The Dachshund is a small dog with a long body and short legs. It is a very popular dog breed in the United States and has a great lively and friendly personality. Because of its long body it is often called a wiener or a hot dog.
How big do they get?
There are two official sizes of Dachshunds; standard and miniature. The standard dachshund could weigh anywhere from 16 to 30 pounds while the miniature typically weighs less than 11 pounds.
What were they originally bred for?
Dachshunds were originally bred in Germany to hunt badgers in their burrows. The name Dachshund actually means badger dog in German. In the 1600s the Germans bred the dog to be fearless and have a good sense of smell. This enabled it to dig into badger burrows and fight or flush badgers out.
Different Dachshund Coats
Dachshunds have three different coat varieties:
1) Smooth has a smooth and shiny coat
2) Wirehaired has a short rough outer coat with a beard and eyebrows
3) Longhaired has a sleek coat of longer hair. Their coats come in all sorts of colors and patterns.
Temperament
Dachshunds are lively and courageous despite their small size. They can be stubborn to train. They like to chase small animals, birds, balls or just about anything that moves. They can be loyal to their owners and standoffish to people they don't know. They have a fairly loud bark and can make a good watchdog.
Health
This breed does have a health problem with its long back. Because its spinal cord is so long, it can develop back problems. As a result owners need to handle the dog carefully and be mindful of its back. This is one reason why they are not the best choice of pets for children. Also, obesity can make back problems worse, so pet owners need to watch their diet.
Fun Facts about Dachshunds
★The Dachshund is considered a symbol of Germany. A Dachshund named Waldi was the mascot at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
★Pablo Picasso and President Grover Cleveland both had Dachshunds for pets.
★It belongs to the hound group of dogs.
★It is better to use a harness to walk a dachshund than a collar as a collar can hurt its back.
★They are generally three times as long as they are tall.
★Even with their short legs, they are fast and have good endurance.