Dachshunds are divided by size and coat types. There are two sizes, Miniature and Standard, and three coat types, Smooth, Wire and Long. Choosing the Dachshund for you can be an overwhelming, but very rewarding, task.
Saying you would like to have a Dachshund is similar to going into a candy store and saying you would like to have some chocolate. There are many kinds of chocolates and many kinds of Dachshunds. You have to decide which kind you would like.
Dachshunds come in many varieties. There are different sizes and colors as well as types of coat to choose from, each with its own characteristics and group of devoted owners and admirers.
Basically, Dachshunds are long-bodied, short-legged dogs—small in stature but very large in personality—whose noses are so close to the ground that not much escapes their notice! In fact, their physical structure is the primary reason for their hunting expertise. This scenting ability was recognized by German hunters as early as the 15th century.
Derived from early German hounds known asDeutsche Bracken, these little dogs were called badger dogs or diggers. Eventually they were crossed with small terrier-type dogs to produce the Dachshunds we know today. With the nose of the hound, the long, low body that burrows into holes in the ground and the fearless terrier-like enthusiasm for the chase, the Dachshund is hard to beat.
FORM AND FUNCTION
Since dogs have been inbred for centuries, their physical and mental characteristics are constantly being changed to suit man’s desires for hunting, retrieving, scenting, guarding and warming their masters’ laps. During the past 150 years, dogs have been judged according to physical characteristics as well as functional abilities. Few breeds can boast a genuine balance between physique, working ability and temperament.
This is the first known illustration that shows both Wirehaired and Longhaired Dachshunds. It dates from 1876 and was rendered by E. C. Ash.
Early artistic illustrations and sculptures from the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries show Dachshund-type dogs hunting badgers. A statue of an early Egyptian pharaoh also has a Dachshund-type dog named “Teckel” on it. In each depiction, the characteristics of strength, stamina, courage and keenness were clearly illustrated.
Dachshunds come in two sizes, Standard and Miniature. Originally, Standard Dachshunds weighed between 30 and 35 pounds and were used in packs to catch wild boar. The modern-day Dachshund, however, weighs in at considerably less, 16 to 32 pounds at most.
Miniatures originally weighed from 16 to 25 pounds and hunted fox or tracked wounded deer. Today, the average Miniature weighs from 8 to 12 pounds and hunts rabbit or hare. Occasionally, a Miniature of only 5 to 6 pounds will be used in hunting, providing that the dog possesses plenty of hunting spirit that serves to offset his diminutive size.
There are three varieties of coat in Dachshunds: Smooth, Longhaired and Wirehaired. The Smooth and Longhaired varieties were developed first. The Wirehaired variety was developed later for hunting in briars and thorn bushes.
DEER TRACKER
The tracking of downed deer was the Miniature Dachshund’s original purpose in Germany. The termVorstehhund referred to an all-purpose hunting dog, usually a cross between a Bloodhound (Schweisshund) and a Pointer. The Miniature Dachshund was able to use its fine nose and its low-to-the-ground stature, making it an exceptional tracking dog.
Coat colors offer something for every Dachshund lover. Red, cream, bi-color, black, chocolate, wild boar, gray-blue, fawn, dappled and brindle are colors/color combinations that can be found wherever Dachshunds are bred. Regardless of size, coat type or color, all Dachshunds possess exceptional scenting and digging abilities, which make them ideal hunters.
This old wood-engraved print, circa 1700, was captioned asThe Badger-Dog at Work. The woodcut shows Dachshunds at various stages of badger hunting.
The Dachshund and the terrier breeds are not so far removed. They share some common ancestors and their love of all things dirty, as these two sandy pals il
