Dachshund

Sponsored by:

Owner's Guide

The Dachshund has a lively, upbeat personality--spunky, curious, and friendly. These traits remain from the Dachshund's original job: "Dachshund" means "badger dog" in German, and he was created to hunt down badgers.

Badger dogs of some type have existed since the 1400s. The Dachshund as a specific breed has been around since the early 1600s. He is a digger so that he could dig his way into the badger's underground den. He is low and long so that he could fit inside the den to go after the badger. He is an eager hunter. He also loves to play and clown around. He is happy in the city or country, as long as he gets his daily exercise. Because of his long back, he shouldn't be allowed to jump from heights, including furniture.

Excerpts from the Standard

General Appearance: Low to the ground, long in body and short of leg, well balanced, bold and confident with intelligent, alert expression.

Size, Proportion, and Substance: Miniature--11 pounds and under at 12 months of age and older. Standard--approximately 16 to 32 pounds.

Fun Facts

Dachshunds can have one of three kinds (varieties) of coat: smooth, wirehaired, or longhaired. Dachshund puppies should come from litters that have only one type of coat: The different varieties are not bred to each other because they may produce puppies with shiny, mixed-up coats. There are regular-sized and miniature dogs of each coat type.

Smooth: short, sleek, and shiny two-colored--black, chocolate, wild boar, gray and fawn, with tan markings; dapple and brindle. Tail tapers to a point.

Wirehaired: short coat with soft, shorter undercoat and wiry beard and eyebrows, in any of the above colors.

Breed Profile

American Kennel Club
Group:: Hound
Size:: Medium
Size:: Small
Origin:: Germany
Color:: Black, Brown or Tan

Dachshunds are spunky, curious and friendly. He loves to play and clown around. He is happy in the city or country as long as he gets exercise every day.

Articles

Anatomy of a Dog Show

For many people, dog shows may appear to be the canine versions of human beauty contests like Miss America or Miss Universe. But they're not. More »
Do You Have Any Tips On Caring for A Deaf and Blind Pet?

Q: I have a miniature Dachshund she is blind and deaf. Do you have any tips on caring for her? More »
Dog Breeds in the Hound Group

Hounds are some of the oldest kinds of dogs used by man to help him hunt. More »

See All Articles

Videos

Breed Profile: Dachshund

In German, Dachshund means ¿badger dog,¿ which might give you a hint. This lively and curious Deutschland breed was developed not just to chase badgers, but to dig and burrow after them¿ which explains why the Dachshund has such short, powerful legs.

A Guide To Exercising Your Dog

On The Petside

Blogs

Calling all Pups!

…to a household object, like a water bottle. Easier said than done, it seems. Little Sonny the longhaired English Cream Dachshund isn’t quite sure what to make of his photo session. But his photos prove that he’s just a little bitty guy, which More…

Small Dogs Top Most Aggressive List

…upset with the results of the study. The Dachshund After all, theDachshundis famous forChris Moore, Secretary of the Northern Dachshund Association in the United Kingdom remarkedupset with the results of the study. The Dachshund After all, theDachshundis famous for More…

Petside Items: Dachshunds and Guest Blogger Jo Singer

…and feisty three-year-old feisty Dachshund embodies this expression. Dachshundsarepopped Stretch. Missing their beloved Dachshund Spaetzle, who sadly did not recovertheir reputation playing with a paralyzed dachshund of less than ten pounds? Our home looks More…

World's Oldest Pooch Turns 147! In dog years, that is...

…summer" will soon be upon us, but apparently for one special Dachshund, counting the number of those hot and sultry days might indeedsummer" will soon be upon us, but apparently for one special Dachshund, counting the number of those hot and sultry days might indeed More…