
Description: Sporty and devoted,
Dachshunds makes an excellent family dog. Despite their small size they
make a good watch dog with a surprisingly loud bark. Dachshunds may be
slightly aggressive to strangers. Given the nickname the "Weiner dog" they
are low to the ground, long in body and short of leg with robust muscular
development. The Dachshund has an intelligent, alert, facial expression.
There are three varieties of Dachshunds; smooth-haired, wire-haired and
long-haired. Each come in two sizes: Standard and Miniature. The
smooth-haired Dachshund is the original strain, the wire-haired and the
long-haired were attained by crossing the smooth-haired with other breeds
such as spaniels, pinschers and Dandie Dinmont Terriers. Dachshunds are an
intelligent and lively breed who will need firm training to prevent
disobedience. They have a strong desire to hunt, as they
will show if you have a garden or backyard. Dachshunds are fun, feisty and
bold. They are unafraid of challenges, and curious for adventures. They
are prone to hunt, dig, track and follow small animals underground. They
are not overly friendly to strangers, and enjoy their families privately.
Although independent, Dachshunds still crave the attention and belonging
that the family offers. The Teckel are somewhat fragile in their backs,
and should be kept on a healthy diet to prevent back problems from
obesity. They are friendly, good-natured and affectionate, as well as
playful, fun-loving and intelligent.
Other Names: Normalgrosse
Teckel (Miniature: Zwergteckel), "Weiner Dog", "Sausage Dog"
Type: Scenthound
Height: Standard - 8 - 9 inches; Miniature - 5 - 6
inches.
Weight: Standard -
16-32 lbs., Miniature - 11 lbs. and under.
Colors: All
colors but white. They come in hound colors, allowed to have spots of
white on the chest, or dappled all over, although this is undesirable.
Coat: Smooth-haired - dense, short and smooth.
Long-haired - soft and straight, and only slightly
wavy.
Wire-haired - short, straight and harsh with a long
undercoat.
Temperament: Dachshunds are lively, intelligent, courageous and bold. They are
fun-loving and get very involved in a family environment. Dachshunds are affectionate,
friendly and outgoing. They are wary of strangers, and will alert their
owners of unusual behavior. They make excellent watch dogs! They are curious and have a strong desire to hunt. Some of them
bark, and they bark loud. They can be independent, but still enjoy being
part of the family. The Dachshund is adaptable and devoted.
With Children: Very good!
With Pets: Bossy but co-exist peacefully with other dogs. Must be
socialised when young to accept cats. They have a natural instinct to go
to ground after animals.
Special Skills: Family pet and hunting dog for above or below ground.
Watch-dog: Very
High. Dachshunds have a loud bark to alert their owners, they are
wary of strangers.
Care and Exercise: Wire- and Long-haired Dachshunds need regular brushing
with a bristle brush. Dry shampoo or bathe when necessary. The
smooth-haired dachshund has little body odor and can be occasional rubbed
down with a damp cloth. Regular exercise is important to the Dachshund, as
they have a tendency to put on weight and become lazy. Dachshunds need
care to control their diet as they will normally eat whatever is placed
before them. Obesity can lead to back problems.
Training: Long-haired Doxies are easier to
train than smooth-haired, but they have a mind of their own and require
patience and consistency.
Learning
Rate: High. Obedience - Medium. Problem-Solving -
High.
Activity: Loves indoors and outdoors
Special
Needs: Grooming, socialization.
Living Environment: Excellent pet for an
apartment or house, city or country. Be aware they can bark loudly. An
owner of a Dachshund who desires a small, active, personable breed should
be consistent and patient. The Dachshund is an adaptable dog, able
to do well in an apartment or house.
Health Issues: Do not let them become overweight or jump from
heights, as their backs are prone to injury. They are also subject to
genetic eye diseases if strict genetic selection is not adhered to.
Life Span: 12 - 14
years.
Litter Size: 3 -
4 puppies.
Country of Origin: Germany
History: Dachshunds are known to have
existed as far back as the 16th century, described as a "low crooked
legged" dog. The name of the breed ranges from Little Burrow Dog, Dacksel,
to Badger Dog, and named Teckel in its native country. Dachs is
the German word for "badger", while hund is the word for "dog".
Dachshunds are derived from the oldest breeds of German hunting dogs.
First came the smooth haired Dachshund, and then the other two followed.
Dachshunds were bred to hunt and burrow for badgers and the miniature was
created to hunt hares. To create the variety we have today, Dachshunds
were bred with spaniels, pinschers, Dandie Dinmont Terriers and the German
Stöber. The Dandie Dinmont contributed to the
wire-haired version, and the Stöber had a paw in the
creation of the long-haired type. Queen Victoria in 1839 was the first to
own a Dachshund in England. Soon after her marriage to the German Prince
Albert, her new husband brought more Dachshunds to the British, and the
breed gained popularity. In 1866 the breed was on exhibition in Britain,
and later given a breed standard in 1873. Four years later the English
Dachshund Club was formed, and in 1895 the Dachshund Club of America
began. Dachshunds are actually Terriers. According to stories, the
Dachshund was kept in the Hound group because of a difficulty with
translating the name into English. Gergweis, Germany, has held the
title of "Dachshund Capital of the World", in which Dachshunds once
outnumbered people two to one. They were used as a tourist attraction,
rented out to take walks and to be played with. Today Dachshunds are bred
as pets and are highly popular in not only Europe, but American and
Australia as well. Some are still used in Europe as hunters.

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