Dachshund (Smooth Haired)
Other names: Dachsie
Origin
Dachshunds can be directly traced back to the 15th century in Germany. However, Dachshund type dogs have appeared in ancient Egyptian and Mexican art. Remains of a Dachshund type dog were found with shipwreck remnants in Italy, dating back to the 1st century AD. The German breed standard was set in 1879 and the breed club established in 1888. Dachshunds were exported to Great Britain with Prince Albert and became popular in Britain and America throughout the 19th century. During World War I, the breed lost popularity in these countries, due to its Germanic origins, however, prejudices have been set aside and the dog is again a favourite family pet and hunting companion. Standard dachshunds were used to hunt badgers primarily but have been used with other game.
Description
This is a long backed, short legged dog of diminutive height. While small, the Dachshund is still muscular and powerfully built with a deep, broad chest and well-developed forelegs. The forehead blends into the muzzle creating an elongated look to the skull. The eyes are dark, almond shaped and intelligent looking. The ears are high set and long.
| Size | Medium |
| Colour | Most dachshunds are black with tan markings or a solid reddish-brown colour. However, they can appear as reds, dappled, with tiger markings, or brindle. Some may have a limited amount of white on the chest. |
| Coat Length | Short Smooth |
| Weight/Height Range | Dachshunds are measured by chest girth, which in the standard smooth coated dachshund should be up to 35cms.Both dogs and bitches should weigh between 9-12kgs. |
| Ailments | The most important health consideration with dachshunds is their spinal problems. Due to the elongated nature of the body, the spine is prone to injury. Disc rupture, often leading to paralysis is a common problem in Dachshunds. Stairs and jumping on and off of furniture must be avoided. Surgical intervention can sometimes help with this ailment but many Dachshunds have to resort to carts to haul their hind limbs around. Dachshunds can also be prone to skin ailments such as bald patches, thickened, dark patches of skin and lack of pigmentation. |
| Breed Classification |
Dachshunds belong to the hound group and are used as companions and seen in the show-ring. |
Feeding & Ownership
The Dachshund can be fed dry or wet food once or twice a day. They can be greedy so be very careful to not overfeed as an overweight Dachshund is at much greater risk of back problems.
| Food Cost | $10 to $15 |
Personality
This is an intelligent dog but it has a mind of its own. Therefore, it is not that easily trained. It is recommended that firm, consistent training techniques be used to overcome the dog's natural tendency to dominate, while not incurring a sense of injustice. Unfairly treated, a dachshund will sulk at length. Early socialisation is required in order to acclimate dachshunds to children, strangers and other animals. They are a breed that becomes quite attached to their family and usually one family member in particular, however, they will be less friendly with strangers.
| Intelligence | This breed is intelligent but not particularly easy to train since it has a curious nature and a mind of its own. It can be very difficult to overcome the hunting instinct and train the dog to come when called. Early socialisation is required in order for it to learn to get along with cats and other dogs. Socialisation will also help it overcome its natural wariness with strangers. |
| Energy | Medium |
| Suitability for Children | Low |
| Tendency to Bark | High |
| Overall Exercise Requirement | This dog was bred for hunting, so although it has short legs, it does need to get out for a good walk at least once a day, preferably twice a day. It is probably best to keep the dog on a lead as its hunting instincts can drive it to run off in pursuit and the dog may not respond readily to a recall command. Dachshunds can live happily in a flat or house. In a home with stairs, Dachshunds should be discouraged from frequent travels up and down stairs as this will harm their elongated spines. If living in a place with a garden it must be very well fenced due to the above mentioned hunting instincts. Bear in mind that Dachshunds were bred to 'go to ground' and can dig under many types of fencing. |
| Suitability as a Guard Dog | Medium |
| Ease of Transportation | Medium |
| Level of Aggression | Medium |
| Other Animal Compatibility | low |
Grooming
Smooth coated dachshunds should be groomed with a rubber glove once a week to remove dead hairs. This breed does shed.
| Grooming Requirements | Up to once a week |
| Amount of Hair Shed | Moderate |
Discover Other Dog Breeds
Welsh Corgi (Cardigan)