Dachshund : a hunting dog of excellent company, faithful and friendly.
Having a dachshund in the house is like having to deal with a lively child. This small dog will be able to entertain you at all times and with a few commands will immediately show obedience.
It is often raised indoors, being able to adapt to apartment life. Let’s find out all about this dog.
History of the Dachshund
The history of these dogs is lost in time: in an ancient Neolithic cave remains of bones presumably of very small and short dogs were found.
Many drawings from Ancient Egypt also portray animals of this type, called tekal . This name recalls the term teckal used in Germany for dachshunds.
However, there is no scientific evidence that seems to link the two races.
On the contrary, the ancestors of the dachshund could have appeared during the Middle Ages in Germany , a period in which they were appreciated for their qualities as hunting dogs.
Their spread in England is due to the union between Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Queen Victoria.
It was 1839 when the queen fell in love with the prince’s dachshunds, to the point of always carrying one with her. Even after her marriage, her unconditional love ensured her spread to the rest of the kingdom.
The breed made its triumphal entry into the first dog show in 1866 and in 1873 it also received official recognition.
Character of the Dachshund breed
The dachshund is an animal with a cunning behaviour, a sociable nature and a balanced character. It is a passionate hunting dog, persevering and with a characteristic very fine nose. It is never lazy or aggressive.
One of the reasons the dachshund is so popular with the general public is its excellent character.
It is very self-confident, with good disposition, intelligent, brave, kind and homey, this dog forms a very difficult combination to beat. It is, therefore, an excellent hunting dog but also an ideal companion for any family.
This animal has a brave, proud and funny temperament. It is affectionate and very devoted to its family, but can be a bit difficult to educate because it is a bit stubborn at times.
You need to have a firm, solid leader with sufficient knowledge about animal behaviour, who knows how to properly train it.
The relationship you establish with other dogs, on the other hand, can be somewhat more problematic. If you get used to it from a young age, you can come to accept them well, but there is always the risk of fights between specimens of the same sex.
They are very territorial animals with a strong character that can have confrontations with each other.
With animals of different species the case is even more complicated. As the dachshund is a hunting dog, used to facing strong and fierce enemies, its instinct is often stronger than its education. It causes serious problems in your relationship with cats, rabbits and similar animals.
This same original function as a hunting dog in a burrow is responsible for the great (sometimes even excessive) fondness of this animal for making holes. Which is a serious problem, especially for those who have a special appreciation for their well-kept garden.
This circumstance must be taken into account when securing the closings of the plot, in the case of specimens that live in a house with land. The dog is likely to escape the house by digging a tunnel.
This breed does not have adaptation problems. It adapts well to living in any environment, both in an apartment in the center of the city and in a large country house. It is happy as long as it can be keeping its family company.
However, it is important to never forget that it is a working, hunting and field dog, which is why it likes outdoor activity. It greatly enjoys being given some freedom in addition to simple leash walks.
- Energy: Energetic and very active, you need to exercise.
- Temperament: it is passionate, vigorous, cheerful and affectionate. But it can also be stubborn and somewhat stubborn.
- Adaptability: It adapts well to any environment, but needs to be outdoors frequently.
- Sociability: It loves its family, but can have problems with other dogs and strangers.
- Health: It is a fairly healthy breed.
- Longevity: medium / High. Live 10-15 years.
- Utility: versatile. It is a great game and companion animal.
- Use: hunting and company.
Dachshund characteristics
In the breed of dachshund, the main characteristics of its general appearance are its short stature and a very elongated body.
This fact makes it known in some countries as a dachshund. It has strong and compact musculature, is broad-chested and quite agile despite the short length of its legs.
Due to its morphological uniqueness and its specific utility, the International Cynological Federation has considered that dachshunds deserve to be part of their own racial group, an unusual fact among the 350 breeds recognized by this prestigious entity.
Although they form a single breed, one of the characteristics of dachshunds is that there are three different sizes and three different hair types, which are combined with each other to give a total of nine different varieties .Originally from Germany and closely linked to burrow hunting, it is currently a very popular breed as a companion dog.
