Dachshund

The Dachshund is also known under the (nick-) names of: Dackel, Teckel, Tekkel Doxie, Weenie Dog, Wiener Dog, Hotdog and Sausage Dog.

• Exercise Needs: Middle to high.
• Typical Health Problems: Ears and back problems (prone to slipped discs).
• Average Life Expectancy: 12-15 years, but more then 20 year old dogs have also been reported.
• Grooming Requirements: Low for the short-haired variety, middle for the longhaired and wired haired one.
• Training Difficulty: Hard.
• Diet: Normal.
• Price and Cost: Dachshund puppy prices start typically at around $300.

Introduction

Perhaps the most German of all dog breeds, the Dachshund has enchanted dog aficionados worldwide for many years His official name ‘Dachshund’ is a compound noun of two German terms, Dachs = Badger and Hund = Dog. The reason being, that the ‘Badger Dog’ was originally bred to drive badgers, and other small game, out of their den, into the shooting line of the hunters. Today this breed is still appreciated by hunters, but has also gained popularity as a family and companion dog. But don’t be fooled by its sweet, cute face with the mischievous expression. The Dachshund is not a ‘beginners’ dog’, due to its stubbornness, independence and resulting reluctance to be trained! If you never had a dog, this one is NOT a good one to get started on with dog ownership.

History
While short-legged hunting dogs were already known in ancient Egypt, it seems a bit far fetched to assume that this is the origin of the Dachshund. But we can say with confidence that this breed, as we know it today, was created in Germany by crossing several different breeds of European terriers, pinschers and hounds and by breeding selectively for short legs, superior sense of smell and a big prey drive.

First written accounts of a short-legged hunting dog, that was brave enough to confront a fierce badger, are known from the 18^th century onwards and describe, and picture, a Dachshund variety that had considerably longer legs and a generally larger build. From the 19^th century onwards the breed became more standardized, with first the smooth coat acknowledged as a breed standard, followed by the long-haired and finally the wired-haired varieties.

Throughout the 19^th century other hunting dog breeds were still crossed in, so that it is difficult to speak of a purebred Dachshund before the end of that century. Today the Dachshund is recognized by all major kennel and breeder associations. The short legs of this breed are the result of selectively breeding dogs with Achondroplasia, a form of dwarfism that affects mainly the limbs. Such a dog has many advantages when it comes to following a trail. The nose is closer to the ground, and it is also easier for it to enter a den or burrow and to move with ease in it. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t be forgotten that it is the genetical defect known as Achondroplasia that gives the Dachshund its typical appearance.

Appearance
Often described as ‘half a dog high and one and a half dog long’ the best known characteristic of the Dachshund is its typical, elongated shape that is also responsible for its nick name ‘sausage dog’. The other typical features of this breed are its rather long head with a well defined stop, a long muzzle, large, hanging ears and an intelligent and attentive facial expression. The tail is long, more slender than thick, straight and carried more or less on the height of the back.

Coat, Colors and Pattern
As already mentioned, this dog comes in three different coat varieties, long, smooth and wired. The smooth variety has very short hair that lays flat at the body and that shouldn’t show any feathering at all. The long haired one has a coat that lays flat at the back, is slightly longer and ends in long feathering, especially at the ears, legs and sides. Also the tail carries what is known as a ‘flag’. The wired one has a rough coat which is longer in the face, giving it its distinguished beard and eyebrows. Also the tail is ‘bushier’, but without the elegance of the longhaired Dachshund. This is the roughest and toughest looking coat variety, something that surely matches its dare devil character

The coat colors and patterns allowed vary greatly from breed standard to breed standard. Here is an attempt at a short summary.

The only color not permitted by most breed standards are larger patches of white (except in Piebald and Dapple / Merle coats), solid black without markings and true albinism. The smooth and long haired ones are typically red, black, brown or, more rarely, yellow, either as a solid color, with markings, bridle or dapple pattern. The wired haired variety is mainly ‘wild boar’ colored, with other, more rare, colors also allowed and the smooth haired variety comes in the same coat colors as the long haired one.

Piebald Pattern
A piebald Dachshund is one with large patches of solid color over a white background. This piebald pattern can be accompanied by ticking (very small spots of color in the white area, sometimes only at the paws or muzzle) and / or additional spots of a different color in the solid colored areas.

