Dachshund – the dog from the underground

With the proverbial Dachshund look, they flatter themselves behind their floppy ears and adorable look. The Dachshund has long since ceased to be an excellent companion for hunters and has since established itself as a popular pedigree dog. They are now classic among domestic dog breeds.

The hunter’s best friend

The Dachshund is a typical German dog breed and was bred for hunting back in the Middle Ages. With its short legs and elongated body, it was able to penetrate the hardest places to reach, while their droopy ears helped to protect their ear canals. Despite originating in Germany, they became popular in the rest of Europe when Queen Victoria took an interest in the breed in the 19th Century. Since then there have been two distinctions within the breed with long and short haired versions specifically known as short haired and wire haired. Furthermore, they have been bred further and we know have Miniature Dachshund’s as well as the regular Dachshund.

The character of the Dachshund

Despite their handy size, Dachshunds are by no means lap dogs. The bundles of energy are too lively and busy for that. As a dachshund owner, you should allow time for long walks. Care must be taken when living with dachshunds if you have other pets; foreign small animals and those outside the home are prey for him. The Dachshund character is characterized by a large portion of courage and fearlessness, which is understandable because the dog could encounter defensive animals at any time when hunting. This character trait lives on, Dachshunds have no problem confronting larger conspecifics and always defends their position. Dachshunds are friendly towards people, however, they treat strangers with reservation. Affection for humans is less pronounced with the dachshund than with other breeds.

Dachshund upbringing and keeping

Dachshunds are self-confident, have their own will and tend to overestimate themselves. Make sure you have a settled family cohesion before the dwarf joins the regiment and takes over the budget! With reward-oriented, consistent upbringing, Dachshund’s are encouraged to cooperate. Tasks are also important: tracking is a good occupation that accommodates the natural behaviour of the Dachshund. Digging is also one of the favourite activities of a dachshund. He generally prefers exciting long dog sport activities. A towline and harness are essential accessories for the dachshund owner. The Dachshund is not worried that they will lose their owner out of sight. If you are travelling in wild areas, do not forget; a rabbit is more important to the dachshund than obedience.

Grooming: tick control and brush

Those who are constantly found in the undergrowth or near the ground must be checked regularly for ticks, especially in summer. Use tick pliers, a fur comb and a brush corresponding to the fur texture for care. The Dachshund's skeleton and joints are not designed for top athletic performance or heavy loads. Counteract excess weight and save the dog from climbing stairs if possible.

Profile –

• Breed: Dachshund
• Origin: Germany
• Weight: 3-9kg
• Size: 17-27cm shoulder height
• Anatomy: Short legs, relatively long spine
• Fur and colour: Monochrome, red, red yellow, yellow, two coloured jet black or brown with rust brown, Pure black or white without fire which is undesirable.
• Coat structure: Short, smooth and dense, of the same colour
• Eyes: Oval, dark red to black-brown
• Ears: Lop-ears
• Character: Headstrong, confident, brave, suspicious, watchful
• Maintenance: Regular coat care, special attention to tick infestation
• Special feature: Extremely strong hunting and browsing instinct
• Classification: Companion and hunting dogs