The body of the dachshund is characterized by being a short dog, with a rectangular structure, with a very elongated trunk and short legs. Seen in profile, the withers and especially the front part of the sternum stand out, so pronounced that holes are formed on both sides.
The head is elongated, with a broad muzzle at the base and progressively tapering as it reaches the tip. It has a large and generally black nose.His eyes are medium and bright. Its color can range from dark reddish brown to very dark brown. Dachshunds have an energetic and confident expression, not piercing.
The ears are round in shape and quite long, with the leading edge close to the cheeks. They are set high, not too far forward, and are quite mobile.
It has well arched feet and together, the front ones have five toes and the rear ones, only four They present thick and resistant pads, and very hard nails.
Its tail is set not too high and carried in line with the back when the dog is in motion. The last third often forms a slight curve.
As for its coat, the dachshund has three varieties of hair : short (smooth and close to the body), hard and long. It can cover a wide color gamut .
There is no established size or size of this breed , but there are three varieties depending on the thoracic perimeter. Standard: 35 cm minimum; miniature: 30-35 cm and Kaninchen: 30 cm maximum.
Standard, Miniature, and Kaninchen Dachshunds
The original variety of the breed is the one known throughout the world as the standard, but from this, and following a really simple selection process, over time two more were created, both smaller in size: the miniature or dwarf and the kaninchen.
In fact, the only thing that was done was to choose smaller and smaller specimens to be able to use them in more specialized hunting lots.
Until two stable sizes emerged, the one known as miniature or dwarf, and the kaninchen, or specimen for rabbit hunting.
The first targets in the use of dachshunds for hunting were foxes and badgers. It was considered that because of its strength and size (in the standard variety ), this was the ideal dog for this type of hunting.
Derived directly from ancient trail arms, the original dachshund had similar proportions to these classic tracking dogs. But, unlike them, their legs were considerably shorter.
When specimens of the breed began to be chosen to be used for hunting hare and rabbit, dogs were selected that, although proportionate, were smaller in size. The largest ones showed serious difficulties when entering the burrows of these small leporids.
Until then, rabbit hunting was carried out by ferrets. At the moment when the smallest dachshunds were shown to be suitable for this task, their selective breeding began.
These began to replace ferrets, which were more problematic due to their much more unstable wild temperament since they could not get to establish with their owners the relationship so close that they get to forge with a dog, which is affectionate, patient , obedient and, above all, very loyal.
To strengthen some characteristics of dachshunds, such as agility, courage or strength, in the selection of smaller specimens, some crosses with pinscher dogs were started.
The results of such blood mixtures were very good, since they gave rise to dogs passionate about hunting and with a foolproof value, but, on the other hand, specimens considered “atypical” began to abound, endowed with a rough head and ugly, and characterized by very high legs, which caused a rethinking of the objectives of the selection.
Thus, it was established that what was ultimately sought was to obtain a type of dachshund that was an exact reflection but on a scale of the larger specimens.
This variety destined for hunting rabbits, known by the name of kaninchen (in German, “rabbit”), is the most difficult to breed, as the litters are few in number and the genetic heritage is smaller, so that with too much problems related to dwarfism appear frequently: bulging eyes, imperfect mouths, little corpulence, etc.
For all these reasons, the work of the breeders of this variety is very difficult and requires great dedication and deep knowledge of the breed. For example, it is quite common for them to sporadically introduce a miniature specimen in the crosses so as not to lose the type, but as a general rule such intervarietal crosses must always be authorized by the relevant breed club in each place.
Unlike what happens with other breeds that have varieties of different sizes, to differentiate the three types of dachshund based on size, neither size nor weight are taken into account, but rather the measurement of the contour of the animal’s chest.
In fact, the German breed standard, adopted as official by the International Cynological Federation, does not even collect data for height at the withers or weight, except for the standard variety, in which an approximate weight of 9 kg is noted.
Thus, the basic differentiation between the three sizes is that dogs of the standard variety have, as adults, a thoracic perimeter measured behind the elbows greater than 35 centimeters, those of the miniature variety measure between 30 and 35 centimeters, and those of the kaninchen variety do not exceed 30 centimeters in pectoral girth.