Dapple or Double Dapple Pattern
Known as ‘merle’ in other breeds, the term ‘Dapple’ describes a dachshund coat that has a solid color base with random, lighter patches, giving the dog a ‘speckled’ appearance. Additionally the dog can also have white markings and different colored eyes. Double dapple describes a dog that has inherited the merle or dapple gene from both parents and shows the typical dapple pattern over a solid white background. Incidence of deafness and blindness in double dapples is high and crossing two dapples is therefor forbidden by many kennel clubs. Even in the ‘simple dapple’, eye and ear problems are more frequent than in dogs that don’t carry the merle gene at all. Merle or dapple is the name given to the gene that alters the dogs’ colors in the above described way, even when the effects are, nearly, invisible, the dog is still a carrier of said gene and should only be bred with care.

Brindle Pattern
Also called ‘tiger pattern’, this coat pattern variation doesn’t depend on the merle gene to occur. It is basically a coat with a lighter base and darker, evenly distributed, stripes.

And, to make matters even more complicated when it comes to Dachshund coats, combinations of some, or all, of the above are also possible, but, are ‘naturally’ not recognized by every kennel cubs .

Appearance – Size
To further complicate matters, the Dachshund comes also in either two or three sizes. In the USA and the UK only two sizes (miniature and standard) are recognized, while the member clubs of the FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale / World Canine Federation), and especially Germany, its native country, recognize also an even smaller size known as ‘Kaninchen’, rabbit in German.

These so-called Kaninchenteckel or Kaninchendackel are the smallest variety and are counted into the miniature class in countries where they are not being recognized separately or even excluded from the breed standard when that specifies a minimum size. A further, unofficial, size description is known as the ‘tweenie’, meaning a Dachshund who is either at the lower end of the standard or the higher end of the miniature size, or, between the two sizes, filling the gap between them.

All, obviously, depending – you guessed it – on the breed standard of the respective kennel club! These ‘tweenies’ are becoming increasingly more popular, due to their ideal size as companion dogs. Small enough to be carried, but still big enough to be robust. Here a summary of the size classes recognized in either all or some countries. Note also that the Dachshund is classified in its native Germany mainly by the circumference of its chest and not only by its weight, allowing for heavier dogs than in other countries. Note also, that the breed standards regarding size can vary from country to country, the ones given here, are to give you an idea.

Standard – Between 11lb / 5kg and 19.8 lb / 9kg and a chest circumference over 13,8in / 35cm.
Miniature – Between 3,5 / 7.7lb and 11lb / 5kg and a chest circumference between 11.8 to 13.8in / 30 to 35 cm.
Kaninchen (where recognized) – Under 7.7lb/ 3,5kg and a chest circumference below 11.8in / 30cm.

Temperament
It can be said that the temperament of the Dachshund is somehow related to the coat, the smoother or longer the coat, the less stubborn the dog normally As already mentioned before, the Dachshund is not the ideal choice for a first time dog owner. Bred to hunt dangerous animals of prey such as the badger, this dog is strong-headed, fierce, stubborn and courageous. All this makes it an ideal hunting dog, but also somehow difficult to socialize and train. Having said all this, once the Dachshund has recognized a master, it is fiercely loyal to him, and his family, and can be outright sweet in his expressions of this loyalty.

However, with people, and especially kids, it doesn’t know, the Dachshund can be aggressive and snaps easily, especially when not properly socialized. It is also advisable to select a puppy from ‘show lines’ rather than from ‘hunting lines’ if you don’t plan to use the dog as a hunting companion. The prey drive and hunting instinct in those dogs that are bred for this purpose can make them unsuitable for a life as a companion dog. Another potential problem of all Dachshunds is their over-sized self-esteem that makes them believe that they could take on a dog several times their size, if they fancy doing so or believe that they have a reason to do so.

Training
When it comes to training the Dachshund, several things should be considered to make this task a little bit less difficult. First of all, it is a dog that often bonds with one person more than with the rest of the family. This person then should become the main carer and trainer of the dog with other family members following suit and using the same methods and commands.

