the wired-haired dachshund and the long-haired dachshund. The Dachshund is a long muscular dog with short legs. The breed is known to carry itself with pride and is always seen with a alert expression. The head is also long is size with a long muzzle. The Dachshund has protruding eyebrows, and a very strong jaw. The bite of a Dachshund is known to be sharp and strong. They have a scissors bite.

The eyes on the Dachshund are oval in shape and very alert with a friendly expression. The ears are very long and hang close to the Dachshunds cheeks. The body though small and low to the ground has a very muscular form and a shiny coat. The Dachshund can be solid colored or bi-colored with shades of brown, red, gray and chestnut. There are also the tan, piebald and speckle-streaked varieties.

Dachshund's Temperament

The Dachshund is known to be super lively and very loving. They are very bold and proud. This breed is also known to be very clownish and mischievous as well. They are very clever as well and can seem to be training the owner to do as they please rather than the other way around. Some owners believe the long haired type to be calmer than the others. Another idea is that the wire-haired variety is more clown like and outgoing than the others.

The Dachshund can be hard to train and will do best around older children who known how to respect the breed. They are barkers and love to dig. They can be protective and jealous at times. They are known to be irritable at times and need lots of attention to feel loved. They tend to gain weight easily and should not be overfed.

Dachshund's Role

The Dachshund plays the role of a wonderful companion dog. They are best for older children and adults who can understand how to respect the breed. They are not well suited for a family environment with small children, unless well socialized from a very early age. They need to be loved and given lots of attention at all times. The Dachshund would be a great choice for an older couple or individual looking for a fun loving dog.