Dachshund

Overview

The Dachshund is a long-bodied, short-legged hound created to follow badger and other burrowers underground. Bold, vocal, and comic in outline, it is a true hunting terrier-hound hybrid in spirit: affectionate with its people and surprisingly tough for its height.

Origin

German hunters developed the Teckel over centuries to go to ground after badger, fox, and rabbit. Smooth, wire, and long coats, plus standard and miniature sizes, were all part of the working tradition. The breed was a German national favorite by the nineteenth century, spread internationally, and was AKC-recognized in 1885. Wartime anti-German feeling briefly hurt its popularity in the English-speaking world; it recovered.

Size & weight

AKC standard: over 5 kg, typically 7–14 kg. Miniature: 5 kg and under at twelve months. Height is low; length is the point. There is also a rabbit-sized Kaninchen in FCI countries.

Temperament

Curious, brave, and often stubborn. Dachshunds were selected to face a badger in a dark hole; they may bark at thunder, the post, and passing dogs. They usually bond closely to household members and can be wary of strangers. Early socialization and patient training work better than confrontation.

Energy

Moderate, with bursts of hunting excitement. They enjoy walks and scent games and can hike on short legs more than their silhouette suggests. They are not a sighthound's athlete, and jumping on and off furniture is a spinal risk, not a sport.

Intelligence

Bred to think underground without a handler, Dachshunds are clever and independent; training succeeds with patience, not force.

Intelligence here means typical trainability, not a ranking of the dog.

Coat & grooming

Three coats: smooth (short and shining), longhaired (sleek with feathering), and wirehaired (harsh with a beard). Colors include red, cream, black-and-tan, chocolate-and-tan, dapple, brindle, and sable. Double dapples carry health risks and are controversial.

Smooths need a rubdown. Longhairs need combing to prevent mats. Wires need hand-stripping for a correct jacket, or clipping for pets (which softens the coat). Keep nails short; long nails worsen already extreme angulation of the feet.

Health notes

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is the breed's signature risk because of chondrodystrophy. Ramps, weight control, and avoiding high impact reduce but do not eliminate it. Patellar luxation, obesity, dental crowding, and progressive retinal atrophy occur. Double merle (double dapple) dogs have a high risk of deafness and eye defects.

Care

Teach the dog to use ramps. Do not let them leap from sofas as a habit. Use a harness. Watch weight as if it were medicine—it is. They can be difficult to housetrain; crate routines help. The bark is bigger than the dog; manage it with occupation, not shock.

Fun facts

• Dachshund means 'badger dog' in German.
• A Dachshund named Waldi was the official mascot of the 1972 Munich Olympics.
• Standard Dachshunds still work underground in parts of Europe; the chest circumference must fit a burrow.