Although these varieties by size have been formed thanks to a selective breeding but based on an original common trunk, the truth is that sometimes there are specimens that vary in type and size in relation to what was initially planned.
Furthermore, on certain occasions and with justified reasons, there are occasional crosses between specimens with the same hair but of different size, which increases the possibilities for heterogeneous results to appear.
For this reason, the Dachshund Club of Germany , the visible head of the WUT, established years ago the obligation to measure the specimens of the miniature and kaninchen varieties once they had reached 15 months, age at which it is considered that they are already has completed its development.
Until said measurement has been carried out by a specialist judge and at the recommended age, the assignment of the specimen in question to one variety or another is merely provisional and only becomes final after the pertinent confirmation.
As previously mentioned, in the countries of Anglo-Saxon influence, headed by the English Kennel Club and the American American Kennel Club , only two varieties of dachshund are recognized based on size; the standard and the miniature, and in this case the difference between both variants is given by weight, and not by body contour.
Thus, in the Anglo-Saxon line, miniature dachshunds are considered to be those whose weight is less than 5 kilograms, taking into account that the “ideal” weight is situated at 4.5 kilos, and all those specimens are labeled as standard dachshunds. that are above that weight, and the range between 9 and 12 kilos is given as “ideal”.
Even so, the difference between dachshunds of German or continental European lines, and those of Anglo-Saxon lines (the English and American) goes far beyond the mere separation of the three varieties from one to the other.
In fact, it is very easy for a person with some experience in the breed to recognize a specimen of American or English lines compared to another of German or European lines, since these differences between one and the other dachshunds are not only aesthetic, but also they also greatly affect the functionality of the animal.
For example, there are specimens of the Anglo-Saxon line that do not meet the relationship that the WUT establishes as “correct” between the height at the withers and the height from the elbow to the ground, which is from 1 to 1/3, but instead present a relationship less than that third.
Others also do not meet the marked relationship between height at the withers and body length, which is established at 1 to 1.8 by the FCI standard , as there are English or American dogs with much longer bodies in relation to their height. .
Other basic alterations presented by the specimens of the Anglo-Saxon line include a greater length of neck or an enormous size, since as the maximum size and weight of the standard dachshund are free, sometimes there are really large and heavy specimens that, therefore, they are completely removed from their original functionality.
In this sense, one of the greatest demands of the Welt Union Dachshund is that great importance be given to keeping the virtues and physical qualities of the dachshund intact, since it is these that make it an excellent working dog.
The starting point is to assume that the morphology of this breed is given exclusively by its function and that it should not be considered, therefore, more beautiful to a hypertypic dog than to another whose physique perfectly reflects the capacities for work, which were those that led to the selective breeding of the breed.
Another of the main functions of the WUT is to protect the different associations and clubs of the breed that are scattered throughout the world. These are in charge of controlling all the changes experienced by the dachshund, since it is evident that since the development of its first official standard the breed has continued to evolve and has never stopped growing or changing, as a result of adaptation and selection, and the WUT is the entity that carries out the qualified control of all these alterations.
It establishes, for example, in terms of appearance, that the entire body of the dachshund is intended for use in hunting, and that balanced proportions in all its parts give it a harmonious appearance and guarantee good mobility.
It is also detailed that the entire front part of the animal should be presented well upright and that the head is carried high, with an attentive expression, to be able to observe and control its surroundings well.
The specimens that are too large and heavy, as well as those that appear excessively light, without corpulence, such as chunks, are not the most suitable to carry out their work with excellence.
The same provisions apply to teckels miniature and kaninchen dachshunds , then, regardless of size, as its breeding base is very broad, better not make concessions if you want to have extra copies of these varieties, as are occurring with the current breeding, carried out by very responsible people who work hard to ensure that their breeding lines are governed by a correct typicity, with dachshunds absolutely equal, in scale, to the standard variety.
