Overview

The Dachshund first came to light hundreds of years ago in Germany. Originally, they were bred to hunt Badger. This is where their name came from. The German word for Badger is “Dachs.” They have a long body with short legs that were purposefully bred into them so they could dig out their prey and then enter inside the burrows, which would force them to leave their dens. Miniature Dachshunds were bred to hunt stoat and rabbits. They've also been used to hunt otters and foxes as well as Badgers.

Activity

Dachshund can be vivacious and lively but they don't need a lot of exercise. A short walk a day is enough for them. They tend to tire easily so any exercise needs to be broken down into various times of the day rather than all at once. Dachshunds tend to have back problems so don't encourage running and/or high jumping.

Care

If you have a Long Haired Dachshund, you'll need to do quite a lot of grooming. Due to them being so close to the ground, they're prone to picking up sticks, twigs and burrs in their coat. These should be removed daily if they get any. Their coat should be brushed regularly to prevent matting or tangling. Smooth Haired Dachshunds don't need a lot of grooming and do just fine with an occasional wiping down using a damp or harsh towel to remove any loose or dead hair.

Character

Dachshunds are known to be rather clownish dogs and are quite mischievous sometimes. They're very intuitive and are now mostly used as companions instead of hunters. This is a breed that loves people and never shows signs of timidity or aggression. The Dachshund is an overall friendly dog, is quite outgoing and will win the hearts of everyone they meet.

Coat

There are three varieties of Dachshund. These are the Long Haired Dachshund, Smooth Haired Dachshund and the Wire Haired Dachshund. In addition, they're also available in two sizes. These are standard and miniature. The Long Haired Dachshund has a straight and long coat that has hair slightly longer and feathered on their undersides, chest, legs and ears. The Smooth Coat Dachshund has a short, straight, glossy and smooth coat that's of equal length all over the dog's body. The coat on the Wire Haired Dachshund looks broken with coarse, harsh and wiry hair.

Temperament

Fun loving and lively, Dachshunds are also very tenacious and can get very irritable and jealous. This is not a breed for younger children but they do quite well with older and considerate children. Because they're small with tiny legs, Dachshunds shouldn't be in homes that have larger dogs unless they've been raised with each other. Even though Dachshunds can get jealous, they still get along well with lots of other toy breeds as long as they're not snappy.

Training

Dachshunds can sometimes be stubborn, which makes training a little difficult for the inexperienced owner. This is a breed that needs consistent and firm handling. However, they can also be somewhat sensitive so always correct them gently. Never be harsh or they can become timid and submissive. Use several training methods for the best response.