Second, this dog breed is perfectly able to manipulate people to its advantage. Don’t be fooled by this, consequence and discipline is your only chance to train the dog to become a good companion. If the main trainer, for example, forbids the dog to do certain things, the other family members should do the same as the dog will try in turn to find the ‘weakest link’ in the chain of command to get what it wants.

Third, if you want to have a dog that gets along reasonably well with strangers: Socialize, socialize, socialize. The more often the dog comes into contact with other dogs, animals and people and is trained as to what kind of reactions are acceptable and what kind are not, the easier it will be later in life.

A Dachshund has an extremely good sense of smell and a high prey drive, often making it difficult to train it to come back when called. The dog will remember where ‘nice things to hunt’, like farmers’ chicken are, even if it hasn’t been in the area for weeks. This means, as soon as the dog remembers, and these dogs never forget anything, that something tempting lives nearby, it will be off at high speed to hunt it down when off leash.

In summary, to train a Dachshund is no easy feat, but with consequence, perseverance and discipline it can be achieved. Joining a dog school or a puppy club as early as possible can be a great help to counteract the natural stubbornness of this breed.

Exercise Needs
Despite being a smaller breed, the Dachshund needs a fair bit of exercise, to keep its muscles in tone and its temperament balanced. When thinking of taking part in dog sports the ‘weak point’, the spine, of the dog has to be considered. Sports that consist, or include, a lot of jumping are a big NO-NO for this breed. Swimming on the other hand is an excellent exercise that is gentle on the back and helps to strengthen exactly the muscles that support the dogs’ spine.

Grooming Requirements
The smooth or short-haired varieties are fairly easy to groom, the long haired variety needs a bit more care, and a thorough brush every day or two to avoid matting of the coat and to remove the dirt that especially the wired haired variety seems to attract like a magnet.

Special attention should be also given to the ears. As with all breeds with hanging ears, the Dachshund can be prone to ear infections and trapped foreign body in the ear. A good routine is to flap the ears back when the dog is resting so that they can air more easily. Additionally the ears should be checked regularly for signs of infection or other problems and presented to a veterinarian by the slightest suspicion.

Common Health Problems
Apart from ear problems the main health curse for the Dachshund is his over-long back that is prone to slipped disc problems. Prevention is better then healing, therefor it is important to avoid the following things:

Obesity – Every ounce too much on the dog carries puts additional stress on its spine and makes a slipped disc syndrome more probable. Keeping your Dachshund on its ideal weight is your first line of defense!

Stairs – Walking, running and jumping up and down stairs is another trigger that can provoke an attack, Dachshunds should be always carried when stairs have to be used.

Jumping – Jumping up and down sofas, chairs, beds and over obstacles should be also avoided.

Under Exercise – To support the spine and vertebrae and to keep them in place, the dog needs well developed muscles, regular, gentle exercise is the key to achieve this.

Price and Costs
Puppy prices start typically at $300 and can be considerably higher for dogs from proven champion lines. It is highly advisable to take out health insurance for your new family member, but make sure that it covers breed typical health problems, such as slipped discs.

Grooming costs are low for the smooth haired variety and you can easily learn how to groom the other two yourself. If you prefer a professional dog groomer, you have to figure these costs in also.

And last, but not least, the Dachshund is a prodigious digger. Make sure that fences continue well underground if you plan to leave your dog unattended in your garden or backyard. It will take a Dachshund only a few minutes to dig a tunnel under a normal fence and to escape. This means also, that you have either to say Good-Bye to your landscaped garden completely or that you need to fence part of it off for use of the dog(s) only. Beautifully maintained gardens and Dachshunds are not a commonly seen combination

Interesting Facts:
In its native Germany the breed is known under two names, ‘Dackel’ as a general one and ‘Teckel’ for those dogs that have proven themselves hunting. In the US and other countries no such name difference exists, instead they are described as coming from ‘showing’ or ‘hunting/working stock’ respectively.

Summary
The Dachshund does well in all kind of environments and adapts easily to life in the city as well as to life in the countryside. It needs an experienced dog owner due to its strong headiness and stubbornness. It is better suited for families, or owners with no kids or older ones. When planing to breed and/or show the Dachshund, make sure you familiarize yourself with the breed standards of the club or association relevant to your location, as they can vary widely as outlined above.