Hair varieties in the Dachshund breed
Apart from all the variants depending on the size and the breeding line, Anglo-Saxon or European, within the breed of Dachshunds there are also varieties depending on the type of coat of each animal. There are some with short hair, others with stiff hair, and finally others with long hair.
The theories regarding the origin of these three types of coat are very diverse, and from what appears to be the original variety, that is, the one that was formed in the first place and from which the other two were derived, is the short-haired variety.
However, today it has come to be believed with quite certainty that the three types could have arisen almost simultaneously, motivated by the different uses for which each specimen was used and also by the personal preferences of each breeder and owner.
Short haired dachshund
Those who defend that the original hair variety is the short-haired one attribute the paternity of this type to a forest ranger named Von Daacke, from whom the breed received one of its names, that of Daacke’s dog.
This breeder crossed its short-legged red pointer hounds with a female of the same color that it had acquired from the founders of another German breed, the Hanover Hound.
And in its selective breeding of those specimens, it kept their short hair, the strong reddish color and increasingly shorter legs that perfectly enabled them to enter the burrows and make the vermin they pretend to hunt out, and with which, at times, they had to confront openly.
The descendants of Von Daacke, who continued to breed the breed with criteria very similar to those of the founder, over the years were even selecting specimens of different sizes to be able to specialize in hunting different animals.
And this is how, in principle, the new varieties of size arose, which also enjoyed the specific favor of one or other owners until the three sizes that characterize the breed today were established.
Wire-haired dachshund
In the case of wire-haired dachshunds, it seems clear that the original short-haired dachshund was started from the original short-haired dachshund and crossed with the Dandie Dinmont terrier, a sober breed known for its courage and prowess in hunting on land.
It is quite possible that even other varieties of terriers such as the Skye and the Yorkshire terrier were used, which would explain the recurring appearance, from time to time, of some specimens with a softer and more abundant coat and even with an obvious tuft of hair. in the head.
And, finally, in the evolution of this variety it may be that later crosses made with schnauzers, which were widely used in the southern part of Germany, also influenced.
All this diversity of ancestors and influences ended up causing an evident heterogeneity in the type, which forced to have to use, again, short-haired dachshunds to be able to standardize this new variety of wire hair.
In this way, a dachshund of a type very similar to the original one with short hair began to be bred but differentiated by a completely different coat and, in addition, some defects that had appeared in the new variety, such as the abundance of angulations and incorrect poise.
The birth in 1925 of a mythical specimen called Klausners Mentor, was the definitive fixation of the wire-haired variety . Mentor turned out to be, in addition to being a beautiful specimen, an extraordinary reproducer, capable of fixing its racial characteristics in its offspring. Which is why it is present in the vast majority of current genealogical trees of all wire-haired dachshunds in the world.
Despite the fact that this was the last variety to appear and that it initially struggled to gain a bit of notoriety, today it is the most popular dachshund in the world , in its different sizes.
Precisely for this reason, the current concern of its breeders is to eradicate some defects that still appear recurrently, such as, for example, the semi-long and soft coat.
Fortunately, the abundance of specimens with good hair, with good jaws, with correct poise or with adequate dorsal lines, together with the fact that neither the breed nor this variety are in a precarious situation or in danger of disappearance, means that it is unnecessary to keep specimens with these problems in the breeding programs, so there is no problem in removing them from the breeding lines.
Long haired dachshund
Finally, there are the long-haired specimens, which for many years have been the most popular variety of the breed and the one preferred by fans. Especially in the mid-twentieth century, although today they have lost this privileged place due, in part, to its greater need for care and maintenance.
The teckels long hair originated from two lines of very clear and distinct blood, of Wopke and Ranger.
The first is named after August Wopke, a forest ranger (it seems that this profession is closely linked to the development of many hunting breeds) who bred this variety until its death in 1809. And the second is due to the work carried out by Josef Ranger, a guard in the service of King Maximilian I who was in love with these dogs.
At present the Ranger lines are still very present in the breed, as this breeder managed to make the hair smoother and managed to improve the proportions of the head, probably due to the use in the breeding of a spaniel type dog.
The cornerstone of this long-haired variety is a female named Waldi von Kaiserhaus, who emerged from the royal kennel run by Ranger.
Starting in 1910, when long-haired specimens began to appear in dog shows, this variety quickly became popular due to its elegant and aristocratic appearance.
Also to its temperament somewhat sweeter than that of short-haired dachshunds, possibly inherited from its spaniels blood , which does not mean that, for this reason, it is no longer a skilled dog and dedicated to hunting, almost in equal measure. than the specimens of the other two varieties of hair.
Dachshund breed standard
- General appearance: it is a dog with a very elongated body structure, with a compact, muscular and long trunk, and very short limbs. Its expression is cunning and its movements agile.
- Size: small / medium.
- Varieties: according to size: standard , miniature and kaninchen . According to the coat : short hair , wire hair and long hair.
- Height at the withers: standard males and females: Thoracic circumference: 35 cm minimum. Miniature males and females: Thoracic circumference: 30-35 cm. Kaninchen males and females or dachshunds for rabbit hunting: Thoracic circumference: 30 cm maximum.
- Weight: 9 kg maximum.
- Origin: Germany.
- Other names: Dachshund / dachshund.
- Body: it is almost twice as long as it is tall.
- Head: it is of the dolichocephalic type, that is, it has an elongated and narrow shape.
- Skull: it is almost flat on the upper part and long seen in profile, in harmony with the length of the muzzle. The brow ridges (the bones corresponding to the eyebrows) are very well defined.
- Muzzle: it is wide, long and strong.
- Nose: it is large and generally black, although some specimens are brown.
- Eyes: They are of medium size and oval, and present a remarkable variety of shades, from reddish brown to blackish brown. Some specimens of the harlequin type have each eye of a different color.
- Ears: they are quite long, but without exaggeration, and with a rounded tip. They are set high and not too far forward. A remarkable feature is its great mobility.
- Nose-frontal depression (stop): It is not very marked.
- Jaws: both the upper and lower jaws are highly developed, and have a scissor bite. They have a complete set of 42 teeth with strong canines.
- Neck: long and muscular, the skin is close to the muscle, without forming a double chin. Seen in profile, it is slightly arched at the nape. The animal wears it upright.
- Chest: it is long and has a very pronounced sternum, so much so that it frequently forms a hole on each side. Seen from the front, it is oval, and seen from above, it is very wide to guarantee the correct development of the heart and lungs. In profile, the front legs cover the lowest point of the chest.
- Back: it is strong and muscular. The cross stands out visibly. The top line is harmonious and can be straight or slightly oblique.
- Forelimbs: with strong muscles, the legs are straight and with robust bones. Shoulders: The dachshund has the muscles of this area in relief and the shoulder blades are long, oblique and well attached to the thorax. The forearms are very short, so that the chest is a short distance from the ground, about a third of the height at the withers. The arms are the same length as the shoulder blades and form a right angle with them. These arms are usually glued to the ribs, although their movement is free.
- Hind limbs: Seen from behind they are parallel to each other and neither too close together nor too far apart. The legs are short and muscular. They form a right angle with the thighs. Their hocks are strong and with marked tendons.
- Feet: their toes are close together and arched, and their nails are short, hard and resistant. The front feet have five toes, four of them rest on the ground and the fifth has no function. The rear ones only have four fingers. They all have thick, sturdy ear pads.
- Tail: set not excessively high, at rest it often forms a slight curve in the last third. In movement, the carriage of the tail is like a harmonious continuation of the upper line of the back.
- Skin: the skin of the dachshund is smooth and is well attached to the body.
- Color: those with short hair and long hair can be unicolor (red, red-yellow or yellow), bicolor (black or brown with markings of rusty red or yellow) or harlequin (the basic color always dark). Those with wire hair can present wild boar or dry leaf tones in addition to those already mentioned.
- Hair: there are three varieties of the coat: short-haired dachshunds (thick, strong, hard, shiny and smooth), hard-haired dachshunds (thick, hard like wire, and with double coat; this variant has mustaches, beard and very bushy eyebrows), and long-haired dachshunds (smooth, shiny, and longer on the neck and lower body).
- Movement: the step is fluid and with a strong push that gives a slight elastic movement to the upper line of the animal’s body. When running, the front and rear limbs move in parallel.
- FCI Classification: FCI # 148 Group 4 – Dachshunds.
Dachshund puppies
If you are looking for information about the dachshund, it may be because you are considering the possibility of adopting or buying a dachshund puppy . To help you make the big decision, we are going to explain a series of aspects that it is good for you to know.
To begin with, the International Cynological Federation recognizes about 350 canine breeds of all types, sizes, temperaments and functionality.
And the question is: what is special about the dachshund to be the only breed that is granted its own and specific group? Surely the first cause of its great popularity around the world is its extraordinary versatility.
Presented in three sizes and with three different coats , the result is a combination of nine varieties capable of satisfying all tastes and needs .
No matter where you live, the type of life you lead or the possibilities of space you have, there is always a dachshund that adapts to the particular requirements of each owner . On the other hand, as it is a very intelligent dog, it is capable of learning and receiving training aimed at different objectives.
Also, being the possessor of a great personality, a strong temperament and a great ability to think and decide for themselves, makes them even more attractive, if possible. And it allows that, in the right hands, it becomes a guarantee of fun.
In fact, living and working with a dachshund can be an exciting challenge for fans of animal behavior or such special disciplines as obedience.
If it is capable of breaking that point of nonconformity and certain stubbornness that the breed has and is managed to work alongside its master, it can be one of the best dogs to be used for any type of work.
In addition, as it is an excellent athlete, active, with a lot of self-confidence, strong, resistant and with an agility that few imagine when seeing it for the first time, many people find in this breed a good incentive to start an activity that implies a certain dose action or even to broaden the horizons of your hobbies.
So, if faced with all these premises, in the end an owner decides on this breed when it comes to expanding its family, the first thing to do is look for a breeder with a certain reputation , who works with seriousness, honesty and rigor , taking care of all the aspects, both aesthetic and those related to health and temperament.
A dachshund is a set of qualities that make it unique and if any of them are missing, the animal will be incomplete and probably unhappy or will bring a whole series of problems with it. This is why choosing a good puppy is so important.
If you do not know a trusted breeder , a good option is to go to the breed’s clubs or associations, which are sure to provide guidance on the existing possibilities.
On the other hand, these organisms usually have in most cases good breeding guidelines that seek to guarantee the promotion of the breed through adequate genetic selection.
This must be based on the three fundamental pillars already mentioned: health, temperament and beauty. Only in this way is the eradication of diseases considered characteristic of the breed ensured. And, obtaining balanced, courageous, resistant and well-built specimens.
Once you have located a reputable dachshund breeder , the next question is to decide which variety of the breed you prefer . The range of possibilities that opens up when choosing your puppy is quite wide.
Perhaps the first thing that should be established is to choose the size, among the three existing ones. Since this determines to a large extent the activities that in the future can be carried out with the animal.
Having chosen the size, it remains to choose a specific type of coat . In this sense, the owner should not only get carried away for aesthetic reasons. You have to be aware that choosing one type of hair or another entails a series of specific needs. Such as maintenance, aesthetic care, repair, changes, etc.
Finally, you must also opt for a color , since among the short-haired and long-haired specimens you will find red dogs, in different shades. Others are black or brown with tan spots. And finally, some harlequin-colored ones.
And in the case of choosing a wire-haired puppy , you will have to choose between wild boar, reddish, dead leaf and harlequin. Thus, the options are multiplying again, which adds to the well-known versatility of this breed which, as we have seen, actually seems many.
Once a certain puppy has already been chosen , the appropriate age to take it home is between six and eight weeks old. The “perfect” time depends mainly on the vaccination or health schedule that the veterinarian has established.
It should not take much longer than eight weeks since it is at that moment when the puppy is most predisposed to receive, process and assimilate all the information that comes from outside. And, it will be indelibly imprinted on your mind map.
This crucial moment is called imprinting and if it is allowed to pass later it is much more difficult to be able to shape the dog’s temperament in the future.
And once you have the puppy at home, it is advisable to take them as soon as possible to the vet for a general examination and start, or continue, the relevant vaccination program.
This doctor must become the person of reference from that moment on with regard to all aspects that surround the dog’s life: doubts about feeding, consultations for health problems , concerns about certain attitudes of the pen or sudden changes behavior …
Dachshund puppies are adorable. Their cunning and lively expression, as well as their graceful gait with short legs, make them an object of desire for many fans.
It is good that the pups stay with their mother for at least eight weeks so that their character is balanced and does not acquire unjustified fears. It is also not advisable to take it home much later because at that moment the imprinting stage begins, in which training is easier and more effective.
Dachshund education and training
As for how to train a dog of the dachshund breed , the owner of not only must worry about the physical health of its dog, but also must ensure that it is happy and feels fulfilled.
Many times, seeing them as small, friendly and funny, its master believes that it is a mere lapdog, and as such it treats them, pampering them, laughing at its antics and allowing them certain whims that perhaps a larger animal will not. would pass.
But you have to be aware that this is an original hunting breed and that these dogs formerly faced enemies much stronger and more dangerous than themselves. Such as badgers or foxes, so in their genetic inheritance they are left with the idea that they are great courageous and strong dogs.
Thus, once its owner takes this characteristic into account and gives the animal the treatment it deserves, that of a companion dog with the character of a fierce hunter, it gets a magnificent pet that it can count on for any activity it undertakes. . And, which you can take wherever you go without fear that the animal will behave in an aggressive, fearful or unbalanced way.
In fact, it is an animal that should be given plenty of exercise, commensurate with its needs, if you want to have a mentally and physically balanced dog.
It is advisable, for example, to enrol them in a dog sport. It is true that due to their special morphology many of the most typical sports designed for dogs are not suitable for dachshunds.
It is not an excessively agile animal nor does it jump with grace and power like other breeds, but it does have very fast reflexes, great flexibility to enter narrow places and a wide gait with good thrust. It will be possible to find some activity in which to use it.
On the one hand, there are the different hunting luck and the breed-specific work tests. And on the other, its qualities can be adapted to other activities such as tracking, the search for people in disasters, the detection of bodies or drugs and explosives. And even the work as a therapy dog, in which this breed participates at a high level.
The owner of a dachshund must not only worry about the physical health of its dog, but also must ensure that it is happy and feels fulfilled.
Many times, seeing them as small, friendly and funny, its master believes that it is a mere lapdog, and as such it treats him, pampering him, laughing at its antics and allowing them certain whims that perhaps a larger animal will not. would pass.
If your owner does not have experience with dogs, the best thing to do is seek the support and advice of a good professional in the field. Or try to go to a work group in which to share with other owners of dachshunds the experience of training their pet , thus trying to find quick, concrete and effective answers to the problems that arise along the way.
If the dachshund is allowed to do what it wants at all times, it is very easy for them to end up becoming an uncontrollable animal and causing its owner a huge amount of behavioural problems.
These can range from an inconsequential desire to store and hide objects, a mania for breaking toys, or an annoying fondness for nibbling on furniture. Even disorders that are much more serious and difficult to solve, such as the development of separation anxiety. Also, a certain tendency to obsessive barking and even a very worrying predisposition to bite and attack anyone who comes within reach.
Obviously, a dog that gets into this situation becomes unpredictable and, therefore, cannot be allowed to interact with children or older people whom it does not know. In the most extreme cases, it is possible that they behave in the same way even with their owners.
However, these cases are rare, because the normal thing, if the dachshund is well balanced and educated, is to enjoy a pet characterized by enormous adaptability , smart, lively, curious, intelligent and very affectionate, that is, an ideal choice. to act as a companion animal for an elderly person or a family with children. In fact, this breed gets along quite well with the latter, as it loves to play and participate with them in all their activities.
Dachshund feeding
As for how to feed a dachshund , exercising and doing activities will help the animal to be active and fit, and to some extent prevent it from becoming obese . It is a breed that shows a great tendency to gain excess weight due to the fact that it likes to eat a lot.
Its owner is in charge, ultimately, of administering a balanced diet , rich in nutrients that keep your muscles in shape and provide you with enough energy to carry out your daily activities.
Also, that they contain the necessary level of fat , and of good quality, essential for the proper functioning of your skin, your eyes, your hair, etc.
Obesity, especially in older ages, is a serious problem because it sometimes exacerbates other secondary conditions of a joint or digestive nature, for example, which can become serious or very limiting.
Health and diseases of the Dachshund breed
As for the health problems of the dachshund , in general it is a fairly healthy breed with few serious problems.
Of remarkable longevity , specimens that are over 15 years old are not rare , which is undoubtedly the best proof of their privileged nature and physical strength.
Even so, it is important to note that there are some conditions that are closely linked to race and that appear recurrently, most of them closely related to their peculiar morphology.
For example, the appearance of vertebral problems is very common , with a special importance of herniated discs , which can become disabling.
And also due to its morphology, urinary problems , digestive or mobility disorders , diabetes and some cardiovascular diseases of various importance can develop .
But, without a doubt, the most common health problem in this breed is obesity , which is poorly spread among all dog breeds today. In this it is especially serious due to the exponential increase in the risk of suffering from osteoarticular diseases or heart ailments , respiratory disorders , etc.
For this reason, it is very important to give the dog a balanced and very healthy diet, as well as to subject it to a good exercise routine.
Caring for the Dachshund breed
Regarding how to care for a dachshund and the typical arrangement of the breed varies depending on the type of coat. Dachshunds need a certain aesthetic care.
But, in general, the maintenance of all of them is quite simple and can be carried out by the owner himself.
How to care for the hair of a Dachshund?
Brushed
All dachshunds, both short-haired, wire-haired or long-haired, need a good brushing at least once a week . This brushing should be done with a quality brush or card. Better if it is made of natural bristles, and with a suede, which will make the coat much more shiny.
In the molting season it is interesting to brush more frequently, to help the animal remove as much of the dead hair as possible. Especially in the case of the long-haired dachshund, which accumulates abundant undercoat.
Precisely in the latter, greater incidence should be made in the lower part of the tail and the hind legs, since the hair in these areas tends to become quite tangled.
Bathroom
Once the animal is well brushed, you can proceed to the bath, which should only be done when the animal is very dirty . Always use a shampoo suitable for the pH of the skin and hair of this breed.
With special emphasis in the case of short-haired specimens, since they are prone to flaking or skin irritations, so it may be interesting to use an anti-allergic product or for delicate skin.
After bathing, the dachshund should be dried carefully, trying to remove all traces of moisture and not leave the animal wet in the open, as this breed is characterized by being cold, especially short-haired dachshunds.
As always, it is recommended to take advantage of the bath time to check the condition of the nails and cut them very carefully so as not to reach the fleshy part.
Arrangement
The only variety that has a more established and delicate grooming and grooming job is the wire-haired variety. As stiff hair grows continuously, it must be pulled out as it loses its vitality. Thus, we prevent it from accumulating and the coat losing its texture and its natural ability to protect the dog.
The arrangement technique to be followed is known as stopping. It consists of plucking dead hair with the fingers ( hand stripping ) or with the help of a stone or a special blade.
What is considered very important is never to use a clipper to groom a wire-haired dachshund. The object of the fix is not to cut the hair, but to facilitate the removal of dead hair. In order to do so, always leave a layer of new hair with the right texture. And with the machine, in the long run, what is achieved is to alter this special texture.
It begins by trimming the upper part of the loin and the back, where the hair should be very few centimeters.
Then it continues along the legs until it reaches the feet, and through the tail, where the hair has to be very short. Finally, the area of the face is addressed, which can be fixed with the help of scissors to sculpt.
Little by little, both the beard and mustache and the eyebrows are being shaped. They must be well marked, with long and obvious hairs, but without being too exaggerated. Preventing them from growing excessively populated.
In all varieties, including shorthair, hands and feet can be groomed by trimming excess interdigital hair. Thus, they are clean, rounded, like a “cat’s foot” and with the most appropriate appearance.